Showtunes Presents THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA In Concert At The Cornish Playhouse

For the opener of its 20th Anniversary Season, Showtunes is bringing this legendary work home to the theatre where it began. Join them as The Light in the Piazza returns to Seattle in one of the biggest concerts ever, featuring the full, Broadway orchestration. This limited run at The Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center has only four performances: Saturday, September 14th at 8pm, Sunday, September 15th at 2pm, Saturday, September 21st at 8pm and Sunday, September 22nd at 2pm.

Featuring a book by Craig Lucas and Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel, the story takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson, the wife of an American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara loses her hat in a sudden gust. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, who returns it to her. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio. Margaret, extremely protective of her daughter, attempts to keep Clara and Fabrizio apart. As The Light In The Piazza unfolds, a secret is revealed: in addition to the cultural differences between the young lovers, Clara is not quite all that she appears.

Following the Seattle 2003 development production of the musical at the former Intiman Theater (now the Cornish Playhouse), The Light in the Piazza arrived on Broadway in 2005 and won 6 Tony Awards and 5 Drama Desk Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. There's simply no other musical quite like it in its complexity, ambition, and beauty. To sing this masterpiece to life for you, we've assembled an amazing cast of Seattle's finest talent from the production team to the cast to the musicians.

Leading the cast in the role of Margaret Johnson is Seattle favorite Billie Wildrick. Seattle audiences will remember her 5th Avenue turns in Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit), Carousel (Carrie Pipperidge), Pajama Game (Babe Williams) and Sunday in the Park (Dot/Marie) as well as shows at Village Theater and Seattle Children's Theater. Carly Marie, previously seen with Showtunes last season in Legally Blonde, joins the cast as Margaret's daughter Clara. Audiences will remember Carly from roles at Village Theatre (Singin' In The Rain, My Fair Lady) and 5th Avenue (A Chorus Line). Clara's Italian suitor Fabrizio will be played by Michael Krenning, most recently seen as Christopher, the protagonist in Village Theater's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Terence Kelley takes on the role of Roy Johnson, Margaret's husband and father to Clara. Signor and Signora Naccarelli, Fabrizio's parents, will be played by Seattle favorites Allen Fitzpatrick and Ellen McLain. Guiseppe and Franca Nacarelli will be portrayed by Nathan Brockett and Danielle Barnum. Rounding out the cast of 12 are Mark Rabe (Priest) and Ensemble Members Kataka Corn, Casey DeCaire and Hannah Schuerman.

The company welcomes a new director to the Showtunes family. The Light In The Piazza will be directed by Kelly Kitchens, Co-Artistic Director of Seattle Public Theatre and an acclaimed director of theatre and opera. She is the perfect voice to bring this unique work to life. She'll be teamed with Showtunes' own Associate Artistic Director Nathan Young as Music Director. The production team also includes Sound Designer Lisa Finkral and Stage Manager Pamela Campi Spee.

Single tickets are $20 and available exclusively through Showtunes Theatre's online Arts People portal: bit.ly/TixtothePiazza. This season Showtunes celebrates its 20th Season by offering $20 tickets across the board, with the goal of making musical theater more accessible and sharing the love of musicals to a wider audience. For group sales information, contact Alex Robinson, alex@showtunestheatre.org. On performance days, the Cornish Playhouse Box Office will open 90 minutes prior to curtain for in-person purchases using cash, check or credit card.

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