Chronicle of a Death Foretold (musical)
| Chronicle of a Death Foretold | |
|---|---|
| Music | Bob Telson |
| Lyrics |
Graciela Daniele Jim Lewis Michael John LaChiusa (additional material) |
| Book |
Graciela Daniele Jim Lewis Michael John LaChiusa (additional material) |
| Basis | Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez |
| Productions | 1995 Broadway |
Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a musical with a book and lyrics by Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis (and additional material by Michael John LaChiusa) and music by Bob Telson. It is based on Gabriel García Márquez's 1981 novella of the same name.
Production
The musical premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on June 15, 1995, and played 37 performances and 28 previews before closing on July 16, 1995. The show was a presentation of Lincoln Center Theater, as part of their New Collaboration Series. The production was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Graciela Daniele.[1] The original production starred Tonya Pinkins, Saundra Santiago as Angela Vicario and dancers George de la Peña (as Santiago), Alexandre Proia (as Bayardo San Roman), Gregory Mitchell and Luis Perez. It was nominated for three Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, although it failed to win any awards.[2]
Synopsis
In a small town in South America, Bayardo San Roman, a newly married man rejects Angela Vicario, his young bride when he discovers that she is not a virgin. She returns to her family home, where they make her reveal her lover. She names Santiago, the best friend of her brothers, who is actually innocent. They are determined to avenge the family honor by killing their best friend: a "death foretold."
Analysis
The show is called a "dance theatre" piece, "driven more by dance than by music."[3] John Simon, writing in New York Magazine termed it a "dance-drama", with "dancing, singing, speaking, and posturing."[4] The show has three songs and no actual book, with the "narrative propelled by dance."[5]
Critical reception
Vincent Canby of The New York Times found the musical "a frequently stunning show that is less a conventional musical adaptation than a performance piece".[1] Time magazine wrote that, despite the fact that in "the novella's passage from page to stage, something of its fateful weight has been forfeited", the musical was "smart, surrealistic and visually entrancing."[6]
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Graciela Daniele, Jim Lewis and Michael John LaChiusa | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Graciela Daniele | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Graciela Daniele, Jim Lewis and Michael John LaChiusa | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | Graciela Daniele | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music | Bob Telson | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Beverly Emmons | Nominated | ||
References
- 1 2 Canby, Vincent. "Theater Review: Chronicle Of A Death Foretold; A Tale of Fate And Magic, Told Back to Front", The New York Times, June 16, 1995. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ↑ "'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' Broadway Production" playbillvault.com, accessed September 28, 2015
- ↑ Long, Robert Emmet. "Broadway, the Golden Years" (2003). Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0-8264-1462-1, p. 278
- ↑ Simon, John. "Theatre: The Untidy Chronicle", New York Magazine, July 10, 1995, p. 52
- ↑ Gonzalez, Nellie S, editor. "Bibliographic guide to Gabriel García Márquez, 1992-2002" (2003). Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-32804-8, p. 24, #208
- ↑ Leithauser, Brad.Perchance To Dream - TimeTime Magazine