The Light in The Piazza
book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel
2009/2010 Season
About the Show
Jan 30 – Feb 21, 2010 | Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs
- Winner: Dora Award for Outstanding Performance By a Male In A Musical (Jeff Lillico)
- Nominated: Dora Award for Outstanding Musical Production
- Nominated: Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female In A Musical (Patty Jamieson)
Clara is a 26 year old woman with the mental and emotional capacity of a 12 year old. On a trip to Florence with her mother, she falls in love with a handsome young Italian boy who barely speaks English. Clara’s mother Margaret is forced to make the decision that will determine her daughter’s fate; weighing Clara’s newfound happiness against the expectations that she and her husband had set out, Margaret must come to terms with her own cynicism and contemplate a love that transcends language, culture, and circumstance.
Company
- directed by Robert McQueen musical direction by Jonathan Monro
- featuring Patty Jamieson, Jacquelyn French, Christina Gordon, Jeff Lillico, Lee MacDougall, Tracy Michailidis, Michael Torontow Becca Zadorsky & Juan Chioran
- set & lighting design Phillip Silver costume design Alex Amini
stage manager Stephanie Nakamura apprentice stage manager Dustyn Wales - production manager Matthew Byrne assistant musical director Lily Ling
Reviews
The Light In The Piazza had me in its corner from the first notes… I haven’t witnessed a standing ovation so heartfelt and deserved since the Shaw Festival’s The President.”
— Robert Cushman, National Post
There’s a bright light shining down on Berkeley Street….[A] glorious achievement in class and style.
— Mark Selby, Toronto Star
We owe a great debt of thanks to Acting Up Stage for bringing Toronto the Canadian premiere of The Light in the Piazza!
— Christopher Hoile, EYE Weekly
Light in the Piazza benefits from generous production values… The shimmering score sounds absolutely wonderful under the musical direction of Jonathan Monro.
— Kelly Nestruck, Globe and Mail
You won’t find a more perfect Valentine’s Day show than The Light In The Piazza, a love story packed with real emotions and seductive melodies.
— Jon Kaplan, NOW
Toronto is doubly blessed these days not only with the big commercial Broadway musicals but with intimate musical theatre. This latter area has been taken care of over the past 5 years by Acting Up Stage Company and artistic producer Mitchell Marcus. He has delivered first rate productions that truly have given Toronto a new dimension to our theatrical musical scene… I urge you to not miss this production!
— Michael Engelbert, AM 740
