Culture
‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ Headed to OU Oct. 4
By: Emily Votaw
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There are few duos more iconic than Simon and Garfunkel.
Not only a huge part of the folk-pop boom of the ‘60s, the group’s slim but ultimately incredibly powerful discography also influenced generations of indie rockers, singer-songwriters and just about everybody else who has picked up a guitar since the late ‘60s.
On Oct. 3, The Simon and Garfunkel Story, an award-winning theatrical and musical take on the development and cultural relevance of the duo, is coming to Ohio University’s Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
Taylor Bloom, who portrays the part of Paul Simon in the production, said that he’s spent a lifetime listening to iconic singer-songwriters.
“I grew up listening to stuff like Dan Fogelberg, Cat Stevens, James Taylor – and Simon and Garfunkel are in some way responsible for popularizing that style of music,” said Bloom. “Because they managed to achieve such great heights with their music, they managed to open the doors for others who wanted to craft really beautiful, simple music.”
In preparation for the role, Bloom researched Simon studiously, examining the artist’s life before and after achieving great success with his musical compadre, Art Garfunkel.
Ryan M. Hunt, who will be portraying Art Garfunkel in the show, said that he remembers singing “The Sound of Silence” with his father as a young child.
“My parents were actors and musicians, and we listened to a lot of the music of their childhood while I was growing up, so Simon and Garfunkel were just a staple,” said Hunt. “One of the first memories I have of learning what harmonizing really meant was when my father would sing the Paul Simon vocal part to “The Sound of Silence” and I would sing the Art Garfunkel part. Their voices have always been in my life.”
The show itself covers everything in the outfit’s history, from their early years as the Everly Brothers-like Tom & Jerry to their reunion concert in Central Park – which continues to be one of the most highly attended concerts in the history of pop music.
“We don’t really leave any stone unturned,” said Hunt. “There are certainly times in (Simon and Garfunkel’s) history that they were apart, but the music was always the most important thing. We are really aiming to tell this story through the music.”
Tickets are on sale now, $35 for the first ten rows and $25 for the remaining ones. Tickets available by visiting this link or calling the box office of Ohio University Performing Arts at 740-593-1780.