by
Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley
based on the short story "
The Ugliest Pilgrim," by Doris Betts.
Directed by
Elizabeth Klinger (TRUTH & BEAUTY; FIND ME BESIDE YOU)
with Musical Direction by
Jeffrey Childs.
November 5-21, 2010 at the
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) (5340 North Interstate Avenue -
view
map)
Starring
Meredith Weber as Violet,
Jerrod Neal as Flick, and featuring
Paul Angelo,
Carrie Baldwin-Sayre,
Sarah Dresser,
Zack Rouse,
Jeremy Sloan,
Tracy Turner,
Isha Tell,
Norman Wilson,
Colin Wood.
Also featuring
Rebecca McDade (PAMTA Award for Best Young Performer) as Young Violet.
Set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, “Violet” follows the journey of a young
woman accidentally scarred by her father years before. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a
long bus ride from her sleepy North Carolina town through Memphis to Oklahoma. Along the way she deals with the past
that haunts her, and unexpectedly finds love.
The show opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 1997. Acclaimed for its well-crafted book & lyrics and
for its powerful, gorgeous score infused with Gospel, Rock, Country, and R&B, "Violet" went on to win the 1997
Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1997 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, and
composer Jeanine Tesori received a Special Citation from the Obie Awards.
"
A genuine sincerity and sweetness that can pierce through one's skepticism...blessed with some lovely indigenous music...
a smart amalgam of country, church and blues." -Seattle Times.
"
VIOLET has the most powerful score of any musical in years." -Howard Kissel, Daily News
"
Enchanting. A pure delight on every level!" -Michael Feingold, Village Voice
"
Here is a truly charming and meaningful new American musical: VIOLET" -Clive Barnes, New York Post
"
A lovely piece, an easy-going but rigorous work filled with unexpected details, compassion for its quirky
characters and especially, a score that uses southern popular and folk influences with unpredictable
sophistication and flair." –Linda Winer, Newsday
