Backstage with AJ is turning up the volume and the poetry.
AJ Jaffari chats with director Jeffrey Bracco about Head Over Heels, the gloriously genre-bending musical now onstage at City Lights Theater Company. From Elizabethan verse to 1980s bops, Jeffrey shares what drew him to this wild mashup of styles and how he brought it to life with bold colors, modern flair, and a whole lot of heart.
They dive into the art of directing musicals vs. plays, collaborating with set designer Ron Gasparinetti, and the joy of telling an old story in a fresh, fabulous way. Whether you’re a theater lover, a would-be director, or just curious how Go-Go’s music meets poetic prose, this episode hits all the right notes.
“Head Over Heels”
Runs July 17- August 24, 2025
https://cltc.org/event/heels/
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Songs by: The Go-Go’s
Based on: “The Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and original book by: Jeff Whitty
Adapted by: James Magruder
Directed by: Jeffrey Bracco
Vocal direction by: Tina Paulson
Choreography by: Jennifer Cuevas
Supported by: Producers Richard & Peggy James, Producers Nan Ho & Gary Miner, and Producers Christy Martin & Cindy Melter
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Filament is produced by City Lights Theater Company
Music, Editing, and Sound Design by George Psarras.
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