Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts will present the Tony Award-winning “The Light in the Piazza” Friday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Pardoe Theatre at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees.
Tickets are $20-22, with $6 off weeknights and $5 off weekends for BYU students and those with student ID; senior citizens and BYU alumni will receive $2 off. Saturday matinees are $11-13. For tickets, visit the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981 or byuarts.com/tickets. There will be no performances Sundays or Mondays or during the Thanksgiving period, Nov. 26-Dec. 4.
“The Light in the Piazza” began as a novella written by Elizabeth Spencer and was made into a popular motion picture in 1962. This musical version, which won six Tony Awards in 2005, features a book by Craig Lucas with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, the grandson of Broadway composer Richard Rodgers.
“The Light in the Piazza” explores love in its most tender and complicated forms.
Directed by Scott Eckern, the play opens in 1953 in Italy when a wealthy American and her daughter set out to explore an Italian piazza (town square) filled with art, history and sunlight. When a summer breeze whisks the girl’s hat into the hands of a handsome young Florentine, the resulting encounter sparks an unexpected romance, forcing the mother to reconsider not only her daughter’s future but her own life’s dreams — and regrets.
“My trip to 1953 Florence, Italy, was unexpected,” said Eckern. “This year marks 30 years since I ventured out from BYU with a graduate degree in hand. At that time I couldn’t imagine that I would have this rare opportunity to return to this special place where my passion for theatre blossomed.”
“The true highlight of this experience has been my collaboration with the students on stage and behind the scenes. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the BYU Alumni Association representing the College of Fine Arts and Communications, and a priority of the board is to encourage alumni to return often and become available to students as mentors,” he said.
"I am thankful for the invitation from the Theatre and Media Arts Department to be the guest director of this production of ‘The Light in the Piazza.’ This experience has been extremely rewarding as I have been able to be of service to the students, faculty and staff as we worked together to tell this story,” said Eckern
The cast includes Rebecca Peterson as Clara Johnson, Kimberly Bunker as Margaret Johnson, Michael Milkanin as Fabrizio Naccarelli, Ted Bushman as Signor Naccarelli, Julia Carter as Signora Naccarelli, Alicia Kaori Shumway as Franca Naccarelli, Cameron Smith as Roy Johnson, Alicia Pann as the Tour Guide and Jack Shapiro as the Priest.
The design and technical crew includes Mark Johnson, music direcor; Lisa Stoddard, choreographer; Brittany Corbett, production stage manager; Logan Hayden, assistant scenic designer; Ashley Cook, costume designer; Mckenzie Ottley, assistant lighting designer; Jason Cassel, sound designer; Jennifer Reed, production manager; and Kristen Leinbach, dramaturg.
For more information, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu.
Writer: Brett Lee
