MUSIC BY WILL TODD ~ LIBRETTO BY DAVID SIMPATICO ~ DIRECTED BY DANA AYERS
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Theatre @ Southeastern’s world premiere of the revised main stage musical The Screams of Kitty Genovese will take the Montgomery Auditorium stage this month as the program’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival entry. Unlike many musicals, “Screams” is a dark and troubling tale based on the tragic ‘real life’ events surrounding the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese. Since Southeastern’s production will be the premiere of this version of the piece, the show’s authors, Will Todd and David Simpatico, will be joining the cast Monday and Tuesday to work on the production. “It’s a terrific opportunity to bring these talented individuals from New York to Durant to work with our students,” said director and Theatre faculty member Dana Ayers.
“We are very excited that they are coming,” said Charity LaPonsie, senior Musical Theatre and Theatre Management/Promotions major, “I can’t wait to find out what they think of our work!”
David Simpatico and Will Todd first worked on The Screams of Kitty Genovese at the Opera Lab in Kent, England in 1998. The work was then chosen for development at both the 1999 and 2000 Eugene O’Neil National Music Theatre Conference in Connecticut. In February 2000, Simpatico received the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award for The Screams of Kitty Genovese libretto. The first full version was work-shopped at The ENO Works (the developmental studio for the English National Opera) in March 2000. The authors were also invited back to The ENO Works for a second workshop/presentation in January 2001. In September 2001, The Screams of Kitty Genovese was chosen for the National Alliance of Music Theatre Conference in New York City. The musical received its first full production at the Boston Conservatory of Music in October 2001. Since then the show has be revised and Southeastern will premiere this new version.
Will Todd was born in County Durham and studied composition from an early age. While much of his music is based around North Eastern themes, his love of story telling has led to the creation of a number of important dramatic works on diverse subjects ranging from murder in 1960’s New York to the ancient Nordic Myths.
David Simpatico got his start in show business in his early 20’s when he was asked to adapt a romance novel into a play. Although the play never went anywhere, Simpatico says he “had a blast being introduced to a new medium that actually paid money for the effort.”
The Screams of Kitty Genovese set in 1960’s Queens, New York, tells the true story of Kitty Genovese as she fights for life in the dark street while 38 neighbors watch from their windows-silent, afraid, paralyzed. “When your turn comes in the night when it’s one of you, who will help you, who will answer, who will reach out to you?” asks one of the characters in the play. “That question will linger in everyone’s mind as they leave the theatre,” said LaPonsie
The strong and disturbing nature of the production has prompted SOSU Director of Theatre Dell McLain to publish the theatre program’s sternest audience warning to date. “As ever, we want our audiences to be able to make informed decisions when they think about attending the theatre,” said McLain. “While we strive to make sure that there is something for everyone in our season, “Screams” is a challenging and important new work that may have as profound an impact on the audience as it will on the performers.”
The Screams of Kitty Genovese will run September 21, 22 and 23 in Montgomery Auditorium. Show times will be at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 for general admission and $4.00 with SOSU ID. Discount prices are for presales only. Tickets purchased at the door will be full price. Those interested can contact the box office at 745-2696. This production contains extremely mature subject matter, language and violence. The show has a Theatre @ Southeastern Family Rating of NC-17. No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent.