This beautiful masterpiece The Light in the Piazza, originally written by Elizabeth Spencer, is now back in theaters for audiences everywhere to become a part of. In becoming a part of the magic of Piazza on stage as an audience member, you literally feel like you are there with the characters in Florence and Rome, as the lighting and scenery for Piazza are enough of a reason in themselves to experience this feeling of a dream like stage production.
The tale itself of The Light in the Piazza is adorable and captivating as well. It starts out introducing the main characters as we see Margaret, a young mother from the States, and her beautiful 26-year-old daughter Clara, who was kicked in the head by a pony when she was younger and since has obvious but quirky mental disabilities. Along with Margaret's husband Roy, the family is on their way to visit Italy, where the couple once honeymooned so long lost love years ago, and coming back to Italy it isn't soon before the love bug bites a 20-year-old Fabrizio, son to haberdasher Signor Naccarelli, from being smitten by Clara in the unfolding of Piazza.
It isn't long into the budding romance of Clara and Fabrizio in Piazza, which the Naccarelli's fall in love with her as well. Then comes talks of a wedding, which doesn't hit Margaret or her husband Roy too well. They then go on to try and end this idea before it goes too far, knowing that with Clara's conditions, it will become nothing but bad news.
Throughout the entirety of The Light in the Piazza, the musical overtures, duets, and all the choreography that intertwines adds all that much more magic and even opera feel to the beautiful piece. "Let's Walk," performed by Signor and Margaret is a real treat for the audience in the second act.
Each and every actor that takes the stages of Piazza, takes it with a grace and embodiment of each character to a tee and leaves the audience even more so overwhelmed and a part of this play in the way Broadway should. The Light in the Piazza is a stage hit, and a piece of history that every theater connoisseur should hope to experience.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Overture
Statues and Stories, Margaret and Clara
The Beauty Is, Clara
Il Monda Era Vuoto, Fabrizio
Passeggiata, Fabrizio and Clara
The Joy You Feel, Franca
Dividing Day, Margaret
Hysteria, Clara and Margaret
Say It Somehow, Clara and Fabrizio
Act Two
Aiutami, The Naccarelli Family
The Light in the Piazza, Clara
Octet, Company
Tirade, Clara
Octet (Reprise), Company
The Beauty Is (Reprise), Margaret
Let's Walk, Signor Naccarelli and Margaret
Love to Me, Fabrizio
Fable, Margaret
Critical Reception
Broadway basked in the Tony-award-winning glow of The Light in the Piazza at New York 's Lincoln Center on June 8 as the Ucross Foundation celebrated the success of its artists in residence with an Apache-sponsored reception.
Adam Guettel, who wrote the music and lyrics for The Light in the Piazza, and Craig Lucas, who authored the book, did some of their creative heavy lifting at the Sundance Theatre Program's Playwrights' Retreat at Ucross, a 22,000-ranch in Wyoming 's Powder River Basin .
The romantic musical's collection of six Tonys - including Guettel's statuettes for best score and best orchestration - was the latest in an impressive string of honors bestowed on Ucross alumni over the past year, including last year's Tony for best play, last year's Pulitzer prizes for drama and poetry, PEN Hemingway awards and a National Book Award.
After the Tonys were presented, the Wall Street Journal's theater critic wrote that "the really important news from the Tony Awards was that Adam Guettel's glowingly romantic score, which is all but operatic, won in its own right."
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