MetroStage to Open with World Premiere of Glimpses of the Moon

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that MetroStage's 2010-11 season will open with the world premiere of Glimpses of the Moon, a Jazz Age musical based on a novel by Edith Wharton. The book and lyrics are written by Tajlei Levis and the composer is John Mercurio. Glimpses of the Moon will be in performance Sept. 8-Oct. 17.

In 2008 and 2009 Glimpses of the Moon was performed on 25 Monday evenings in a cabaret space in New York in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, a fitting location for a 1922 Jazz Age musical. The story follows the journey of Nick and Susy, who, popular but penniless, devise the ultimate fundraising scheme: to marry and live off the wedding presents while they continue to look for suitable millionaires to marry. The plan works perfectly---until they fall in love. This new romantic musical portrays the jazzy whirl of New York society in 1922, from champagne-soaked dinner parties to luxurious vacation cottages to New York's elegant hotels. Broadwayworld.com called it a "sparkling valentine to the Jazz Age."
New York director/choreographer David Marquez most recently directed and choreographed Suessical for Weston Playhouse. On Broadway he has choreographed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Gershwin's Fascinating Rhythm. He has choreographed productions in regional theatres all over the country and has a dance studio in New York City. Writer Tajlei Levis has also written A Time to Be Born: A 1940's New York Musical with composer John Mercurio (New York International Fringe Festival). Composer John Mercurio wrote Academy (New York Musical Theater Festival), and was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award for music and lyrics. Other musicals that he has written include Myth (O'Neill Music Theater Conference), and Diva Diaries (Lakeshore Theatre, Chicago). He is currently writing the score for Hooray for Iceboy!. Darius Smith is the music director. He was last seen at MetroStage on keyboards for The Stephen Schwartz Project. He is a professor of musical theatre at Howard University and is also a composer.

The cast includes Natascia Diaz, who was most recently seen at MetroStage in the world premiere of ROOMS a rock musical (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Actress). Her Broadway credits include Suessical, Capeman and Man of La Mancha. Most recently, she played Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Hanger Theatre, Ithaca, NY) and in August will play the lead in Capeman at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Stephen Schmidt was most recently seen in Triumph of Love at Olney. He received the Helen Hayes Award for Urinetown (Signature), and HH nominations for Willy Wonka (Kennedy Center), Wonderful Life (Toby's) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (Woolly Mammoth).

Gia Mora was most recently seen at MetroStage in Cool Papa's Party (Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Ensemble). Other HH nominations include She Stoops To Comedy (Ensemble, Woolly Mammoth) and A Prayer for Owen Meany (Supporting Actress, Round House). Sam Ludwig was just seen in the DC Fringe show Super Claudio Bros (with Gia and other cast members Matt Anderson and Lauren Williams), and has appeared in [title of show], Sweeney Todd, and Les Miserables (Signature).

Lauren Williams has appeared in Into the Woods and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (both receiving Helen Hayes nominations, Signature) and at Studio in Reefer Madness, and Dog Sees God (HH nomination, Ensemble). Matthew Anderson was most recently seen at MetroStage in the acclaimed record-breaking production of Musical of Musicals (The Musical!). He has also performed at the Kennedy Center (Youth and Family Programs and Shear Madness). In addition to this cast there will be the role of Cabaret Singer that will feature some of MetroStage's favorite performers: Lori Williams (All Night Strut, Cool Papa's Party), Tracy McMullan (Noel and Gertie, Two Queens One Castle), and Roz White (Three Sistahs, Pearl Bailey...By Request, Cool Papa's Party, Bricktop). They will appear in rotation.
The design team includes Daniel Pinha, set; Andrew Griffin, lights; and Lisa Zinni, costumes.

Performances for Glimpses of the Moon will be Thursdays and Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 3 and 8, Sundays at 3 and 7, Sept. 8-Oct. 17.(Exceptions include a Wednesday at 8 PWYC on Sept. 8 and no perf on Friday Sept. 10.) Thursday Sept. 9 will also be a PWYC. Preview performances on Sat. Sept. 11 and the Sunday matinee Sept. 12 will have $25 tickets available. Press night is Sunday Sept. 12 at 7 pm.

For ticket reservations call 800 494-8497 or go online to www.metrostage.org. For information and group sales call 703-548-9044.

MetroStage is located at 1201 North Royal St. in North Old Town Alexandria. There is a free parking lot and fine dining nearby. The theatre is handicap accessible.