By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — In case you didn’t find true romance in February, you’ve got another chance to wade into the pool of adoration at the end of March. Trinity Theatre Company welcomes patrons to its new home in Mission Valley, with a modern love story based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I Love You Because, a sweet musical, will captivate you with its witty songs, clever lyrics and all of the requisite heartaches that are at the core of every relationship.
I caught up with director Bobby Imperato by phone, and he expressed his enthusiasm and delight at directing his first San Diego musical. Recently arrived from the Boston area, where he developed an impressive background directing musicals and serving as assistant director for Lasell University’s theater department, he found a home at Trinity Theatre Company.
Imperato told me that he first read, and fell in love with this show after seeing it in New York in 2014. He was drawn to the show for a host of reasons, but largely because he felt it not only contained a great musical score, but also told a human story. The director/actor told me that so many musicals lack this storytelling aspect, but that I Love You Because harkens back to the Golden Age of musicals. For this show, the music is written by Joshua Salzman and the book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham. Musical direction for this production is by Danny Myers.
This production relies on local talent, exclusively. Imperato is thrilled with the synergy demonstrated by the cast. I asked him about his biggest surprise in directing this show and was told, “how quickly the cast came together, building a community.” He observed how the six-member cast formed relationships on and off stage quickly and readily. Imperato stated that watching relationships develop off stage, the true human moments, cemented and enhanced the characters’ interactions on stage. Appearing in this production are Connor Boyd (Austin), Dylan Landau (Marcy), Tim Barron (Jeff), Jordan Campbell (Diana), Lindsay Bates (Ensemble) and Josalyn Amodeo (Ensemble).
I was impressed with Imperato’s commitment to “community theatre” which is so often considered a pejorative title. The director told me, “community theater is a vital and important part of the community. It provides a unique opportunity for individuals to come together and express themselves. It builds community and fosters inclusivity. It provides a safe and inclusive space for all. There is power in bringing people a place where we all belong.” He went on to tell me that theatre is a great avenue for people because “everyone can find themselves as a hero, regardless of age, gender or sexual experience.”
I Love You Because tracks four New Yorkers trying to understand and navigate love in the Big Apple. Through break ups and reunions, these four experience the full range of human emotions, along with a few unanticipated twists of fate.
Cutting his teeth on Youth Theatre, as a freshman at Suffolk University, Imperato embraced his role directing kids. He explained that he finds them “more willing to play and they have no inhibitions, no constraints. They are new to experiences and demonstrate an eagerness to learn.” His first success in directing a musical, Jonah and the Whale, took place in Winthrop, Massachusetts with a children’s program.
Curious to know if Imperato had a favorite playwright, I was told it depended on the genre. He is a fan of Neil Labute for his mastery of the human psyche and his ability to explore the mind. Imperato appreciates the way Labute manipulates emotion, as evidenced in The Shape of Things (2001). My interviewee told me that he was “flabbergasted by the reveal at the end and was so very angry as I didn’t see it coming. I actually stood up in the theater!” In terms of favorite musical playwright, Imperato named Stephen Schwartz known widely for Godspell, Wicked, and Pippin.
Imperato had the final say for the casting of I Love You Because, but he also described himself as a very collaborative team player. He is pleased that the entire cast is comprised of local San Diego actors, as this underscores the bond of community and connection.
Wanting to know what the director hopes audiences will gain from this show, I was told, “my main objective is a nice night of entertainment. I want them to see that relationships may come from anywhere and no one should judge a book by its cover. We are all here to navigate this beautiful planet together, and we will all make mistakes as we are all making choices. If we could all lead with empathy, what a wonderful world this would be!”
Was he always a “theatre guy”? Well, yes and no. Imperato shared that he has always been intrigued by drama and the stage, as well as sports. Due to this duet of passions, Imperato found his “people” when he was cast in the title role of Oliver at the North Shore Theatre Company in Beverly, Massachusetts. Later, a high school trip took him to New York where he saw Urinetown and remarked to his mentor and Drama teacher, “Nan, we have to do this show!” After auditioning for the show six times, the actor-now-director was cast in the role of Bobby Strong, the hero of the show. Not only did Imperato describe Urinetown as a “love letter to musical theatre” but it is also where he met his wife!
Is there a dream role, for which Bobby Imperato is holding his breath? Yes! The director told me he’d love to play the role of Monsieur Thénardier from Les Miserables, and be cast alongside his wife as Mme. Thénardier. Their young son is already singing show tunes around the house.
San Diegans should keep their eyes peeled for more from this young director, as he loves the arts and the arts scene. However, Imperato revealed that there are three occasions upon which he cannot be budged from his place in front of the television: The Tony Awards, Super Bowl, and Wrestling Mania Sunday. Luckily for us, none of those coincide with this run!
I Love You Because runs from March 29th through April 21st, 2024 at the Trinity Theatre Company. Tickets may be purchased online at boxoffice@trinityttc.org
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com