Lempicka
book and lyrics by Carson Kreitzer music by Matt Gould
choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly
directed by Rachel Chavkin
Originally produced at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA
July 19 to August 1, 2018
About the Premiere Production:
Synopsis: Fleeing the Russian revolution and leaving behind a world of opulence and wealth, aristocrat Tamara de Lempicka (Eden Espinosa) and her beloved husband Tadeusz are forced to make a new life. In the rising tide of fascism, Tamara takes to painting to survive, and when she meets the free-spirited Rafaela (Tony nominee Carmen Cusack), a prostitute on the fringes of Parisian society, she's torn between the life she cherishes with her husband and the passion, ambition, and possibility awoken in her by her new muse. Inspired by the life of the artist who transformed herself from penniless refugee to star of the art world when the world itself teetered on chaos, Lempicka looks at the beauty and danger of one painter pursuing it all.
Artistic/Grant Statement: "The Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards shape the best work being made in the American theatre and there is no greater evidence than the national and international impact their support is having. We can draw a hard, strong line from the support Edgerton gave us at Williamstown Theatre Festival for the world premiere of Martyna's Majok's Cist of Living to the Pulitzer Prize for Drama it was awarded this year,” said Mandy Greenfield, artistic director, Williamstown Theatre Festival. “We are profoundly grateful for their continued support this season and are honored to have three of our world premiere productions -- each by brilliant, unique and wildly diverse storytellers -- making their way into the world with greater artistic resources as a result of Edgerton's visionary leadership in the field of new work."
Director: Rachel Chavkin
Choreographer: Raja Feather Kelly
Set Designer: Riccardo Hernandez
Lighting Designer:Natasha Katz
Costume Designer: Montana Levi Blanco
Sound Designer:Nevin Steinberg
Cast: Carmen Cusack, Eden Espinosa, Natalie Joy Johnson, Justin Gregory Lopez, Steven Rattazzi, Michael McCorry Rose, Nathaniel Stampley, Kay Trinidad, Rachel Tucker
Associate Director: Sammi Cannold
Music Supervisor: Remy Kurs
Music Director: Charity Wicks
Music Assistant: Conor Chinitz
Misc Assistant - Pre-Rehearsal: Andrew Griffin
Orchestrations:Cian McCarthy
Copyest: Jessie Wiener
Ableton, Keyboard: Randy Cohen
Ableton Programmer: Taylor Williams
Associate Ableton Programmer: Dana Hayes
Music Contractor: John Wheeler
Additional funders:
By special arrangement with Seaview Productions and Marathon Live Entertainment