The musical “Company” premiered Thursday, Oct. 30 in the Tempest Theatre. It also ran on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1.

Renowned composer Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for the 1970 musical, and George Furth scribed the book. Composed of fragmented vignettes as opposed to a linear storyline, “Company” revolves around the theme of relationships. The musical focuses on 35-year-old Bobby, a single man living in New York who experiences five of his friends’ relationships while struggling to commit to his own romantic relationships.

Although Furth and Sondheim wrote the show for 1970, the director and designers at Elizabethtown College worked to place the show in a modern setting, specifically a jazz club. Limited lighting, a visible orchestra and modern instruments helped bring the show into the 21st century. In addition, several soloists used handheld microphones to accentuate the closed setting.

The theatre department held auditions in early September. Those interested were asked to prepare a one-to-two-minute long musical piece to sing and had to have been composed by Sondheim. Connor Burke, a sophomore, plays the lead role of Bobby in the musical.

The jazz club setting allowed actors to acknowledge the audience, usually termed “breaking the fourth wall.” Burke said that this was a new concept for him to grasp. “In previous shows, I had been told to stay away from singing to audiences, just to keep it in the world of the show. However, in ‘Company,’ we are encouraged in certain songs to sing directly to the audience,” he explained.

Each of the performers faced new challenges when trying to perfect the show. For Burke, “The biggest challenge was probably the music. It was written in a very complex and challenging way,” he noted. “It makes us believe that Stephen Sondheim really does not like actors.” Burke also expressed his difficulties working with props in choreography. “[A skill] I’ve acquired from being a part of this show is learning how to dance with a cane. It’s a lot harder than you’d think!” he said.

Other actors faced challenges regarding acting and singing. Junior Kaitlyn Tothero played Kathy, one of Bobby’s girlfriends in the show. Tothero found the biggest challenge to be learning and singing the music, which she described as “intricate but well-worth [the effort].” Tothero noted that her harmonizing skills improved from her involvement in the show.

Senior Randall Martin faced a different challenge: acting. Martin was first cast in the ensemble, but he later took over the role of Larry, one of Bobby’s eldest friends. “The biggest challenge I’ve had is learning a whole new part in three to four weeks,” he said. Martin also identified another difficulty in the show as having to go outside of his comfort level to play “a character that’s the exact opposite of me — rich, old and who likes telling a story.”

Sophomore Kierra Swisher worked backstage fixing the actors’ makeup, an often challenging and long-lasting process. She said her stage makeup skills have improved between her involvement in “Company” and several previous shows at the College.

“Company” is the first musical that a number of actors ranging from first-years to upperclassmen have performed on the College’s stage. Martin and Burke explained this was their first musical. Tothero also expressed enthusiasm for “Company” being her first production at the College.

Burke said that his previous experience has helped him improve on stage and backstage with the other actors. “I feel like from my previous productions, I feel like I’ve improved by becoming more subtle in my acting at certain points, and in the [Etown] theatre community, I feel like I’ve grown closer with the upperclassmen and the first-years at the same time.” Martin was involved with the 2013 Shorts Fest, a series of 10-minute long student-written, student-directed plays.

The musical will continue to run next weekend, Nov. 6, 7 and 9.  Contact BOXOFFICE@ETOWN.EDU to preorder tickets.