Tony Award-winning 'Titanic The Musical' sets sail at Palm Canyon Theatre

When people learn that Palm Canyon Theatre is staging "Titanic the Musical" — the story of the ill-fated ship that sank during its maiden voyage — they may have several questions.

Are Jack and Rose in it? How are they going to sink the ship onstage?

But the most important question for audiences is this: how does the Tony Award-winning musical tell a true story that has resonated for more than a century in ways that are fresh and deeply moving?

Beautiful music and profound emotions

As Palm Canyon Theatre enters its 26th season — while the world continues to reemerge from the height of the COVID pandemic — Co-Artistic Director Se Layne said she and her colleagues asked themselves "what can we offer that people really want."

The answer: "They like tradition, and they like to listen to beautiful, beautiful music."

Those questions led them to composer Maury Yeston, a favorite of Palm Canyon Theatre audiences and Musical Director Steven Smith. Yeston, who also created the music for "Nine" and "Grand Hotel," is also popular with singers and actors, which was clear during auditions.

"They came in droves," Se Layne said. "The people that are beautiful, wonderful singers that we always want to work with. They all came out."

In a cast of 42, about a dozen performers are new to the Palm Canyon Theatre. Se Layne observed that the region experienced an influx of people who moved to the Palm Springs area during the pandemic, including "a lot of very experienced actors." She noted that the musical transitions from "several emotional spots that are huge — with everybody on stage, all 42 people — to just two people on stage. Moments that are very touching and moving."

While the musical doesn't include the characters of Jack and Rose from the James Cameron film about the Titanic, it does feature a number of historic figures who sailed on the ship. They include Captain Edward Smith, ship designer Thomas Andrews and J. Bruce Ismay, chairman and managing director of the White Star Line, as well as passengers such as American business magnate John Jacob Astor and German-American businessman Isador Straus and his wife, Ida.

Because the Titanic was considered "unsinkable," it didn't carry enough lifeboats for all of its passengers and crew. When the ship struck an iceberg in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, more than 1,500 people perished in the frigid waters. About 700 survived.

As they honor the lives that were lost, the cast and crew are also striving to capture the sense of adventure and the passion for life of the people who set sail on the Titanic.

Se Layne noted, "Titanic was supposed to be one of the biggest wonders of the world. This voyage was supposed to be about people enjoying that. Going to America, a new life, a new adventure. You don't see that often across different classes. Going to a new country. Leaving their people and coming to America."

Bringing the world of the Titanic to life

The original Broadway production received Tony Awards for best musical, best orchestrations, best original score for Maury Yeston, and best book of a musical for Peter Stone, whose award-winning books also include "1776" and "Woman of the Year."

Produced on the large stage of Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, "Titanic the Musical" also won a Tony Award for best scenic design.

Palm Canyon Theatre's Scenic and Lighting Designer J.W. Layne noted that the original Broadway production of "Titanic the Musical" utilized the actors "to really complete the audience's vision of what they were seeing."

Aware that many people have seen the 1997 film "Titanic" and other depictions of the tragedy, J.W. Layne said the focus of this production will be on the actors and the stories.

"It'a very minimal set," he said. "It's got steps. It's got railings. And there will be some projections."

Those projections are being created by Visual/Projection Designer Nick Edwards.

"If the projections or the special effects take over a scene, then I'm not doing my job," he said. "When we do special effects, we definitely want the main focus to always stay on the characters."

But, Edwards added, "This is a big exposition. And we really want to wow the audience. The vocals that they're giving us are amazing. The singing is amazing. And our special effects and projections need to match that."

Adventure and a passion for life

Se Layne, who is directing the production, said the people aboard the Titanic were "passionate" about adventure.

"One thing I really wanted to show is people anticipating the future and life," she added.

In the musical, as the ship prepares to set sail, the entire cast is onstage.

As they lift their voices in song, they capture the excitement and anticipation of their characters and reflect the commitment of the cast and crew who are infusing the story of the Titanic with a sense of wonder and hope.

"Sail on, sail on

Great ship, Titanic...

Fortune's winds

Sing Godspeed

To thee!"

Barbara Kerr is a freelance communication specialist with a passion for writing about people, the arts and special events. Inducted into the Dayton (Ohio) Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame, she is a past chair of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows.

If you go

What: "Titanic the Musical" at Palm Canyon Theatre

When: Sept. 30 through Oct. 16

Where: Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Cost: $17-38

More info: To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit palmcanyontheatre.net.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tony Award-winning 'Titanic The Musical' sails into Palm Canyon Theatre