VIDEO FLASHBACK: How THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Changed The Careers of Its Authors, Stars and Director

As the son of Mary Rodgers, grandson of Richard Rodgers and godson of Arthur Laurents, there was probably a bit more expected by the public from Adam Guettel on opening night of A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA than there normally would be for a first-time Broadway composer/lyricist.

Those in the know certainly admired his chromatically textured and dramatically rich scores for FLOYD COLLINS and MYTHS AND HYMNS and the finished product presented to the world on April 18th, 2005, from the stage of Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre, proved to provide an entrancing mix of romanticism and psychological exploration. Guettel was awarded Tonys that season for both his score and orchestrations.

The adaptation of Elizabeth Spencer's novel was also the first Broadway musical penned by bookwriter Craig Lucas, best known then for his off-beat, but charming romantic comedy, PRELUDE TO A KISS. For a story about American tourists in Italy, both authors did a remarkable job of having the Italian characters express themselves in their native language when no Americans were around while still allowing for an English-speaking audience to understand the action.

A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA returns to The Beaumont Tonight at 6:30pm for one night only, as members of the original cast gather for a 10th anniversary reunion concert which will also serve as Lincoln Center Theater's Annual Benefit. Eric and Stacey Mindich are the Gala evening's Co-Chairs. Proceeds will support Lincoln Center Theater's productions and education programs.

The three most prominent stars of that original production have certainly seen their careers change in the last ten years. The role of a mother fighting her romantic disillusions while vacationing abroad with her developmentally disabled daughter provided Victoria Clark with her first chance to originate a dramatic leading role on Broadway after numerous supporting and replacement jobs. She was awarded that season's Best Actress in a Musical Tony and became a bona fide Broadway headliner.

As her daughter, Kelli O'Hara, who received praise for her performances in the short-lived musicals SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and DRACULA, was finally given a role in a hit that properly displayed her talents, and she immediately zoomed to the status of one of today's most sought-after strong-acting Broadway sopranos. After six nominations, O'Hara was awarded a Tony last season for her performance as Anna in THE KING AND I.

Matthew Morrison certainly gained a fan base as HAIRSPRAY's original Link Larkin, but, as a young love-struck Italian in A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, he proved himself capable of a meaty dramatic role. After another fine acting turn in SOUTH PACIFIC and television popularity by way of GLEE, Morrison returned to Broadway as a leading man star in FINDING NEVERLAND.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA also boosted the career of its director, Bartlett Sher's who was making his Broadway debut. His subsequent revivals of SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I and this season's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, along with his incisive mountings of straight plays like AWAKE AND SING!, JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE and GOLDEN BOY have established him as one of Broadway's star directors.

When THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was featured on the 2005 Tony Award telecast, it was almost a disaster, as Victoria Clark's body mic wasn't functioning. She was given a hand-held mic and, if you watch the video closely, you can spot the moment when she's told the problem had been fixed and she could hand her mic to the unseen stagehand.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA reunion concert will be conducted by original musical director and co-orchestrator Ted Sperling. Victoria Clark, Matthew Morrison, and Kelli O'Hara will be joined by their fellow original cast members Michael Berresse, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Patti Cohenour, Beau Gravitte, Mark Harelik, Felicity LaFortune, and Joseph Siravo. Visit lct.org.