Palm Canyon Theatre presents the Lerner and Loewe classic 'Brigadoon'

Barbara Kerr
Updated ·5 min read
Lead actors Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright practice a scene together during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Lead actors Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright practice a scene together during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

In today's complex and often challenging world, do you ever yearn for a simpler time? What would you be willing to sacrifice to be with your soulmate? Would you take a leap of faith to believe in a miracle?

Those questions are at the heart of the classic musical, "Brigadoon," which opens the 2023-2024 season at Palm Canyon Theatre. With music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe (who also created "My Fair Lady"and "Camelot"), "Brigadoon" takes audiences to a mythical village in the Scottish Highlands.

On a hunting trip, two New Yorkers – Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas – discover the village of Brigadoon and are told that it comes to life for one day every 100 years. When Tommy, played by Paul Grant, falls in love with villager Fiona MacLaren, portrayed by Se Layne, he faces a life-altering decision.

Three theatrical veterans are among those bringing "Brigadoon" to life on the Palm Canyon Theatre stage. For each, it marks a return to that magical village.

'Down on MacConnachy Square': A journey from Baton Rouge to Palm Springs

Brandy Valentine and LT Cousineau as newlyweds Jean MacLaren and Charlie Dalrymple perform a dance scene together during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Brandy Valentine and LT Cousineau as newlyweds Jean MacLaren and Charlie Dalrymple perform a dance scene together during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

When Baton Rouge Little Theater (now Theatre Baton Rouge) held auditions for "Brigadoon" in 1975, actors had to be 16 years old to audition. Michael Pacas was just 15, but wanted to be in the show so much that, he admits, he lied about his age. He was cast in the chorus.

The music director for the production was Earl Redding, who was in the original Broadway production of "Brigadoon." Pacas still remembers "the spectacle and the camaraderie within the cast."

As director of the Palm Canyon Theatre production, Pacas describes "Brigadoon" as a love story between Fiona, who is idealistic about the type of man that she envisions entering into her life, and Tommy, who has commitment issues because he too is looking for the perfect romance. The stakes are high.

Pacas notes that Tommy's friend, Jeff Douglas (played by Luke Rainey), asks important questions: "Are you absolutely certain you're going to give up the life that you've known, your friends, your family, the life where you belong? Just based upon your experience of just a few hours?"

And, Pacas notes, there is the biggest question of all: "If you find your soulmate, what would you be willing to give up to be with that person?"

Director Michael Pacas gestures to a sightline for lead actors Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Director Michael Pacas gestures to a sightline for lead actors Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

'There But For You Go I': The heart of Brigadoon

Paul Grant has made several journeys to "Brigadoon." His first came in a national tour of the musical, directed by Tony Award and Academy Award nominee Rob Marshall. Grant portrayed Charlie Dalrymple, who is engaged to marry Fiona's sister, Jean.

Since that tour, he has played Tommy Albright twice. Palm Canyon Theatre audiences first saw him in the role 20 years ago. For this production, he brings decades of life and theater experiences and a belief that the show reflects a need for truth, honesty and real love.

"Tommy is looking for truth in his life," he said. "He's successful. He has a powerful girlfriend. He has great friends. He's lives in the best city in the world, but he's unfulfilled. He's looking for something deeper."

Grant describes Tommy's journey as "a story of someone who is in search of the truth, the happiness that brings, and faith and belief in something bigger than himself."

He added, "He finds – in this magical place, Brigadoon, with this magical woman, Fiona, who gives him the love that he has craved – the fulfillment of that joy and passion and truth that I think a lot of people are striving for."

Costumer and Choreographer Derik Shopinski as harry Beaton performs a solo dance scene during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Costumer and Choreographer Derik Shopinski as harry Beaton performs a solo dance scene during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

"Tommy has faith in the things he couldn't see or understand," Grant said.

He hopes that audiences too will take "a leap of faith, believing in things that you may not be able to see" and discover the power of love that carried Tommy into Brigadoon.

'The Heather on the Hill': From ballet to a sword dance

Since joining Palm Canyon Theatre in 2005, Derik Shopkinski has been part of more than 100 productions, appearing on stage in more than a dozen shows and taking on virtually every off-stage role at the theater. He is the choreographer and costumer for "Brigadoon."

He is also portraying Harry Beaton, whose unrequited love for Fiona's sister, Jean (played by Brandy Valentine), and whose jealousy of Jean's fiance, Charlie (portrayed by LT Cousineau), threaten Brigadoon's existence.

"He's very angry," he said. "He's very conflicted. And that is so completely opposite of me."

Director Michael Pacas steps onto the stage to help work out a scene with leads Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Director Michael Pacas steps onto the stage to help work out a scene with leads Se Layne as Fiona MacLaren and Paul Grant as Tommy Albright during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

A classically trained dancer, Shopinski took his first journey to "Brigadoon" as a member of the ensemble in a 1993 production. He has approached this production with deep respect for the work of choreographer Agnes de Mille, who infused ballet with elements of traditional Scottish folk dance, winning a Tony Award when "Brigadoon" premiered on Broadway in 1947.

Some of the dancers, including dance captain Alison Logan, have extensive experience; others have less. But, Shopinski said, "They're all very enthusiastic and they'll try anything I give them. All of them have stepped up to the challenge."

Shopinski describes Paul Grant and Se Layne as "master storytellers with their craft."

He added, "They don't do anything halfway. And that brings that love story to life even more. They make it so believable that, by the end of the show, you think this truly could happen."

'From This Day On': The power and possibility of love

Brandy Valentine as Jean MacLaren and LT Cousineau as Charlie Dalrymple are surrounded by fellow cast members during a wedding scene during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Brandy Valentine as Jean MacLaren and LT Cousineau as Charlie Dalrymple are surrounded by fellow cast members during a wedding scene during a rehearsal for "Brigadoon" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Director Michael Pacas notes that the show's power "has to do with a lot of faith and belief. Not only in the power of yourself and the other person, but the power and the possibility of love."

He shares the words of Mr. Lundie, the village schoolmaster, who reminds Tommy and audiences that "there must be a lot of people out there looking for a little Brigadoon."

If you go

What: "Brigadoon" at Palm Canyon Theatre

When: Sept. 15-17 and 21-24. Performances start at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays

Where: 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Cost: $38 for adults; $34 for seniors; $17 for students

More info: palmcanyontheatre.org

Barbara Kerr is an award-winning writer and journalist with a passion for stories 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.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Canyon Theatre presents the Lerner and Loewe classic 'Brigadoon'