Hemming bids farewell

Suzie Harrison

No Square Theatre is putting on the show of its dreams, “All Together

Now: Broadway’s Greatest Group Numbers” today and Saturday.

The event will be bittersweet because it will be director Adam

Hemming’s last show with the organization he has been an integral

part of since its inception in ’97.

“No Square is very dear to my heart; I’ve made life long friends,”

Hemming said. “It’s my swan song. It will be a wonderful show that

reflects the incredible talent of No Square and the community. The

show is endearing to me.”

Hemming has been tightly interwoven with No Square and Lagunatics,

directing, performing, and writing -- a man of all trades.

“I’m leaving to work on Broadway,” Hemming said. “And this show is

[aptly] a tribute to all the Broadway musicals and chorus numbers.”

Bree Burgess Rosen, founder of No Square and Lagunatics, had to

fight her emotions when she talked about her final show with one of

her dearest friends.

“It’s Adam’s last show; I have moments of deep freaking out, with

tears just below the surface,” Burgess Rosen said. “It’s so hard.”

Burgess Rosen started a community theater group with Hemming,

which was incorporated and renamed to No Square four years later.

“We’ve done so many shows together since ‘92, countless shows, at

least 40,” Burgess Rosen said. Burgess Rosen and Hemming wanted to

start a community theater to fill a niche after the Laguna Playhouse

turned professional.

“Adam has given such an incredible quantity of time and guidance

with his considerable skills and talents,” Burgess Rosen said. “I can

honestly say No Square and Lagunatics wouldn’t exist without Adam.

It’s going to be pretty different for me; he’s my partner in crime.”

Joining No Square for the show is another Hemming group, the

30-plus member San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. Laguna’s a Capella group

Hooked on Harmony, directed by Pat Kollenda, and Broadway star James

Leo Ryan will also perform.

“My closest friend Bree has come a long way with No Square and

performing in general,” Hemming said.

Burgess Rosen also has an impressive professional resume, he

noted.

“It’s an end of an era and a beginning of a new phase of our life

long friendship,” Hemming said.

“All Together Now: Broadway’s Greatest Group Numbers” will be

performed at 7:30 p.m. at the Artists’ Theater, 625 Park Ave. Tickets

are $20 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. For information,

call (949) 246-7701 or go to https://www.nosquare.org.