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03/09/2022 11:01 PMMadison Lyric Stage announced that its 2022 mainstage will include a double bill of Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins and Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River in May, the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd in June, Stephen Schwartz’s musical Pippin in July, and Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in September.
All four productions, to be directed by Marc Deaton, will be held in a brand-new tent on the grounds of Madison’s Deacon John Grave House. A Raise the Tent campaign is currently underway to raise funds for the new theater space, with The Madison Foundation serving as the cornerstone partner. Individual donations can be made at madisonlyricstage.org.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating our tenth year serving the shoreline community, and we couldn’t be more excited to be doing so in a brand-new tent, says Deaton, artistic director of Madison Lyric Stage. “Our audiences have told us that they feel most comfortable in an outdoor environment, so we have made a significant investment in our infrastructure, including new lighting and sound equipment, to provide audiences with the best and safest entertainment experience possible.”
Broadwayworld recently recognized Madison Lyric Stage as “one of 10 Connecticut theaters persevering under pandemic restrictions” in 2021.
Money-saving subscriptions are currently available for the four mainstage shows. Individual tickets will be priced at $55, and season ticket bundles are now on sale for a limited time for $180 (a savings of $40 over the individual ticket price for all four shows) at madisonlyricstage.org or by calling 203-215-6329. Subscription purchasers will need to select their dates in advance, but will be able to change them.
The Seven Deadly Sins and Curlew River from May 12 to 15
The Seven Deadly Sins by Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht tells the story of Anna, who is sent on a seven-year journey through seven American cities to earn enough money for her family to build a house. Anna is torn between the need to make money and her morals, and as such has a split personality, so much so that she is played by two different women. Curlew River by Benjamin Britten with text by William Plomer, is a church parable told through four main characters who are all performed by male singers. The Madwoman and Traveler cross the Curlew River on the Ferryman’s boat to find the Madwoman’s missing child. During the journey, the Ferryman tells the story of a boy who mysteriously arrived a year ago. Nathaniel Baker serves as music director.
Sweeney Todd from June 9 to 19
Deaton stars in the title role with Val Moranto as Mrs. Lovett, leading a cast of 18 in this gruesome and funny musical extravaganza. This dark Tony Award-winner features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Sweeney Todd, whose real name is Benjamin Barker, uses his new alias to resume work in his barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s struggling pie shop after being wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment. After swearing vengeance against the judge who tore his family apart, Todd and Lovett plot a unique plan that leads them down a dangerous, thrilling path with deadly consequences. Kelly Horsted serves as music director.
Pippin from July 21 to 31
Pippin, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson, is a Tony award-winning musical about a mysterious performance troupe, led by the Leading Player (played by Jamal Green) telling the story of Pippin (played by Will Nash Broyles), a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. Pippin becomes a soldier for his father’s army, but is upset by the killing, and murders his father to stop the war. Now King himself, he is even more lost and unsure about what he wants in life and turns away from everything, including love, before discovering that what he has been searching for has been there all along. Nathaniel Baker serves as music director.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from Sept. 15 to 25
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is Edward Albee’s masterpiece, examining the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they receive an unwitting younger couple, Nick and Honey, as guests for drinks, and use them to fuel anguish and emotional pain toward each other through a harrowing night. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won the Tony Award for Best Play and is also an Oscar-winning film. Rebecca Ellis and John Johmann star as the battling couple.
Madison Lyric Stage is supported in part by generous gifts from Chase, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Guilford Savings Bank, the Maureen E. and Peter F. Dalton Fund of The Madison Foundation, the New Alliance Foundation and the Rotary Club of Madison, along with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Support has also been provided from CT Humanities, with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts from the Connecticut State Legislature.
Madison Lyric Stage is an award-winning, non-profit arts collective serving the Connecticut shoreline. Its mission is to expand participation in the arts by presenting accessible, inclusive, and affordable professional-quality opera, musical theater and drama.
For more information about Madison Lyric Stage, visit madisonlyricstage.org.