The characters in First Presbyterian Theater’s upcoming show will speak in a strange, yet poetic way. 

Performed in iambic pentameter, Head Over Heels comes to Fort Wayne for six shows from Oct. 13-22.

What is love?

Director Leslie Beauchamp said Head Over Heels is based on the 16th century Philip Sidney play The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia. It tells the story of a kingdom that has a new oracle and characters who “try to outrace some of the predictions that, if they come true,” will lead to the demise of their kingdom.

Along the way, the characters find love and adventure — all set to music by 1980s pop group Go-Go’s.

“What we have been discovering as a cast as we’ve been taking this journey as a group is that, when you boil it down to it, (the show) talks about love and what love looks like for different people. What love is for me may not be the same as what it is for you or your next-door neighbor. But the fact is, each of us has a definition for love, and we should be able to find love and revel in what love is for us.

“That’s what the show is — it is discussing and discovering. We’ve had a wonderful time finding those storylines in the show.”

Tapping into theater community

Another particularly interesting aspect of the musical is that the characters speak in iambic pentameter, which means they speak in 10 alternating unstressed and stressed syllables, a feat commonly associated with Shakespearian works. 

This, of course, posed a unique challenge for actors who do not commonly speak in this rhythmic style.

“We don’t speak that way — not most of us anyway — on a regular basis,” Beauchamp said. “So, just kind of getting their mouths around the words and how they’re structured has been challenging for them, but it’s been kind of funny.”

Todd Sandman Cruz, director of fine and performing arts for First Presbyterian Theater, said in his two years with the company, this is his first time seeing about 90 percent of these cast members perform, which he described as “exciting.” 

The cast includes Chris Rasor, Kat Hickey, Kelly Maloney, Kayley Alissa, James Anderson, Thomas Wilson, Grant Blauvelt, and Chloe Price, as well as a nine-member ensemble.

Beauchamp said the audience will enjoy seeing how much fun the actors are having.

“It’s a romp. It’s fun. It’s funny,” she said. “It’s a bunch of talented people because — let’s be honest — we have an embarrassment of riches in our theater community. It’s a group of people who are incredibly talented having the most fun on stage.”

Help from Fort Wayne Dance Collective

Of the many highlights for musicalgoers, Sandman Cruz and Beauchamp pointed to the choreography, especially because it is set to the music of Go-Go’s and their identifiable hits like “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation.”

“When I first began looking at the show and considering doing it and saw some of the excerpts on YouTube and the dancing, Fort Wayne Dance Collective was the first thing that jumped into my brain and (artistic director) Mandie Kolkman,” Beauchamp said. 

“She is a phenomenal choreographer, and her ability to take all levels of dance and make them all look fantastic is brilliant.”

Beauchamp added that Kolkman excels at making inexperienced dancers feel comfortable learning choreography. 

“It’s really fun to watch her work with the cast, some of whom are really experienced dancers and have a lot of dance background and some people who don’t — they just like to do shows,” she said. “She has a lovely way of making everybody feel good about what they’re doing on stage.”

Sandman Cruz noted this performance marks the first time Fort Wayne has seen Head Over Heels, which ended its run shortly before the pandemic struck.

“Never been done here in town,” he said. “And I suppose because of COVID, we could say it’s ‘Fresh off Broadway.’ 

“I think the show was kind of a victim of the pandemic on Broadway. I feel very lucky to have been able to get the rights to the show, because it’s going to be a show that will be done for many years to come.”