Stephen Schwartz isn't exactly a songwriter known for his pathos, but something about The Stephen Schwartz Project at MetroStage makes his music seem even more sanitized.

The revue, which focuses on the show tune composer behind such works as Pippin, Godspell and Wicked, does its best to try to breathe new life into some of Schwartz's songs by featuring non-traditional arrangements. The problem is that few of the re-workings end up for the better; a funky, unapologetically upbeat take on "Magic To Do" divests the song of its somewhat unsettling vibe (something similar happens when the other Pippin number, "The Right Track," is given the spoken-word treatment). A solo rendition of the gorgeous "Meadowlark" cuts the whole fact that the central character of the song, well, dies. And it's unclear why "Day By Day" is done in multiple languages, save for the fact of being different for the sake of doing so.

That said, the revue does an admirable job of showcasing some of Schwartz's lesser-known songs. "Cold Enough To Snow" from Life With Mikey gets an impassioned rendition from Jobari Parker-Namdar, a rich, buttery-voiced performer making his professional stage debut. Local musical theater veteran Felicia Curry brings down the house with her boisterous take on the gospel-infused "Ain't It Good?" from Children of Eden. It would have been nice, though, to see a song or two from Schwartz's underrated Working rather than overwrought crowd-pleasers like "Colors of the Wind," but Amber Iman Moorer sweetly sings the tune from Pocahontas (Schwartz's later career is unfortunately a bit more Disney-fied, literally, than his promising early start, earning him a membership in the Tim Rice Hall Of Fame).

Unlike Curry, most of this cast falls into Parker-Namdar's category of being rather unseasoned, which can be a good and a bad thing. The group nearly explodes with enthusiasm and sheer appreciation for Schwartz's work, but sometimes suffers from weak hand gestures and forced emoting. They handily tackle director and choreographer Michael Bobbitt's dance moves, which can range from engaging, peppy tap-dancing to unfortunate Choreography For The Hearing Impaired. They're also strapped with goofy, layered, 80s-tastic costumes and random props (glowsticks are involved) that contribute to the show's occasionally cheesy vibe.

The show shouldn't disappoint the Schwartz fans out there, though it's unclear whether it'll win any converts.

The Stephen Schwartz Project runs through May 25 at MetroStage in Alexandria; tickets are available online.