Photo Flash: Opening Night of VENICE at Kirk Douglas Theatre

The world premiere production of "Venice" opens this Sunday (October 17) at 6:30 p.m. Currently in previews through October 16, the new musical with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax and lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, and additional music by Curtis Moore, is presented by Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as a co-production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre. "Venice" continues through November 14.

"Venice," a rich story of war, love, betrayal and the quest for peace, boasts a powerful score that fuses elements of hip-hop, R&B and opera. Set in a not-too-distant future, two brothers clash over how to govern their city in the aftermath of a 20-year war. One brother seeks a new era of peace and restoration while the other tries to seize power by keeping the city mired in violence and by derailing his brother's upcoming marriage to a woman whose father had been the city's president in happier days.

Under Rosen's direction, the cast of "Venice" features (in alphabetical order) Uzo Aduba, Erich Bergen, Rodrick Covington, J.D. Goldblatt, Andrea Goss, Preston Mui, Javier Muñoz, Victoria Platt, Angela Wildflower Polk, Matt Sax, Donald Webber, Jr. and Morgan Weed.

Vocal arrangements and music direction are by Curtis Moore. Choreography is by John Carrafa and Tanisha Scott. The set and costume design is by Meghan Raham, lighting design by David Weiner, sound design, music production and incidental music by Joshua Horvath, and projection design by Jason H. Thompson. Casting is by Bonnie Grisan, CSA and Stephanie Klapper, CSA.

"Venice" was commissioned by CTG and presented in public workshops as a part of DouglasPlus in April 2009. The production opened at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in April 2010. In his review, Richard Zoglin of TIME magazine said, "...the next major American musical could well be in the making...

"Venice," said Zoglin, is "[an] ambitious and expansive work, combining elements of Shakespeare, Greek tragedy, Brechtian allegory and dystopian political fable, all enhanced by rap narration and a melodic, rock-influenced score that is one of the most winning I have heard onstage in years."