A Tale of Two Cities (musical)
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''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a
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 ...
with book, music and lyrics by
Jill Santoriello Jill Santoriello is an American musician, composer, lyricist, and author. She is a self-taught musician whose award-winning first musical ''A Tale of Two Cities'' was an Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for Outstanding New Musical in 2009. Her ...
based on the 1859 novel of the same name by
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
. After tryouts at the
Asolo Repertory Theatre The Asolo Repertory Theatre or Asolo Rep (AKA: Asolo Theatre Company, Inc.) is a professional theater in Sarasota, Florida. It is the largest Actors' Equity Association, Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory, Repertory theatre in t ...
in
Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...
, in October and November 2007, the show opened on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
on September 18, 2008, following previews from August 19 at the
Al Hirschfeld Theatre The Al Hirschfeld Theatre, originally the Martin Beck Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 302 West 45th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1924, it was designed by G. Albert Lansburgh in a Moorish an ...
. The musical closed on November 9, 2008, after a run of 60 performances and 33 previews. The show received the 2009
Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...
nomination for Outstanding New Musical for its Broadway run.
James Barbour James Barbour (June 10, 1775 – June 7, 1842) was an American slave owner, lawyer, politician and planter. He served as a delegate from Orange County, Virginia in the Virginia General Assembly, and as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates ...
received a 2009
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 ...
nomination for his performance as Sydney Carton.


Production history

''Tale'' creator Santoriello worked on the music beginning in the late 1980s. In 1994, her brother, actor
Alex Santoriello Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis. People Multiple *Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple peop ...
, produced and starred in an invitation-only concert styling of many of the songs at the
Hilbert Circle Theatre The Hilbert Circle Theatre, originally called the Circle Theatre, is in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Monument Circle. It was built in 1916 and consists of a Neoclassical style, white glazed terra cotta entrance section with a brick auditorium sect ...
in
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 ...
. The concert starred
Richard Kiley Richard Paul Kiley (March 31, 1922 – March 5, 1999) was an American stage, film and television actor and singer. He is best known for his distinguished theatrical career in which he twice won the Tony Award for Best Actor In A Musical. Kiley ...
as the narrator. Some of the numbers showcased in this styling were eventually cut from the show. In 1999 producers Barbara Russell and Ron Sharpe optioned the show with plans to bring it to Broadway. Together with Santoriello, they began developing the script through readings and producing a
concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
of the show. That recording, completed in 2002, featured Alex Santoriello as Dr. Manette / Sydney Carton,
Christiane Noll Christiane Noll (born October 5, 1968) is an American actress and singer known for her work in musicals and on the concert stage. She originated the role of Emma Carew in Frank Wildhorn's '' Jekyll & Hyde'', and had roles in '' Urinetown'', ''Rag ...
as
Lucie Manette Lucie Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Lucie is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette. She is wise beyond her years, unfailingly kind, and loving. Her love and protection of her father is ...
,
Nick Wyman Nick Wyman (born May 18, 1950) is an American stage, television, and film actor, and is a former president of the Actors' Equity Association. Early life and education Wyman was born in Portland, Maine and raised in Summit, New Jersey and atten ...
as John Barsad, Craig Bennett as
Jerry Cruncher Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is employed as a ''porter'' for Tellson's Bank of London. He earns extra money as a Resurrectionists ...
and
Natalie Toro Natalie Toro is an American singer and actress for stage, television, and film. Early life and education Toro was born in Bronx, NY, where her parents both immigrated to from Puerto Rico. She debuted at the Apollo Theater at the age of five. Lat ...
as
Madame Defarge Madame Thérèse Defarge is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. She is a ringleader of the tricoteuses, a tireless worker for the French Revolution, memorably knitting besi ...
. On August 19 and 20, 2004, for two performances, ''Tale'' was again presented for an invitation-only workshop reading in hopes of finding more backers. The production ran at the
Little Shubert Theatre Stage 42 (known as the Little Shubert Theatre until July 2015) is a theatre in New York City on Theatre Row, about half a mile west of Broadway. Its address is 422 West 42nd Street, between 9th Avenue and Dyer Avenue. It was built in 2002 and ...
in New York City. 100 fans were invited to each performance of the first New York City public presentation. It starred James Barbour as Sydney Carton,
Jenny Powers Jennifer Diane Powers (born August 29, 1979) is an American actress, singer, and beauty pageant contestant. She won the title of Miss Illinois in 2000, and has had major roles in Broadway productions such as '' Little Women'' and '' Grease''. ...
as
Lucie Manette Lucie Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Lucie is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette. She is wise beyond her years, unfailingly kind, and loving. Her love and protection of her father is ...
, Gary Morris as Alexandre Manette,
Gavin Creel Gavin James Creel (born April 18, 1976) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for his work in musical theater. Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002 in the leading role of Jimmy in ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' before starring a ...
as Darnay, Alex Santoriello as
Ernest Defarge Ernest Defarge is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel, ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Defarge is the owner of a wine shop in the slum of Saint Antoine in Paris. He and his wife Madame Therese Defarge are passionate advocates f ...
, Michelle Dawson as Mme. DeFarge and
Billy Gilman William Wendell Gilman III (born May 24, 1988) is an American singer. Starting as a young country artist, he is known for his debut single " One Voice", a top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and a top 20 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country ...
as Defarge's young brother. In late 2005, Santoriello and producers announced that the show planned an early winter try-out in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
, with Broadway plans for spring 2006. However, directing changes and insufficient funds, with one producer leaving, postponed the production. The following year the show opened at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in
Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...
, for pre-Broadway tryouts in October and November 2007. The show sold out its entire run and won ten Sarasota Magazine Awards out of twelve nominations, including for some performers and as "Best Musical." The show starred Barbour as Carton, Derek Keeling as
Charles Darnay Charles Darnay, Charles D'Aulnais or Charles St. Evrémonde is a fictional character in the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. Overview Darnay is a wealthy gentleman who spends time in both France and England during the time o ...
and
Jessica Rush Jessica Rush (born December 23, 1980) is an American actress and singer. She won the Joseph Jefferson Award in 2014 for her performance in ''Gypsy: A Musical Fable, Gypsy'' at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Early life Born in Beaumont, Texas, ...
as Lucie, with
Natalie Toro Natalie Toro is an American singer and actress for stage, television, and film. Early life and education Toro was born in Bronx, NY, where her parents both immigrated to from Puerto Rico. She debuted at the Apollo Theater at the age of five. Lat ...
as Madame DeFarge. It received mixed to positive notices. Michael Donald Edwards directed,
Warren Carlyle Warren Carlyle is a British director and choreographer who was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England. He received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Director of a Musical for the 2009 revival of '' Finian's Rai ...
choreographed and the creative team included Tony Walton (scenery),
David Zinn David Zinn is a costume and scenic designer based in New York, New York. He has been nominated seven times for the Tony Award for both his costume designs and scenic designs, winning one Best Scenic Design for a Play award for ''The Humans'' an ...
(costumes), and
Richard Pilbrow Richard Pilbrow (born 28 April 1933 in Beckenham, Kent, England) is a stage lighting designer, author, theatre design consultant, and theatrical producer, film producer and television producer. He was the first British lighting designer to light ...
(lighting). The musical premiered on Broadway at the
Al Hirschfeld Theatre The Al Hirschfeld Theatre, originally the Martin Beck Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 302 West 45th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1924, it was designed by G. Albert Lansburgh in a Moorish an ...
, with previews beginning August 19, 2008 and official opening on September 18. The show received mostly negative notices but some positive reviews, most notably from the
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, '' Connecticut Post'' and radio stations
WGCH WGCH (1490 AM, "News Talk AM 1490") is a radio station licensed to serve Greenwich, Connecticut. The station is owned by Rocco and Susan Forte, through licensee Forte Family Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a News/Talk format. The station was assigne ...
and WMNR. Three days before the musical opened on Broadway, the U.S. stock market fell sharply. In spite of the reviews and while box office receipts for other Broadway shows were tumbling along with the world financial markets, ''Tale'' initially posted good box office receipts. But as the economy worsened, the show lost money and closed November 9, 2008, although a previous announcement of closing was posted for November 16. In 2009, Samuel French, Inc. acquired the stock and amateur rights to the show. The first productions were at Cherry Hill Township Summer Theatre in summer of 2009 and the Cirillo Summer Theatre in Windsor, CT in 2010 under the direction of Susan J. Vinick. For these productions, Santoriello prepared production materials, including a complete vocal score, that would aid future theatre groups. Santoriello attended the production along with Executive Producer, Ron Sharpe, and other Broadway producers. Clearly, their commitment to the show continued far beyond its Broadway run. From February 16 to April 9, 2011, Hale Centre Theatre in
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
produced the show. Both Santoriello and a main producer from the New York production attended and stated being impressed with the cast and production values, particularly the unique set design
theatre in the round A theatre in the round, arena theatre or central staging is a space for theatre in which the audience surrounds the stage. Theatre-in-the-round was common in ancient theatre, particularly that of Greece and Rome, but was not widely explored aga ...
, of Kacey Udy. In May 2011,
Principia College Principia College (Principia or Prin) is a private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois. It was founded in 1912 by Mary Kimball Morgan with the purpose of "serving the Cause of Christian Science." "Although the College is not affiliated wit ...
became the first college to perform Santoriello's musical. In August 2012, the musical had its Korean language premiere playing 56 performances at the Chung Mu Arts Hall in Seoul Korea. The production received 9 Korea Musical Award nominations including Best Foreign Musical. On October 21, 2012, the German language premiere was performed by the 'Freies Musical Ensemble' in Münster, Germany, playing 12 performances in total. The Canadian youth group 'The Singer's Theatre' performed the show's Canadian premiere on August 16, 2013, in
Kitchener, Ontario ) , image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , blank_emblem_type = ...
, after a two-week intensive program. The Japanese premiere was presented by
Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer an ...
in the summer of 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The first Pennsylvania production was staged at Notre Dame High School in
Easton, Pennsylvania Easton is a city in, and the county seat of, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city's population was 28,127 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Easton is located at the confluence of the Lehigh River, a river tha ...
in April 2015; it earned six Freddy Awards nominations. On October 19 & 20, 2018, the show's original cast members reunited for a 10th Anniversary Concert at Birdland. The two announced concerts sold out and two additional shows were added which also sold out. In attendance were many of the original producers and the show's Broadway set designer Tony Walton. Reprising their original roles were James Barbour, Brandi Burkhardt, Natalie Toro, Nick Wyman, Craig Bennett, J. Mark McVey, Kevin Greene, Rob Richardson, Rebecca Robbins, Les Minski, Eric Van Tielen, Dan Petrotta, Drew Aber, Jennifer Evans, Alison Walla, Mollie Vogt-Welch and Walter Winston O'Neill.


Plot


Prologue

The musical opens with Lucie Manette as a child, en route from France to England. She is delivered by Mr. Jarvis Lorry, an employee of Tellson's Bank to the home of Miss Pross, who had been nanny to Lucie's now-deceased mother. Later, Mr. Lorry returns to the Pross household to tell the now-adult Lucie that her father, Dr. Alex Manette, has been found alive in the
Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stor ...
after 17 years (''Prologue: The Shadows of the Night'').


Act 1

Dr. Manette, Lucie and Lorry set sail for England and meet Charles Darnay. Upon arriving, Darnay is arrested as a spy as he is discovered in possession of papers showing British troop placements. It is later found that the papers were dropped by John Barsad, henchman of Darnay's uncle, the Marquis St. Evermonde's (''Dover''). Lucie requests that Mr. Lorry arrange for a lawyer to defend Darnay in exchange for the kindness he has shown her and her father during their journey and Lorry agrees. We are then taken to the law office of Mr. Stryver and Sydney Carton - who arrives clearly intoxicated (''The Way it Ought to Be - London''). Carton decides with his friend, grave robber Jerry Cruncher, to attempt to blackmail Barsad by visiting several local taverns (''No Honest Way''). The next day, the trial commences (''The Trial''). Darnay is acquitted after the blackmail attempt succeeds and prompts the key witness to assert that Darnay and Sydney look similar after Sydney removes his barrister's wig and robe. The witness then admits it could have been either man-or anyone else-with those papers. Darnay takes Sydney and Stryver out to celebrate at a tavern that Sydney calls "home." (''Round and Round'') After Darnay is insulted by Sydney and leaves, Sydney reflects on why he acted this way (''Reflection''). Several months have passed and Darnay now desires Lucie's hand but asks her father's permission first (''The Promise''). On Christmas Eve, Lucie attempts to convince Sydney to have supper with she and her father, but he declines; out of kindness, she invites him to dinner the following evening, which he must accept. Awakened by her kindness, Sydney realizes what he has been missing in his life (''I Can't Recall''). The next day Darnay asks Lucie to marry him and she accepts (''Now at Last''). Sydney arrives and Lucie gives him his gift - a scarf. Unaware that he would be receiving one, Sydney tells Lucie to close her eyes and kisses her. Shocked, she informs him that Mr. Darnay has asked her hand in marriage. Upset - and embarrassed — Sydney leaves and reflects on the life he now cannot attain, and on the marriage and life of Darnay and Lucie together (''If Dreams Came True''). The action then switches over to France, where the king is expected to drive his carriage past Defarge's wine shop. Many children are very excited however near the road. One, the son of a man named Gaspard, is killed when the Marquis St. Evremonde's carriage passes. Madame Defarge, who was unaware of what the children were waiting for, expresses disgust for the death the Marquis has caused and urges Gaspard to murder him (''Out of Sight Out of Mind''). Gaspard later follows the Marquis to his chateau and does so. Darnay receives a letter from Gabelle, a former house servant in France, and agrees to defend him in the courts and leaves (''Gabelle's Letter/I Always knew''). Stryver and Sydney visit the Manet household one evening and Stryver tells of the killings and other developments there. During their visit, Sydney agrees to help put Little Lucie to bed (''Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep''). Meanwhile, a funeral is being held for Gaspard's son (''Little One''). At the funeral, officers come to arrest Gaspard for murder, but Ernest Defarge tells him to remain and the revolution begins (''Until Tomorrow'') Darnay is arrested when it is revealed that he is the Marquis' nephew. Lucie is devastated and turns to Sydney for guidance as Darnay left without explanation or revealing his true identity.


Act 2

Act 2 opens with the storming of the Bastille. The Defarges have found the notes left by Dr. Manette in his cell so many years before, but the people of Paris are still unsatisfied after the prison's fall (''Everything Stays the Same''). Darnay is sent to trial because he is a member of the aristocracy. At his trial, Madame Defarge reads Dr. Manette's charges against the Marquis St. Evremonde and his brother, who is Charles' father. At the end of his journal, Manette condemns them and all their descendants. Manette himself makes an impassioned plea to recant this and say that Darnay is nothing like his father and uncle. He adds that Darnay's execution would inflict a further burden on him and Lucie who suffered so greatly during his imprisonment. Manette's plea is denied and Darnay is sentenced to death. (''The Tale''). Lucie is depressed that Darney has left without telling her why. Sydney at first is tempted to steal her from her husband, but realizes rather that the right thing would be to help Darnay (''If Dreams Came True eprise'). Lucie wishes to die with her husband, but she realizes this may put her daughter in the same position she was in as a child. She vows to save both her husband and family yet still questions why Darnay left for France without telling her (''Without a Word''). Sydney makes arrangements with his old acquaintance Barsad to allow him entrance into the prison where Darnay is held (''The Bluff''). Realizing that he cannot simply escape with Darnay, Sydney concocts a plan to save him, and to allow Little Lucie to have her father and a brilliant life ahead (''Let Her Be a Child''). In Darnay's prison, after denying that he loves Lucie, Sydney switches clothes with Darnay and then drugs him, to the surprise of Barsad. Barsad delivers the unconscious Charles to Telson's Bank, where his family is waiting. Lucie believes it is Sydney who has returned and reads a letter from him which is delivered by Barsad. In the letter, he explains he had to do this and that she has meant more to him than anything else in his entire life (''The Letter''). With both sadness for Sydney and joy for the opportunity for her life with Charles, Lucie and her family quickly leaves France. Madame Defarge arrives armed and vows to not let any of the Evremonde family escape. She and Miss Pross struggle over the pistol and Madame is killed. Ernest learns of Madame's death and calls-off the massive hunt for the Evremondes to have the opportunity to mourn his wife (''Defarge Goodbye - Lament''). On the way to the gallows, a friendly and innocent seamstress realizes that Sydney is not Darnay, with whom she was imprisoned. However instead of betraying him, she calls him an angel and the two console each other. When she is called to the guillotine, Sydney bids her a final goodbye. He is next and as he climbs the stairs, he realizes the good that he has done for the woman who opened his eyes to so much love (''Finale - I Can't Recall eprise').


Casts

Original principals in the Sarasota and Broadway productions were as follows:


Musical numbers

;Act I *Prologue: The Shadows of the Night  – Alexandre Manette and Lucie Manette *The Way It Ought to Be  – Madame Therese Defarge, Ernest Defarge and Men and Women of Paris *You'll Never Be Alone – Dr. Manette and Lucie *Argument – Marquis St. Evremonde and Charles Darnay *Dover – Miss Pross, Jerry Cruncher and Sailors *The Way It Ought to Be – Sydney Carton *No Honest Way — John Barsad, Jerry, Sydney Carton and Scoundrels *The Trial — Attorney General, Stryver, Jerry, Barsad, Sydney and Crowd *Round and Round — Tavern Folk *Reflection — Sydney *The Way It Ought to Be (Reprise) — Madame *Letter From Uncle — Marquis *The Promise — Dr. Manette and Charles *I Can't Recall — Sydney *Resurrection Man — Jerry and Cronies *Now at Last — Charles and Lucie *If Dreams Came True — Charles and Sydney *Out of Sight, Out of Mind — Madame *I Always Knew — Gabelle and Charles *Little One — Gaspard, Little Lucie, Sydney, Ernest and Men *Until Tomorrow — Ernest, Madame, Sydney and Men and Women of Paris ;Act II *Everything Stays the Same — Madame, Ernest and Men and Women of Paris *No Honest Way (Reprise) — Barsad *The Tale — Madame, Dr. Manette, Young Man, Marquis and Crowd *If Dreams Came True (Reprise) — Sydney, Charles *Without a Word  √ — Lucie *The Bluff — Sydney and Barsad *Let Her Be a Child — Sydney, Little Lucie and Charles *The Letter — Sydney *Lament — Ernest *Finale: I Can't Recall — Seamstress, Sydney and Men and Women of Paris √ Replaced with the Frank Wildhorn song "Never Say Goodbye" for the Brighton Concert. Song Changes *"Prologue: The Shadows of the Night" changed throughout previews. What originally began by Dr. Manette singing about his letter ended with just him being shown being pulled off the stage by two guards. The opening night version featured only Lucie. *"Resurrection Man" was cut after several previews, and was not featured for the opening night performance. *"Let Her Be a Child" was edited to its original form during previews, no longer featuring Charles Darnay.


Awards and nominations

;
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 ...
(2009) *Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Nomination) - James Barbour *Outstanding Orchestrations (Nomination) - Edward B. Kessel *Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (Nomination) - Richard Pilbrow ;
Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...
(2009) *Outstanding New Musical (Nomination) *Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Nomination) - James Barbour ;Sarasota Magazine Theatre Awards (2008) *Best Musical (WIN) *Best Costume Design (WIN) - David Zinn *Best Set Design (WIN) - Tony Walton *Best Lighting Design (WIN) - Richard Pilbrow *Best Music Direction (WIN) - Jerry Steichen *Best Choreography (WIN) - Warren Carlyle *Best Direction (WIN) - Michael Donald Edwards *Best Supporting Actress (WIN) - Natalie Toro *Best Supporting Actor (WIN) - Nick Wyman *Best Actor (WIN-Tie) - James Barbour *Best Actress (Nomination) - Jessica Rush *Best Supporting Actor (Nomination) - Joe Cassidy ;Florida's Curtain Call Awards (2008) *Best Musical (WIN) *Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Nick Wyman (WIN) ;BroadwayWorld Fan-Choice Awards (2009) *Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Nomination) - Natalie Toro (''Runner-Up'') *Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Nomination) - James Barbour (''Runner-Up'') *Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Nomination) - Brandi Burkhardt *Best Lighting Design (Nomination) - Richard Pilbrow *Best Costume Design (Nomination) - David Zinn (''Runner-Up'') *Best Orchestrations (Nomination) - Edward B. Kessel *Best Scenic Design (Nomination) - Tony Walton (''Runner-Up'')


Production

*The hardest role to cast for the Broadway production was Lucie Manette. Brandi Burkhardt was persuaded by Barbour at a dinner outing to audition, which had not been cast. With many hopeful Lucies, Barbour had to arrange for Burkhardt to be seen in between auditions. *Many of the shows stars stayed with the show for several years. Natalie Toro (Madame DeFarge), Nick Wyman (Barsad), Craig Bennett (Cruncher), Rob Richardson (performed Sydney Carton), Les Minski (Marquis / the Narrator in the Little Shubert Production), Rebecca Robbins and several others had stayed with the show as early as the first major NYC workshop in 1999. James Barbour joined along in 2004. *James Barbour helped secure that ''Tale'' could receive its world premiere at the distinguished Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota. *The song "Resurrection Man" had made it from earlier readings & workshops until Broadway previews, when it was cut. Critics listed the song as stopping the plot, but was a nice fun-filling moment. It is offered as an optional scene and song in the Samuel French acting edition and many productions do include it. *Producers for the Broadway production included David Bryant, Alex Santoriello, Ron Sharpe & Barbra Russell and performer Natalie Toro, all of whom performed in the Broadway production of ''Les Misérables'' in its opening years together, at the
Broadway Theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...
.


Recordings

In 2002, executive producers Sharpe & Russell released a concept recording, featuring Alex Santoriello as Sydney (and Dr. Mannette), with Christiane Noll as Lucie, J. Mark McVey as Ernest DeFarge and Natalie Toro as Madame DeFarge. ''A Tale of Two Cities: In Concert'', starring James Barbour, Brandi Burkhardt, Natalie Toro and Kevin Earley of the Broadway company, with several other Americans and British ensemble and featured roles aired on television on
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
in December 2009, and is available on DVD. There is also a studio cast recording, an ''International Studio Cast of A Tale of Two Cities'' starring this cast, available."'A Tale of Two Cities' On-line Store"
TaleMusical.com, accessed August 19, 2011


References


External links


Official site
*
Theatermania article, April 23, 2008
* ttp://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071007/FEATURES/710070625 HeraldTribune.com article, October 7, 2007, "Best of times for composer" {{DEFAULTSORT:Tale Of Two Cities, A 2007 musicals Broadway musicals French Revolution in fiction Musicals based on novels Musicals based on works by Charles Dickens Works based on A Tale of Two Cities