The Magician's Elephant (musical)
| The Magician's Elephant | |
|---|---|
 Production poster | |
| Music | Marc Teitler |
| Lyrics |
|
| Book | Nancy Harris |
| Basis | The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo |
| Premiere | 18 October 2021: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Productions |
|
The Magician's Elephant is a musical with book and lyrics by Nancy Harris and music and lyrics by Marc Teitler, based on the 2009 children's novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo.
Production history
[edit]Stratford-upon-Avon (2021)
[edit]The musical was announced to make its world premiere as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's winter 2020 season, running in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the production was postponed to run over the 2021 winter season running from 18 October 2021 to 1 January 2022.[1]
The production is directed by Sarah Tipple, designed by Colin Richmond with lighting design by Oliver Fenwick.[2][3]
On 9 July 2021, initial casting was announced and a recording of a song from the show "If This Is True" was released on YouTube, followed by another song "A Lot Like Me" released on 26 July 2021.[4][5]
Sandy, Utah (2024)
[edit]The musical made its United States premiere at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy, Utah during their 2024 season, running from September 16 to October 19 2024. The production was directed by Dave Tinney with scenic design by Jenn Taylor and puppetry design, fabrication and direction by AchesonWalsh Studios, lighting design by Jaron Kent Hermansen.[6]
Cast and characters
[edit]| Character | Stratford-upon-Avon (2021) |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Amy Booth-Steel |
| Peter Duchene | Jack Wolfe |
| Vilna Lutz | Mark Meadows |
| Adele | Miriam Nyarko |
| Leo Matienne | Marc Antolin |
| Gloria Matienne | Melissa James |
| Countess Quintet | Summer Strallen |
| Count Quintet | Sam Harrison |
| Madame LaVaughn | Renu Arora |
| The Magician | Alastair Parker |
| The Elephant | Zoe Halliday |
| Wela Mbusi | |
| Suzanne Nixon | |
| Police Chief | Forbes Masson |
| Milliner / Dance Teacher / Police Officer | Sharif Afifi |
| Baker / Police Officer | Alison Arnopp |
| Young Police Officer / Lamplighter | Chrystine Symone |
| Sister Marie | Mandi Symonds |
| Lisette | Lauren Jones |
| Mrs Griswald | Wendy Somerville |
| Fishmonger | Lucca Chadwick-Patel |
| Doctor | Stephen John Davis |
| Peter's Mum / Swing | Hannah Brown |
| Peter's Dad / Swing | Michael Carolan |
| Swing | Rianna Ash |
| Swing | Matt Bateman |
Reception
[edit]The Stratford-upon-Avon production received positive reviews from the critics and audiences receiving mostly four star reviews.[7][8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Sutherl, Gill (2 June 2020). "RSC confirms it is closed until at least October". Stratford Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (4 February 2020). "Royal Shakespeare Company to Present The Magician's Elephant Musical and The Wars of the Roses". Playbill. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ Snow, Georgia (4 February 2020). "Royal Shakespeare Company to stage new family musical and The Wars of the Roses in 2020". The Stage. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ "RSC's The Magician's Elephant musical announces initial casting | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ If This Is True | The Magician's Elephant, retrieved 9 July 2021
- ^ "Hale Center Theatre The Magician's Elephant Show Program |HaleCenterTheatre". hct.org. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Davis, Clive. "The Magician's Elephant review — a family spectacle filled with magic". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ Cavendish, Dominic (29 October 2021). "The Magician's Elephant, review: the RSC's back with a spectacular fantasy". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "The Magician's Elephant review – the RSC conjures up a musical spectacle | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.