Elizabeth Spencer

Review: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA by Central Florida Vocal Arts

The feelings that one gets when sitting in the audience for a musical production can run the gamut from sadness and heartbreak to joy and excitement. But it is a rare experience when a production causes one to experience the full breadth of human emotion – becoming transfixed and transported to an elevated state of bliss. This is what I experienced last night at Central Florida Vocal Arts (CFVA) production of Adam Guettel’s THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – an stunningly brilliant production featuring some of the most magnificent vocals I have heard from the stage in a very long time.

Feature: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Final Weekend at Palm Canyon Theatre

Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, 'The Light In The Piazza' is set in the 1950s in Florence, Italy, where Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman, and her daughter Clara, who is developmentally disabled, are vacationing from the US. When Clara falls in love with a young Italian man, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara's future, but her own deep-seated hopes and regrets as well.

Previews: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Palm Canyon Theatre

Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, the show is set in the 1950s in Florence, Italy. Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman, and her daughter Clara, who is developmentally disabled are vacationing in Florence, Italy.

Review: 'THE BOYS IN THE BAND' at Palm Canyon Theatre

What did our critic think of 'THE BOYS IN THE BAND' at Palm Canyon Theatre?

LEOPOLDSTADT, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, and More Set For the Huntington's 2024/25 Season

Five of the seven titles have been announced for The Huntington’s upcoming 2024/25 season. The season will feature new plays by masterful writers, the first two plays of an ambitious, epic cycle, and a soaring, contemporary classic musical. Learn more about the full season lineup here!

Review: SWEENEY TODD is a Bloody Good Time at Palm Canyon Theatre

What is it about a good horror story that draws audiences by the cart load?  Is it the adrenaline surge of danger around every corner, even as the viewer remains safely out of danger? Or is it the exploration of the dark side of man’s psyche, feeding a vicarious blood lust in the deep recesses of our primordial hind brains? Or, is it a bit of schadenfreude, particularly if the victim is “deserving”?  All of things await the anxious theatregoer in Palm Canyon’s Theatre’s latest venture, Steven’s Sondheim’s macabre masterpiece “Sweeney Todd”.

Review: Palm Canyon Theatre's SOMETHING ROTTEN Proves a Rose by Any Other Name Never Smelled as Sweet

History credits the first modern musical production to the year 1866 and a little-known work called “The Black Crook” that premiered in New York on September 12 of that year.  It was credited as the first play that added dance and original music to help tell the story.  But after seeing Palm Canyon Theatre’s newest production of “Something Rotten”, maybe the historians have it wrong.

Opera in the Heights Will Present THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Next Month

Opera in the Heights (OH) will present a new production of The Light in the Piazza, a Tony award-winning musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas next month.

Review Roundup: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Encores!

Up next at New York City Center, the Encores! season continues with The Light in the Piazza, led by Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles. Encores! The Light in the Piazza runs for seven performances only, through June 25, at New York City Center.

New Dates Announced for Encores! THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Starring Ruthie Ann Miles

New York City Center has announced new performance dates for Encores! The Light in the Piazza as part of the 2022 – 2023 season. Due to scheduling conflicts, the Tony Award-winning musical directed by Chay Yew and featuring Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles will run June 21 – 25, 2023 at New York City Center.

Elena Shaddow Will Lead LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Concert at Alexandra Palace Theatre

For one night only at London's Ally Pally Theatre, Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas’ Tony Award-winning musical The Light In The Piazza will play a concert performance, starring Starring Elena Shaddow as Margaret Johnson. Shaddow will make history as the first performer to play both Margarget at Clara (first national tour).

Review: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at CCAE Theatricals 'is a gorgeous trip to 1950s Florence, Italy that should not be missed.'

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA by CCAE Theatricals is a gorgeous trip to 1950s Florence, Italy that should not be missed. Full of soaring vocals, beautiful costumes and sets, and absolutely lush orchestrations played by a live orchestra this is a show that is fantastic from start to finish.  THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA through June 25 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

BWW Review: A MINISTER'S WIFE: Love, Marriage, and the Poetry in Between

In A MINISTER'S WIFE, the composer's collaboration with Austin Pendleton (book), and Jan Levy Tranen (lyrics) dilutes his influence on CANDIDA's transcription, relegating the audience to a compendiary version that eliminates, among other elements, Candida's businessman father - a staunch capitalist foil to her socialist husband, the Reverend James Morell. Just as well, I suppose, given the daunting task of mixing up politics with a love triangle.

VIDEO: Watch a THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Reunion on Stars in the House- Live at 8pm!

Stars in the House continues tonight (8pm ET) with a THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Reunion with Kelli O'Hara, Matthew Morrison, and Victoria Clark!

Virtual Theatre Today: Thursday, January 28- with Matthew Morrison, Kelli O'Hara and More!

Today (January 28) in live streaming: LCT looks back at The Light in the Piazza, Jack Plotnick and friends take over Stars in the House, and more!

Kelli O'Hara, Matthew Morrison and Victoria Clark to Take Part in LCT's LOOKING BACK AT THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT SPOTLIGHT SERIES, a free program of digital events, featuring LCT artists in performance, conversation and more, will continue on Thursday, January 28 at 7pm with “Looking Back at THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA,” LCT’s 2005 award winning musical, featuring original stars Victoria Clark, Matthew Morrison and Kelli O’Hara.

Palm Beach Dramaworks Presents THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

The Light in the Piazza, a romantic, incandescent musical by Craig Lucas (book) and Adam Guettel (music and lyrics) about family secrets and the pursuit of happiness, opens at Palm Beach Dramaworks on Friday, April 3 at 8PM at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre. Winner of six 2005 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, the show runs through April 26, with specially priced previews on April 1 and 2 (7:30PM). Bruce Linser directs. 

BWW Review: Scenario Two's THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Lyric Opera House

Lyric Opera's special holiday engagement of Adam Guettel's THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, one of the few contemporary musicals written in a style that harkens back to the Golden Age, is beautifully sung with the composer's complicated and melodious score performed by a superb orchestra. The musical focuses on Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara, who take a vacation to Florence, Italy in the summer of 1953a?'and find their lives forever changed after Clara has a chance encounter with Fabrizio Nacarelli, a young Italian man. It should come as little surprise that Renèe Fleming has a radiant turn as Margaret. Vocally, Fleming's take on the role is pristine, but she also plays out the tension between Margaret's fiercely protective instincts when it comes to her child and her yearning to empower Clara to lead her own life as a young adult. While I wish to avoid spoilers, it's key to share that the musical has a twist that includes a revelation about Clara that shines light on precisely why Margaret feels so compelled to keep watch over her daughter.

Review Roundup: Renee Fleming, Solea Pfeiffer in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in Chicago

The Light in the Piazza at Lyric Opera House stars four-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Renée Fleming. The limited holiday engagement runs through Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019.

Photo Flash: First Look at Renee Fleming, Solea Pfeiffer, and More in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in Chicago

The Light in the Piazza at Lyric Opera House stars four-time Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Renée Fleming. The limited holiday engagement runs through Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019.