Light in the Piazza(s)

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:06am

Now that the tour is over and regional theaters will likely include Piazza in their seasons, which actresses would you like to see tackle Clara and Margot?

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:12am

I don't know who I'd like to see play Margot in Piazza because I didn't know that role existed in the show. Care to elaborate on this new character?

[jv92]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:17am

I didn't know Guettel and Lucas were STILL rewriting! My goodness! What perfectionists! Who is this Margot?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:28am

Ha!

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:51am

Whoa! Down kitties! Sorry- That typo was enough to make a Piazza-obsessed fan foam at the mouth!
Magaret and Clara, that is.
Updated On: 8/23/07 at 11:51 AM

[Operagod01]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 6:04pm

Interesting question to ponder about.....? Who knows, it's such a special role. My Guess is that Jane Brockman will get some regional work from being the TOUR u/s. What a role! I was very sorry that none of our regional companies in Souther Calif. have it planned for the next season. I was very curious to see what they do with it.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 7:09pm

Its driving me crazy that I haven't seen this show other than the PBS special!

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 7:13pm

Me too. But anyway, on the subject, I think Lauren Molina would make a good Clara.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 7:23pm

I hope that either Arena Stage in DC, or Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda, MD produce this show. I'd love to see Lynne Wintersteller as Margaret.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 7:45pm

The national tour just played most of the cities that have major professional theatre companies (the rights are currently only available for the professional market) so it may be a couple of seasons before most of the big companies want to do it.

That said, there are lots of superb "local stars" in most of the big theatre cities, so I don't know that you are really going to see people like Carolee Carmello or Marin Mazzie going out to do it regioinally. I bet Susan Moniz, for example, plays Margaret in Chicago.
Updated On: 8/23/07 at 07:45 PM

[Operagod01]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 7:59pm

I also think that Margaret Johnson is a role that we will see played very poorly once there are no restrictions on the rights. Even some regionals here in Southern Calif. have poor casting taste. Lord! that's going to hurt!

That score is so stunning! It's a real piece of art, and because of that I think that some smaller theatres will do a good job. Who will ever be able to compete with the Lincoln Center produciotn? But a smaller inspired version would probably be great (in the right hands).

The tour went very well (I saw it on several stops... including the final show). Tours are often known to be sloppy by the end, but not Piazza. I hope companies do it for the love of the entire show and not because their favorite actress wants to be Margaret (and yes, the regionals are often guilty here), because even though Margaret is THE key role, it still needs the same quality from each and every actor.

We can only wait and see. At least till Fall of 2008 (unless something happens) The regionals and stock will be the only companies that are able to secure rights.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 8:32pm

A Piazza related question-
Is Mr. Guettel ever going to allow the full vocal score to be published. Floyd Collins and Myths and Hymns both have had their vocal scores published. Will the same happen for Piazza? I'd love to read through it some day.

[Operagod01]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 8:47pm

Yes, it will come out within the next 12 months. Probably closer to the END of that time (but you never know). The script took FOREVER and kept getting delayed. I have the score, and I know they are working on tightening it up for publication. It's one DIFFICULT score to play. And things like "Octet" and "Aiutami" are CRAZY! When I recorded the selections for Adam (with my students) An accompanist or two declined. I finally got a Doctoral Student and she sight-read it! Granted some of the "Aiutami" was very hard to get in sync with the singers. You really need Bass and Drum in this number to hold it together).

At any rate, the score is beautiful and you'll enjoy seeing it.

Updated On: 8/23/07 at 08:47 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 9:46pm

I assumed it'd be published eventually. I don't see why this tradition of scores being published has stopped though. I know that many people use them for illegal productions, but plenty of people just enjoy reading, singing and playing through them like me. Thankfully the Guettel shows are published.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:01pm

I don't think scores are rarely published because of the "illegal" production fear (I can just see community theatres and high schools scrambling to do their bootleg versions of PIAZZA...) The truth is: the amount of time and money it takes to have a score reduced to a piano orchestration is extremely high. As is the cost of printing. Vocal scores cost almost $100 retail. And there isn't that big of a demand for them.

Sondheim is really the only living musical theatre composer I can think of who routinely gets full vocal scores published of his works. And now Guettel, though I'm sure his legacy and direct connection to Williamson Music work in his favor.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:08pm

Kaitlyn Hopkins for Margaret? Maybe in a few years?

[evadiva]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:19pm

"Floyd Collins and Myths and Hymns both have had their vocal scores"

Ah - yesterday I was SALIVATING over the Floyd Collins score at a broadway store on 44th.

[Weez]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 1:40pm

I love working in a bookshop. We got paid on Monday, and it was a happy me carting home my vocal score of 'Floyd Collins' and volume 1 of 'The Collected Plays Of Edward Albee' that evening. God bless staff discount. :3

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:11pm

Christine Ebersole and Erin Davie. Seriously. I think they'd both be fabulous, especially Christine.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:25pm

They would, but I'm hoping they'll do Applause together at Encores! first. At least we know Ebersole will be.

[Operagod01]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:45pm

Yes, they would be fine. Christine Ebersole is a very fine actress and she does have a good legit voice. I've never found her to be a "deep" performer, but I am sure she would make the role her own. She's a pro!

[musicman_17082]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 3:55am

How long till Piazza is available for ameteur productions through MTI and the like?

I'd die to do this show.

[Operagod01]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 4:39am

As it stands (as of last week) it's going to be the end of 2008 or early 2009 before it's realeased for amateur performances. R&H Theatricals handles the rights.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 11:30am

Lauren Molina is too MT soprano for Clara, IMO. I prefer more classical-style sopranos in the role.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 4:46pm

Well, you didn't hear Clarke on the PBS recording obviously.