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Overview

Synopsis

Summer 1953: Margaret Johnson, an elegant and strong-willed Southern woman, has taken her daughter, Clara, on a vacation to Italy. When a gust of wind blows Clara’s hat right into the hands of a young Italian gentleman, neither age nor language nor familial disapproval can stop their whirlwind love affair. As Clara and Fabrizio fall into each others’ arms, Margaret must grapple with the question of whether to disclose Clara’s devastating secret to Fabrizio’s warm, passionate Italian family. With soaring operatic melodies that set it apart from most contemporary musical theatre, The Light in the Piazza is a story about mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and the deeply intertwined emotions of love and loss.

Show Information

Music
Adam Guettel
Lyrics
Adam Guettel
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2003
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
florence, italy, 1953
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Optional
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Margaret Johnson

Lead

Female

Soprano

Fabrizio Naccarelli

Lead

Male

Tenor

Clara Johnson

Lead

Female

Soprano

Giuseppe Naccarelli

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Franca Naccarelli

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Signor Naccarelli

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Signora Naccarelli

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Roy Johnson

Featured

Male

Spoken

Priest

Featured

Male

Baritone

Tour Guide

Featured

Either Gender

Spoken

Songs

Act One

  • Overture
  • Statues and Stories – Margaret Johnson and Clara Johnson
  • The Beauty Is – Clara
  • Il Mondo Era Vuoto – Fabrizio Naccarelli
  • American Dancing
  • Passeggiata – Fabrizio and Clara
  • The Joy You Feel – Franca Naccarelli
  • Dividing Day – Margaret
  • Hysteria – Clara and Margaret
  • Say It Somehow – Clara and Fabrizio

Act Two

  • Entr'acte
  • Aiutami – The Naccarelli Family
  • The Light in the Piazza – Clara
  • Octet / Clara's Tirade – Company
  • The Beauty Is (Reprise) – Margaret
  • Let's Walk – Signor Naccarelli and Margaret
  • Love to Me – Fabrizio
  • Fable – Margaret

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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