Dallyn Vail Bayles Stars in THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE at OBERON, Beg. Tonight

The world premiere of THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE, a new musical by Erica Glenn and Melissa Leilani Larson based on the classic novel Silas Marner by George Eliot, opens at the OBERON in Boston tonight, May 29, 2014.

"I fell in love with this literary gem the first time I read it as a teenager," said composer/lyricist/book co-writer, Erica Glenn. "Primarily a love story, Silas Marner is also a parable of industrialization, a morality tale, and a good old-fashioned saga of suspense, loss, and redemption. It is a drama of epic proportions that somehow never loses its intimacy or humanity--a musical just waiting to be written."

THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE was workshopped intensively at Brigham Young University during the fall of 2011and was given a partial performance early in 2012 by the Salty Cricket Composer's Collective in Salt Lake City. Then in the spring of 2013, Glenn learned that WEAVER had been selected for a developmental reading slot at the prestigious New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF). After playing to enthusiastic audiences there and receiving much valuable feedback, Glenn decided to bring award-winning playwright, Melissa Leilani Larson, on board as a book co-writer. It was a move she hasn't regretted.

"Not only does Mel 'get' my vision," Glenn said. "But she constantly improves on it! She's like an upgraded extension of my own brain."

Larson concurred that the collaboration worked well. "Erica and I both agree that the story must come first. Everything-music and lyrics and script-is about pushing the story forward and taking the audience on a journey. We both want to tell the story as well and as completely as we can."

After months of work, THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE is having its world premiere as a fully staged production at the OBERON in Boston on May 29, 30, 2014.

Leading the stellar cast is veteran actor/singer, Dallyn Vail Bayles, appearing as Godfrey, the wealthy, self-preserving foil to Silas who values his reputation and his family's good name at almost any cost. Bayles has appeared in the National Broadway Tours of Phantom of the Opera (Phantom/Raoul u/s) and Les Miserables (Enjolras). Other credits include Adam in Children of Eden, Father in Ragtime, Emile inSouth Pacific, Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, and Archibald in The Secret Garden. Bayles, a renowned tenor, has soloed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has released three solo albums.

Appearing as the tormented Silas, Anthony Pires Jr. is a promising young actor and singer who recently played Jake in Sideshow, the Musical. He has also performed as Ton Ton in Once on This Island, Jason in Bare, the Musical, and Horton in Suessical, the Musical.

Other cast members include Danielle Lussier (Nancy), Jillian Rossi (Sarah), Theresa Degan (Molly), Phil Thompson (Squire Cass), Ellen Stapansky (Mrs. Winthrop), Rob White (Dunstan), Meghan LaFlam (Eppie), Catherine Oliviere (Young Eppie), Michael Albert (Aaron), Connor Upton (Young Aaron), Jade Zaroff (Flower Girl), Ben Gold (Vicar/Mr. White), Greg Gallagher (Shopkeeper), Matt Orell (Blacksmith/Mr. Briggs), Lorin Zackular (Seamstress), and Kristen Palson (Squire's cook).

The show is directed by Jess Ernst and produced by Michael Morris, in association with the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Other members of the creative team include Sarah Houghton (Music Director), David C. Green (Assistant Music Director/Rehearsal Pianist/Keyboardist/Assistant Orchestrator), Leilani Ricardo (Movement Director), Christopher Sherwood Davis (Assistant Director and Dialect Coach), Joanna Horton (Acting Coach), Maria Giarrizzo (Acting Coach), Alexandra van den Berg (Costume Designer), Marty Whitney (Lighting Designer), Jake Egan (Hair and Make-up Designer), Dan Brown (Orchestrator), Matt Pace (Assistant Orchestrator), Nicolas Cazares (Assistant Orchestrator), Sam Shull (Assistant Orchestrator), and Max Wolpert (Assistant Orchestrator).

Members of the production team include Michael Morris (Producer), Rafe Gandola (Assistant Producer), Justin Villalta (Production Manager/TD), Joyce Yang (Production Assistant), Kelsey Brown (Stage Manager), Lyndsi Pace (Publicity), James Wetzel (OBERON Programming Manager), Sharlee Glenn (Copywriter), Mark Gould (Run Crew), Jared Mooney (Sound Designer/Cast Album Producer), S. McKay Stevens (Social Media Consultant), Kati Morton (Social Media Consultant), Adrianne Neiss (Graphic Designer), Liz Hollender (Graphic Designer), Braden Sweeten (Assistant Graphic Designer), McKenzie Carnahan (Graphics Assistant), and Michael Holt (Producing Consultant).

For more information on THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE, visit www.weaverofraveloe.com.

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