Behind the scenes of Theatre Workshop’s successful production of Oh What A Lovely War, the musical by Joan Littlewood, currently running at the Knightsbridge Theater in Los Angeles, is a name familiar to many in the entertainment technology business: Marshall Bissett.
Bissett, president of TMB, directed the production of the musical comedy, which tells the story of World War One, using the songs and documents of the period. The productions elaborate staging and audiovisual effects benefit from Bissett’s years of wide-ranging backstage experience.
First performed in 1963 at the Theatre Royal in London, Oh What a Lovely War was a smash hit, later moving to London’s West End and Broadway. Recently revived at the National Theatre of London, its text has become standard reading in British schools.
The show has an ensemble cast of Knightsbridge Company members under the musical direction of Bill Newlin (Ruddigore, Assassins, A Little Night Music) and a four-piece orchestra (including TMB’s own inventory manager, Kevin Thompson, on drums). Choreography is by Jenny Gabbert and Karen DeThomas. Performances are at the Knightsbridge Theatre in Los Angeles, phone: 626 440-0821, and run July 12 to August 26, 2003.