Chad Henderson Theatrically Adapts CONSTANCE Tonight

The critically acclaimed narrative album "Constance" by The Restoration takes its first steps towards becoming a theatrical adaptation this summer as a concert version of the album is presented under the direction of Chad Henderson in Trustus Theatre's Premieres Festival.

When The Restoration released their first album "Constance" in 2010 it was met with much praise from South Carolina fans and critics. Award-winning theatre director Chad Henderson became a devoted fan of the album at that time, and contacted The Restoration's Daniel Machado about adapting it for the stage. The project remained in the artists' future plans until finally the Premieres Festival made the production a possibility by providing support and a venue.

Now "Constance" will take its first steps towards becoming a fully staged production as The Restoration and a cast constructed by Henderson will take the stage for a concert performance of the album. Much-loved actors from Columbia's musical theatre community will embody Constance and the three generations of characters that impact her.

The Restoration's Constance is a multi-generational 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. Her eventual union with Aaron Vale, a carpenter and musician of mixed race from Chicago, and the birth of their son, Thomas, plants a seed of discriminative hate in the surrounding community. Her family is bankrupted by the affluent Palmers which results in the death of her husband, and the burying of her creative aspirations. Years later, Thomas' nihilistic vengeance against the Palmers sets off a cataclysmic series of violent events, as the South and the rest of the world plunge into the Great Depression.

"Constance" boasts the talents of many well known musical theatre artists including Trustus Company Member Vicky Saye Henderson as Constance, Kyle Collins as Aaron Vale, Chip Stubbs as Jacob Owen, G. Scott Wild as Col. John Palmer, Avery Herndon as Thomas Vale, and Andy Bell as Henry Stamp. These cast members join an all-star ensemble bringing chills to audiences hearing this music for the first time, while creating new experiences for those who are already fans or familiar with the 2010 recording.

"The goal of this project is to gauge how the story translates when actors are playing and singing the characters from the album," said Chad Henderson. "Our hope is that this concert performance will interest audiences in further development of this story into a new musical. It's a new goal of mine to create new theatrical works in Columbia, and this is a great way to get started!"

WHEN: Performances will be tonight, August 21st and the 23rd at 8:00pm.

TICKETING INFORMATION: Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at http://www.trustus.org. Premieres Packages may be purchased for $50, and include a ticket to all three Premieres events. Packages must be purchased by calling the Trustus box office at (803) 254-9732.

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