Book
& Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music
by Stephen Flaherty
Based
on the novel by Francine Prose
Direction
& Choreography by Graciela Daniele
Orchestrations
by Michael Starobin
"I
say we yearn to leave something that lasts
To
be known for little we've done.
Men
tell their children the tales of their pasts
And
each man gives his name to his son.
Something
in song or in story,
Something
of blood,
Something
of glory...."
The
Glorious Ones
tells the story of a roving troupe of actors as they chase their
dream of theatrical immortality from the streets of 16th century
Italy all the way to the present day. Bringing these characters
to life on stage is a first rate cast that includes Natalie
Venetia Belcon, John Kassir, David Patrick Kelly, Erin Davie,
Marc Kudish, Julyana Soelistyo, and Jeremy Webb.
The world premiere of this highly anticipated musical was from
April 19-May 20 at the Pittsburgh
Public Theater. Ted Pappas, the theater's Artistic Director,
has this to say about the show: “Lynn Ahrens. Stephen
Flaherty. Graciela Daniele. They are three of the most talented
and successful theater artists in the world and they chose our
own Public Theater as the birthplace of their show. I find that
thrilling. The Glorious Ones is about actors
- their art, egos, passions and adventures. It takes place in
16th century Italy. But honestly, have actors changed all that
much in 400 years?”
Some
audience members may already be familiar with two songs from
the score. "I Was Here" has been performed in concert
by artists such as Patti LuPone and Brian Stokes Mitchell, and
is included in The Ahrens & Flaherty Songbook.
Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley chose "Opposite You"
as the title track for their recently released album of duets
The
Glorious Ones is a love letter to theater past and present,
and will resonate with anyone who has pondered the question
of how to leave his or her own personal mark on the world.
The
Glorious Ones had its New York premiere at Lincoln Center beginning
October 11, 2007. The official opening night was November 5,
2007. The original Off-Broadway Cast Album was released on December 2, 2008
Cast:
Columbina--
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Dottore--
John Kassir
Pantalone--
David Patrick Kelly
Isabella
Andreini-- Erin Davie
Flaminio
Scala-- Marc Kudisch
Armanda
Ragusa-- Julyana Soelistyo
Francesco
Andreini-- Jeremy Webb
Musical
Numbers
Prologue:
"The Glorious Ones" -- The Glorious Ones
"Making
Love"-- Columbina, Flaminio
"Pantalone
Alone"-- Pantalone
"The
Comedy of Love"-- Pantalone, Armanda Ragusa and Troupe
Scenario:
"The Madness of Columbina"-- The Glorious Ones
"The
Glorious Ones" ( reprise)-- Flaminio, Francesco Andreini
"Absalom"--
Francesco
"The
Invitation to France"-- Dottore
"Flaminio
Scala's Historical Journey to France"-- The Glorious Ones
"Three
Lazzi"-- The Glorious Ones
"Armanda's
Tarantella"-- Armanda and Men
"Improvisation"--
Flaminio
"The
World She Writes"-- Isabella Andreini
"Opposite
You"-- Isabella and Francesco
"My
Body Wasn't Why"-- Columbina
Scenario:
"The Madness of Isabella"-- The Glorious Ones
"Flaminio
Scala's Ominous Dream"-- Flaminio and Troupe
"The
World She Writes" (reprise)-- Francesco
"Rise
and Fall"-- Dottore and Troupe
"The
Moon Woman, A Play"-- The Glorious Ones
"The
Glorious Ones"(reprise)-- Flaminio
"I
Was Here"-- Flaminio
"Armanda's
Sack"-- Armanda and Troupe
Finale:
"The Comedy of Love"-- The Glorious Ones
Articles
Link
to Associated Press Review of The Glorious Ones (November
2007)
Link
to Hollywood Reporter Review of The Glorious Ones ( November
2007)
Link
to London Financial Times Review of The Glorious Ones (November
2007)
Link
to Talkinbroadway.com Review of "The Glorious Ones
( May 2007)
Link
to Pittsburgh Tribune Review of "The Glorious Ones"
(April 2007)
Link
to Pittsburgh Tribune Review Profile of Ahrens & Flaherty
(April 2007)
Link
to Pittsburgh Post Gazette Interview with Ahrens & Flaherty
((April 2007)
Link
to Pittsburgh Post Gazette Interview with Graciela Daniele
(April 2007)
Pittsburgh
Public Theater's "Glorious Ones" page(March
2007)
Link
to Playbill Announcement of "The Glorious Ones"
(January 2006)
Link
to Pittsburgh Post Gazette Announcement of "The Glorious
Ones"(January 2006)
Sounds
"My Body Wasn't Why" ( Natalie Venetia Belcon)
Armanda's Sack ( Julyana Soelistyo)
"Absalom" (Jeremy Webb)
"I Was Here" (Marc Kudisch)
"I
Was Here" (Philip Quast)
"Opposite
You"(Marin Mazzie and Jason
Danieley)
Quotables
"Flaherty's
music is as eclectic and melodic as ever — from the jaunty
'Rise and Fall' to a double-entendre-filled "Armanda's
Tarantella" to "I Was Here," a stirring number
that recalls the anthemlike "Back to Before" from
"Ragtime." Ahrens' lyrics are quietly intelligent,
rarely calling attention to themselves, but often packed with
emotion as well as a laugh or two"-- Michael Kuchwara,
Associated Press
"The
Glorious Ones is joyfully naughty with buoyant music by
Stephen Flaherty and a bawdy book and lyrics that showcase the
gifts of its high-spirited cast. Directed and choreographed
with zest by Graciela Daniele, the show includes a trunkful
of well made songs."-- Christopher Isherwood, The New
York Times
"Ahrens'
adaptation is a deft show-within-a-show that demands the cast
zip in and out of playing both late 16th century actors and
their stock characters. Jeremy Webb has the sense of tradition
plus the edge of a modern acrobat as the clown who knows Flaminio
must "change with the times or get off the stage."
Julyana Soelistyo has an open-hearted Felliniesque magic as
the dwarf who quietly adores the boss"
-- Linda
Winer, Newsday
Delightful
and hilarious! Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have created
perhaps their most winning work. Perfectly cast and directed
and choreographed with verve and wit by Graciela Daniele.--Malcolm
Johnson, The Hartford Courant
