LaChiusa's House of Bernard Alba with Daphne Rubin-Vega?

From Broadway.com:

"Will a musical version of Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba be seen on the New York stage this season?

Broadway.com has learned that Lincoln Center Theater is developing the tuner, with a score by Michael John LaChiusa, in preparation for a possible winter bow at the Mitzi E. Newhouse.

Set in a small village in Spain, The House of Bernarda Alba centers on five unmarried daughters trying to escape a domineering mother. The musical version, which will be directed by Graciela Daniele (who previously collaborated with LaChiusa on Marie Christine at LCT), features music and lyrics by LaChiusa and a book by Richard Nelson that is adapted from the original story.

The show would be the second offering of LCT's 2005-2006 season at the Newhouse. (The first is Wendy Wasserstein's Third.) Before it hits the public stage, The House of Bernarda Alba will have a workshop starring Daphne Rubin-Vega."



http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=514375

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Updated On: 6/22/05 at 09:45 PM

Wow. To *finally* see her in a musical...

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I hope this happens!

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This sounds very exciting but very tricky from the musical side, because there are no male characters in Bernarda Alba; instead there's Bernarda, her mother, the servant Poncia, and Bernarda's 5 daughters, plus a few smaller walk-ons for other female characters. I suspect it's going to be a real challenge for LaChiusa to write for 8 or more women's voices in solos and ensembles and differentiate them musically -- sometimes in stagings of Lorca's play it can be a bit difficult at first to tell the 5 sisters apart, especially since they're all dressed in mourning.

I'm guessing Rubin-Vega is going to be playing Adela, the youngest daughter -- who has an affair with her (half)-sister's fiance and ends up hanging herself at the end. The CHOICE role, of course, is Bernarda herself, the matriarch who rules with an iron hand -- in the play she's supposed to be 60, so this will be a great part for an actress old enough to be convincing as the mother of 5 grown daughters in their 20s and 30s.

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I like to think of myself as open minded but this sounds like a nightmare. Bernarda Alba is not something that makes me think, "oh, how much *more* wonderful this would be as a musical". And how on earth could Vega play one the youngest sisters? Did you see her on celebrity charades? I love her, but come on. She can't fake it anymore. She'd be more convincing as Poncia. Again, the whole thing seems rather frightening.

I can see Vega being "aged-up" a decade or so far more easily than taken back in to her late 20's. That simply will not work. There are plenty of wonderful latina actresses who are far more age appropriate. But again, I'm not looking forward to, or excited about the possibility of this project at all.

If anyone can do this, and make it work, LaChiusa can. I think this property is perfect for him.

Or how about Priscilla Lopez as Bernarda?

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miss chita... she would probably never do it though.

oh she'd be good. eh, in my opinion i've always thought of chita as a mezzo. but carol would be a good choice too.

Now...I say this with all true love and respect for the ex Mrs. Mordente...Chita MAY have been considered a mezzo at some point...but the keys for her Reno Sweeney were SO lowered that it's even too low for ME to sing.

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but the keys for her Reno Sweeney were SO lowered that it's even too low for ME to sing

Well, you do have a freakishly high voice, you big girl .

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Here are the official dates (previews begin January 26th). I guess this confirms once and for all that there will be no additional extension for PIAZZA (not that I really thought that they're would be):
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=3859

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