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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (musical)

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2024 American musical
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
The Musical
MusicJason Robert Brown
LyricsJason Robert Brown
BookTaylor Mac
Setting1980s Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
BasisNovel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
by John Berendt
PremiereJuly 8, 2024 (2024-07-08): Goodman Theatre
Productions

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a musical with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Taylor Mac. Based on John Berendt's 1994 non-fiction novel of the same name, it premiered on July 8, 2024, at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The musical follows an antiques dealer who is on trial for the murder of a male prostitute in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., based on the killing of Danny Hansford. A Broadway run has been announced for 2025.

Development

In 2012, it was reported that producer Anne Hamburger had enlisted playwright Alfred Uhry to adapt Berendt's novel into a stage musical, which would make use of music from Johnny Mercer's catalogue. In 2013, Rob Ashford was attached to direct the production, which aimed for a tryout either in the U.S. or London in late 2014, with a Broadway debut eyed for the first half of 2015. A reading took place in 2014, with Tony Goldwyn, Leslie Uggams, and Jessica Molaskey leading the cast. The adaptation was then shelved.

In February 2023, it was announced that Brown and Mac would be involved in the development of the musical stage adaptation, with a reading held in May. The creators of the musical eventually realized that Mercer songs alone would not be able drive the story forward so Brown was brought in to write original musical numbers. Brown initially declined the first time he was approached, as he could not envision adapting it as a musical. In the musical, the audience plays the role of John Berendt, the author, and characters often break the fourth wall. Berendt was not involved with writing the musical's book, although he and Mac met a number of times for dinner, where he was able to discuss stories that were not included in the novel and events following its publication. The production team also visited Savannah numerous times to immerse themselves in the show's setting. In addition, a number of Savannahians, such as Stratton Leopold, were invited to readings and workshops to provide feedback on the script's authenticity. Williams's nieces, who manage Mercer House, were also consulted.

Musical numbers

Act 1

  • "Bonaventure" – Minerva, Jim Williams, the Lady Chablis, Emma Dawes, and Company
  • "Mercer House" – Jim Williams, Emma Dawes, and Preservation League Ladies
  • "The Shed Shack" – the Lady Chablis and Company
  • "Let There Be Light" – the Lady Chablis and Company
  • "Savannah Is Restored" – Emma Dawes and Preservation League Ladies
  • "Since My Mama Died" – Alma Knox Carter
  • "Jim and Danny" – Jim Williams and Danny Hansford
  • "Lift Her Up" – Bobby Hutchins and Company
  • "The Empress of Savannah" – Jack the One-Eyed Jill
  • "Finale Act 1" – Minerva, Emma Dawes, Jim Williams, Corinne Strong, Danny Hansford, and Company

Act 2

  • "True Crime" – the Lady Chablis and Jack the One-Eyed Jill
  • "Sad House" – Emma Dawes and Preservation League Ladies
  • "What a Ride" – Jim Williams and Minerva
  • "Reasonable Doubt" – Jim Williams and Company
  • "Clap on One and Three" – Lavella Cole and Company
  • "It Takes Your Breath Away" – Emma Dawes
  • "Restoration" – Jim Williams and the Lady Chablis
  • "Rotten to the Core" – Minerva, Jim Williams, Danny Hansford, and Company
  • "Butterflies" – the Lady Chablis and Company

Productions

The Bird Girl sculpture (by Sylvia Shaw Judson), which appears on the cover of the 1994 novel, is also featured in the show's posters and playbill. The Chicago production's scenery used the same fiberglass replica created for the 1997 film adaptation and loaned from the Cliff Dwellers Club.

The Chicago production ran from July 8 to August 11, 2024, at the Goodman Theatre, following previews that started on June 25 at the Albert Theatre. It was directed by Rob Ashford, choreographed by Tanya Birl-Torres, and starred J. Harrison Ghee as the Lady Chablis, Tom Hewitt as Jim Williams, and Sierra Boggess as Emma Dawes. The production had sets by Christopher Oram, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Neil Austin, and sound design by Jon Weston.

In September 2024, it was announced that the production would debut on Broadway in 2025.

Critical reception

The Chicago production received positive reviews, especially for Ghee's performance as Chablis. Variety's Steven Oxman praised Brown's "best score to date", as well as the performances of Ghee (as a "triple threat performer... at the top of their game") and Hewitt. Charles Isherwood of The Wall Street Journal also praised the performances of the cast but had some criticism for the problems resulting from the adaptation of a digressive novel for the stage. Benjamin Payne of Georgia Public Broadcasting praised Ghee's performance, as well as the set design, music, and choreography, with the biggest weak point noted as the absence of showing a 1980s jury in the Deep South deliberating on the verdict of a gay man on trial for murdering a bisexual man. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune noted Ghee's performance and Brown's score as the production's two strengths but noted the show's weakness was its lack of a credible conflict. Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times felt that Brown's score was not as strong as his work for The Bridges of Madison County, and felt that Ashford and Birl-Torres were "overall too timid in the splashier scenes", ultimately calling the show "as intriguing as it is unwieldy, and so close to working".

See also

References

  1. ^ Gans, Andrew (August 11, 2024). "Jason Robert Brown-Taylor Mac Musical Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Concludes World Premiere Run August 11". Playbill. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. Gioia, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Alfred Uhry Attached to Broadway-Aimed Musical Adaptation of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"". Playbill. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  3. Hetrick, Adam (June 14, 2013). "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Taking Shape as Broadway-Aimed Musical; Alfred Uhry and Rob Ashford Attached". Playbill. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. Purcell, Carey (June 23, 2014). "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Musical Aiming for Broadway; Tony Goldwyn Leads Reading". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  5. Dennis, Zach (March 2, 2023). "'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' to be adapted into a Broadway musical". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  6. Culwell-Block, Logan (February 28, 2023). "Taylor Mac, Jason Robert Brown Collaborating on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Musical". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  7. ^ Payne, Benjamin (July 18, 2024). "Review: 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' takes the stage in lively musical adaptation". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  8. ^ McNally, Colleen Ann (June 3, 2024). "Midnight's Curtain Call". Savanna Magazine. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Zivan, David (July 18, 2024). "Taylor Mac Is Not Doing a Straightforward Adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". Playbill. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  10. Behrens, Web (July 24, 2024). "The Surprising Chicago Roots Of Bird Girl, The Statue That Became Synonymous With Savannah". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  11. Evans, Greg (September 30, 2024). "'Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil' Musical Announces 2025 Broadway Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. Wright, Joshua (July 9, 2024). "Review Roundup: Critics Sound Off On MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  13. Oxman, Steven (July 9, 2024). "'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' Review: Musical Adaptation is a Promising, Boldly Unconventional Retelling Anchored by Standout Performances". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  14. Isherwood, Charles (July 25, 2024). "'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' Review: Splashy Southern Gothic Musical". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  15. Jones, Chris (July 9, 2024). "Review: 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' at the Goodman Theatre is gutsy but needs a conflict worthy of its star". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  16. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (July 31, 2024). "In Chicago, 3 Shows That Keep the Audience in Mind and Engaged". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

External links

Musicals by Jason Robert Brown
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