BWW Interviews: Pierre Brault's Staging of CHILDREN OF EDEN Is Anything But Traditional

Virginia Musical Theatre's limited engagement of CHILDREN OF EDEN by Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, Dreamworks' THE PRINCE OF EGYPT) will play four shows February 28 - March 2 at The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Award-winning Director Pierre Brault recently sat down with Broadwayworld.com to discuss his outside-of-the-box production.

How long have you been directing musical theatre? I've been directing since high school. I started by directing some of my closest friends in shows like GODSPELL and JOSEPH on the local church stage.

As a director, what about Children of Eden grabbed your interest? The story has universal appeal. It doesn't matter who you are or what religion you practice, everyone can relate to stories about family and love. We are all familiar with those themes.

Can you give a little bit of context about the show for those who may not be familiar? With the retelling of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the ark; CHILDREN OF EDEN takes the audience on a journey of exploration of self and the importance of family and forgiveness. Love after all is a powerful thing.

Can you share your artistic vision of the show, and what inspired that? I wanted to be able to reach an audience of today's standards and sensibility. Maintaining the stories of Adam of Eve but placing them in a much more contemporary light allows the audience to relate more to the piece.

Can you elaborate on the urban jungle concept of the show? I don't want to give too much away because everyone has so many unique beliefs on religion and family and love. By placing CHILDREN OF EDEN in a somewhat urban setting, it allows the audience to take away from the show what they learned or want to learn for the evening.

What can people expect from the production? A score by Stephen Schwartz of WICKED fame performed by some of the most talented singers you will find.

Brault will return to direct Drewe and Stiles' PETER PAN this fall at Virginia Musical Theatre.

CHILDREN OF EDEN tickets are available by calling the Virginia Musical Theatre box office at 757-340-5446. Student and military discounts are available.