Meet the Composer
Arden Theater Company and James Sugg
James Sugg has been commissioned to create an original score for Arden Theatre Company's upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, directed by Matt Pfeiffer on our F. Otto Haas Stage, with performances running from February 25 to April 5, 2010.
The score is to be composed for a single musician who can play a variety of instruments. The production represents a return to basics, devoid of directorial concept. The Arden's Romeo and Juliet will rely solely on the power of words and song to tell this timeless story. Sugg's score will make use of single tones and simple melodies to help punctuate and move the story along.
Sugg will participate in 4 post-show talkbacks with the audience, moderated by a member of the Arden's Artistic Department. The final week of performances has been reserved for high school field trips. Two of the post-show talkbacks will be for this audience. In addition, Sugg will travel with a member of the Arden's Eduaction Department to the Camden Creative Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey. The Arden has partnered with this magnet school for students interested in the performing arts for 6 years now. The Arden will bring the students to see the production for free and then bring Sugg to their classroom to lead a professional-level workshop in sound design and composition.
Finally, Sugg will be a guest at an Arden Salon where he will reveal more about his process as a composer and play the various instruments that he used to create the tones for the composition.