S-O-S: Sensational-Outstanding-Spectacular ‘Message In A Bottle’ Takes Boston by Storm

March 30, 2024March 30, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Message In A Bottle’ at Emerson Colonial Theatre

‘Message In A Bottle’ – Directed and Choreographed by Kate Prince. Music and Lyrics by Sting. Music Supervision and New Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire. Set Design by Ben Stone. Video Design by Andrej Goulding. Costume Design by Anna Fleischle. Lighting Design by Natasha Chivers. Sound Design by David McEwan. Presented by Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK and ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston, through March 30.

By Linda Chin

The spectacular touring production Message In A Bottle that is taking cities in the US by storm – LA, Denver, Chicago – has washed ashore at Boston’s Emerson Colonial for a limited run (through March 30) before making its way down the East Coast to Charlotte, NYC, DC, and Philadelphia. World-class, award-winning creatives Sting (music and lyrics), Kate Prince (director and choreographer), and Alex Lacamoire, of Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen fame (music supervision, new arrangements), have built a show with no spoken narrative or dialogue. A phenomenal corps of 14 storyteller dancers tell an urgent, and unfortunately timely, tale – of families displaced from their war-torn villages, of three siblings separated from their parents and one another, of refugees seeking safety and new places to call home – with the universal languages of movement and music.

‘Message In A Bottle’ is a Sublime Synchronicity of Song, Dance and Story

March 27, 2024March 27, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘Message In A Bottle’ at Emerson Colonial Theatre

‘Message In A Bottle’ — Music and Lyrics by Sting. Directed and Choreographed by Kate Prince. Music Supervisor and New Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire; Set Design by Ben Stones; Video Design by Andrej Goulding; Costume Design by Anna Fleischle; Lighting Design by Natasha Chivers; Sound Design by David McEwan. Presented by Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK Production with ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company at Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston, through March 30.

By Shelley A. Sackett

The only negative comment that anyone could possibly utter about the earth-shattering Message In A Bottle is that it is an unforgivable shame that its Boston run is a mere five days (seven performances). My suggestion is to interrupt reading this review, trust the reviewer, and jump on your computer to secure tickets while there might still be some left.

Yes, it really is that good.

Dance Musical ‘Message In A Bottle’ Featuring the Music of Sting, Comes to Emerson Colonial (Interview)

March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

The Emerson Colonial Theatre’s will present a seven show run of the touring dance/theater production Message In A Bottle, based on the music of Sting and works from his band The Police. Featuring 28 songs, some re-mastered and re-interpreted, and developed by Kate Prince, Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, Message tells the story of displaced refugees and their struggle to find a new home. Theater Mirror’s Mike Hoban spoke with Associate Choreographer Lukas McFarlane in anticipation of the show’s opening on March 26 (through March 30).

by Mike Hoban

Theater Mirror: How did the idea for Message in a Bottle come about?

Lukas: Kate Prince (the show’s creator) grew up with the music of Sting and the Police and is huge fan. One day she was listening to Sting’s “Desert Rose” and thought, what if we (put together) a show using the music of Sting and the Police? She wrote an email to one of our producers, Sadler’s Wells, and within a couple weeks Sadler’s had her in a meeting with Sting in a hotel lobby pitching this idea to him, which was really cool and quite surreal for her.