The idea of matching music to photographs is not new, but in 35mm—now having its DC premiere at the Atlas Performing Arts Center as part of this year’s Capital Fringe—the approach gets an energetic boost through the work of an exceptional group of singers and musicians, all performing under the baton of Music Director Brandon Fullenkamp.
Fullenkamp, who is both the conductor and the keyboard player, is backed up by a band featuring Daniel Rivas on violin and viola, Rick Peralta and Chip Carvell on guitar, Katie Chambers on cello, Cyndy Elliott on bass, and Kevin Uleck on drums. Nearly all trained as classical musicians, and it shows.
Pat Burns, Tim Carroll, Karen Kelleher, Evie Korovesis, and Christian Thorsen are the five young singers and dancers who bring an abundance of talent and enthusiasm to a score written by New York-based Ryan Scott Oliver. Oliver, who also did the vocal arrangements and orchestration, has been heralded by Entertainment Weekly as “the future of Broadway.”
Additional arrangements—for percussion and guitar—are the work of Jeremy Yaddaw and Matt Hinkley.
35mm was a big hit when it was first performed in New York in 2012. This production is the work of Richard Farella and Jimmy Edwards, the producers behind Made of Star Stuff, a brand new theater company dedicated to bringing new and innovative musical theater to the DC area. The two met doing musical theater at the University of Virginia.
In the Fringe production, each musical number is designed to accompany a still photograph by Matthew Murphy. Ryan Desmond is credited with the lighting design, while Katie Facemire is in charge of sound.
Not having seen the original show in New York, it’s hard for me to tell what, if anything, is different. However, the inclusion of some kind of multi-media—whether video or a photo collage—would reinforce the connection with the performers on stage.
35mm is an unforgettable musical experience, and a rock show, vigorously performed.
Running Time: 80 minutes, with no intermission.
35 mm: A Musical Exhibition plays through July 24, 2016 at the Made of Star Stuff Company, performing at Atlas Performing Arts Center – 1333 H Street, NE, in Washington, DC. For tickets, call (866) 811-4111, or purchase them online.
LINKS:
Check other reviews and show previews on DCMetroTheaterArts’ 2016 Capital Fringe Page.
Read a preview of ’35mm.’
RATING: 
THE BEST OF THE 2016 CAPITAL FRINGE.
