Regional Premiere of A Tale of Two Cities
HALE CENTRE THEATRE TO PRODUCE FIRST REGIONAL PREMIERE OF “A TALE OF TWO CITIES” SINCE
ITS RUN ON BROADWAY
Playwright/Composer Collaborates on HCT’s Refinement of Musical Adaptation of Dickens’ Classic, Production to Feature New Stage Design
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (Jan. 27, 2011) — Hale Centre Theatre (HCT), Utah’s premiere family theatre, will present the first regional premiere of “A Tale of Two Cities” since it closed on Broadway in 2008. HCT collaborated with Playwright and Composer Jill Santoriello to interpret the award-winning musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic, which was also adapted into a PBS special. The production will feature dramatic HCT staging and a cast of outstanding local talent.
“We have had the rare opportunity to work closely with the show’s playwright and composer,” said Sally Dietlein, HCT executive producer. “When you work with material this new, you are still involved in the creative process and our staff has pushed their own personal boundaries. The set is unlike anything we’ve done before; we have the most wigs ever in a HCT show, more than 90, and director John Sweeney is stretching the talented cast to create a truly magical show for our patrons.”
HCT technical director Kacey Udy purchased an old barn, disassembled the pieces and installed the wood, along with realistic-looking cobblestones to create the setting for “A Tale of Two Cities.” With dramatic lighting illuminating through the floor cracks and a sloping, rotating stage that twists to create various levels and vantages, the set encompasses the center stage and engulfs the audience. The stage’s constant movement will enable the entire production to be presented without going dark for scene changes.
“I feel like I’m directing my first Broadway show,” said Sweeney. ”The beautiful and challenging set is only rivaled by the exceptionally talented cast bringing this poignant story to life. Many of our cast members are used to playing leading roles, but they accepted roles in the ensemble just to be part of this production.”
The main theme of “A Tale of Two Cities” is not unlike “A Christmas Carol,” which Sweeney has directed at HCT for the past seven years. Both stories are about redemption with “A Tale of Two Cities” recounting the story of three men as they are recalled to life. Doctor Alexandre Manette is reunited with his daughter after being secretly imprisoned in Paris for 18 years. Charles Darnay is forced to stand trial for being a traitor and a spy but is saved by the compassion of others. And Sydney Carton is a dissipated British barrister who endeavors to redeem his ill-spent life. The show’s music, which ranges from lyrical ballads to stirring chorus numbers, richly depicts the men’s lives in London and Paris as economic and political unrest led to the American and French Revolutions.
Based on the 1859 novel by Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities” was adapted into a musical by Santoriello, an American author, composer, lyricist and self-taught musician. The musical debuted on Broadway in August 2008, just three days before the U.S. stock market fell sharply, and closed due to economic constraints in November 2008. It earned an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding New Musical in 2009, in addition to three Drama Desk Award nominations.
HCT’s “A Tale of Two Cities” is directed by Sweeney, with choreography by Marilyn May Montgomery and musical direction by Anne Puzey. The show stars Kyle Olsen and Casey Elliott as Sydney Carton; Rhett Richins and Paul Cartwright as Charles Darnay; Debra Weed and Megan Heaps as Lucie Manette; David Weekes and Joseph Paur as Dr. Alexandre Manette; Quinn Dietlein and Matt Dickamore as Ernest DeFarge; and Angela Jeffries and Adrien Swenson as Madame DeFarge. Costumes were designed by the HCT team headed by Suzanne Carling; technical direction and scenic design by Udy; lighting designer is Spencer Brown; and assistant technical direction and sound design by Dan Morgan.
Performances are Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinées each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and occasional weekdays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices for Monday through Thursday evenings and matinees are $23 per adult and $15 per child (5-11 years); for Friday and Saturday evening shows tickets are $26 per adult and $16 per child (5-11 years). Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org, via telephone at (801) 984-9000 or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office at 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.
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Media Contact:
Becky Wickstrom
(801) 481-9482
bwickstrom@intrepidagency.com
