musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
, based on
Robert James Waller
Robert James Waller (August 1, 1939 – March 10, 2017) was an American author best known for '' The Bridges of Madison County'', an enormously successful book in 1993. He was also a photographer and musician.
Life
Robert James Waller Jr. was ...
Marsha Norman
Marsha Norman (born September 21, 1947) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play '' 'night, Mother''. She wrote the book and lyrics for such Broadway musicals as ''The Se ...
2014 Tony Awards
The 68th Annual Tony Awards were held June 8, 2014, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2013–14 season. The ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and was televised live on CBS.Gans, Andrew"68th Annu ...
''The Bridges of Madison County'' originated at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and ran from August 1 to August 18, 2013. The musical was directed by Bartlett Sher, with scene design by
Michael Yeargan
Michael H. Yeargan is an American set designer for theatre and opera.
Yeargan is a professor of Stage Design at the Yale School of Drama and has designed for opera companies all over the world, including the Washington Opera and the Dallas Opera. ...
, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Jon Weston, and produced by Stacey Mindich. The cast featured Steven Pasquale (Robert),
Elena Shaddow
Elena Shaddow is an American singer and actress. She is originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio.Daniel Jenkins (Bud), Nick Bailey (Michael),
Caitlin Kinnunen
Caitlin Kinnunen (born November 8, 1991) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Emma Nolan in the musical '' The Prom'', for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2019.
Earl ...
(Carolyn), Cass Morgan (Marge), Michael X. Martin (Charlie), Whitney Bashor (Marian), John Paul Almon, Jennifer Allen, Emma Duncan, Luke Marinkovich, Laura Shoop, and Tim Wright.
Kelli O'Hara had been originally announced to play Francesca in the Williamstown production, but because she expected her second child in September 2013, she was replaced by Elena Shaddow.
Broadway
The musical played on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, starting previews on January 17, 2014, and officially opening on February 20, 2014. The musical closed on May 18, 2014, after 37 previews and 100 regular performances.
The creative team remained the same, with additional credits for Hair and Wig design by David Brian Brown and Make-Up Design by Ashley Ryan.
The original cast featured Pasquale, Bashor, Martin, Marinkovich, Morgan, Allen, and Kinnunen reprising their roles. The new cast members were Kelli O'Hara as Francesca, Hunter Foster as Bud,
Derek Klena
Derek Anthony Klena (born October 3, 1991) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his work on Broadway, including originating the roles of Nick Healy in '' Jagged Little Pill'' (2019–2021), Dmitry in ''Anastasia'' (2017–2018), ...
as Michael, Ephie Aardema, Katie Klaus, Aaron Ramey, and Dan Sharkey.
A recording of the original Broadway cast was recorded at
Avatar Studios
Power Station at BerkleeNYC, formerly known as Avatar Studios (1996–2017) and Power Station, is a recording studio at 441 West 53rd Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. The bui ...
and released in April 2014 (digital) and May 2014 (CD) on the Ghostlight label featuring an 11-piece orchestra from the original Broadway production.
Subsequent productions
A US National tour, incorporating some minor changes, was announced by producers after the closing of the Broadway production. The tour began on November 28, 2015, at the
Des Moines Civic Center
The Des Moines Civic Center is a 2,744-seat performing arts center belonging to Des Moines Performing Arts located in Des Moines, Iowa. It has been Iowa's largest theater since it opened on June 10, 1979, and is used for concerts, Broadway shows, ...
in Des Moines, Iowa, with Brown conducting. Additional stops included the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California; the Hobby Center in Houston, Texas; The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada; the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The tour starred Elizabeth Stanley as Francesca and Andrew Samonsky as Robert. The tour ended in Greenville, South Carolina, in July 2016.
The international premiere of the musical was staged in Manila, the Philippines by Manila-based Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group. It ran from November 20 through December 6, 2015, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. The production starred
Joanna Ampil
Joanna Ampil is a musical theatre and film actress from the Philippines and United Kingdom.
Career
Joanna is a stage actress. She played Kim in ''Miss Saigon'' (London, original Australian production, original United Kingdom and Ireland Tour a ...
as Francesca and Mig Ayesa as Robert. It was directed by Bobby Garcia, with choreography by Cecil Martinez, musical direction by Ceejay Javier, scenic design by Faust Peneyra, costumes by Eric Pineda, and lighting by Jonjon Villareal.
The Boston professional premiere of the musical was staged by the Speakeasy Stage Company from May 6 through June 3, 2017. Directed by M. Bevin O'Gara, it starred Jennifer Ellis, Christiaan Smith, Alessandra Valea, Nick Siccone, Christopher Chew, and Kerry Dowling.
Utah Repertory Theater Company staged the Utah state premiere production from November 25 through December 10, 2017, directed by Utah Rep Artistic Director Johnny Hebda and company member Chase Ramsey, at the Regent Street Black Box inside the
Eccles Theater
The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater (commonly shortened to the Eccles Theater) is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was opened in 2016. It hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts, and other entertainment events. The primary "Delta Per ...
in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first musical production in this venue. Stars Erin Royall Carlson as Francesca and Kevin Goertzen as Robert, with musical direction by Jeanne McGuire.
Menier Chocolate Factory in London staged the UK premiere that ran from 13 July 2019 to 14 September 2019. The production was directed by Trevor Nunn and starred Jenna Russell as Francesca and Edward Baker-Duly as Robert, along with Georgia Brown, Maddison Bulleyment, Shanay Holmes, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Paul F Monaghan, David Perkins and Dale Rapley.
A Danish production was planned for September 2020 at , but it was cancelled after the theater declared bankruptcy in early 2020.
''The Bridges of Madison County'' had its Australian premiere at the
Hayes Theatre
The Hayes Theatre is a 111-seat theatre specialising in music theatre and cabaret in Potts Point, Sydney, Australia. It is named after the Australian performer Nancye Hayes.
Hayes Theatre Co was established at the former Darlinghurst Theatre afte ...
in Sydney. The production opened on March 6, 2020, and was scheduled to run through April 5, but it closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Matthew Henderson and Neil Gooding, it was directed by Gooding and starred Kate Maree Hoolihan as Francesca,
Martin Crewes
Martin Crewes is an Australian stage, television and movie actor.
Early life
Crewes was born in London. He moved to Australia when he was 10 years of age, and attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth, Western Austra ...
as Robert and Anton Berezin as Bud.
A Spanish-language production officially opened on December 13, 2022 at the Teatro Gran Vía in Madrid, following previews from November 18, with
Nina Nina may refer to:
* Nina (name), a feminine given name and surname
Acronyms
*National Iraqi News Agency, a news service in Iraq
* Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, on the campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology
*No income, ...
as Francesca and Gerónimo Rauch as Robert.
Roles and principal casts
Plot
Act I
Francesca Johnson, an Italian
war bride
War brides are women who married military personnel from other countries in times of war or during military occupations, a practice that occurred in great frequency during World War I and World War II.
Among the largest and best documented examp ...
living in Winterset, Iowa in 1965, has had eighteen years of quiet, largely unfulfilling farm life ("To Build a Home"). Her family—stoic husband Bud, rebellious son Michael, and reluctant daughter Carolyn—are journeying to
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
for three days to the national
4-H
4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development". Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times i ...
fair to show Carolyn's prize steer, Stevie ("Home Before You Know It"). After the family departs, Francesca is planning a relaxing weekend free from responsibilities. That afternoon, a blue pick-up truck pulls into her driveway carrying Robert Kincaid, a photographer for the ''
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
'' who has travelled from Washington State to photograph the famous covered bridges of Madison County. Robert is unable to find the seventh covered bridge, the
Roseman Bridge
Roseman is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Chief Roseman (1856–1938), American Major League Baseball player from Brooklyn, New York
*Edward Roseman (1875–1957), American actor, primarily during the silent film era
* Harry ...
, and Francesca agrees to accompany him to the bridge for a short scouting trip ("Temporarily Lost"). Once at the Roseman Bridge, Francesca feels something developing between her and Robert ("What Do You Call a Man Like That?").
After they return to the Johnson farm, Francesca invites Robert for a glass of tea. Francesca—having discovered that Robert was recently in Naples, her hometown—is eager to see pictures of his trip. Robert does not have the pictures with him, but they discuss everyday life in the quiet of Winterset ("You're Never Alone"). After realizing that it is too late for Robert to eat at one of the restaurants in town, Francesca persuades Robert to stay for a supper of homegrown vegetables and one of the recipes that Francesca brought with her from Italy. Francesca's neighbors—Charlie and Marge, an older couple who are firmly entrenched in the farm life of Winterset—see Robert and his truck at Francesca's home and speculate about his being there. Robert—whose hippy presence has caused some commotion in the town—prepares dinner with Francesca. At the farm, Francesca asks about the guitar that Robert has brought into the house, as well as its former owner, Robert's ex-wife, Marian ("Another Life"). While cooking, Robert and Francesca share a drink of a long-neglected bottle of brandy. After a dinner where both Robert and Francesca have clearly established a connection, Robert leaves in order to shoot the Roseman Bridge at dawn the next morning. Afterward, both contemplate their shared evening together. While Robert thinks about the dinner with Francesca ("Wondering"), Francesca receives a telephone call from Bud, during which she confides that she has opened the brandy that she had been saving—it had been up there long enough.
The next day, while Robert is composing the photograph at the Roseman Bridge, Francesca shops for a new dress ("Look at Me"). Realizing that Robert has awoken a feeling within her that she has not felt since she left Italy, she goes to the Roseman Bridge in search of him. At the bridge, Robert explains to her the process of composing a meaningful photograph ("World Inside a Frame"). Robert then gives Francesca the copy of the ''National Geographic'' featuring the photographs that he took of the post-war reconstruction in Naples. Francesca reveals that her fiancé, Paolo, was killed during the war, and she tearfully describes how her life in Naples corresponds to the photographs that Robert took. Realizing that their connection is more significant than she had initially believed, Francesca again invites Robert to clean up and dine at the farm.
While Robert is cleaning up, Francesca receives a call from Bud: Carolyn's steer has reached the final and they are staying another day at the fair. Francesca is disoriented from her interactions with Robert and Bud. While Bud celebrates Carolyn's victory in the nearest bar and reflects on his relationship with Francesca ("Something from a Dream"), Francesca bathes and prepares for her dinner with Robert. After Robert waits in the kitchen, Francesca comes downstairs in the pink dress that she bought that day. Finally alone with Robert and the implications of the time that they have shared, Francesca asks Robert if this is what always happens when he wanders into a town—she has bought a new dress and invited him in and everything is about to change for them. Robert asserts that he never steps into a world where people belong to each other and that he never intended for their relationship to go this far. They kiss, but are interrupted by a phone call from Marge. Marge asks Francesca to make plans the next day, but Francesca tells Marge that she already has plans to go to
Des Moines
Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
. After the call, Robert and Francesca dance in the kitchen to the radio ("Get Closer"), and then realize that, while both unknowingly searching for a connection, they have found each other ("Falling into You"). After their dance, Francesca leads Robert upstairs to her bedroom.
Act II
At the 4-H national fair, Carolyn worries about Stevie the steer, and Michael fights with Bud ("State Road 21"). Meanwhile, at the farm, Robert is in bed with a still sleeping Francesca ("Who We Are and Who We Want to Be"). While preparing for their trip to Des Moines, Francesca explains to Robert how she came to live on an Iowa farm ("Almost Real"). Meanwhile, Charlie and Marge—having seen Robert's truck at Francesca's home the whole night before—know that they have spent the night together.
After their day in Des Moines and with Francesca's family due home the next day, Francesca and Robert discuss their plans for the future. He asks her to leave Winterset with him, and she considers the reality of leaving her family behind ("Before and After You"/"One Second and a Million Miles"). Waking late the next morning, Robert again asks Francesca to come away with him; he is leaving Winterset at six o'clock and she must meet him in town before then. As he sets off for town, she tearfully promises to meet him. Later in the afternoon, Bud, Michael, and Carolyn arrive back at the farm and Francesca welcomes her family home. Bud asks what she has prepared for dinner, and Francesca immediately faces the realities of her life. Preoccupied, she constantly checks her watch while unsuccessfully attempting to say her goodbyes to a frustrated Michael, to a devoted Carolyn, and to a misunderstanding Bud. Francesca is worrying about dinner when Marge shows up, lasagna in hand; she realizes her affair is known to Marge, who has no intention of outing her to Bud. Marge comforts a distraught and uncertain Francesca. While Michael and Carolyn fight in their room, Francesca attempts to tell Bud about her affair and asserts to him that she needs more from their relationship—she cannot go on feeling so alone.
Francesca then breaks up an argument between Bud and Michael. Attempting to ease the tension and with Francesca still in search of Robert, the whole family heads into town. Carolyn asks Francesca about the man staring at them from afar—it is Robert, waiting for Francesca to join him and leave the small Iowa town behind. Francesca—desperate and overcome—runs to Robert, but it is nothing more than a fantasy. Francesca is caught between the love of her life and the love of her family. She decides to stay with her children and her husband. Francesca and Robert, both devastated by the impossibility of their situation, exchange a final look before heading their separate ways.
In the subsequent years, Carolyn marries and has a child, Michael graduates from medical school, and Charlie and Bud both succumb to illness, leaving Francesca and Marge alone ("When I'm Gone"). After Bud's funeral, Francesca thanks Marge for her unspoken support throughout the years. Once Francesca is alone in her now empty home, the telephone rings. No one is on the other end, but she clearly wonders if it could be Robert, even so many years later.
Robert, now an older man himself, calls the offices of the ''National Geographic'' to inform them that he will no longer be shooting photographs due to an illness of his own. He thanks his secretary for helping him wait for Francesca's call, which never came. Alone in his home, he packs all of his belongings save one letter, and reminisces about his time with Francesca and the following years that they have spent apart ("It All Fades Away"). In her own home, Francesca considers calling Robert, but instead looks through the ''National Geographic'' featuring the pictures of the Roseman Bridge. She finally takes the long-saved bottle of brandy off the shelf.
Francesca comes to the Roseman Bridge, letter in hand. Inside, she finds the photograph Robert took of her on the bridge, as well as a letter stating that he has died. He tells her that he understands why she made the choice that she did, and that her love for her family was part of his love for her. She tearfully considers the path that brought them together and ultimately separated them, but regrets neither her affair with him nor her choice to stay with her family. In their final moments, Robert and Francesca—appearing as they were when they first fell in love—embrace on the Roseman Bridge ("Always Better").
Musical numbers
;Act I
*To Build a Home - Francesca and Company
*Home Before You Know It - Bud, Michael, Carolyn and Francesca
*Temporarily Lost - Robert
*What Do You Call a Man Like That? - Francesca
*You're Never Alone - Bud and Company
*Another Life - Marian
*Wondering - Robert and Francesca
*Look At Me - Francesca, Robert and Company
*The World Inside a Frame - Robert
*Something From a Dream - Bud
*Get Closer - Marge and Radio Singers
*Falling Into You - Robert and Francesca
;Act II
*State Road 21/The Real World - State Fair Singer, Michael, Carolyn and Company
*Who We Are and Who We Want to Be - Robert, Francesca and Company
*Almost Real - Francesca
*Before and After You/One Second and a Million Miles - Robert and Francesca
*When I'm Gone - Charlie, Bud and Company
*It All Fades Away - Robert
*Always Better - Francesca, Robert and Company
Music
The music draws on various styles, but is largely influenced by American folk music, and there are several unaccompanied vocal parts with definitive folk undertones. The orchestra is mid-sized, with the musical being scored for piano, 2 guitars (one doubling on mandolin), acoustic/electric bass, 3 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, and a sizeable array of percussion, including drum kit.
Critical reception
According to ''
Playbill
''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the show's pr ...
'', the critical reviews were divided. Although the musical had "admirers who responded to Brown's score that mixed folk, country, pop and operatic passages, it failed to ignite wide audience appeal at the box office."Ben Brantley, of The New York Times, called the show "disproportionately long," but praised star O'Hara, calling her "one of the most exquisitely expressive stars in musical theater." He also praised composer Brown's score, calling it "sumptuous."
Awards and nominations
''The Bridges of Madison County'' received nine 2014
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...
nominations: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Steven Pasquale), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Kelli O'Hara), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Bartlett Sher), Outstanding Music (Jason Robert Brown), Outstanding Lyrics (Jason Robert Brown), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Marsha Norman), Outstanding Orchestrations (Jason Robert Brown) and Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Jon Weston). Brown won for Outstanding Orchestrations and Outstanding Music.
The musical received two nominations for the 2014 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) and Outstanding Actress In A Musical (O'Hara).
The musical was nominated for three 2014
Drama League Awards
The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards ...
: Outstanding Production Of A Broadway Or Off-Broadway Musical and Distinguished Performance Award (Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale).
The musical received four 2014 Tony Award nominations: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Kelli O'Hara); Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Brown) (music and lyrics); Best Lighting Design of a Musical ( Donald Holder); Best Orchestrations (Jason Robert Brown). The musical won awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for Jason Robert Brown.