Pre-Show Talks Illuminate 'The Light in the Piazza'

Elon faculty and students share insights into the romantic contemporary musical

This weekend Elon faculty and students will explore Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel’s 2003 musical The Light in the Piazza in a series of public talks. The Light in the Piazza is set in mid-century Italy, and follows a young American tourist who finds that unexpected love explodes into family conflict. Each Talk on the Step discusses the musical from a distinct point of view. Speakers include:

Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.
Department of Art and Art History’s Evan Gatti will question “the romance of Florence” and discuss the tourist experience of Italy.

Saturday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m.
Assistant Director Hayley McCormick and Assistant Musical Director Michael Schimmelle, both music theatre majors, will explain the challenges of Guettel’s music and the role of the understudy in this production.

Sunday, Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m.
Samuele Pardini of the Department of World Languages and Cultures will explore representations of Italy and the Italian language in the musical.

Talks are free and open to the public, and take place in the McCrary Theatre lobby in the Center for the Arts. The Light in the Piazza is written by Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel, and Elon’s production is directed and choreographed by Linda Sabo.