An Original Musical THE RESTORATION'S CONSTANCE Comes To Trustus This May!

A musical a decade in the making, The Restoration's Constance is coming to Trustus Theatre's Main Stage this May. It will make its full debut right here in Columbia and will feature a strong cast of 25 actors and a creative team of designers that will work together to create a visually exciting show that rises to the level of The Restoration's memorable and stirring music. This musical will open on Friday, May 4, and will run through Saturday, May 19, 2018. Tickets may be purchased at www.trustus.org, or by calling the Trustus Box Office at 803-254-9732.

After two sold-out workshop performances and a touring performance to Spartanburg, SC, Columbia's own musical theatre creation makes its way back to the Thigpen Main Stage for a fully realized production. Based on the critically acclaimed concept album of the same name, The Restoration's Constance is a multigenerational cautionary tale told through historical fiction. Set between the late 1800s and 1930s in Lexington, South Carolina, Constance focuses on the fictional Constance Owen, an unrealized musical prodigy born to poor cotton farmers several years after the American Civil War. After her mother passes, Constance falls in love with Aaron Vale, a mix-raced carpenter and musician from Chicago who's recently moved to Lexington. The birth of their son, Thomas, plants a seed of discriminative hate in the surrounding community which brings many hardships to the Vale family. Years later, Thomas's nihilistic vengeance against the Palmers, the most powerful family in town, sets off a series of cataclysmic events as the South and the rest of the world plunge into the great depression. Featuring a cast of 25 performers and songs written in an Americana-folk style, The Restoration's Constance is the most unique and exciting musical event this spring.

The Restoration's Constance's music and story were written by local band, The Restoration. The lyrics are by Daniel Machado and Adam Corbett with Trustus's Artistic Director, Chad Henderson, writing the book. The Restoration's Constance will be directed by Chad Henderson and musical direction will be provided by Daniel Machado.

Paul Kaufmann, of Season 33's A Bright Room Called Day and Fun Home, will be playing the role of Reverend Harper in The Restoration's Constance.

"The Restoration's Constance is made right here in Columbia," Kauffmann said. "I've long wanted more original works to be created locally and now Trustus has three in one season-it's a dream come true for me. The last two shows I've done at Trustus had smaller casts, but The Restoration's Constance is a big show with a cast of about 25. The upsides of being in a production with a large cast are that more people add more energy, more vocal power, and visually striking movement and dance. Watching it all come together is the best part. I'm eager to hear our band and see how all of the designers' elements-costumes, lights, sound, props, and set-develop around our performing efforts. It's been rewarding to be a part of two really great shows already this year, and I am certain that The Restoration's Constance will be some top-notch theatre made right here at home by local artists and based on music by a popular and talented band. I'd say get your tickets early!"

Stay after the shows on Friday, May 11 and on Friday, May 18 to enjoy an improv comedy show from the very same group that brought you the holiday comedy A Christmas Miracle at the Richland Fashion Mall: The Mothers. Tickets for the comedy show will be sold at the door for $10 ($5 for students) and are all general admission.

The Restoration's Constance will run from Friday, May 4 through Saturday, May 19, 2018 and tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at 803-254-9732 or online at trustus.org. Tickets are $30 for Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday shows and $35 for Friday and Saturday shows. Student tickets are $25 each. Opening night is Friday, May 4, at 8pm. The performances following are on Saturday, May 5, at 8pm; Sunday, May 6, at 3:00pm; Thursday, May 10, at 7:30pm; Friday, May 11, at 8pm; Saturday, May 12, at 8pm; Wednesday, May 16, at 7:30pm; Thursday, May 17, at 7:30pm; Friday, May 18, at 8pm; and Saturday, May 19, at 8pm.

The Restoration's Constance is sponsored by the Jasper Project.

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