Life

Treadway reprising 'Big Bang' role downtown

By Bill Moss, Published: June 11, 2013

Flat Rock Playhouse will present the musical comedy The Big Bang starring Scott Treadway and Julian Brightman starting June 27.

For almost 30 years, Treadway has been a fixture with the Playhouse and Western North Carolina. He is best remembered for his roles in Gilligan's Island, the Musical; Look Homeward, Angel; the Tuna shows; Anything Goes; Art; The 39 Steps and The Drowsy Chaperone. In addition to acting and directing, Treadway served the Playhouse as development director and associate artistic director and is well known in the community for his relationship with educators and students.

"When people ask me, 'when are you going to do so and so again' it's either Tuna or The Big Bang," said Treadway. "I don't think we had a clue how huge The Big Bang was going to be and then it just exploded. It was a crazy time during the run of that show. This show was a sensation last time we did it. I can't wait to return to that crazy apartment and those hilarious songs."

In The Big Bang, like in some other shows, the actor has sometimes had to put on a dress for comedic effect.

"Other than Didi Snavely from Tuna, Nefertiti is clearly my most popular girl character," he said. "The lampshade completes the look."

The Big Bang is a musical written by Jed Feuer and Boyd Graham and set in the elegant Park Avenue apartment of Dr. Sid and Sylvia Lipbalm, two wannabe producers trying to line up backers for The Big Bang, the most expensive and lavish Broadway musical ever written. With a budget of $83,000,000, a cast of 318, 6,428 costumes and 1400 wigs, the show will depict the entire history of the world - from the formation of the planets, to the building of the Pyramids. From Napolean's France to the present. Adam and Eve, Nefertiti and the slaves, Caesar, Mrs. Ghandi, Attila, Columbus, Minnehaha, Tokyo Rose, Eva Braun and more.
The musical also stars Julian Brightman. Brightman has been on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! and Peter Pan. He has also performed in the national tours of Camelot and Heartstrings and played Arab in West Side Story at La Scala Opera in Milan.

Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick and Horizon Heating & Air Conditioning present The Big Bang at Playhouse Downtown June 27-July 14. Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm; matinees Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. All tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org. Discounts available for seniors, AAA members, military personnel, students and groups.