| New Musical "Orlando" Debuts on October 11 Off-Broadway | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 02:02 pm EDT 09/26/24 | |
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| ORLANDO A NEW MUSICAL DEBUTS OFF-BROADWAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 Directed by KIMILLE HOWARD Book by NORA BRIGID MONAHAN Music by CYNTHIA SAUNDERS Lyrics by TRICIA DUNN & CYNTHIA SAUNDERS (New York, NY—September 25, 2024)— ORLANDO, a new musical based on Virginia Woolf's classic novel, will debut Off-Broadway on Friday, October 11 at Theatre Row – Theatre 5 (410 West 42nd Street) for a limited engagement. Directed by Kimille Howard, the new musical retelling of a feminist classic features book by Nora Brigid Monahan with music by Cynthia Saunders and lyrics by Tricia Dunn & Cynthia Saunders. Emily Young* (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) heads a cast of nine as Virginia. It's 1928, and Virginia Woolf sees a crumbling world. Corruption, pollution, an empire in decline – and yet somehow, shining through it all… there's Orlando. A miraculous, singular being who defies description and has lived over three hundred years, Orlando captivates Virginia's imagination and inspires her to write a fantastical, biographical adventure that one day will be called the "most charming love-letter in literature." In this new musical, Orlando charts the rise and fall of queens, kings, and poets and sets to song the immortal love of two of the most brilliant women of the 20th century. "The groundbreaking 1928 novel Orlando is an epic story of self-discovery and non-conformity that immortalizes the love between two queer women, Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West", said co-writer Nora Brigid Monahan. "Cindy Saunders first started working on this score over forty years ago, and it has been a joy and a privilege to collaborate with her this last year and to write the book to this new musical adaptation of my all-time favorite novel. Every time I reread it, I fall in love with Orlando a little bit more – and I think audiences at Theatre Row will share that sentiment." The cast features Matty Balkum*; LaDonna Burns* (White Girl in Danger); Jessie Cannizzaro* (Puffs); Tymothee Harrell; Micki Hardenberg*; Evie Schuckman; Ariella Serur* (1776 Revival); Anita Welch-Smith*; and Emily Young* (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson). ORLANDO includes set design by David Goldstein; costume design by Lisa Renee Jordan; lighting design by Emmanuel Delgado; sound design by Guy Harrington; production props is Brendan McCann; choreographer is Michael Raine; music director is Megan Smythe; production stage manager is Emma Frances* and assistant stage manager is Erika Graff. Visceral Entertainment serves as the General Manager. ABOUT THE CREATORS: Nora Brigid Monahan (Book) is a playwright and performer best known for creating and starring in the cult-hit solo musical DIVA: Live From Hell (music & lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen), which has been performed around the world. Other writing credits include the plays Aunt Jack and Maximilien Robespierre Did Nothing Wrong. As an actor, Nora has originated roles by Charles Busch, Ken Urban, Randy Sharp, and James Presson, and most recently starred in the new musical A Complicated Woman by Jonathan Brielle and Ianne Fields Stewart at Goodspeed's Terris Theatre. Orlando has been Nora's favorite novel since she first read it at age 16. Cynthia Saunders (Music, Lyrics, Orchestrations) wrote her first song when she was eight years old. Her first musical, Tropical Rhythm, was performed in her high school auditorium. She went on to study music theory and composition at Adelphi and Syracuse University and then received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hartford. For many years, Cynthia performed and toured the country in several successful all-women rock bands, including Sweet Jenny Grit and Siren. In 1984, she began work on the score to Orlando. Cynthia is proud to be making her off-Broadway debut with the musical that has been her passion project for the last 40 years. Kimille Howard (Director) is a director, deviser, writer, filmmaker, Assistant Stage Director at the Metropolitan Opera, and Artistic Director of the Lucille Lortel Theatre's NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship Program. Recent credits: Two Corners (Finger Lakes Opera), Sanctuary Road (Virginia Opera), Treemonisha (Opera Theatre of St. Louis), The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson (Glimmerglass, Washington National Opera, Opera Carolina, Pittsburgh Opera). She is a recipient of OPERA America's 2023 Robert L. B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize. Michael Raine (Choreographer). New York: Joe's Pub, Theater for a New City, Ars Nova, NYCT, National Sawdust, The Folksbiene, Jewish Rep, 92nd St Y, The Flea. Regional: Yale Rep, Wolf Trap Opera, The Weston Playhouse, Barn Arts, Le Petit Theatre, The Egg. International: Rent Japan, Creativiva Toronto. Megan Smythe (Music Director) is a New York based music director and pianist. She most recently was the music assistant on the new musical Working Girl featuring music by Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman, and Sammy James, Jr. As a music director, she has most notably worked on Norwegian Cruise Line's production of SIX the Musical and Burn the Floor. Other theater credits include The 2nd National Tour of Anastasia the Musical, Escape from Margaritaville (Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts), Sweeney Todd, and Ragtime (Hangar Theater). Megan holds two bachelor's degrees in piano performance and music education from Ithaca College. CAST BIOS: Matty Balkum* (Harold/Favilla/Shel) (they/them) is a theatre maker based in occupied Lenapehoking (NYC). Recent work includes their short-film drag series, 5 Minutes More and developmental reading of their new play, Hand of Glory. The Tattooed Lady (Goodspeed); The Man Who Came to Dinner, Our Town (The Barnstormers Theatre). Graduate of Boston Conservatory at Berklee. LaDonna Burns* (Elizabeth/George/Victoria) Credits include NY: White Girl in Danger (Nell standby), Caroline, or Change (Caroline-Audelco Awards Lead Actress Musical nominee), Follies (Stella-NYIT Award for Outstanding Featured Actress). National Tours: RENT (Seasons of Love Soloist) and Seussical (Sour Kangaroo). Regional: Ghost (Oda Mae-Ct Critics Circle Award Featured Actress), Rock of Ages (Justice), Cinderella (Fairy Godmother). She is a proud member of Broadway Inspirational Voices! Jessie Cannizzaro* (Harriet/Harry) Select Theater: The Gods of Comedy (The Old Globe), Puffs (New World Stages), Romeo and Juliet (Lincoln Center), and the title role in Hamlet (American Theatre of Actors). Select Film/TV: "The Equalizer" (CBS), "Nella the Princess Knight" (Nickelodeon), and Selah and The Spades (Amazon). Jessie trained at UCB, and is an alumna of Ars Nova's comedy residency. Micki Hardenberg* (Modesty/Clorinda/Grimsditch/Kitty) (they/them) is an actor, singer, dancer, and music teacher (@triple.threat.theory) who is thrilled to be a part of Orlando: A New Musical! Their other credits include the first national tour of Bandstand as well as regional productions of A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, and Singin' in the Rain. Tymothee Harrell (Leonard/Nick) (AKA: Tymmé) is an up-and-coming multi-disciplined artist from New Haven, CT; currently living in NYC. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts; Tymmé exhibits powerhouse performance capabilities garnered from over 15+ years of center stage experience. Past credits include: Peacock TV, New World Symphony (Miami, FL), Apollo Theater, Shubert Theater (New Haven, CT), etc. Evie Schuckman (Orlando/Vita) (they/them) is a first generation Chinese American theatremaker. Recent: Parable of the Sower (Emery/Mrs. Hsu), national tour and Lincoln Center. As a developmental artist Evie has worked at MCC Theater, Ars Nova, NAMT, and Playwrights' Horizons. They are a proud acting company member at Mercury Store. Their BFA is from Boston Conservatory, they are a double Leo, and you can tell. Orlando is Evie's favorite novel. Ariella Serur* (Purity/Sasha/Nell) (they/she) is a performer, writer, and composer passionate about telling queer stories. Select performance credits: Broadway: 1776. Regional: 1776, A.R.T.; RENT, Redhouse Arts Center. Ariella is the co-creator of We Start In Manhattan: A New Queer Musical with partner Sav Souza, and a current BMI First Year. Anita Welch Smith* (Chastity/Euphrosyne/Prue). Theater: Off-Broadway- Little Rock (Sheen Center); Hercules (The Public Theater); For The Last Time (Clurman Theatre); National Tour: Avenue Q; Regional: A Raisin In The Sun (The Guthrie Theatre); Aida (Axelrod Performing Arts Center); Ain't Misbehavin' directed by Tony Award-winning creator Richard Maltby Jr. (Westchester Broadway Theatre); The Color Purple (regional premiere). FILM/TELEVISION - Black Nativity, Stuck; The CROWN Act ad campaign for Dove "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver". AWARDS/ ACCOLADES - New York Times Critics Pick; Two-time AUDELCO Award nominee for Best Actress. Emily Young* (Virginia) is an actor, singer, director, writer and founding company member of acclaimed Fiasco Theater. Broadway: How I Learned to Drive u/s, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; Off-Broadway: Pericles, Merrily We Roll Along, The Servant of Two Masters, Into the Woods, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Cymbeline; Film/TV: Living with Yourself, The Knick, God of Love. M.F.A. Brown/Trinity. *Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors' Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production. Orlando is an Equity Approved Showcase. TICKET INFORMATION: ORLANDO runs a strictly limited engagement October 11 to October 26 at Theater Row (Theatre 5) at 410 West 42nd Street. Opening Night is October 13 at 3:00 PM. Showtimes are Tuesdays-Thursdays at 7:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM; with matinees on Saturdays at 2:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM. (Running time is 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission.) Tickets for ORLANDO are $49 and will be available at TheatreRow.org or OrlandoMusical.com |
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