Playwright/composer Melissa
Faith-Hart talks to David Marlowe about her new production of :
“Scarlet Letter, the
Musical,”
at PACE Center
Melissa
Faith - Hart says she wrote the book for “ Scarlet Letter, the Musical” first and then the music. She says her musical
follows Hawthorne’s narrative pretty closely. According to Hart there’s not
much deviation except for the fact that Hawthorne hints at the presence of ‘real’
witches in the town. In the book for her musical she has chosen to call these
people “differents.”
Changing the way she
named these characters wasn’t all she did. She also chose to show more of how
these people communed with nature as well as how they were able to express
feelings of peace and contentment in the forest. Their ability to explore their
deep feeling nature in this sylvan setting provides stark contrast to the cold,
unfeeling rigidity of the folks in this Puritan town. At the time in which the
story is set the people of Boston did not stand for any deviation from the
stiff, unflinching exclusionary viewpoint espoused by their religion. Can you
spell persecution?
Melissa Faith-Hart
Hart says she chose
Hawthorne’s novel as a basis for her musical because “it has it all: unrequited
love, revenge, guilt, hypocrisy, healing and death. She just believed that
Hawthorne’s book deserved to have a musical underscoring.
Broadway veteran Candy Brown will choreograph Hart’s
show. Hart describes Brown as her friend, producer and mentor. “Since she has come
from brand new work on “Chorus Line” and “Pippin” I listen carefully to all she
says when it comes to advice about being on this journey.”
Mitch Samu is another Broadway veteran
that Hart promises will lead and conduct a 16 piece live orchestra for her
show. Hart says that she is in complete awe of this nationally known artist.
The set and costumes
will describe Puritan New England in visual terms. The lighting will contrast
the freedom and grace found in the forest as opposed to the strict strait-laced
letter of the law atmosphere in town.
Wayne Kennedy is
directing. This multi talented actor/director and sound designer has received
critical acclaim and multiple awards such as the Henry for many years. Kennedy has
cast actors from London and American Equity as well as some superb local talent.
Lisa Finnerty (The Who’s “Tommy” and “Brigadoon”) will play Hester
Prynne.
Colin Alexander (AEA) will play Roger Chillingsworth, Thadd Kreuger (AEA) Reverend John Wilson and Erik
Bryan(AEA Candidate) will play Arthur Dimmsdale.
Additionally there are brilliant
actors from the community such as local favorites Sue Leiser and Brian Murray.
"Scarlet Letter,the Musical" is being produced by Slingshot Artist Productions.
Hart says that the greatest joy of her
artistic journey has been “Hands down, the people I have met through
this journey. Each one has been a teacher to me and a gift to my
heart. Having others sing your music and be touched is also pretty
cool - to be honest, but what matters the most and that I have found priceless
are the people who have come along with me on my journey.
Melissa Faith-Hart
As for the obstacles
she’s had to overcome in getting her musical onto the stage she says that she
“googled how to get a show to Broadway about six years ago and the answer was
“STOP!!! Either you’re crazy or you are born
to do this and you know of no other possible road in your life…” The playwright
looked deep, deep into her soul and thought: “Darn! I’m both!”
The show takes place at PACE Center. It’s a beautiful 21
million dollar theater that’s like a mini-Buell.
It’s SO easy to find.
Take I 25 south to Lincoln (not the Lincoln/Broadway) but
the Lincoln that could take you to Park Meadows if you were to go west.
Instead go EAST! And stay on Lincoln until Parker Road, Take a
right on Parker to Main Street. Then take a left and about
two blocks down on the right is an amazing building that will impress the socks
off of you. There are restaurants right on Main Street that are a
culinary delight. Vines serves tapas and wine flights or you can grab a
steak at the War Horse, in the very first building constructed when Parker was
just a town of dirt roads and horse trails.
See you at the theatre.
September
13th -7:30pm
September
14th - 7:30pm
September
15th - 2pm with talkback
September
15th - 7:30 VIP night
September 16th -
2pm matinee http://www.scarletletterthemusical.com/
Ticket
Prices - 18 to 28 dollars for every night but the VIP night.
VIP
night starts at 50 to 250 dollars to raise money because we are paying the
actors and musicians well so that they are appreciated for their talent and
work.
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