Bay Street Theater’s Associate Artistic Director Will Pomerantz Talks “Cagney The Musical”

Will Pomerantz is Bay Street Theater’s Associate Artistic Director and the director of their next summer “Mainstage” production, Cagney The Musical. He shared his thoughts with Hamptons.com. This show will bring Hollywood legend James Cagney to Sag Harbor on the Bay Street Theater stage from June 30 through July 26. Cagney The Musical is produced in association with Riki Kane Larimer. This dynamic musical will be a wonderful complement to our country’s 250th birthday celebrations with its rhythm, song, and movements.

What’s the most exciting thing about directing Cagney: The Musical?

There has been real joy in digging into this material as a director — the show has a wonderful score and traces a great story about a guy who accomplished so much while also managing to remain humble and true to himself and his principles. The show is highly entertaining, with some truly great dance sequences, including more tap dancing than has ever been done on Bay Street’s stage. I have wonderful partners in choreographer Jeremy Benton and music director Doug Oberhamer, who are both at the top of their games.  It’s also a truly fantastic cast, but more on that below.

What makes this show particularly timely as America marks 250 years?

This is another great thing about this show — it celebrates so many things that I feel are the best aspects of America and the American character. The tremendous energy, drive, and optimism that Cagney embodied, the deep principles, and care for what is true and right. Cagney famously said that acting is about “standing on two feet, looking the other guy in the eye and telling the truth,” and he lived that both as an artist and a man.

This cast is incredible. Can you talk about the casting process?

This is an extraordinary group of performers who truly embody the term “triple threat.”  They are all gorgeous singers, real actors, and superb dancers. Most of the cast does a lot of doubling of various colorful characters that appeared during Cagney’s life, and it’s such fun to experience their versatility, as they create these wonderful mini character studies.  I also want to mention Robert Creighton, who is both the star of the show, as well as one of the creators of the show.  Bobby is an incredibly skilled performer, a real old-school pro who sings, dances, and acts like a dream and has this role in his bones.  He not only looks like Cagney and sounds like Cagney, he really embodies who Cagney was — it really feels like you are in the room with James Cagney! We are also fortunate to have pop icon Melissa Manchester in the cast. She plays Cagney’s mother and sings some of the most gorgeous songs in the show.  I think folks will also be tickled at what a good actor she also happens to be!

What is the most pleasant surprise about the show while watching it come together?

Listen, putting together a musical is always a lot of hard work.  There are so many elements involved — learning all the vocal tracks in the music, all the choreography (and in this case, the tap choreography, which requires true precision, in order to work), figuring out how the scenes work dramatically, all the costume changes required, and just how we get from one thing to another seamlessly.  So yes, much to figure out on paper and then on its feet, in a relatively short amount of time!  But with this group, from Day 1 it has felt, if not effortless, then — I don’t know —buoyant?  Joyous?  It’s just been one of those experiences where you feel, “There is something special going on here.  We are making something good.”  And not that I am totally surprised that this is happening, given the personnel involved, but just how bracing and energizing it all is, and I think the audience is going to feel that when they experience this show.

 What is your favorite thing to do in the Hamptons other than theater?

Pretty simple things — walking Main Street in Sag Harbor, and also all the wonderful small side streets that always yield some sort of beautiful surprise, whether it is an exquisite old house, or a peek at the harbor, or some other body of water.  I have also become a fan of osprey watching, thanks to the hosts where I am staying. There is a nest directly behind the house, and I’m able to watch them tend to their nest, have their babies, watch the babies grow up, and eventually leave the nest.  It’s relaxing and inspiring to see it all transpire.

For Tickets, visit Baystreet.org