A Tale of Two Cities (musical)

A Tale of Two Cities

Logo for A Tale of Two Cities
Music Jill Santoriello
Lyrics Jill Santoriello
Book Jill Santoriello
Basis A Tale of Two Cities, novel by Charles Dickens
Productions 2007 Sarasota Tryout
2008 Broadway
2009 Brighton Concert/PBS Airing
2013 Japan(Toho) 帝国劇場
2015 Japan(YTJ) 新国立劇場

A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.

After tryouts at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, in October and November 2007, the show opened on Broadway on September 18, 2008, following previews from August 19 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. 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 nomination for Outstanding New Musical for its Broadway run.

Production history

Tale creator Santoriello worked on the music beginning in the late 1980s. In 1994, her brother, actor Alex Santoriello, produced and starred in an invitation-only concert styling of the early beginnings of many of the songs in Indianapolis. Some of the numbers showcased in this styling were eventually cut from the show. It was not until 1999 that producers Barbara Russell and Ron Sharpe (both of whom had worked with Alex Santoriello in the original Broadway company of Les Misérables) that the musical officially began readings and workshops to attract producers. In 2002, Russell and Sharpe produced a concept album of the show that featured Alex Santoriello as Dr. Manette / Sydney Carton, Christiane Noll as Lucie Manette, Nick Wyman as John Barsad, Craig Bennett as Jerry Cruncher and Natalie Toro as Madame DeFarge.

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 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 as Lucie Manette, Gary Morris as Dr. Manette, Gavin Creel as Darnay, Alex Santoriello as Ernest DeFarge and Michelle Dawson as Mme. DeFarge.[1]

In late 2005, Santoriello and producers announced that the show planned an early winter try-out in Chicago, with Broadway plans for spring 2006. However, directing changes and insufficient funds, with one producer leaving, postponed the production.[2]

The following year the show opened at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, 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 and Jessica Rush as Lucie, with Natalie Toro as Madame DeFarge.[3] It received mixed to positive notices. Michael Donald Edwards directed, Warren Carlyle choreographed and the creative team included Tony Walton (scenery), David Zinn (costumes), and Richard Pilbrow (lighting).

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 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 Huffington Post, Connecticut Post and radio stations WGCH 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.[4] 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.[5]

Amateur rights to the production were first gained by the Cirillo Summer Theatre in Windsor, CT in late 2009. The New England regional premiere of the show, produced by this group, occurred in August, 2010, under the direction of Susan J. Vinick. For this production, 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 produced its regional premiere of the musical. 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, of Kacey Udy.

In May 2011, Principia College became the first college to perform Santoriello's musical.[6]

In August 2012, the musical had its Korean language premiere playing 56 performances at the Chung Mu Arts Hall in Seoul Korea.[7] 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.[8]

The Canadian youth group 'The Singer's Theatre' performed the show's Canadian premiere on August 16, 2013, in Kitchener, Ontario, after a 2-week intensive program.[9]

The Japanese language premiere is scheduled for Summer of 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.

The first Pennsylvania production was staged at Notre Dame High School (Easton, Pennsylvania) in April, 2015; it earned six Freddy Awards nominations.

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 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 descendents. 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 [Reprise]). 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 [Reprise]).

Casts

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

Character Indianapolis concerts Sarasota Broadway Brighton cast
Sydney Carton Alex Santoriello James Barbour James Barbour James Barbour
Charles Darnay Andrew Verala Derek Keeling Aaron Lazar Simon Thomas
Lucie Manette Christiane Noll Jessica Rush Brandi Burkhardt Brandi Burkhardt
Dr. Alexandre Manette Timothy Shew Alex Santoriello Gregg Edelman J. Mark McVey
Jerry Cruncher Craig Bennett Craig Bennett Craig Bennett Howard Samuels
Ernest Defarge J. Mark McVey Joe Cassidy Kevin Earley Kevin Earley
Jarvis Lorry (Not Applicable) Michael Hayward-Jones Michael Hayward-Jones (Not Applicable)
The Seamstress Bryce Dallas Howard Alexandria Howley MacKenzie Mauzy Kelley Dorney
Miss Pross (Not Applicable) Katherine McGrath Katherine McGrath Rosemary Leach
Marquis St. Evrémonde (Not Applicable) Les Minski Les Minski Paul Baker
Madame Therese Defarge Mary Gutzi Natalie Toro Natalie Toro Natalie Toro
John Barsad Nick Wyman Nick Wyman Nick Wyman Ed Dixon
Little Lucie Samantha Sharpe Catherine Missal Catherine Missal Catherine Missal
Gabelle (Not Applicable) Kevin Greene Kevin Greene Lincoln Stone

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
  • Without a Word  √ — Charles and 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

Awards and nominations

Drama Desk Award (2009)
Outer Critics Circle Award (2009)
Drama League Award (2009)
Sarasota Magazine Theatre Awards (2008)
Florida's Curtain Call Awards (2008)
BroadwayWorld Fan-Choice Awards (2009)

Production

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 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.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Fans Offered a Chance to See NYC Industry Reading of 'A Tale of Two Cities' Musical" Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, August 14, 2004
  2. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Director David H. Bell Drops Out of 'A Tale of Two Cities' Musical Project" Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, July 26, 2005
  3. ↑ Jones, Kenneth." 'Tale of Two Cities' Musical Gets Two Opening Nights, Oct. 26-27, in Florida" Archived April 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. playbill.com, October 26, 2007
  4. ↑ Staff."Musical 'Tale of Two Cities' scores" Variety, October 3, 2008
  5. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Bloody Sunday: 'Tale of Two Cities' Will Shutter Sooner Than Thought, on Nov. 9" Archived November 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, November 7, 2008
  6. ↑ Past Performances Archived April 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. principiacollege.edu, accessed August 19, 2011
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Hill, Valerie (2013-08-14). "Theatre camp an intensive preparation for putting on large-scale musical" The Record.
  10. ↑ "'A Tale of Two Cities' On-line Store" Archived August 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. TaleMusical.com, accessed August 19, 2011
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