The play takes place in New York in 1919. A young publisher named John Pace Seavering has enough money to publish one book. He is torn between two options - publishing the gargantuan novel of his former college roommate, Denis McCleary, who hopes that he and his fiancée, Rosamund Plinth, can win the blessing of her wealthy father - or publishing the memoirs of his lover Jessie Brewster, a famous singer. Then a mysterious, paper spewing machine appears in the office. John and his assistant Gidger discover that the papers are from books published far in the future, chronicling the history of the publishing house after it achieves success and prestige. Gidger, John's assistant, learns that he is forgotten by time (while even his dog merits a mention). John learns that while he becomes a well-to-do publisher, the success has disastrous results for both his Denis and Jessie. He tries to avert these fates by refusing to publish either manuscript, but realizes that their paths are unavoidable. Finally, he agrees to publish both, knowing that what happens afterwards is out of his hands.
Cast of charactersedit
John Pace Seavering - publisher
Jessie Brewster - John's lover
Denis McCleary - college roommate, friend and author
The play debuted on Broadway on November 6, 2003. This was the first play produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) in the renovated Biltmore Theatre. MTC's production cast featured Robert Sean Leonard as Seavering, Scott Foley as Denis, Robin Miles as Jessie, Dagmara Dominczyk as Rosamund, and Cantone reprising his role as Gidger, and ran for 54 performances, the planned length of its subscription run. Evan Yionoulis again directed.[3][4] The production was nominated for the 2004 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Lighting Design (Donald Holder), but experienced trouble during production, with Laura Benanti withdrawing during rehearsals and Jasmine Guy leaving after the first week of previews.
Regional productionsedit
ReAct Theatre (Seattle) - July 14 through August 7, 2005, following an August 2004 reading, with three of the same actors.
Theater Tribe (Los Angeles) - March 23 through April 19, 2008[5]
Seattle Public Theater (Seattle) - January 29 through February 21, 2010
University Theatre (University of Chicago) - Opening: December, 2011 (1 preview, 3 performances)
Coca Black Box Theater (St. Louis) - Opening: August 23, 2012 (10 performances)[6]
Musical Theatre Adaptationedit
A Studio Cast recording of a musical adaptation of the play was released by Will Reynolds (composer) and Eric Price (lyricist/bookwriter) on November 4, 2022. The recording stars Santino Fontana (John), Erika Henningsen (Rosamund), Jeremy Jordan (Denis), Solea Pfeiffer (Jessie), and Brandon Uranowitz (Gidger). Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen and musical supervision is by Andy Einhorn. Richard Greenberg wrote the Introduction to the recording's digital booklet. The world premiere production of the musical is in development.
^Oxman, Steven. "Review: ‘The Violet Hour’" Variety, November 12, 2002
^"The Violet Hour". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
^Brantley, Ben. "Theatre Review: Jazz Generation Sees The Future: It's Not Cool" The New York Times, November 7, 2003 (subscription required)
^"Theatre Review (LA): The Violet Hour by Richard Greenberg at Theatre Tribe". Blogcritics. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
^"The Violet Hour". Max&Louie Productions. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
External linksedit
Talkin' Broadway's Review
January 01, 1970
violet, hour, this, article, about, play, richard, greenberg, album, clientele, album, play, richard, greenberg, which, premiered, south, coast, repertory, 2002, broadway, 2003, contents, synopsis, cast, characters, production, history, regional, productions, . This article is about the play by Richard Greenberg For the album by The Clientele see The Violet Hour album The Violet Hour is a play by Richard Greenberg which premiered at the South Coast Repertory in 2002 and ran on Broadway in 2003 Contents 1 Synopsis 1 1 Cast of characters 2 Production history 2 1 Regional productions 2 2 Musical Theatre Adaptation 3 References 4 External linksSynopsis editThe play takes place in New York in 1919 A young publisher named John Pace Seavering has enough money to publish one book He is torn between two options publishing the gargantuan novel of his former college roommate Denis McCleary who hopes that he and his fiancee Rosamund Plinth can win the blessing of her wealthy father or publishing the memoirs of his lover Jessie Brewster a famous singer Then a mysterious paper spewing machine appears in the office John and his assistant Gidger discover that the papers are from books published far in the future chronicling the history of the publishing house after it achieves success and prestige Gidger John s assistant learns that he is forgotten by time while even his dog merits a mention John learns that while he becomes a well to do publisher the success has disastrous results for both his Denis and Jessie He tries to avert these fates by refusing to publish either manuscript but realizes that their paths are unavoidable Finally he agrees to publish both knowing that what happens afterwards is out of his hands Cast of characters edit John Pace Seavering publisher Jessie Brewster John s lover Denis McCleary college roommate friend and author Rosamund Plinth Denis new girlfriend Gidger John s assistantProduction history editThe Violet Hour was commissioned by and originally produced by South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa California and premiered there from November 5 through 24 2002 Directed by Evan Yionoulis the cast featured Hamish Linklater as Seavering Mario Cantone as Gidger Michelle Hurd as Jessie Kate Arrington as Rosamund and Curtis Mark Williams as Denis 1 2 The play debuted on Broadway on November 6 2003 This was the first play produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club MTC in the renovated Biltmore Theatre MTC s production cast featured Robert Sean Leonard as Seavering Scott Foley as Denis Robin Miles as Jessie Dagmara Dominczyk as Rosamund and Cantone reprising his role as Gidger and ran for 54 performances the planned length of its subscription run Evan Yionoulis again directed 3 4 The production was nominated for the 2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Donald Holder but experienced trouble during production with Laura Benanti withdrawing during rehearsals and Jasmine Guy leaving after the first week of previews Regional productions edit ReAct Theatre Seattle July 14 through August 7 2005 following an August 2004 reading with three of the same actors Theater Tribe Los Angeles March 23 through April 19 2008 5 Seattle Public Theater Seattle January 29 through February 21 2010 University Theatre University of Chicago Opening December 2011 1 preview 3 performances Coca Black Box Theater St Louis Opening August 23 2012 10 performances 6 Musical Theatre Adaptation edit A Studio Cast recording of a musical adaptation of the play was released by Will Reynolds composer and Eric Price lyricist bookwriter on November 4 2022 The recording stars Santino Fontana John Erika Henningsen Rosamund Jeremy Jordan Denis Solea Pfeiffer Jessie and Brandon Uranowitz Gidger Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen and musical supervision is by Andy Einhorn Richard Greenberg wrote the Introduction to the recording s digital booklet The world premiere production of the musical is in development References edit The Violet Hour scr org accessed March 8 2016 Oxman Steven Review The Violet Hour Variety November 12 2002 The Violet Hour Internet Broadway Database The Broadway League Retrieved August 13 2012 Brantley Ben Theatre Review Jazz Generation Sees The Future It s Not Cool The New York Times November 7 2003 subscription required Theatre Review LA The Violet Hour by Richard Greenberg at Theatre Tribe Blogcritics Retrieved August 13 2012 The Violet Hour Max amp Louie Productions Retrieved August 13 2012 External links editTalkin Broadway s Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Violet Hour amp oldid 1204067020, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
