Guy and Girl strum and sing in 'Once’ at Florida Studio Theatre (2024)

Guy and Girl strum and sing in 'Once’ at Florida Studio Theatre (1)

Guy has a dimpled grin. Girl has a dimpled chin.

He plays guitar. She plays piano.

He’s a Dublin street musician who repairs vacuum cleaners and writes songs about the girlfriend who left him. She’s a young Czech woman raising her child, playing her instrument and reconsidering her marriage.

Will they fall in love, make beautiful music, or both — and for how long?

This is the bittersweet story of “Once,” opening Wednesday at the Florida Studio Theatre.

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Ben Paul Williams plays Guy — no names for the lead characters — while Elizabeth Nestlerode plays Girl.

The actors met on the first day of rehearsal, but found an easy rapport in Sarasota. During an interview, he starts a thought and she finishes his sentences.

“There was a little bit of small talk right before the reading,” Williams says.

“The nice thing is that we meet in the show, too,” Nestlerode continues. “We didn’t need this whole back story.”

Both of them are actors and musicians. Both are songwriters or composers and both are fans of “Once.”

It began as an Irish independent film that won an Oscar forbest song in 2007 before becoming a stage musical that won eight Tony Awards in 2012.

“The beauty and simplicity of the show strikes me all the time,” Williams says. “I’m constantly moved by what’s happening in the show.”

“The two of us, especially,” Nestlerode adds, “get to watch the ensemble do a lot of gorgeous stuff.”

In “Once,” there is no orchestra. Members of the supporting cast play instruments — guitars and violins, cello and accordion— right on stage. They step, turn and sway as they play, giving movement to the music.

Songs include “Gold,” “If You Want Me” and “Falling Slowly,” the Oscar-winning number that helps open and close the show.

For director Jason Cannon, the challenge is to guard against Guy-meets-Girl storytelling and a sentimental tone.

“That’s the big trap,” he says. “The word I use with them all the time is precious. Do not go precious. It is a love story, but not what you expect.

“The audience is going to want you to hug, the audience is going to want you to kiss, the audience is going to want you look at each other longingly. Do not give them what they want.”

Nightly jam sessions

Before each performance of “Once,” audience members will be welcome to walk on stage and order a drink from the bar.

Cast members will perform Irish and Czech folk songs.

“Every night, it’ll be a different jam session,” Cannon says. “We’re really excited about it.”

Darren Server, the music director for “Once,” thinks having musicians on stage makes the show more rounded and natural.

Instead of Broadway fanfares coming from an orchestra pit, there are musicians easing into a song.

“They don’t just start everyone together, they layer a few more people adding in,” Server says. “To make it feel more organic, to make it feel more like real life, rather than a musical.”

Savannah Holds is the movement director for “Once.” The lighting designer is Thom Beaulieu and the costume designer is Susan Angermann.

The cast includes James Young as Guy’s father, Kent M. Lewis as Eamon and Paul Michael Lincoln as Bank Manager. Seth Eliser plays Andrej, Grant Alan Watkins plays Svec and Nicholas Lerangis plays Emcee. Also involved are Chris Blisset, Sarah Hund (a member of the Blue Eyed Bettys musical group that began at FST), Emily Mikesell, Lauren Wainwright, Nya Chambless and Olivia Luera.

Finding the right Guy

Last season, the Florida Studio Theatre staged “Million Dollar Quartet,” a musical about the birth of rock ’n’ roll, which also had a band on stage. The cast included Williams as Carl Perkins.

Cannon thought of him when he was chosen to direct “Once” this year.

“The first I thing I said was that we need to get Ben Williams in the room,” he says. “That role is such a difficult role. You have to be able to sing and play a mean guitar, but you also have to have a kick-ass actor.”

Williams, a Minnesota native, trained at Cornell and lives in New York City. He’s played everyone from Hamlet to Lee Harvey Oswald.

He’s also a longtime songwriter. He has a lot in common with his character in “Once.” Which can be good, or bad.

“In my case, it’s been bad, sometimes,” Williams says. “The Guy is a guy who doesn’t give himself much of a break, and I’ve done that to myself, too. You get stuck in a mindset where you don’t let your best self shine.”

Nestlerode, who was born in California and raised in the Northwest, studied musical theater at the University of Miami. She’s written the book, music and lyrics for three original musicals.

This summer, she acted and played the piano in “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania.

“I do a lot of actor-musician shows,” she says. “You get to combine different skill sets. It’s nice to take two things and put them together.”

Nestlerode’scharacter in “Once” shares some of her ownbest traits.

“I think Girl is really good at helping other people, and putting other people’s priorities first, and not necessarily thinking about what she needs,” she says. “That’s something I also like to do, because it feels so good to help people.”

Nestlerode sings “If You Want Me” and “The Hill,” along with the duet of “Falling Slowly.”

Some of her favorite music in the show comes in between scenes. “The North Strand” and “Drum Breakdown.” No vocals, just mood.

“It feels like it supports the work we’ve just done,” Nestlerode says. “And I like that.”

Williams loves “Gold,” the inspirational songthat closes the first act. It also gets an a cappella reprise from the entire cast in the second half of the show.

There’s also “When Your Mind’s Made Up.” It’s a turning point for his character.

“That’s the moment where Guy takes over and becomes the leader that he’s supposed to be,” he says. “That’s like a superhero being born.”

‘Once’

Adapted fromJohn Carney’s film by Enda Walsh withmusic and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Directed by Jason Cannon. Runs Nov. 8-Dec. 31 at Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1247 First St., Sarasota. 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org.

Guy and Girl strum and sing in 'Once’ at Florida Studio Theatre (2)
Guy and Girl strum and sing in 'Once’ at Florida Studio Theatre (3)
Guy and Girl strum and sing in 'Once’ at Florida Studio Theatre (2024)
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