Light in the Piazza(s)

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?

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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.

"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.

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

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!

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.

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

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