Adam Guettel’s 2003 musical The Light in the Piazza opens Thursday for a brief three-performance run at Westminster College.
Doing a musical is somewhat out of the ordinary for the opera studio at Westminster. But Michael Chipman, who runs the program, couldn’t resist. “It’s not your typical musical theater piece,” he told Reichel Recommends. “It’s an operetta masquerading as a musical.”
Lincoln Parkin as Fabrizio Naccarelli and Christy Lee Peterson as Clara Johnson in the Westminster Opera Studio production of "The Light in the Piazza."
Piazza requires exceptional singers to pull it off successfully, Chipman added. “It’s a singers’ show, because the music carries the show. In that way it’s a little bit old fashioned.”
Guettel, who is the grandson of Broadway legend Richard Rodgers, won a Tony for best score for Piazza. And while the music draws the audience in because it’s “well written, poetic and melodic,” according to Chipman, the story is equally engaging. “It’s not a black and white love story,” he said. “There is real complexity and the story dives into it.” He added, “It takes a 21st century approach to love and life. There are no clear cut answers at the end. It’s ambiguous. I love that about it.”
Adding to the work’s appeal is the fact that the story plays out in Florence, Italy. “Last year I took a group of students to Florence,” Chipman said. “You can’t get away from the beauty of the place. It’s really special and the show captures that.”
After he decided to stage Piazza, Chipman hoped he had the students for it. “It’s a big show, and the students really stepped up and knocked it out of the park.”
Chipman said he came across an arrangement of the score for piano, harp, violin, cello and bass, and that’s the version they’ll be using. “It’s a beautiful chamber ensemble arrangement. It’s great for the space and great for the voices, since they’ll be singing unamplified.”
Even though he’s been immersed in Piazza for nearly a year, Chipman still finds something in the piece to be excited about. “I keep finding new things in it. And every night I’m blown away by the dedication of the students.”
There aren’t many musicals that Chipman would consider doing, but this one is an exception. “It’s one musical that deserves the effort we put into it,” he said. “It’s a beautiful story and it takes place in an amazing city. I hope the audience gets a sense of the beauty of life when they see it.”
- PERFORMANCE DETAILS
- What: Westminster Opera Studio, The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel
- Venue: Jay W. Lees Courage Theatre, Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory, Westminster College
- Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16-18
- Tickets: $5, free for Westminster students, faculty and staff
- Phone: 801-832-2457
- Web: https://www.ezticketlive.com/checkout/eventbdate.asp?id=21