This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/03/2017 12:01 AMThe world of a charming songwriter is on the rocks in Daniel Zaitchik’s contemporary new musical Darling Grenadine, which runs Friday, Aug. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 17 at The Terris Theatre in Chester.
Meet fun-loving jingle composer Harry. In modern Manhattan, his charmed life with girlfriend Louise, brother Paul, and beloved Labrador retriever (also Paul!) sparkles with the fizz of romantic comedies and the whimsy of MGM musicals—but will it all go flat when reality interrupts Harry’s tenderly orchestrated fantasia? A rich contemporary score explores the friction between romance and reality, bitter and sweet, high and low.
Darling Grenadine features book, music and lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik, a singer-songwriter whose recording projects include Bad Dancer and Summer of the Soda Fountain Girls with his old band Blue Bottle Collection. As a playwright-composer his projects include Picnic at Hanging Rock (Goodspeed’s 2017 Festival of New Musicals), Darling Grenadine, and Suprema (with playwright Jordan Harrison.) His work has been developed at Lincoln Center Theater, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, New Dramatists, Ars Nova, and The Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals.
Harry will be played by Bryan Fenkart, who made his Goodspeed debut last summer at The Terris Theatre in A Sign of the Times. Fenkart made his Broadway debut in Memphis as Huey and went on to play that role in the first national tour. Louise will be played by Emily Walton whose Broadway credits include August: Osage County and Peter & the Starcatcher. Paul (the human) will be played by Ben Mayne, whose Off-Broadway credits include The View Upstairs (Dale) and Edwin. Paul (the dog) will be played by internationally recognized “artist with marionettes” Phillip Huber. The ensemble includes Danyel Fulton, Nikko Kimzin, Leah Sprecher, and Kevin Zak.
The musical is directed by Kristin Hanggi, who is best-known for directing and developing Rock of Ages, which received five Tony Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. Choreography is by Chase Brock, a choreographer working in theater, modern dance, ballet, opera, television and video games.
Darling Grenadine scenic design and projection design will be by Edward T. Morris; costume design will be by Tilly Grimes; lighting design will be by Ben Stanton; and sound design will be by Jay Hilton. Music direction for Darling Grenadine will be by David Gardos with orchestrations by Matt Moisey with additional orchestrations by Daniel Zaitchik. Casting is by Paul Hardt of StewartWhitley Casting.
Darling Grenadine will run Aug. 18 to Sept. 17 with performances Wednesdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 6:30 p.m. For tickets and information on special events including talkbacks and Thursday Dinner Theatre Packages, call the Goodspeed Box Office at 860-873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.