Burton-esque ‘Sandman’ marks theater company’s return to stage

Steffan Scrogan performs during a technical rehearsal for "The Sandman" at Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. "The Sandman" written by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Alora Rivera, 10, left, and Ashlee Grubbs, 16, perform during a technical rehearsal for "The Sandman" at Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. "The Sandman" written by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Lauren Ashlea Fraser, left, and Khloe Judd, 12, perform during a technical rehearsal for "The Sandman" at Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. "The Sandman" written by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Cassie Stone performs in "Hot Trash" at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Majestic Repertory Theatre founding artistic director Troy Heard leads a rehearsal of "The Craft" in Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Attendees arrive in their vehicle for the Horrorwood Video drive-in at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Founding artistic director Troy Heard, center, leads a rehearsal with Natalie Senecal, right, director of talent, for the ҈orrorwood VideoӠdrive-in at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

J, played by Natalie Senecal, center left, and Terry, played by Mike Vargovich, perform in "The Parking Lot," staged down the street from the Majestic Repertory Theatre, in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Troy Heard, founding artistic director of Majestic Repertory Theatre, takes a COVID-19 rapid test before rehearsing and recording a short film in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Rev. Dolor, played by Mike Vargovich, right, speaks alongside Pansy Stock, played by Rose Donahue, and Evelyn Campanula, played by Lissa Townsend Rodgers, during a dress rehearsal of "The Garden Party" in Las Vegas on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Performers, from left, Ray Winters, Mike Vargovich, Caitlin Gibbons, and Miranda Lopez perform in a mobile production of "If Only In My Dreams' outside of a residential home in Summerlin in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Director Troy Heard, left watches as, from left, Ashlee Grubbs, 16, Steffan Scrogan, and Alora Rivera, 10, perform during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Director Troy Heard, right, looks on during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Director Troy Heard moves a ladder during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Props backstage are pictured during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Lighting designer Marcus Randolph, right, speaks during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Darren Weller, right, and Alora Rivera, 10, perform during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Steffan Scrogan, left, and Alora Rivera, 10, perform during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Lauren Ashlea Fraser, left, Alora Rivera, 10, perform during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Richard Oberacker, who created the music and wrote "The Sandman" with Robert Taylor, left, watches during a technical rehearsal with artistic director Troy Heard, center right, at Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Ashlee Grubbs, 16, from left, performs with Khloe Judd, 12, Alora Rivera, 10, Lauren Ashlea Fraser, and Steffan Scrogan during a technical rehearsal for Ҕhe SandmanӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Ҕhe Sandman,Ӡwritten by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker and directed by Troy Heard is slated to begin Oct. 27. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Adriana Chavez performs as part of the Majestic Drive-Thru Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, May 15, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Kim Amblad performs as part of the Majestic Drive-Thru Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, May 15, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

A sign backstage at Majestic Repertory Theatre is seen before the start of a rehearsal for a short film, in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Cast members prepare for a rehearsal of "Reverse Psychology," a short film, at Majestic Repertory Theatre, in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Mike Vargovich, right, performs in an alleyway during a rehearsal for Ҕhe Parking LotӠin Las Vegas on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

The cast of Horrorwood Video drive-in is reflected in a mirror during a rehearsal at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

People watch a video at the start of the Horrorwood Video drive-in at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

A video is reflected in a car headlight at the start of the Horrorwood Video drive-in at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

A silhouetted performer is seen during the Horrorwood Video drive-in at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in downtown Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

The cast of the mobile production ҉f Only In My DreamsӠperforms outside of a residential home in Summerlin in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Performers, from left, Ray Winters, Mike Vargovich, Caitlin Gibbons, and Miranda Lopez perform in a mobile production of ҉f Only In My Dreams outside of a residential home in Summerlin in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Gypsy Wood performs with her dog, Marcello, during a media preview of ҈ot TrashӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Monday, May 3, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Cory Covell holds a mic during a media preview of ҈ot TrashӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Monday, May 3, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

The cast of ҈ot TrashӠhuddle before a show at Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Chase Stevens)

Grace Lusk of ҈ot TrashӠwalks out for the start of a show at Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Chase Stevens)

Robert Ryan gets ready before perfoming in ҈ot TrashӠat Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Chase Stevens)

Hassan Hamilton performs in ҈ot TrashӠduring a show at Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Chase Stevens)

Natalie Rhae performs in ҈ot TrashӠduring a show at Majestic Repertory Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas on Thursday, June 10, 2021. (Chase Stevens)

“It’s unlike anything anyone’s seen on a theater stage in Las Vegas before,” says Troy Heard, artistic director of Majestic Repertory Theatre. Given how often he’s staged musicals employing chainsaws, that’s saying something. But he’s not aiming for hyperbole.

“The Sandman,” opening Wednesday (see majesticrepertory.com), is the debut of a new musical by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker — their show “Bandstand” wona Tony — who contacted Heard because they wanted to open this work in a small, edgy, downtown space.

“I didn’t think twice,” Heard says, and no wonder: “The Sandman,” based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, author of “The Nutcracker,” “is ‘The Nutcracker’s’ dark, twisted sequel,” Heard says. “It’s gothic, scary and funny.” And complex: The set moves and reconfigures; the constumes are extravagant; robotics are involved. “It’s like a Tim Burton movie onstage,” he says. But it’s not all style. “At the base of it all,” he says, “it’s full of heart.”

“The Sandman” finds Majestic Repertory “circling back” to the sort of large-scale production it last staged in February 2020, with “Sweeney Todd.” With the COVID-19 lockdown subsequently clearing theaters, artistic director Troy Heard and his crew faced the same dilemma as everyone else in the culture industry: how to stay relevant in the lives of their audiences.

Many went online, offering Zoom shows or talks; galleries posted Instagram exhibits. With his history of staging shows in inventive ways and offbeat sites — houses, alleys — Heard quickly adapted to the pandemic restrictions. In addition to an early pair of Instagram shows, Majestic staged outdoor drive-up or drive-through productions.

Last holiday season, a small crew of performers took a macabre holiday work, “If Only in My Dreams,” to people’s homes in a twisted parody of Christmas caroling. This spring saw “Hot Trash,” a socially distanced peep-show-style production.

“It’s about keeping that connection between artist and audience,“ Heard says. “One thing I alwasy knew, in theory, was that people crave being in a space with other people. But during the pandemic I heard it from their mouths, saying, ‘Thank you for doing this.’ They crave sharing space around the metaphorical campfire.”