The Light in the Piazza

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Light in the Piazza

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  4w, 4m plus ensemble

Book by Craig Lucas
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel

This lush, sophisticated, romantic musical about a mother and daughter touring the Tuscan countryside enthralled audiences and earned six Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.

Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

The Light in the Piazza

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Six 2005 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations
    Nominee! Eleven 2005 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book
    Winner! Five 2005 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Music and Orchestrations
    Nominee! Eleven 2005 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New Musical
The Light in the Piazza

Details

Summary
Margaret Johnson, the wife of an American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara – a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman – loses her hat in a sudden gust. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio. Margaret, extremely protective of her daughter, attempts to keep Clara and Fabrizio apart. But as events unfold, a secret is revealed: in addition to the cultural differences between the young lovers, Clara is not quite all that she appears. Unable to suppress the truth about her daughter, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara's future, but her own hopes as well.
History


Keywords
Performing Groups
Margaret Johnson – An elegant, self-possessed, practical and attractive American woman in middle age (Range: G3-G#5)
Clara Johnson – Margaret's 26-year-old daughter, young and naive for her age (Range: A3-A5)
Fabrizio Naccarelli – A 20-year-old, good-looking and charming Florentine (Range: Bb2-B4)
Giuseppe Naccarelli – Fabrizio's slightly older brother (Range: Ab2-F4)
Franca Naccarelli – Giuseppe's wife (Range: Bb3-F6)
Signor Naccarelli – Fabrizio's father (Range: A2-G4)
Signora Naccarelli – Fabrizio's mother (Range: C4-C6)
Roy Johnson – Margaret's husband
Tour Guide
Priest – (Range: E3-D4)
Ensemble – SATB Chorus (2 Maids Range: D4-E5)
  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting Italy in the summer of 1953.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“The most intensely romantic score of any musical since West Side Story.” – The New York Times

“A work of such consummate beauty, truth, energy and accomplishment that you leave the theater filled with joy and revived by hope for the future.” – The New York Observer

“The most melodic and emotionally satisfying musical this season.” – Associated Press

“Breathtaking! Original and daring!... Anyone who cares about the rather uncertain future of this truly American genre should/must see the show!.” – New York Magazine

“Adam Guettel's astonishing music is the most beautiful score written for the American musical theater in 20 years, and the uncommonly wise and emotional lyrics from Craig Lucas collapse all the usual defenses against Broadway flim-flam. This is a serious and passionate musical and I regard it as a masterpiece. If you have a passion for serious musicals, you'd be a fool to miss this show.” – Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune

“What Adam Guettel (music and lyrics) and Craig Lucas (book) have crafted is a quiet, beautiful, elegant, and romantic show.” – Jeff Favre, LA Downtown News

Videos

  • The Light in the Piazza - LA Opera youtube thumbnail

    The Light in the Piazza - LA Opera

  • The Light in the Piazza - Tony Awards 2005 youtube thumbnail

    The Light in the Piazza - Tony Awards 2005

  • "Thr Light in the Piazza" - Kelli O'Hara youtube thumbnail

    "Thr Light in the Piazza" - Kelli O'Hara

  • The Light in the Piazza Promo - Curve Theatre youtube thumbnail

    The Light in the Piazza Promo - Curve Theatre

Photos

  • The Light in the Piazza

    Image: 2005 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

  • The Light in the Piazza

    Image: 2005 Lincoln Center Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

  • The Light in the Piazza

    Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • The Light in the Piazza

    Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • The Light in the Piazza

    Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)

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Music

Music Samples

1. Overture – Orchestra
2. “Statues And Stories” – Margaret and Clara
3. “The Beauty Is” – Clara
4. “Il Mondo Era Vuoto” – Fabrizio
5. American Dancing – Orchestra
6. “Passeggiata” – Fabrizio and Clara
7. “The Joy You Feel” – Franca
8. “Dividing Day” – Margaret
9. “Hysteria/Lullaby” – Clara and Margaret
10. “Say It Somehow” – Clara and Fabrizio
11. “Aiutami” – Fabrizio, Giuseppe, Signor and Signora Naccarelli, and Franca
12. “The Light In The Piazza” – Clara
13. “Octet” – Fabrizio, Giuseppe, Signor and Signora Naccarelli, Franca, Margaret and Clara
14. “Clara's Tirade” – Clara
15. “The Beauty Is (Reprise)” – Margaret
16. “Let's Walk” – Signor Naccarelli and Margaret
17. “Clara's Interlude” – Clara
18. “Love To Me” – Fabrizio
19. “Fable” – Margaret

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Operetta, Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Medium
  • Chorus Size Small

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
Full Orchestration:
15   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal)
1   Full Score (stick conductor)

1   Reed 1 – Clarinet, Oboe & English Horn
1   Reed 2 – Bassoon & Contrabassoon
1   Guitar – Steel String Acoustic, Nylon String Acoustic, Mandolin & Suspended Cymbal
1   Harp
1   Piano – dbl. Celesta
1   Percussion – Timpani, Marimba, Vibes (motor off always), Chimes, Orchestra Bells, Crotales, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Low Tom Tom, Suspended Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Choke Cymbal, Finger Cymbals, Triangle, Mark Tree, Cowbell, Slapstick, Big Gong & Small Gong
2   Violin A – Divisi
2   Violin B – Divisi
2   Violin C – Divisi
2   Cello – Divisi
1   Bass

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD:
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5-Piece Orchestration:
15   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal
1   Full Score

1   Harp
1   Piano
1   Violin
1   Cello
1   Bass

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD:
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15   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal)

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD:
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Add-Ons

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Authors

Craig Lucas

Craig Lucas

Craig Lucas is a American playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, musical actor, and film director. He is currently Associate Artistic Director at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle.

Born on April 30, 1951, and abandoned in a car in Atlanta, Lucas was adopted when he was eight ...

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Adam Guettel

Adam Guettel

Adam Guettel is a composer/lyricist living in New York City. His musical The Light in the Piazza (cast album on Nonesuch Records), with a book by Craig Lucas, premiered on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Beaumont Theater in April 2005, following a world premiere at the I ...

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