On Theater: New musical premiering in Laguna

The terms “Ray Bradbury” and “musical theater” normally haven’t been likely to find their way into the same sentence “” until now, in Laguna Beach, that is.

Bradbury “” notable for his novels “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Martian Chronicles” and “Dandelion Wine” “” has, at the age of 89, written a story that Laguna’s Gallimaufry Performing Arts is turning into a musical, to be unveiled next weekend.

The project is being helmed by Gallimaufry’s artistic director, Steve Josephson, who will both stage and choreograph the show.

The musical score has been penned by composer John Hoke.

“Ray Bradbury’s Merry Christmas 2116” focuses on Mr. And Mrs. Wycherly as they celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Both wish to circumvent the physical ravages of aging.

Arriving in time to help the aging Wycherlys find the perfect Christmas gift for each other is a character called Mr. Marionette.

The story is told entirely through song and dance and is, Josephson says, “perfect for both Halloween and Christmas.”

The genesis of this musical fantasy dates back to the 1950s when famed actor Charles Laughton approached Bradbury about writing a musical for him and his wife, Elsa Lanchester. Bradbury agreed and began tinkering with the plot.

Laughton brought in “Frankenstein” director James Whale, who began developing the project with Bradbury and a composer.

This effort was cut short when Whale drowned himself in his backyard swimming pool in 1957.

More than a half-century later, Bradbury still longed to put his musical project on stage. The concept found its way to Josephson, who enlisted Hoke to provide the music.

For Josephson, creating a musical is nothing new. His “Some Summer Night” won the 1992 New American Musical Writers Festival in New York and his “Tea and Crumpets” was the top musical in the San Francisco Bay Area six years later.

“Ray Bradbury’s Merry Christmas 2116” opens Thursday at the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds and will play through Nov. 15, with Bradbury scheduled to appear and give an introduction opening night.

Ticket information is available at (949) 499-5060.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.