On Stage Dayton Review: Grand Hotel: The Musical (Wright State University) — Dazzling Display

Excerpt

Forget London, Paris or Rome. Berlin beckons for the remainder of March, but a passport isn’t required. Just head to Fairborn where Wright State University brilliantly showcases its musical theater department to the hilt with a chorally sublime, stunningly designed production of “Grand Hotel: The Musical,” inspired by Vicki Baum’s 1929 period novel and adapted from the 1932 Academy Award-winning Best Picture of the same name.

Garnering 12 1990 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical and winning five, “Grand Hotel,” set in 1928 and staged with elegant theatricality by Marya Spring Cordes in the Tony-winning vein of its original director/choreographer Tommy Tune, features a book by Luther Davis (“Kismet”), music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest (“Kismet”) and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (“Nine,” “Titanic”).

As a revolving door of colorful characters primarily cope with financial concerns fueling their desperation, opulent escapism unites them with results varying from euphoric to tragic. But at the glamorous Grand Hotel, where hot jazz scintillates and endless dance intoxicates, there remains the possibility of a new start, a new romance, a new hope. Even though the guests are experiencing a temporary high, it is worthwhile all the same.

Read more at Dayton Most Metro.