La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Des McAnuff has announced three of the six shows that will be included in the upcoming 2007 La Jolla Playhouse season.
The plays are: The Carmen Project (title subject to change), a new musical theatre piece based on Prosper Mérimée's 1845 novella Carmen, directed by Franco Dragone; The Seven, a 21st century adaptation of Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes written by Will Power, choreographed by Bill T. Jones and infused with a range of musical styles; and The Nightingale, a musical by Steven Sater and pop singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, which will be produced as part of La Jolla Playhouse's award-winning Page To Stage New Play Development Program.
"After years of working on large-scale productions for Cirque du Soleil, Obie Award-winner Dragone brings his heightened theatricality to the intimate environment of La Jolla Playhouse with
The Carmen Project, a new musical interpretation of Mérimée's novella
Carmen. Charged with the raw emotional power of Flamenco and original contemporary music, the classic story of love and betrayal is told from the perspective of José, a soldier who becomes ensnared by a beautiful gypsy seductress," state La Jolla notes.
The production features original music by John Ewbank, the Dutch composer who has written pop hits as well film scores (such as for Quentin Tarantino's
True Romance). Writing the book and choreographing The Carmen Project is Sarah Miles, who served as associate choreographer on Blake Edwards'
Victor/Victoria, Stephen Sondheim's
Company and
A Funny Thing Happened... Lyricist AnnMarie Milazzo wrote lyrics for
Pretty Dead Girl, Charlotte and
A Sea Change, and has also worked on
Bright Lights, Big City and
Spring Awakening.
The creative team will include set designer Klara Zieglerova (Jersey Boys), and music supervisor Daryl Waters (Jelly's Last Jam, The Color Purple) and orchestrator Roque Banos, who scores some of Spain's most important films.
With
The Seven, "Greek tragedy meets hip-hop in writer/composer
Will Power's modern adaptation of Aeschylus's
Seven Against Thebes. In this tale of a cursed family and a society unsure how to free itself, Power (
FLOW) brings an urban vocabulary in rhyming verse, infusing it with musical styles including calypso, do-wop, R&B, funk and blues." The show was previously a hit in New York.
The Seven will be directed by
Jo Bonney (
A Soldier's Play, Fat Pig), and choreographed by Bill T. Jones (
Spring Awakening, Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin). A cast of twelve will join
Will Power "to create this complex, ambitious piece that brings a classic story to life for a new generation."
The Nightingale, with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, will be presented as part of Page to Stage. "La Jolla Playhouse began its relationship with Sater and Sheik when it commissioned them to begin work on their project
Spring Awakening — which had a triumphant run Off-Broadway this summer and is now slated for Broadway in the fall. With a second commission by producer Martin McCallum for
The Nightingale, they workshopped the musical at the Eugene O'Neill Musical Theatre Conference in 2003. When a copy was sent to La Jolla Playhouse, McAnuff was inspired to get involved, resulting in a second workshop of the project in New York City in December 2005.
"In this magical tale, the Young Emperor of Ancient China learns of an ordinary nightingale whose song brings hope to the lives of the common people living outside the walls of the Forbidden City. When the bird is brought to the Young Emperor, he becomes enthralled by her song and, against the wishes of his mother, the Empress Dowager, and powerful Minister of State, he dares to leaves the court to see the wonders of his realm with the nightingale and her protector, a young servant girl. With the music of Grammy Award-nominated pop composer/musician Duncan Sheik,
The Nightingale is an enchanting play for all ages."
Three additional plays in the season are still to be announced. Subscriptions ranging from $96-$306 are now available by calling 858.550.1010 or buying online at
www.lajollaplayhouse.com.
