Bernarda Alba

by Michael John LaChiusa

CHICAGO PREMIERE!

presented at BoHo Theatre @ Heartland Studio
October 10 — November 16, 2008

Directed by
Elizabeth Margolius

Musical Direction by
Andra Velis Simon

Produced by Thomas J. Samorian

Cast:
Helene Alter-Dyche, Deanna Boyd, Cat Davis, Harmony France, Jennifer Grubb, Lisa Liaromatis, Kelsey Shearer, Danni Smith, Debbie DiVerde, and Mindy Wetzel

This stirring musical by Michael John LaChiusa based on Federico García Lorca's 1936 play The House of Bernarda Alba, told the story of a controlling, newly-widowed mother who is challenged by her five rebellious daughters. The musical premiered Off Broadway at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in a production starring Phylicia Rashad and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

The “house” is led by its matriarch, who assumes the role with tight lipped determination immediately after her husband’s funeral. She locks the door against the outside world imprisoning the daughters within. They will live and die as virgins, she announces. The natural inclination should be for Alba to try and conquer death, whereas she conspires with it. Thus the play’s modernist irony. The simple symbolism in Lorca’s Catholic Spain, added to the bare action, at once both enfranchise woman, and present a terrifying result of liberation.

This stirring musical by the creator of the musicals The Wild Party, Marie Christine, and See What I Wanna See allowed BoHo to continue to push the creative and artistic boundaries, while bringing another outstanding musical piece to the BoHo Theatre @ Heartland Studio space.

Rave reviews for Bernarda Alba:

"This is a truly outstanding cast with excellent work offered by all"
- Venus Zarris, Gay Chicago Magazine (Highly Recommended)

"This is a marvelous, spell-binding musical with a wonderful cast of talented women."
- Alan Bressloff, SteadStyle Chicago (Highly Recommended)

"The 10 women onstage all have strong voices —the harmonization is beautiful."
- Emma Ruby-Sachs, CenterStage Chicago (Highly Recommended)