The Pajama Game: Ensemble Interview with Non-Theatre Major Robert Bartolotta

Theatre and Dance’s (THD) spring musical “The Pajama Game” opens for a two-week run at UB Center for the Arts next Friday, April 25 – May 4, 2025. For tickets visit: www.ubcfa.org

Given the size of the cast, live orchestra, production team, and overall scale of THD musicals, the participation of non-Theatre and Dance majors is an extremely important component of a successful production. UB sophomore Robert Bartolotta, from Syracuse, NY, is a Music Performance major in the Department of Music and pursuing a master's degree in music education through the UB teach 5-year program. Robert was cast in “The Pajama Game” ensemble and as an understudy for Ryan Butler, who plays the lead role of Sid Sorokin. Read our interview below to learn more about why Robert decided to join the show.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind all UB students in any area of study that auditions for UB Theatre and Dance production are open to everyone. Auditions for fall 2025 productions take place April 28 - 30, 2025. For more information visit: https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/theatre-dance/news-and-events/production-auditions.html

What made you decide to try out for "The Pajama Game" as a non-theater major? Do you have previous performing experience?

I decided to audition for "The Pajama Game" actually on sort of a whim. I hadn't really planned on participating in any theatrical productions in college; however I ended up missing being a part of them after my freshman year at UB concluded. In high school I was in 3 musicals, "Damn Yankees," "The Wizard of Oz," and "The Theory of Relativity," and had roles in all of them, and I always loved to sing, dance, and act in each one. I realized I would love to be a part of something like that again, so I decided to audition as a non-major!

Tell us what it's like to be in the ensemble? Do you perform multiple roles with costume changes, and / or sing on multiple songs? What's been the most challenging aspect? And the most fun?

Being in the ensemble is what gives the show its heart and energy. Each individual member is unique and has their own form of expression in the show that makes the whole cast feel more relatable to the audience. My role is the character Charley, who is a veteran factory worker who knows the ins and outs of the Pajama Game. I have 3 costumes changes and sing in 4 different company numbers.

The most challenging aspect has been making my character have more depth than what can be given through the few lines that I have, but it's been a welcome challenge that's made me become a much better actor. The most fun part of being in the ensemble is working with amazing castmates who bring so much energy to each company number. 

Tell us about your responsibilities as an understudy. Must you be prepared to perform in any role for any given performance?

As an understudy, we are expected to treat the role very professionally. We memorize lines and take down the staging and blocking notes for our overstudies, learn their dances, songs, and any other important notes given by the directors. We are also expected for any show to be able to perform the role we are understudying for to the best of our ability in a closed rehearsal, ideally with guidance from our overstudies.

Each understudy may have one or two roles that they are studying other than their own, and in my case I'm the understudy for Ryan Butler's character, Sid Sorokin, the Superintendent of the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory. In the unfortunate circumstances that Ryan was to be unable to perform for a certain show, I would be expected to step in and perform the role of Sid at the same level as Ryan would've done if he were on the stage.

(A fun side note is that Ryan and I both had to record Dictaphone recordings in the CFA Sound Booth for the number "Hey There" for this exact reason!)

What is your current major(s)? Do you have a future profession in mind?

Currently I am a sophomore in the Department of Music at UB studying Music Performance and pursuing a master's degree in music education through the UB teach 5-year program. I'm also a Spanish Minor. I hope to keep performing throughout my life, perhaps as a career, however I also would love to share my passion for music with others by becoming a music educator at the high school or collegiate level.  

Do you think you'll take additional Theatre and Dance Department classes at UB? If so, what are you most interested in?

I'd love to continue to take classes within the Department of Theatre and Dance! I'd love to take more classes on acting and musical theatre repertoire, and maybe eventually a dance class too since I've always wanted to get better at it! I certainly plan on auditioning for more productions in the future!