The Light in the Piazza Begins Previews on Thursday

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, a new musical with book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and direction by Bartlett Sher begins performances Thursday (March 17) at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 St).. Opening night for this Lincoln Center Theater production is Monday, April 18.

Based on the novella by Elizabeth Spencer, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is set in the summer of 1953 and tells the story of a mother and daughter traveling through Italy, the daughter's romance with a handsome, high-spirited Florentine, and the mother's determined efforts to keep the two apart.

The show's cast of 18 also includes Glenn Seven Allen, Michael Berresse, Sarah Uriarte Berry, David Bonanno, David Burnham, Victoria Clark, Patti Cohenour, Beau Gravitte, Laura Griffith, Mark Harelik, Prudence Wright Holmes, Jennifer Hughes, Felicity LaFortune, Catherine LaValle, Michel Moinot, Matthew Morrison, Kelli O'Hara and Joseph Siravo.

This show is Lincoln Center Theater's 109th production. In addition to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, LCT is also presenting the world premiere of the new musical, DESSA ROSE, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, directed and choreographed by Graciela Danielle, in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA will be performed Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm. (There is no matinee on Saturday, March 19.) Tickets, priced from $65 to $90, are available at the Lincoln Center Theater box office, by calling Tele-Charge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.lct.org.