SpeakEasy Presents
"The Light In The Piazza"

From September 19 - October 18, SpeakEasy Stage will present the Boston regional theatre premiere of the lush romantic musical "The Light In The Piazza." Winner of 6 Tony Awards, this soaring musical whisks its audience to Italy for a captivating tale celebrating the beauty and passions of the human heart. The production will be presented in the Roberts Studio Theatre at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts in Boston's South End.

The SpeakEasy production is returning the show to its origins as an intimate chamber musical, employing 12 actors and 6 musicians to tell its story. (The Broadway production used 18 actors and 15 musicians).

It's the summer of 1953, and Margaret Johnson, the wife of a North Carolina businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter Clara. In their travels, Clara meets a handsome Florentine boy, who is ardent in his pursuit of her. As the young couple's love blossoms, Margaret is faced with a difficult choice. Should she reveal a truth that could destroy her daughter's happiness, or say nothing and let fate run its course?

The musical, which premiered in 2003 in Seattle, was adapted from Elizabeth Spencer's popular 1960 novella of the same name. Craig Lucas ("Prelude to a Kiss") wrote the book for the show; with Adam Guettel ("Floyd Collins") providing the music and lyrics, which were noted for their blend of tradition and innovation. Guettel is the grandson of composer Richard Rodgers, and the godson of composer Stephen Sondheim.

"The Light In The Piazza" was developed at the Intiman Playhouse in Seattle, and had a stop in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre before arriving at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, where it ran for 504 performances. Bartlett Sher, who is currently represented on Broadway by "South Pacific" (also at Lincoln Center), directed the New York production, which featured Victoria Clark as Margaret Johnson, Kelli O'Hara as Clara, and Matthew Morrison as Fabrizio.

On June 15, 2006, shortly before its closing night, the show was broadcast on the PBS television series "Live from Lincoln Center."

Scott Edmiston ("The History Boys," "The Women," "Five by Tenn") will direct the SpeakEasy production. This is Edmiston's first musical for SpeakEasy, and his first musical since directing the Noel Coward revue "A Marvelous Party" at the American Repertory Theatre.

For "Piazza," he has assembled a unique combination of performers from the worlds of opera, musical theatre, and classical theatre, all of whom are making their SpeakEasy debuts.

Amelia Broome leads the company as Margaret Johnson. A native of Georgia, Broome has extensive musical theatre, opera and acting credits, most recently appearing as Katharine Hepburn in the one-woman play "Tea at Five" for Worcester Foothills. She is also on the acting faculty at Emerson College.

Erica Spyres, a newcomer to Boston, will play Clara. A graduate of Drury University where she studied voice and theatre with famed Sondheim interpreter Robert Westenberg, Spyres recently performed the roles of Rosa in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and Anne in "A Little Night Music."

John Bambery will play Clara's love interest, the passionate Fabrizio Nacarelli. Bambery is a senior at the Boston Conservatory, where he appeared last season as Tony in their production of "West Side Story." He has also trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Moscow Art Theater School, and the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

Joel Colodner will play Signor Naccarelli. He has appeared in Boston in productions of "King John," "Titus Andronicus," "The Winters Tale," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He was seen this past summer in the Publick Theatre productions of "The Seagull" and "Hay Fever." He has appeared Off-Broadway in "How I Learned to Drive," and in major roles at The Guthrie Theatre, Long Wharf, Mark Taper Forum, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage and the Alliance Theatre of Atlanta.

Rounding out the Boston cast are Alison Eckert, Karen Fanale, Christian Figueroa, Heather Hannon, Craig Mathers, Joel Perez, Paul Soper, and Carolynne Warren.

For itickets, call 617-933-8600 or visit www.BostonTheatreScene.com.

-- OnStage Boston