TheatreWorks Presents A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, Opens 12/4

TheatreWorks Presents "A CHRISTMAS MEMORY", based on the story by Truman Capote

Book by Duane Poole; Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Carol Hall

The World Premiere: Saturday, December 4

The Lucie Stern Theatre,
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California

In a big-hearted, gloriously tuneful world premiere musical from a team of celebrated Broadway veterans, Truman Capote's enchanting holiday tale A CHRISTMAS MEMORY springs to life at TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theater of Silicon Valley. A collaboration between Duane Poole (book), Larry Grossman (music), and Carol Hall (lyrics),
starring Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actress Penny Fuller, with orchestrations by Tony Award-nominated Steve Orich, this whimsical new show is a wistful memoir of cherished youth chronicling a young boy's loving friendship with an eccentric elderly relative. In a small Southern town in the 1930s, misfits Buddy and Sook launch kites, haunt speakeasies, and mail fruitcakes to everyone from Jean Harlow to President Roosevelt. Starring the renowned star of stage and screen Penny Fuller as Buddy's cousin Sook
alongside the Bay Area's own bright young star Gabriel Hoffman as Buddy, with TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley at the helm,
A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is a poignant and heartwarming account of friendship, family, and the spirit of giving.

Truman Capote was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, and plays are recognized as literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood. Born Truman Streckfus Persons in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1924, Capote's parents divorced when he was four, and he was sent to Monroeville, Alabama, where for the following four to five years, he was raised by his mother's relatives. He formed a fast bond with his mother's distant relative, Nanny Rumbley Faulk, known as "Sook," upon whom A Christmas Memory is based. He was also a neighbor and friend of author Harper Lee, who wrote the 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, with the character of Dill based upon young Capote. Between 1943 and 1946, Capote wrote a continual flow of short fiction, including "Shut a Final Door," for which he won the O. Henry Award at the age of 24 and "Miriam," published in Mademoiselle Magazine. The critical success of "Miriam" attracted the attention of Random House, resulting in a commission to write a novel. Other Voices, Other Rooms was completed in 1948, and remained atop the New York Times best-seller list for nine weeks. The novel was followed by Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1958, and the sensational hit In Cold Blood in 1965, based on a true story. The book catapulted him into celebrity, and he assumed a jet-setting lifestyle of high society parties and the glamorous world of film and television. After years of tumultuous living, he died a recluse in 1984.

Carol Hall (lyrics) The first person ever to record one of Carol Hall's songs was the young Barbra Streisand. Subsequently, her songs were performed by such extraordinary singers as Frederica von Stade, Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Margaret Whiting, Julie Wilson, Chita Rivera, Michael Feinstein, Mabel Mercer, Amanda McBroom, Lari White, Olivia Newton-John, Maureen McGovern, RuPaul, Miriam Makeba, David Campbell, Kermit the Frog and Big Bird. Among others. Her classic musical THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS entertained Broadway audiences for almost five years, received a Grammy nomination for its cast album, and became a popular film starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. Dolly's recording of Carol's song "Hard Candy Christmas" won an ASCAP Most Performed Country Song Award, and the film generated an ACADEMY AWARD nomination for Charles Durning, singing "The Sidestep" as the slippery Governor of Texas. A national tour of WHOREHOUSE starring the entertainment legend Ann-Margret enjoyed a run for over a year and a half. Miss Hall's other stage work include the Off-Broadway musical TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, individual songs for A MY NAME IS ALICE, A MY NAME IS STILL ALICE, the recently premiered musical, HATS and the highly acclaimed TheatreWorks production of the musical "MAX & RUBY" which enjoyed four National Tours. For over ten years Hall was a mainstay contributor to SESAME STREET, and was a major contributor to Marlo Thomas' landmark children's classic FREE TO BE... YOU AND ME (Emmy and gold album), and to its sequel FREE TO BE... A FAMILY. She also contributed to Thomas' recent book and Grammy award-winning CD, THANKS & GIVING/ALL YEAR LONG and created songs for Disney's DUMBO II. Her "It's All Right To Cry," and "Parents Are People" continue to be favorites of generations of children. In 2003 she won the MAC SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD for I Dream In Technicolor. She then received two BACKSTAGE Bistro Awards, MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) awards and the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, given for her contribution to American popular song. Carol's most recent CD, Hallways, The Songs of Carol Hall, released nationally by LML Music to unanimous critical acclaim, is now in its second printing, earned Carol her third BISTRO AWARD as 2009's winner of the ASCAP AWARD for Outstanding CD. The CD also won the Special Material MAC AWARD for the album's highly praised song 'This is My Birthday'. This November, Miss Hall's play VACATION will be published in NARRATIVE, an on-line magazine dedicated to advancing literary arts in the digital age.

WHEN 

World Premiere: Saturday, December 4
Closes: Sunday, December 26

SHOWS:
Previews: 8:00pm
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7:30pm
Thursdays and Fridays: 8pm
Saturdays: 2pm, 8pm
Sundays: 2pm, 7pm

WHERE:
TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

TICKETS:
$19 (student)-$67; savings available for students, educators, seniors, and members.
Prices subject to change. A $2 convenience fee will be assessed for online and telephone orders.
For information or to order tickets call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.

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