This Ain’t Your Mama’s Musical

By Rebecca Romani

It was mid-afternoon, in a galaxy far far way, where a theatre director stood, contemplating a stage…

Actually, it wasn’t that far away, the Geoffrey on Broadway to be exact, and the galaxy resides in an alternate musical universe for this weekend as part of a unique Comic-Con and San Diego Fringe Festival co-programming. The musical, “The Phantom of the Empire,” an inspired mash-up of “Star Wars” and “Phantom of the Opera” by Turning Tydes Theatre Company was such a popular hit at the 2016 San Diego Fringe Festival that it played to enthusiastic full houses at the Lyceum.

And now, Luke and Leia are back, along with a singing Wookie, and r2d2 on a scooter, at the Geoffrey through Comic-Con weekend.  Also on the playbill is the group’s 2015 Fringe hit, “Les Midge,” their mash-up of ‘The Hobbit” and “Les Miz.”  Bet you didn’t know hobbits could sing…

Both shows are sure to satisfy the nerdiest fan, with a few great surprises here and there in the form of stellar voices and “an Easter egg or two…” in addition to an expanded script, slightly different from the version that permiered at this year’s Fringe.

“We love what we do here and we want to give people a really fun time, “said Summer Blinco, one of the company’s founders.

Turning Tydes is the brainchild of Blinco and co-founder Jordan Hall Campbell whose musical theatre training and geek-like excitement at clever word play has given rise to a tight musical machine that loves mash-up theatre and, apparently, the audience loves them right back since both “Les Midge” and “Phantom” are nearly sold out this weekend.

According to Hall Campbell, the Artistic Director, the two are musical theatre fans but were “getting tired of seeing the same 12 shows done the same way.”

For both Hall Campbell and Blinco, Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” a funny and sometimes dark take on traditional fairytales, was a revelation.

“You can make take something mainstream, turn it on its side and make it new,” said Blinco, the group’s marketing administrator.

Blinco and Hall Campbell eventually joined forces with another partner in mash-up, Shane Ruddick, whom they met at the first Fringe Festival they performed.

“It was kismet,” laughed Blinco.

Ruddick, who was playing in “Dear Harvey,” immediately clicked with them.

“He brings balance,” said Hall Campbell.

Ruddick, a tall, slight performer with an elfish air, just laughed.  Ruddick is currently the Director of New Works and Projects in Development.

“Really,” Blinco insisted.

But don’t let their more official labels fool you.

Under their unassuming theatre management exteriors are some extremely sharp minds and some of the best pipes San Diego has to offer. Blinco writes the clever lyrics- no mean feat with “Phantom’s” lush and soaring melodies, Ruddick fine tunes the libretto and Hall Campbell makes sure everyone works as a clean, on the mark ensemble.

Not to mention that Blinco and Hall Campbell bring serious singing chops to their roles as Luke and Leia in “Phantom of the Empire,” while Ruddick enlivens cp30 with sharp comedic timing and a strong tenor.

Turning Tydes got its start with the clever “Les Midge”- a meeting of “Les Miz” and “The Hobbit,” written by LA-based Eric Phillips and Robbie X Pierce.

The group had so much fun with it, they looked for another similar re-telling.

According to Blinco, Phillips and Pierce had been batting around the idea of combining “Star Wars” and “Phantom of the Opera.” When Turning Tydes expressed interest, Phillips and Pierce passed on the project.  The theatre company then faced the daunting task of turning a bare bones idea into the highly engaging operatic parody currently playing at Comic-Con.

According to Blinco, the group “bounced around a lot of ideas,” and watched the Star Wars franchise “ a lot!”

Blinco worked several months on the lyrics and the libretto with feedback from cast members.

Eventually much of the same cast from “Les Midge” came on board in addition to several other friends.

Both Blinco and Hall Campbell wax effusive about the cast.

“We’re blessed,” Hall Campbell said, adding that the cast worked very hard on their own to have their parts ready since there was little time to rehearse before Comic-Con started.

If the Fringe version is any indication, the cast works very well as an ensemble, both in front and behind the stage.

For everyone, “it’s all about the show,” said Blinco. “We’re almost like a family, it’s really refreshing.”

So, what can Star Wars and Hobbit fans look forward to?

Clever lyrics and shockingly good voices, for one.

“And iconic lines used in surprising ways, extra shout outs to those who love the show,” say all three.

“It’s something unique for Comi-Con,” says Blinco.

Where else are you going to see the Death Star on pointe or hear the Wookie finally express his bromantic feelings for Luke?

“We might drop a Lior,” says Ruddick.

In a show where Yoda excited about “Orange is the New Black” is and cp30 has a charmingly neurotic attachment to r2d2, anything is possible.

Anything.

But you’d better hurry, at under $30 for both shows, tickets are going fast. For times and more information, please see https://sdfringe.ticketleap.com/ 

Photo credits:  Lexie Machado at A.M. Photography