A classic love story based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, this collaboration between JRB and Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman tells the story of Francesca Johnson, an Iowa farm wife who meets a photographer for National Geographic Magazine while her husband and children are away. The powerful connection that they make forces Francesca to ask herself who she really is and what she wants her life to be. Originally starring Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale, the show earned JRB two Tony Awards – for Best Score and Best Orchestrations – and has been produced all over the world since its original 2014 Broadway production.
Production:
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Opening Date: February 20, 2014
Closing Date: May 18, 2014
First Preview: January 17, 2014
Creative Team:
Book by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Based on the novel by Robert James Waller
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Movement by Danny Mefford
Design Team:
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Jon Weston
Hair and Wig Design: David Brian Brown
Make-Up Design: Ashley Ryan
Associate Scenic Design: Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams
Associate Lighting Design: Mike Jones
Associate Sound Design: Jason Strangfeld
Assistant Costume Design: Ryan Park
Assistant Lighting Design: Vivien Leone
Automated Lighting Programmer: Marc Polimeni
Assistant Sound Design: Josh Millican
Music Team:
Orchestrations: Jason Robert Brown
Musical Director and Conductor: Tom Murray
Musical Coordinator: Michael Keller
Associate Conductor: Andrew Resnick
Concertmaster: Paul Woodiel
Violin: Katherine Livolsi-Landau
Violin/Viola: Erin Benim, Kiku Enomoto
Cello: Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf
Cast:
Kelli O'Hara: Francesca
Steven Pasquale: Robert
Whitney Bashor: Marian/Chiara
Hunter Foster: Bud
Caitlin Kinnunen: Carolyn
Derek Klena: Michael
Michael X. Martin: Charlie
Cass Morgan: Marge
Ephie Aardema: Ensemble
Jennifer Allen: Ensemble
Katie Klaus: Ensemble; State Fair Singer
Luke Marinkovich: Ensemble; Paolo
Aaron Ramey: Ensemble
Dan Sharkey: Ensemble
Swings:
Charlie Franklin, Jessica Vosk, Tim Wright
Standbys:
Kevin Kern (Robert), Elena Shaddow (Francesca)
Understudies:
Ephie Aardema (Carolyn), Jennifer Allen (Marge), Whitney Bashor (Francesca), Charlie Franklin (Michael), Kevin Kern (Bud), Katie Klaus (Marian/Chiara, Marge), Luke Marinkovich (Michael), Aaron Ramey (Robert), Dan Sharkey (Bud, Charlie), Jessica Vosk (Carolyn, Marian/Chiara), Tim Wright (Charlie)
TONY AWARDS
2014 Winner - Best Original Score Written for the Theatre - Jason Robert Brown
2014 Nominee - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kelli O’Hara
2014 Winner - Best Orchestrations - Jason Robert Brown
2014 Nominee - Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Donald Holder
DRAMA DESK AWARDS
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Musical
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Book of a Musical - Marsha Norman
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Steven Pasquale
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Kelli O’Hara
2014 Winner - Outstanding Orchestrations - Jason Robert Brown
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Lyrics - Jason Robert Brown
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical - Jon Weston
2014 Winner - Outstanding Music - Jason Robert Brown
2014 Nominee - Outstanding Director of a Musical - Bartlett Sher
Williamstown Theatre Festival
Opening Performance: August 1, 2013
Closing Performance: August 18, 2013
Creative:
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Musical direction by Thomas Murray
Designers:
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Jon Weston
Cast:
Steven Pasquale: Robert
Elena Shaddow: Francesca
Daniel Jenkins: Bud
Nick Bailey: Michael
Caitlin Kinnunen: Carolyn
Cass Morgan: Marge
Michael X. Martin: Charlie
Whitney Bashor: Marian
Understudies: John Paul Almon, Jennifer Allen, Emma Duncan, Luke Marinkovich, Laura Shoop, Tim Wright
US National Tour 2015
Opening Date: November 28, 2015
Closing Date: July 24, 2016
Creative:
Original Direction: Bartlett Sher
Movement: Danny Mefford
Direction Recreated by Tyne Rafaeli
Assistant Director: Lila Rachel Becker
Designers:
Original Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Jon Weston
Additional Set and Adaptation: Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams
Associate Costume Design: Patrick Bevilacqua, Wilberth Gonzalez
Associate Lighting Design: Michael Jones
Associate Sound Design: Josh Millican
Hair and Wig Design: David Brian Brown
Assistant Scenic Design: Libby Stadstad
Assistant Costume Design: William Mellette
Assistant Lighting Design: Paige Seber
Lighting Programmer: Marc Polimeni
Music:
Musical Coordinator: Michael Keller, Michael Aarons
Musical Supervisor: Tom Murray
Conductor (Des Moines): Jason Robert Brown
Conductor (Tour): Keith Levenson
Associate Conductor: Caleb Hoyer
Piano: Caleb Hoyer
Concertmaster/Violin: Michelle Maruyama
Guitar: Daniel Erben, Justin Rothberg
Cast:
Andrew Samonsky: Robert
Elizabeth Stanley: Francesca
Dave Thomas Brown: Michael (Nov 28, 2015 - Jan 24, 2016)
John Campione: Michael
Mary Callanan: Marge
David Hess: Charlie
Caitlin Houlahan: Carolyn
Katie Klaus: Marian; Chiara; State Fair Singer
Cullen R. Titmas: Bud
Cole Burden: Ensemble
Caitlyn Caughell: Ensemble
Brad Greer: Paolo; Ensemble
Amy Linden: Ensemble
Trista Moldovan: Ensemble
Jessica Sheridan: Ensemble
Matt Stokes: Ensemble
Tom Treadwell: Ensemble
Swings:
Lucy Horton, Brian Welnicki
Understudies:
Cole Burden (Robert), Caitlyn Caughell (Carolyn, Marian, Chiara, State Fair Singer), Brad Greer (Robert, Michael), Lucy Horton (Francesca), Amy Linden (Carolyn, Marian, Chiara, State Fair Singer), Trista Moldovan (Francesca, Marge), Jessica Sheridan (Marge), Matt Stokes (Bud, Charlie), Tom Treadwell (Bud, Charlie), Brian Welnicki (Michael)