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Tryon Festival Theatre April 27-30, 2017
​Music by Adam Guettel
Based on the novella by Elizabeth Spencer
Book by Craig Lucas
Dawn Harris, stage director
Julie Jordan Gunn, musical director
​Julie Jordan Gunn and Michael Tilley, conductors

"Several years ago, I was introduced to The Light in the Piazza when I had the privilege of performing the pivotal role of Margaret Johnson at The Station Theater. Since then, I have maintained a deep love for Adam Guettel's remarkable musical adaptation of Elizabeth Spencer's original novel. When asked to direct "Piazza" for Lyric Theatre @ Illinois, I knew that I wanted to stay true to the original time period and style of the novel. Set in Florence, Italy, in the summer of 1953, the show brings an exciting and new challenge to our Lyric Theatre students.

My overall directing concept revolves around Margaret Johnson and her emotional journey throughout the show. As we experience her attempts at protecting her daughter Clara, her struggles with her own marriage, and her eventual acceptance of Clara's independence, the scenery will move and shift as lives and relationships change, fall apart, and are rebuilt. The lighting will play a pivotal role in this production- highlighting magical moments, moments of isolation, moments of chaos and resolution- and the costumes will reflect the charm and attitudes associated with the 1950's.

Guettel and Lucas chose a unique approach to storytelling in The Light in the Piazza and wrote entire scenes in Italian or broken English. The Florentine family, the Naccarellis, speak and sing many scenes in Italian without translation. Part of your experience as an audience member is to go to Italy with Margaret and Clara and to see, feel, and hear the same sights, emotions, and sounds they do throughout the show. As a result, there will be no supertitles. You will find a glossary in the program to help you understand many of the key Italian phrases.

The Light in the Piazza, with its soaring and inspiring music, asks us to examine how music can transform our lives. It also reminds us that love can change our lives when it is discovered. The central theme of "love" in The Light in the Piazza, with all of its ups and downs, affects all of the relationships in the show. Take a journey and enter into Margaret and Clara's world as they surround themselves with the light, the love, and the magic of Italy. Buon viaggio!"

-Dawn Harris, stage director
CAST
​
MARGARET JOHNSON- Caitlin Richardson
CLARA JOHNSON- Lara Semetko 
FABRIZIO NACCARELLI- Nole Jones
SIGNOR NACCARELLI- William T. Duke
SIGNORA NACCARELLI- Kristine Phillips
FRANCA NACCARELLI- Anna Burton
GIUSEPPE NACCARELLI- Stephen Condon
PRIEST/ROY JOHNSON- Dean Perry Moore, II
MARGARET JOHNSON COVER- Dawn Harris
CLARA JOHNSON COVER/SEXY GIRL/GIUSEPPE'S LOVER- Colleen Bruton
GABRIZIO NACCARELLI COVER/NEWSPAPER MAN/OLD MAN/OLD MAN #2- Kieryn Williams
SIGNOR NACCARELLI COVER- David Barkley
SIGNORA NACCARELLI COVER- Sarah Wigley Johnson
FRANCA NACCARELLI COVER/FLOWER SELLER/TOUR GUIDE/PROSTITUTE- Olivia Gronenthal
TOURIST-FATHER/SERVANT- Dane C. Brandon
TOURIST-MOTHER/HOTEL MAID/NUN- Anna Benoit
TOURIST-DAUGHTER/HOTEL MAID/NUN- Caitlin Hennessy
MAN ON BIKE/WAITER/MAN #1- Cody Jacobs
MALE LOVER- Bennett Kosma
FEMALE LOVER- EmilyAnn O'Brien

PRODUCTION TEAM
STAGE DIRECTOR- Dawn Harris
MUSIC DIRECTOR- Julie Jordan Gunn
CONDUCTORS- Julie Jordan Gunn, Michael Tilley
HEAD OF MUSIC STAFF- Michael Tilley
MUSICAL PREPARATION- Michael Bagby, Jaime Cohen,  Alex Munger
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER- Ethan Gardner
ITALIAN LANGUAGE COACH- Filippo Ciabatti
SCENIC DESIGNER- Nicholas Schwartz
COSTUME DESIGNER- Paul Kim
LIGHTING DESIGNER- Erin Pleake
SOUND DESIGNER- Brandon Reed
MEDIA DESIGNER- Anja Hose
PROPERTIES MASTER- Lindsey Sample
HAIR/MAKEUP MASTER- Sharné Van Ryneveld
STAGE MANAGER- Chenglin Xin
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR- Adina Lee Weinig
OPERA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR- Roy H. Howington

Program PDF
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Faculty
    • Alumni
  • Under the Stars
  • Seasons
    • 2021-2022 Season >
      • Lyric Under the Stars
      • Fun Home
      • Carnival!
      • The Marvelous Wonderettes
      • The Marriage of Figaro
      • Audition Requirements
      • Purchase Tickets
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
    • 2018 - 2019 Season
  • Students
    • Student Spotlights
    • Calendar
    • Krannert Resident Producer Kiosk
  • Admissions
    • Undergrad Degree Programs >
      • Performance Degrees
      • Creative Degrees
    • Graduate Degree Programs >
      • Voice Performance & Literature
      • Vocal Coaching & Accompanying
  • Contact Us