This story was produced by the OC Theatre Guild as part of a community media partnership with Culture OC. It was written and edited independently by the Guild’s selected contributors. This collaboration supports our effort to celebrate and amplify the vibrant arts and culture scene in Orange County.

By OC Theatre Guild

September 2, 2026

Written for OC Theatre Guild by MaryAnn DiPietro test

Westminster Community Playhouse

‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’

When: September 4-27, 2026

Where: 7272 Maple St., Westminster

More Info: (714) 893-8626, www.WCPstage.com

Ancient Rome may not immediately bring to mind door-slamming farce, flirtatious courtesans, mistaken identities and a stage full of people desperately trying to get what or who they want. In the world of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” Rome is less about emperors and history books and more about comedy.

“This is a bawdy sex comedy set in ancient Rome,” producer JD Rinde said.

Support for Culture OC comes from

“The plot follows several slaves and their masters as they try to arrange trysts to win their freedom. Courtesans flirt with noblemen and soldiers. Hilarious antics and hidden identities power the musical, and everybody ends up happy in the end.”

Before that happy ending, however, there is a considerable amount of chaos. At the center of the 1962 Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical is Pseudolus, a quick-thinking slave who sees a possible path to freedom when his young master falls hopelessly in love with Philia, a beautiful courtesan. Unfortunately, she has already been promised to a pompous Roman captain. What follows is a whirlwind of disguises, deceptions, romantic complications and increasingly ridiculous schemes.

Rinde is working behind the scenes on the production, though his experience at WCP (Westminster Community Playhouse) has taken him just about everywhere else in the theater as well.

“I’m the producer assigned by our board of directors to coordinate production tasks and marketing behind the scenes,” he said.

“I’ve served as producer, director, assistant director, stage manager and actor in many productions. I’ve been associated with WCP for eight years, with six years on the board.”

“Forum” was selected by WCP’s play selection committee as part of its annual six-show season. This year brings something new for the company.

“This season we are performing two musicals for the first time,” Rinde said.

“What’s different with this show is that there really aren’t any serious musical numbers or themes,” Rinde said. “It’s more lighthearted than most other musicals.”

That lightheartedness comes with plenty of carefully orchestrated mayhem. The production features an 18-member cast, fast-moving scenes, large ensemble numbers, physical comedy and even audience interaction.

Pulling off that kind of comedy requires more than delivering a punchline. Farce depends on timing, entrances, exits, reactions and jokes piling on top of one another without allowing the audience much time to recover.

“I think the director has cast very talented actors who can sing while showing off their comedic chops,” Rinde said. “Lots of high energy is required at a fast pace.”

Then there are the props. Lots and lots of props. Asked about the production’s biggest challenge, Rinde offered a list that sounds almost like the inventory of a strange ancient Roman garage sale.

“Forum” draws from the traditions of ancient Roman comedy and vaudeville-style humor, mixing clever wordplay with broad physical gags and a plot that becomes increasingly tangled with every attempt to unravel it.

For Rinde, some of the production’s biggest moments occur when the entire company joins in the fun. He expects audiences to especially enjoy “the big opening and closing numbers involving the entire 18-member cast.”

What he is most looking forward to is a bit simpler: hearing the audience’s reactions, especially their laughter.

“Opening night, of course, and many sold-out performances hopefully,” Rinde said when asked what he was looking forward to most.

“Audiences who will laugh constantly throughout the show.”

Any audience members considering a trip to Rome, at least WCP’s version of it, may not want to put this trip on the back burner.

“Get your tickets early,” Rinde said, “as many of our shows are selling out performances, as we did with ‘Legally Blonde,’ our last show.”

After all, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” promises comedy tonight and a lot of it.