Date: Fri 16-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SUEZ

Quick Words:

Knapp-Barlow-mural-theatre

Full Text:

(feature on Andy Knapp/Broadway-themed mural for Barlow Players, 5/16/97)

A Scenic Set Designer Brings Broadway To Connecticut

(with photo)

By June April

Would you like to buy the Brooklyn Bridge? How about owning a piece of

Broadway? Better yet, and it's easy and feasible to do, endow a piece of

Broadway.

The brainchild and creation of the talented Newtown resident Andrew Knapp,

anyone can purchase a piece of a 5« by 16«-foot panel depicting "Legends of

the Broadway Musical." Half of the money raised will go to Barlow Summer

Theatre, a not-for-profit organization based in Redding; remaining funds will

cover the cost of three additional panels that will pay homage to the fields

of drama, music and dance.

The center focus of the panel is the famous "Dolly" staircase, with a

caricature of Carol Channing at the top. Eight other great women of the

musical stage grace other levels of the staircase. These women can be bought.

That would make the purchaser a "Sugar Daddy," which translates to a $200 or

more endowment.

There can only be two Broadway Angels. That means for the sum of $500 or more,

one endows the "Grand Entrance Stairway" or The Gypsy (from A Chorus Line ). A

Broadway Backer ($100 or more) endows a show, sign, keyboard, playbill, or one

of eight theatre marquees.

A Representative ticket, from 1962 and one for 1996 to A Funny Thing Happened

on the Way to the Forum , is available for $78.60. A Fan is anyone who drops a

famous name and donates $50 or more.

There are 166 running lights - a good gift for a jogger or track buddy - at

$10 or more each. This sale continues until July 25.

The Fiddler on the Roof marquee has already been spoken for, as has "Leonard

Bernstein."

"Just as this panel was a tribute to my father, a woman wanted to do the same

for her father," Mr Knapp explained. "Since he loved to watch Bernstein

conduct, that was her way of commemorating her love."

This project came about quite unexpectedly. Last summer while Mr Knapp was

driving one of the cast members of Hello Dolly (a BST production last summer)

home, the inspiration hit him.

"We were driving by Richard Rodger's house and I pointed it out to him, and he

responded with `Who's Richard Rodgers?'" Knapp pauses a moment, recalling his

sense of disbelief.

"That even a drama major did not know one of the greatest names in musical

theatre shocked and dismayed me." In thinking about the generation gap, and

the realities of generating funding to help support the theatre program, the

idea for a cultural panel/mural was born.

The panel is dedicated to the loving memory of Mr Knapp's father who was an

Episcopalian priest. "He instilled a love of the arts in me," Mr Knapp

explained, "would that all parents and teachers could do this."

Theatre and opera were major activities in his early years. When Mr Knapp

graduated from Bard with a major in theatre (and a focus on directing), his

first job was stage manager with the Metropolitan Opera Company. After four

seasons he left the world of music and worked as an assistant to the portrait

photographer Bradford K. Bachrach.

Mr Knapp's father persuaded him to get involved with Connecticut Players, a

theatre group that rehearsed at his father's church in Old Greenwich. That was

when he started designing, building and painting sets. After 16 years as

producer with summer theatre for students in New Canaan, and now as resident

scenic designer for Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Andy Knapp has found a

calling for his multiple skills.

The panels will serve two purposes: to hide four acoustic panels at the high

school's auditorium, and to present a visual history of the worlds of dance,

music, drama and musical theatre.

When not designing, Mr Knapp is involved with his dogs. Last month in Atlanta,

one of his Borzois, Kira, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"She was one of the few who excelled in the categories of breed, obedience and

racing!" Mr Knapp proudly explained.

Andy Knapp's flair for excellence will be experienced July 31 to August 3 at

Barlow Summer Theatre, when the story of Connecticut's own Phineas T. Barnum

will be heard and seen in Barnum . The play is filled with great music, and

there will be a circus both in and out of the theatre.

For information on supporting Barlow's Broadway panels, contact Andy Knapp at

426-3025 .