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LSU THEATRE MUSICAL TO FEATURE GOSPEL,
FOLK, AND BLUES
January 23, 2004
Baton Rouge - LSU Theatre is giving voice to "Violet,"
a new musical composed by Jeanine Tesori, written by Brian Crawley,
and directed by LSU Professor Jennifer Cavenaugh, Feb. 11-29, in
the Shaver Theatre at LSU.
Based on the short story "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Southern
literary legend Doris Betts, "Violet" is the tale of a
young woman who travels by bus across the country to have a childhood
facial scar healed by a tele-evangelist. Featuring an acclaimed
score of gospel, folk, and blues music, "Violet" is a
compelling story about inner beauty, faith, and love.
"I've always wanted to do it," said Cavenaugh, who knows
Tesori personally. "While sitting in on early versions of 'Violet,'
I was inspired. This play is part of a whole new direction for the
American musical."
"One of the biggest questions about Violet is how to deal
with her scar," said Cavenaugh. "Many men in the audience
tend to want to see a real scar, whereas women can more easily accept
just the suggestion of a scar. Women understand what it's like to
look in the mirror and feel hideous when you're not. I can't wait
to see what our audiences will think."
Another challenge for Cavenaugh was the time period. Set in the
1960s, "Violet" takes place in the middle of one of our
country's most sensitive decades. "The 60s was a turbulent,
painful time of change and emotion," said Cavenaugh. "We're
just beginning to have the distance and perspective to be able to
look at it historically."
Violet's story unfolds using a series of flashbacks. As she makes
her journey in the present, she is often reminded of important events
from her childhood that are portrayed by a younger version of herself.
Graduate student Sarah Jane Johnson plays Violet as an adult, while
Northwestern Middle School student Maggie Joyner of Zachary plays
young Violet.
"We have a wide range of talented actors in the show,"
said Cavenaugh. "It's an exuberant cast, and they sound fantastic!"
"Violet" runs at 7:30 p.m. February 11-14, 17-19, and
26-28 and at 2 p.m. on February 15 & 29 at the Shaver Theatre
in the Music & Dramatic Arts Building on LSU's Campus. The run
starts with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview performance on Wed., Feb.
11, followed by a Sneak Preview Performance (all seats $8.50) Thu.,
Feb. 12. "Violet" officially opens Fri., Feb. 13. Tickets
are $8.50 for students, $13.50 for LSU faculty & staff and senior
citizens, and $15.50 for adults. Discounts are available in advance
for groups of 10 or more. Tickets and more information are available
at (225) 578-3527.
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