FROM PAGE TO STAGE

The Novella

Elizabeth Spencer’s first book, Fire in the Morning, was published in 1948, and her most recent, The Southern Woman, in 2001.  THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the first work to bring her widespread acclaim, was published in The New Yorker (which devoted an entire issue to its publication) and then was released as a novel in 1960.

The Movie

The movie “The Light in the Piazza” was released in 1962 and starred Olivia de Havilland as Meg (Margaret) Johnson, Rossano Brazzi as Signor Naccarelli, Yvette Mimieux as Clara Johnson and a young George Hamilton as Fabrizio Naccarelli.  The movie was directed by Guy Green and the costumes were designed by Christian Dior.

The Musical

           
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was developed at the Intiman Playhouse in Seattle, WA and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL and opened on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center on April 18, 2005 after a month of previews.  Originally scheduled to close on June 12, 2005, the show’s run was extended four times; its last performance was on July 2, 2006.  The national tour began in San Francisco, CA on August 1, 2006.

The Awards

The Broadway production won the 2005 Tony Awards for Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design and Best Actress in a Musical (Victoria Clark); and the 2005 Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Actress (Victoria Clark) and Outstanding Scenic Design.

The Media

           
The original cast recording to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was released in May 2005, and is currently available on Nonesuch Records.

PBS aired a performance of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA on “Live From Lincoln Center” on June 15, 2006.