Origin Theatrical

 

MARIE CHRISTINE

This powerful re-telling of the tragic Medea myth was hailed by the San Francisco Examiner as "A major work by one of the most highly regarded new serious songwriters for the stage." Set in the twilight years of the 19th century, MARIE CHRISTINE chronicles its doomed heroine's journey from her genteel life of privilege in New Orleans Creole society through betrayal and incomprehensible vengeance in boisterous Chicago. This gripping tale of one headstrong and passionate young woman's all-consuming love for an ambitious sea captain provides a tour-de-force for its leading lady. When it premiered at the esteemed Lincoln Center Theatre, the New York Daily News found it to be "A brilliant re-working of Medea [that] manages at once to make it fresh and to retain its gut-wrenching compulsion." MARIE CHRISTINE was the final Broadway musical of the 20th century, an extraordinary creation that investigates unsettling mysteries of the psyche that are as old as the human condition itself.

Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS 6 Women 3 Men FEATURED 4 Women 3 Men 2 Boys (non-speaking roles) ENSEMBLE Singing ensemble

Set Requirements: MARIE CHRISTINE takes place in New Orleans and in Chicago between 1894 and 1899. SPECIFIC LOCATIONS A Woman's Prison in Chicago; A Park on Lake Pontchartrain, outside of New Orleans; Marie Christine's elegant home on Mandoline Street and its interiors; The Garconierre and Ballroom of Marie Christine's House; A Pier; A Saloon in the First Ward, Chicago; An Alleyway; A Small House and its interiors; Interior of a Church; A High Scaffold;

Genre / Style: Musical Drama, 19th Century

Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set 20 Libretto 22 PIANO VOCAL SCORE 1 Logo Orchestration Package (18 Books) 1 PIANO VOCAL SCORE 1 REED I (Flute, Bb Clarinet, Piccolo, Alto Flute, Soprano Sax) 1 REED II (Bb Clarinet, Eb Clarinet, Clarinet in A) 1 REED III (Bb Clarinet, Oboe, English Horn) 1 REED IV (Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Bb Clarinet) 1 HORN I 1 HORN II 1 TRUMPET I (Bb Trumpet, Cornet) 1 TRUMPET II 1 ON STAGE PERCUSSION (see list below) 1 VIOLA 1 CELLO 1 BASS

Musical Numbers: Way Back to Paradise, Before the Morning, Your Grandfather is the Sun, In an Instant; When You Look at a Man, Miracles and Mysteries, I Will Love You, Bird Inside the House, Nothing Beats Chicago...

Words and Music by Michael John LaChiusa

"Daringly original, haunting, and beautiful"
In Theatre

"A brilliant reworking of Medea that manages at once to make it fresh and to retain its gut-wrenching compulsion."
New York Daily News

"A major work by one of the most highly regarded new serious songwriters for the stage."
San Francisco Examiner