Piane Productions To Premiere DRIFT, CORAM BOY, KITTY'S KISSES & More

Piane Productions (Charlie Piane & Ashley Gordon, Producers) is proud to announce its 2011-12 theatrical season.

The company will present seven regular season productions, as well as two additional off-season productions. Eight of the nine shows will be presented at the Municipal Auditorium Music Hall or the historic Folly Theater.

"We are tremendously excited to produce this season's great works within the stellar Kansas City theatrical community," said Piane. "Our goal has always been to present audiences with brand new, unknown, or fresh approaches to established works of theatre in vibrant productions full of depth and life. Our season allows us to present a wide variety of theatre to audiences both new and seasoned. "

Piane added, "At a time when many shows are cutting back the size of cast and orchestra, we look forward to presenting productions with large casts on stage and a full band in the pit. Theatre is an experience, and it is our philosophy that full-size ensembles are a vital component. We are proud to offer such opportunities with tickets priced at rates that everyone can enjoy."

Opening the season is John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally's ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman.' "Kander & Ebb are some of the most influential artists in the history of the American musical theatre, and ‘Spider Woman' is one of their greatest works. This thrilling piece is woefully underperformed, and we look forward to showcasing it to KC audiences." The musical, based on the novel by Manuel Puig, will play the Folly Theater May 27 - June 5, 2011.

"Next, we will present the US premiere of a symphonic version of Stephen Schwartz & and John Caird's ‘Children of Eden.' I've been a longtime fan of this gorgeous piece, but always found the orchestration to be lacking in size. This large-scale production will feature a full symphonic orchestra. In addition to the regular cast, the production will include a large SATB community chorus & children's ensemble." The show will play the Municipal Auditorium Music Hall July 15-24, 2011.

Jeremy Schonfeld's ‘Drift' started as a successful concept album. The show is a deeply personal work chronicling a turbulent journey through divorce and child custody. The resulting score is comprised of brutally honest reflections filled with anger, grief, sadness, and self-deprecating humor. "Jeremy is one of the best songwriters working in the business today, and we couldn't be more thrilled to be producing one of the first productions of this fantastic new show." The show will make its regional premiere at the Folly Theater September 2-11, 2011.

Michael John LaChiusa's ‘See What I Wanna See' is a fascinating look at truth, passion and faith. This intimate musical was named by New York Magazine as one of the Best Musicals of 2005 and nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. "‘See What I Wanna See' has been on our must-produce list for years. A psychological musical for adults, the show is sure to be an audience favorite." The show will play October 28 - November 6, 2011 in a black box theatre to be announced.

"Helen Edmundson's ‘Coram Boy' is a magnificent evening of theatre, and is the epitome of the kind of works we aim to produce. This Dickensian melodrama uses the work of Handel to tell a story of orphans, angels, murder and music. The show features a highly stylized, contemporary approach to period plays, and is sure to thrill audiences." Based on novel by Jamila Gavin, ‘Coram Boy' features a full-length score by Adrian Sutton. The show will make its regional premiere at the Music Hall January 6-15, 2012.

Inspired by real-life events and using music, dance and video, Lucy Prebble's ‘Enron' is a fascinating and entertaining night of thought-provoking theatre. "Some say the show, which played to great success in London, didn't fare well in its Broadway incarnation because the subject matter was (and still is) an open wound for the American public. While that certainly may be true, this powerful play allows a glimpse behind the scenes at the people behind the debacle, without trying to justify the choices made. Audiences will be treated to a great show that combines multimedia, vaudeville and other performing arts into a thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre." The show will make its regional premiere at the Music Hall February 3-12, 2012.

Maury Yeston & Peter Stone's ‘Titanic' will honor the 100th Anniversary of her voyage. The RMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City on April 10, 1912. Four days into the crossing, at 23:40 on April 14, 1912, she struck an iceberg and sank at 2:20 the following morning. "Like many people, I've been fascinated with the story of Titanic since I was a child. Sure, we've seen the story play out on the silver screen, and we've heard the ‘facts' about the voyage, but who were these people? The story of Titanic represents the end of the Edwardian era. The ushering in of World War I would prove that class distinctions would be changed forever. The show immerses the audience in a wide tapestry of stories which touch upon the entire range of emotions. This is a touching, powerful story that we are proud to present to our audiences." Titanic will play the Music Hall April 6-15, 2012.

Piane Productions will also present two very unique shows outside of the normal season, ahead of its 2012-13 season:

Tom Kitt, Amanda Green & David Lindsay-Abaire ‘s ‘High Fidelity,' based on the hit novel and film of the same name, is a hip, contemporary rock musical written by and for music lovers. High Fidelity' features one of the most interesting and FUN musical scores from the past decade, which is important, because the entire story is about music and its effect on our lives. To borrow from author and fellow director, [New Line Theatre's] Scott Miller, ‘High Fidelity is a story about experiencing music autobiographically, about using music to connect to others, about how music makes your personal pain somehow transcendent, but also about how music cannot supplant real life. What better form in which to tell that story than a rock musical?' Indeed." The show will make its regional premiere at the Folly Theater May 25 - June 3, 2012.

‘Kitty's Kisses,' by Con Conrad, Gus Kahn, Philip Bartholomae & Otto Harbach, charmed Broadway audiences in the summer of 1926, but like so many musicals of its era, faded unfairly into obscurity. "PS Classics record label co-founder Tommy Krasker unearthed material from the show in the now-infamous Warner Bros. Music warehouse in Secaucus, NJ, and was immediately hooked by its very 'Twenties' title. After playing through the remaining manuscripts of the show's delightful score, Krasker and, later, label co-founder Philip Chaffin, set about to restore the work - an endeavor that took decades to complete. In 2009, the duo recorded an all-star studio album of the piece. When I first heard 'Kitty's Kisses,' I was immediately smitten with the score. I had been looking for an obscure '20s or '30s show and knew from that first listen that we absolutely had to produce this piece. Thanks to the wonderful folks at PS Classics, we are thrilled to be mounting the very first production of this show since its initial 1926 Broadway run." This restoration will make its world premiere at the Folly Theater July 6-15, 2012.

"The purpose of our work is to present the types of material we ourselves want to see. In many ways, this is theatre for a new generation, and we aim to foster & build an even greater interest in live theatre in our great community." Piane added, "Audiences will see high-quality productions with great music & stories, and, most importantly, theatergoers can expect to be entertained by the productions that make up the 2011-12 Piane Productions season."

For more information, visit www.PianeProductions.com and the ‘Piane Productions' Facebook group.

2011-2012 Season

Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and venue box offices. On sale dates to be announced shortly.

Kiss of the Spider Woman - The Musical
Book by Terrence McNally, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Based on the novel by Manuel Puig. Originally directed by Harold Prince

(All performances at the Folly Theater)
Friday, May 27, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, May 28, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, May 29, 2011: 8pm
Monday, May 30, 2011: No Performance
Tuesday, May 31, 2011: 8pm
Wednesday, June 1, 2011: 8pm
Thursday, June 2, 2011: 8pm
Friday, June 3, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, June 4, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, June 5, 2011: 2:30pm

Description:
Winner of multiple Tony Awards including Best Musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies. Cell mates in a Latin American prison, Valentin is a tough revolutionary undergoing torture and Molina is an unabashed homosexual serving eight years for deviant behavior. Molina shares his fantasies about an actress, Aurora (originated on Broadway by Chita Rivera) with Valentin. One of her roles is a Spider Woman who kills with a kiss.

Children of Eden

Symphonic US Premiere
Book by John Caird, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Based on a concept by Charles Lisanby

(All performances at the Music Hall)
Friday, July 15, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, July 16, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, July 17, 2011: 8pm
Monday, July 18, 2011: No Performance
Tuesday, July 19, 2011: 8pm
Wednesday, July 20, 2011: 8pm
Thursday, July 21, 2011: 8pm
Friday, July 22, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, July 23, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, July 24, 2011: 2:30pm

Description:
From Stephen Schwartz ("Godspell", "Pippin" and "Wicked") and John Caird ("Les Miserables") comes a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith... not to mention centuries of unresolved family business! Freely based on the story of Genesis, "Children of Eden" is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children. Adam, Eve, Noah and the "Father" who created them deal with the headstrong, cataclysmic actions of their respective children. The show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message: that "the hardest part of love... is letting go."

Drift
Regional Premiere
Music & Lyrics by Jeremy Schonfeld
Additional Material by Craig Pospisil. Based on the album by Jeremy Schonfeld

(All performances at the Folly Theater)
Friday, September 2, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, September 3, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, September 4, 2011: 8pm
Monday, September 5, 2011: No Performance
Tuesday, September 6, 2011: 8pm
Wednesday, September 7, 2011: 8pm

Thursday, September 8, 2011: 8pm
Friday, September 9, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, September 10, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, September 11, 2011: 2:30pm

Description:
A contemporary concert-musical about a man's journey of gaining peace and perspective on his life, after the break-up of his marriage and family. The highly successful concept album comes to vivid life when a man, newly single, steps into the empty apartment he once shared with his wife and daughter and the memories flood his mind. His path, as woven by Schonfeld's intensely personal rock score, is paved with humor, passion, disappointment and most importantly, hope.

 

See What I Wanna See
Book, Music & Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa
Based on short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, as translated by Takashi Kojima

(All performances at a black box theatre to be announced)
Friday, October 28, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, October 29, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, October 30, 2011: 8pm
Monday, October 31, 2011: No Performance
Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 8pm
Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 8pm
Thursday, November 3, 2011: 8pm
Friday, November 4, 2011: 8pm
Saturday, November 5, 2011: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, November 6, 2011: 2:30pm

SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, a musical about lust, greed, murder, faith and redemption, was named by New York Magazine as one of the Best Musicals of 2005 and nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. It is based on three short stories by the Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa and unfolds like a classical Japanese screen painting. In KESA AND MORITO, set in medieval Japan, two lovers sing of the ecstasy and torment of their illicit affair and their determination to end it that night. Neither knows the other's intent. R SHOMON, set in 1951, New York City, follows the investigation of a crime of passion and the witnesses' contradicting versions of the event. An innocent bystander, a cunning thief, a flirtatious wife, a psychic, even the ghost of the murdered man are all caught in a web of deceit, where everyone's truth may be a lie. GLORYDAY, set in present-day New York City, introduces a priest during a crisis of faith after a terrible tragedy strikes the city. Disillusioned and angry, he plays a practical joke and posts an anonymous letter in Central Park, declaring that Christ will appear, rising from the pond. At first, the joke is embraced by an unstable CPA, who has chosen to live in the wilds of the park. Soon others begin to believe in the miracle, including a drug-addicted actress and a bitter reporter-even the priest's atheist aunt. On the day of the miracle, a storm blows through the Park, and only the priest sees his lie become a truth.

 

Coram Boy
Regional Premiere
Written by Helen Edmundson, Score by Adrian Sutton
Based on novel by Jamila Gavin

(All performances at the Music Hall)
Friday, Jan. 6, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012: 8pm
Monday, Jan. 9, 2012: No Performance
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012: 8pm
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012: 8pm
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012: 8pm
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012: 2:30pm

CORAM BOY is based on Jamila Gavin's best-selling novel, winner of the prestigious 2000 Whitbread Young Adult Book Award, which author Philip Pullman describes as "a rich and almost gothic drama, full of dastardly villains, cold-hearted aristocrats, devoted friends and passionate lovers, set against a background of cruelty, music and murder."

A heartbreaking tale of orphans, angels, murder and music - dramatized from Jamila Gavin's Whitbread Award-winning novel. Set in 18th-century England, Coram Boy is a tale of two cities - Gloucester and London - and a tale of two orphans at the Coram Hospital for Foundling Children: Toby, saved from an African slave ship, and Aaron, the abandoned son of the heir to a great estate. Also a tale of fathers and sons: slave-trader Otis and his son Meshak, and Sir William Ashbrook and the son he disinherits. In 18th-century Gloucestershire, the evil Otis Gardner preys on unmarried mothers, promising to take their babies (and their money) to Thomas Coram's hospital for foundling children. Instead, he buries the babies and pockets the loot. But Otis's downfall is set in train when his half-witted son Meshak falls in love with a young girl, Melissa, and rescues the unwanted son she has had with a disgraced aristocrat. The child is brought up in Coram's hospital, and proves to have inherited the startling musical gifts of his father - gifts that ultimately bring about his father's redemption and a heartbreaking family reunion. 'A rich and almost gothic drama unfolds, full of dastardly villains, cold-hearted aristocrats, devoted friends and passionate lovers, and set against a background of cruelty, music and murder' - Philip Pullman

A thrilling adventure that is also moving and uplifting, CORAM BOY is recommended for audiences ages 12 and older, adults, and young adults.

CORAM BOY played two sold-out engagements at The National Theatre of Great Britain, where it was awarded the 2006 Time Out Live Best Play Award and received rave reviews from the UK critics. In 2007, CORAM BOY made the move to the US, playing Broadway's Imperial Theatre.

 

Enron
Regional Premiere
Written by Lucy Prebble, Originally Directed by Rupert Goold

(All performances at the Music Hall)
Friday, Feb. 3, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012: 8pm
Monday, Feb. 6, 2012: No Performance
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012: 8pm
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012: 8pm
Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012: 8pm
Friday, Feb. 10, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012: 2:30pm

There was a warning. And its name was ENRON.

One of the most infamous scandals in financial history becomes a unique theatrical event. Mixing classical tragedy with savage comedy, it reviews the tumultuous 1990s and casts new light on the current financial situation.

Inspired by real-life events and using music, dance and video, ENRON is a fascinating and entertaining night of thought-provoking theatre.

"'We're going to put it together and sell it to you as truth.' That opening description by a lawyer in ENRON is deliciously double-edged. Not only is he articulating the company's secret attitude to business ethics, he's also encapsulating playwright Lucy Prebble's fearlessly imaginative approach...watching 'the corporate crime that defined the end of the twentieth century' isn't just instructive, it's a gloriously guilty pleasure...a cross between an insightful analysis and a savage satire of high capitalism as moral vacuum." -Variety. "One of those rare works that crystallizes the mood of its age. What needs stressing equally strongly is that it is also hugely entertaining-and accessible even to dunderheads like me who wouldn't know a financial instrument from an instrument of torture, though they currently seem to be much the same thing...She also knows how to construct a play, moving from savage black comedy to something approaching, classical tragedy as Jeffrey Skilling, the company's ruthless and brilliant CEO who was sentenced to twenty-four years in jail on fraud and conspiracy charges, reaps what his own hubris has sown." -Telegraph (UK). "A darkly exhilarating portrait of hypertrophied capitalism and a society that allows faith-based fiscal systems to ravage the body economic...a sharp-witted and rollicking business thriller to dazzle the eye and tickle the brain...Prebble's characters are deliciously vital and self-aware." -Time Out New York.

 

Titanic the Musical
Honoring the 100th Anniversary
Story and Book by Peter Stone, Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston

(All performances at the Music Hall)
Friday, Apr. 6, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Apr. 7, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Apr. 8, 2012: 8pm
Monday, Apr. 9, 2012: No Performance
Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2012: 8pm
Wednesday, Apr. 11, 2012: 8pm
Thursday, Apr. 12, 2012: 8pm
Friday, Apr. 13, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, Apr. 14, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, Apr. 15, 2012: 2:30pm

The sinking of the TITANIC in the early hours of April 15, 1912, remains the quintessential disaster of this century. A total of 1,517 souls-men, women and children-lost their lives (only 711 survived). The fact that the finest, largest, strongest ship in the world-called, in fact, the "unsinkable" ship-should have been lost during its maiden voyage is so incredible that, had it not actually happened, no author would have dared to contrive it. But the catastrophe had social ramifications that went far beyond that night's events. For the first time since the beginning of the industrial revolution early in the 19th Century, bigger, faster and stronger did not prove automatically to be better. Suddenly the very essence of "progress" had to be questioned; might the advancement of technology not always be progress? Nor was this the only question arising from the disaster. The accommodations of the ship, divided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes, mirrored almost exactly the class structure (upper, middle and lower) of the English-speaking world. But when the wide discrepancy between the number of survivors from each of the ship's classes was revealed-all but two of the women in 1st Class were saved while 155 women and children from 2nd and 3rd (mostly 3rd) drowned-there was a new, long-overdue scrutiny of the prevailing social system and its values. It is not an exaggeration to state that the 19th Century, with its social stricture, its extravagant codes of honor and sacrifice, and its unswerving belief that God favored the rich, ended that night. The musical play TITANIC examines the causes, the conditions and the characters involved in this ever-fascinating drama. This is the factual story of that ship-of her officers, crew and passengers, to be sure-but she will not, as has happened so many times before, serve as merely the background against which fictional, melodramatic narratives are recounted. The central character of our TITANIC is the TITANIC herself. - Peter Stone.

 

High Fidelity
Regional Premiere
Book by David Lindsay-Abaire, Music by Tom Kitt and Lyrics by Amanda Green
Based on novel by Nick Hornby

(All performances at the Folly Theater)
Friday, May 25, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, May 26, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, May 27, 2012: 8pm
Monday, May 28, 2012: No Performance
Tuesday, May 29, 2012: 8pm
Wednesday, May 30, 2012: 8pm
Thursday, May 31, 2012: 8pm
Friday, June 1, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, June 2, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, June 3, 2012: 2:30pm

The Broadway musical based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel, and the hit feature film of the same name. High Fidelity follows the story of record-store owner Rob (and constant Top 5 listmaker) who - when things in his current relationship go sour - revisits his former relationships to find out where he went wrong. Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Kimberly Akimbo, Fuddy Meers) penned the book with music by composer Tom Kitt (next to normal, Laugh Whore, Debbie Does Dallas) and lyrics by Amanda Green (For the Love of Tiffany, Up The Creek Without A Paddle).

 

Kitty's Kisses
Restoration World Premiere
Book by Philip Bartholomae & Otto Harbach, Music by Con Conrad, Lyrics by Gus Kahn

(All performances at the Folly Theater)
Friday, July 6, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, July 7, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, July 8, 2012: 8pm
Monday, July 9, 2012: No Performance
Tuesday, July 10, 2012: 8pm
Wednesday, July 11, 2012: 8pm
Thursday, July 12, 2012: 8pm
Friday, July 13, 2012: 8pm
Saturday, July 14, 2012: 2:30pm & 8pm
Sunday, July 15, 2012: 2:30pm

This tuneful charmer beguiled Broadway audiences in its day, spawning several hit songs, but like so many musicals of its era, it's faded unfairly into obscurity. The music is by Con Conrad, who took home the first Academy Award for Best Song ("The Continental" in 1934); the lyrics are by Gus Kahn, whose standards include "It Had to Be You," "I'll See You in My Dreams," and "Makin' Whoopee." The book was co-authored by celebrated librettist Otto Harbach (Roberta, Desert Song, and No, No, Nanette!).

For more information, visit www.PianeProductions.com and the ‘Piane Productions' Facebook group.

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