Endstation Theatre Company presents VIOLET: A Musical opening tonight, June 28. VIOLET is the third production of the 2013 Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival following Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and CYMBLINE.
VIOLET, directed by Chad Larabee and music directed by Scott Gendel, will be performed at Sweet Briar College's Babcock Fine Arts Center through July 14. The production is Endstation's most technically advanced show to date featuring a set that took over 120 hours to construct.
VIOLET features Katie Bland of Off Broadway's
VOCA PEOPLE in the title role with Devin Altizer (Virgil/Mechanic), Bill Bodine (Preacher/Bus Driver #1), LaShonda Brown (Music Hall Singer/Mabel), Casey Carden (Preacher/Bus Driver #1), Kathy Clay (Old Lady),
Hubbard Farr (Monty), Allison Gryder (Young Vi), Karl Lindevaldsen (Father), Kelly Malone Dudley (Hotel Singer), Ciji Prosser (Lulu),
William Scott (Bus Driver #2), Adam Shoaf (Le
Roy Evans), and Taamu Wuya (Flick).
VIOLET: The Musical with book and lyrics by
Brian Crawley, music by
Jeanine Tesori, is based on the bookTHE UGLIEST PILGRIM by
Doris Betts. Set in 1964 in the Deep South beneath the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, Violet follows the emotional transformation of a young woman accidentally scarred by her father. She sets off on a journey by bus from her small North Carolina town in the Blue Ridge Mountains to Oklahoma, in hopes that a televangelist can heal her scar. On her journey, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about being an outsider and the courage it takes to move forward.
According to director Chad Larabee, "[VIOLET] explores faith, racism, self-worth, and acceptance of that which we can never change." VIOLET was one of the most acclaimed off-Broadway shows of the 1990s. Through its inventive gospel, rock, country, and rhythm and blues score, it astounded critics and audiences.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students. Premium tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for students. To purchase tickets and receive visit
Endstationtheatre.org or call 434-826-0391.
http://www.endstationtheater.org.
