A wonderfully entertaining story of flirtation and folly, “Sense and Sensibility, The Musical,” with book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and music by Neal Hampton, will be performed April 26 – May 1 at Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall. Based on Jane Austen’s first published novel, Wellesley College’s new musical production will bring the repressed sentiments, soaring emotions and Austen’s signature wit to life. 2011 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of the novel.
Enter the world of the Dashwoods, two sisters as different as can be. Elinor is reserved, self-possessed and rational to a fault, while Marianne is wildly romantic, emotionally uninhibited and disdainful of half-measures. Bound by their love for each other and their inner sense of social independence, but torn by their conflicting notions of ideal love, they struggle to cope with reduced circumstances and the pressure to marry well.
Ecstasy, deception,dashed hopes and near-tragedy lead them to discover profound truths that bring them closer together and finally put them within reach of true and lasting happiness. Filled with satiric wit and subtle characterizations, “Sense & Sensibility” teaches that true love requires just the right balance of reason and emotion.
Directed by Nora Hussey, with musical direction by Jenny Tang, and a cast of Wellesley students, alumni, faculty and admistrators performing together with professional actors, “Sense & Sensibility” is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Music Department, Theatre Program (Wellesley College Theatre/Wellesley Summer Theatre), and the English Department at Wellesley College.
AT A GLANCE – “Sense & Sensibility, The Musical”
WHERE:
Diana Chapman Walsh Theatre, Wellesley College,106 Central Street, Wellesley
Free parking is available in the Davis Parking Facility and the Founders Parking Lot.
Directions and a map of the campus are online at web.wellesley.edu/web/AboutWellesley/VisitUs/mapsanddirections.psml.
WHEN:
April 26 / 7:00 PM
April 27 / 7:00 PM
April 28 / 7:00 PM
April 29 / 8:00 PM
April 30 / 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
May 1 / 2:00 PM
TICKETS:
$15 general admission
$8 seniors
$5 faculty/staff
Free to Wellesley, Olin, and Babson students with ID
No reservations required
MORE INFORMATION:
www.senseandsensibilitymusical.com or 781-283-2000
BIOGRAPHIES
Jeffrey Haddow is a 2009 winner of the BMI Harrington Award for Creative Excellence. He co-authored the musical revue “Scrambled Feet,” which ran two years Off-Broadway at the Village Gate and was produced as a Showtime TV special starring Madeline Kahn. It is published by Samuel French. He also co-wrote the play “Chekhov in Yalta,” which had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum in L.A. The play won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Distinguished Playwriting Award and was produced as a TV special starring Tom Courtenay. It has enjoyed numerous regional and international productions and is also published by Samuel French. Other produced plays include “Ducks”(co-book and lyrics) at Musical Theatre Works, NYC, “Thin Ice” at the WPA Theatre Off- Broadway, “Scully & Royce” at Detroit Repertory Company and“The Drunken Boat” at Circle Repertory Co., NYC.
In addition to “Sense & Sensibility, The Musical,” current projects include “At the Back of the North Wind” (book and co-lyrics) based on the novel by George MacDonald, and“Summer Stock” (co-book and co-lyrics) based on the 1950 movie musical with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Jeffrey is a graduate of Northwestern University and a current member of the Dramatists Guild and the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.
Neal Hampton’s compositions include arrangements and additional songs (music/lyrics) for “A Little Matchgirl” at the Gloucester Stage, music for the Commonwealth Ballet’s productions of “Rappaccini’s Daughter” and “Street Scene” (the latter performed in Boston and Bulgaria and excerpted for use on the A&E, Nickelodeon,Discovery and Learning channels), incidental music for the Canadian Premier of Lanford Wilson’s “Book of Days” and a choral arrangement written for the Columbia Pictures release of “Mona Lisa Smile.” His adaptation of Charles Dicken’s “The Chimes” (book/music/lyrics) was presented at the New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative’s 2004 Birth of a Musical Festival. “Sense & Sensibility” began its development at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical TheaterWorkshop in New York City.
The Savannah Symphony, the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Springfield (MA) Symphony, the Tallahassee Symphony,London’s Westminster Philharmonic and the Vermont Millennium Festival have engaged Mr. Hampton as a guest conductor. He has premiered numerous contemporary works and conducted theater productions with Intermezzo Opera, the Gloucester Stage, the Boston Conservatory, Brandeis University and at Boston University’s InCite Festival at Town Hall, New York City, among others. Past posts include Music Director of the Genesee (NY) Symphony and the Lowell (MA) Philharmonic, and Assistant Conductor of the Young Artist’s Orchestra at Tanglewood. He currently serves on the faculties of Brandeis University and Wellesley College as conductor of the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE STUDIES
The Department of Theatre Studies at Wellesley College provides students with the opportunity to explore the history and literature of the theatre, and then bring their knowledge from the classroom to a hands-on application of the craft. To facilitate this essential experiential learning, the department hosts three active performing programs on campus: Wellesley Summer Theatre, Wellesley College Theatre and the Upstage Series.
THE CONCERT SERIES AT WELLESLEY COLLEGE
Organized by the Department of Music, the Concert Series brings world-class performers to campus, complementing the department’s academic offerings and augmenting the cultural life of the College and surrounding community. With concerts ranging from early music to jazz, the series features both visiting artists and members of the performing faculty.
ABOUT WELLESLEY COLLEGE & THE ARTS
The Wellesley College arts curriculum and the highly acclaimed Davis Museum and CulturalCenter are integral components of the college’s liberal arts education. Various departments and programs from across the campus enliven the community with world-class programming — classical and popular music, visual arts, theater, dance, author readings, symposia, and lectures by some of today’s leading artists and creative thinkers — most of which are free and opento the public. For information about upcoming events, visit web.wellesley.edu:80/web/Events.
Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500-acre campus near Boston is home to 2,400 undergraduate students from all 50 states and 75 countries.
recent comments