Tonight's production is the culmination of three years of work, but, even more than that, it represents a dream Henry Avery and I have had for much longer, the dream of conceiving and bringing to life a musical play. We collaborated on "Mixed Doubles," a romantic comedy premiered at BRLT in the fall of 1985. After that successful effort, we cast our eyes on something that would require a much larger creative team, and a story line that would lend itself well to musical interpretation. Various projects were considered and put aside for one reason or another; then, in the ...Read More
Tonight's production is the culmination of three years of work, but, even more than that, it represents a dream Henry Avery and I have had for much longer, the dream of conceiving and bringing to life a musical play. We collaborated on "Mixed Doubles," a romantic comedy premiered at BRLT in the fall of 1985. After that successful effort, we cast our eyes on something that would require a much larger creative team, and a story line that would lend itself well to musical interpretation. Various projects were considered and put aside for one reason or another; then, in the summer of 1988, Henry learned that Ninfa Gianfala Caruso was interested in composing the music for a production with a Christmas theme. After much casting about, we decided to adapt the ever popular "Little Princess," written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, who also wrote "The Secret Garden," now on Broadway in musical form. Henry and I settled down to creating characters, plots, storyline, and action while Ninfa composed music. Meeting after meeting, we brainstormed and discussed each other's ideas, always working toward what we envisioned, the play you will see tonight. The story concerns Sara Crewe, who goes from riches to rags and from a sheltered existence to life on London's streets. We think it's a wonderful story, with all the elements that make musicals linger in the mind and nestle in the heart. But all around the story is the feeling that all of us on the creative team want to convey. The three original members were joined by lyricist Jamie Wax a year ago. His entry provided us with an opportunity to test out ideas on a person unfamiliar with them. When he read his lyrics, we knew that we not only had a story and characters that did indeed say what we wanted them to, but that their message was clear. What is the message of "Princess Sara?" In one way, it is as familiar as the trappings of this season - a message of faith and hope and love that some find sentimental and other banal. Our belief is that hope and faith and love are sentimental only if you do not believe in them, and that they are banal only if your eyes do not use them as filters through which to see the world. Sara Crewe DOES believe in hope and faith and love; she views the world and all she meets with these three strongly in place. And though, like all of us, she meets trials and sorrow, disappointment and despair, in the end, faith, hope, and love prove their worth. It is the fact that she never completely abandons these virtues that sees her through. That, then, is what "Princess Sara" is all about - belief in immutable values, hope for their vigor and strength, love given unstintingly and without thought of return. -- From the original program, by Elizabeth Nell Dubus
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