Bernarda Alba | |
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Music | Michael John LaChiusa |
Lyrics | Michael John LaChiusa |
Book | Michael John LaChiusa |
Basis | The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca |
Productions | 2006 Off-Broadway 2010 London |
Bernarda Alba is a one-act musical with music, lyrics and book by Michael John LaChiusa, based on Federico García Lorca's 1936 play The House of Bernarda Alba. Bernarda Alba tells the story of a controlling, newly widowed mother who is challenged by her five rebellious daughters. The musical opened Off Broadway at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater to mixed reviews.
With direction and choreography by Graciela Daniele, the all-female cast starred Phylicia Rashad and Daphne Rubin-Vega. The production had a limited run from March 6 to April 9, 2006. The production received Lucille Lortel Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Musical and choreography (Daniele) nominations. The lighting designer (Stephen Strawbridge) received nominations from Lortel, Henry Hewes Design Awards, and Outer Critics Circle. Daniele also received a Callaway Award nomination for choreography. A cast recording was released by Ghostlight Records in July 2006.
The UK premiere opened at the Union Theatre in London on 23 August 2011, produced by Triptic. The production was directed by Katherine Hare with musical direction by Leigh Thompson and choreography by Racky Plews. This production received a positive response from UK based critics. "SIMPLY ELECTRIC... a rather unique but unmissable piece of theatre.' ThePublicReviews.com
Original 2006 New York cast
Original 2011 London cast
In the early 1930s in a village in the south of Spain, the head of the all-female household is Bernarda Alba. She has 5 daughters as well as her elderly mother, Maria Josepha. Antonio, her husband has unexpectedly died, leaving Bernarda with the duties of taking care of the household and stables.