Violet at Beck Center for the Arts

Violet is a powerhouse piece of theater, winner of the Drama Critics' Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1997, and then on to a Tony-nominated Broadway debut in 2014 with a revised version. Violet features show-stopping anthems ranging from American-roots to folk to gospel. The score, from Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek; Fun Home) has astounded critics and audiences alike in two separate decades. As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. To escape her past, she travels across the Deep South in 1964 towards a miracle – the healing touch of a TV evangelist who will make her beautiful. Will Violet be able to repair those scars that are lying deeper than her skin? On the way, she meets a young, African-American soldier whose love sees her true, ever-lasting beauty.

Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and lyrics by Brian Crawley

Based on "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts

Added performances include Thursdays June 17, 24, and July 1, 2027. Please note there is no performance on Friday, June 19, 2027.

Presented in arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

This production explores themes of physical disfigurement, racism, faith, and emotional trauma. The story contains depictions of racial prejudice reflective of the 1960s American South. Recommended for ages 13+ with parental discretion.