Review: A beautiful ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ opens TNT’s new theater

The show: “Sunday in the Park with George,” at Terrific New Theatre, 2112 5^th Ave. North, through Dec. 8. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” Directed by David Strickland, with music direction by Michael King and musical staging by Tahauny Cleghorn.

The cast: Caleb Clark as George, Kristen Campbell as Dot/Marie, Celeste Burnum as Old Lady/Blair Daniels, and Elise Mayfield, Ryder Dean, Emma Kate Morgan, Hannah Rice, BJ Underwood, Chris Carlisle, Holly Dikeman, Jordan DeWitt, Alex Hawkins, Harmony Grace Leverett, Emma Kate Morgan, Hannah Rice, Nicholas Vasilios Pappas and Blake West.

The crew: Scenic design by Alan Schwanke, sound design by Samuel Tumminello, lighting design by Scott Littleton, costumes by Megan Pecot, plus Jordan Rehm, Kimmi Lange, Kathleen Jensen, Holly McClendon, CJ Romano and Madison Faile.

The orchestra: Michael King, Richard Byrd, David Kornfeld, Patty Pilon, Jeannette Hightower, KeyShawn Hale, Emily Brant and Lori Ardovino.

The highlights: It’s no secret that Birmingham is brimming with musical theater talent, and this production represents the best of the best. The entire cast and crew are listed above for a reason: A superb Kristen Campbell, Caleb Clark, Chris Carlisle and Celeste Burnum are at the top of their game both as singers and actors, but everyone else on stage seems to be, too. There is not a weak link in this show that demands so much of its cast. Highlights are many, but the Act 1 closer “Sunday” and Campbell and Clark’s “Move On” are about as stirring as it gets.  Strickland and King have given the show a clarity that isn’t always evident in productions, and the voices throughout are just exquisite. There are a handful of shows that Birmingham theatergoers have and will talk about for decades, and this “Sunday” joins that austere list. Plus, the new TNT is a beautiful facility, and the show and the occasion meld wonderfully. When George looks at a blank canvas and says, “So many possibilities,” it’s a goosebump moment, conjuring up several meanings, not the least of which is the future of one of Birmingham’s oldest theaters in a new space.

Room for improvement: It would have been nice to have seen some diversity in the casting. And though the TNT stage is beautiful and intimate, there are moments when it appears a bit cramped for such a big musical.

Bottom line: A magnificent “Sunday in the Park with George” that showcases enormous talents and a charming new Birmingham theater.

“Sunday in the Park with George,” at Terrific New Theatre, 2112 5^th Ave. North, through Dec. 8.