O’Neill Music Theater Conference Offers New Musicals, THE
NIGHTINGALE & SARAH,
PLAIN & TALL, August 2 through 10
Waterford, CT, May 28, 2003
– Two new musicals, THE NIGHTINGALE and SARAH, PLAIN & TALL will
bring to life a romance in the Forbidden City of ancient China and the Kansas
homestead of a pioneer family during the 26th annual O’Neill Music
Theater Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. During the
Conference (July 28 through August 10), established and emerging artists form
a community of writers, composers, directors and performers in support of
bringing new music theater to life on the stage.
The OMTC 2003 events are as follows:
THE NIGHTINGALE Book & Lyrics by
Steven Sater; Music by Duncan Sheik
Behind Forbidden City walls, a young Chinese emperor yearns for something
more. But when he finds his heart in the natural song of a little grey bird – and a common servant girl – the
status quo is rocked. Will their acoustic tune be drowned out by the entrance
of a regal princess and the synthesized sounds of a golden bird? Based on Hans
Christian Andersen’s classic story. Directed by Lou Jacob, featuring
actors Eric Bondoc, Tom Flynn, Harriett D. Foy,
Colby Foytik, Kimberly Jajuan,
Manu Narayan, Randy Reyes, Denise Summerford and Price Walden. Based on the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
Performances are August 2, 3 & 7 at 8:00 p.m. and August 9 & 10 at 2:30 p.m. in the Dina Merrill Theater.
SARAH, PLAIN & TALL Book by Julia
Jordan; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin; Music by Laurence O’Keefe; Based on
the book by Patricia MacLachlan
Jacob, a widowed Kansas homesteader, advertises for a wife and mother for
his children. Sarah, a tough, capable Maine woman, answers. Sarah’s
not at all what they expected, but for a family too long in mourning
she’s a breath of fresh air. Directed by Joe Calarco,
featuring actors Becca Ayers, Kenny Boys, Kaitlin Hopkins, Stacie Morgain
Lewis, Josh Park, Jim Price and Debra Wiseman. Performances are August 2
& 3 at 2:30 p.m. and August 6, 8 & 9 at 8:00 p.m. in the Rufus & Margo Rose Theater Barn.
Special Event – “Book!
Lyrics! Music!”
The O’Neill continues its popular behind-the-scenes discussion series.
Join the creators of the musicals SARAH, PLAIN & TALL and THE NIGHTINGALE
and find out how a new music theater work comes together. This free event is
open to the public and will take place August 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the Barn.
In addition to the public readings and discussions, writer Beth Blatt and composer Jennifer Giering
will be in residence developing their new musical CARABOO, a fairy tale about
a woman who wandered the English countryside in the early 1800s, claiming to
be a princess. Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman wrote the book
for the musical, based on the 1817 novel by John Matthew Gutch.
The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford CT, is a learning community dedicated
to advancing the American Theater through programs that encourage creative
excellence and develop diverse voices and new work. These include the
Puppetry Conference (June 2 – 15) Playwrights Conference (June 23
– July 20), Critics Institute (July 8 – 20), Music Theater
Conference (July 28 – August 10) and the National Theater Institute, a
college-accredited training program for theater artists. The O’Neill
also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage,
childhood home of America’s only Nobel Prize-winning
playwright, Eugene O’Neill, and holds an annual celebration honoring
the life and works of its namesake every October.
Ticket prices for OMTC readings are $10 & $12, or $8 weekdays for
O’Neill members. Performance schedule is subject to change. To reserve
tickets or receive a summer schedule, call The O’Neill at 860-443-5378
or the box office at 860-443-1238 (after June 9).
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