Lempicka (musical)
Lempicka | |
---|---|
Music | Matt Gould |
Lyrics | Carson Kreitzer |
Book | Matt Gould Carson Kreitzer |
Setting | Paris, France |
Basis | The life of Tamara de Lempicka |
Premiere | July 20, 2018Williamstown Theatre Festival : |
Productions | 2018 Williamstown 2022 San Diego 2024 Broadway |
Lempicka is a stage musical based on the life of Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka (1898–1980). The musical features music by Matt Gould, lyrics by Carson Kreitzer, with a book by Gould and Kreitzer from an original concept by Kreitzer.
The show opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on April 14, 2024 and closed on May 19, 2024 following 41 performances.[1]
Synopsis[edit]
The musical follows the life of de Lempicka as she flees the Russian Revolution to Paris, France with her husband, Tadeusz, and daughter, Kizette.[2][3] Facing the rise of fascism, Tamara takes to painting to survive, and when she meets the free-spirited Rafaela, a prostitute on the fringes of Parisian society, she's torn between the life she cherishes with her husband and the passion, ambition, and possibility awoken in her by her new muse.[4]
Production history[edit]
Williamstown (2018)[edit]
The musical was originally commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre and New Dramatists. Between 2011 and 2017, the musical underwent a series of labs and workshops. The musical premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival on July 20, 2018, running through August 1, 2018. The show is choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly and directed by Rachel Chavkin.[5]
San Diego (2022)[edit]
The production made its West Coast premiere on June 14, 2022 at La Jolla Playhouse, running until July 24.[6]
Broadway (2024)[edit]
The musical began previews on Broadway on March 19, 2024 at the Longacre Theatre and opened on April 14, 2024. The production team includes most of the team from La Jolla including Chavkin as director and Raja Feather Kelly as choreographer. Costumes are by Paloma Young and scene design by Riccardo Hernandez.[7] It closed on May 19, 2024, after 27 previews and 41 regular performances, and following low box office grosses and a mostly negative critical reception.[8] Despite this, the production received three nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Actress in a Musical (Espinosa) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Iman).[9]
Musical numbers[edit]
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Characters and original casts[edit]
Character | Williamstown | San Diego | Broadway[10] |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | 2022 | 2024 | |
Tamara de Lempicka | Eden Espinosa | ||
Tadeusz Lempicki | Andrew Samonsky | ||
Rafaela | Carmen Cusack | Amber Iman | |
Marinetti | Steven Rattazzi | George Abud | |
Kizette | Alexandra Templer | Jordan Tyson | Zoe Glick |
Raoul Kuffner de Diószegh (The Baron) | Nathaniel Stampley | Victor E. Chan | Nathaniel Stampley |
Cara Carolina Kuffner de Diószegh (The Baroness) | Rachel Tucker | Jacquelyn Ritz | Beth Leavel |
Suzy Solidor | Natalie Joy Johnson |
2024 Broadway production[edit]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Nominated | |
Distinguished Performance | Eden Espinosa | Nominated | ||
Amber Iman | Nominated | |||
Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Eden Espinosa | Pending | |
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Amber Iman | Pending | ||
Best Scenic Design in a Musical | Ricardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini | Pending |
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2024-05-02). "'Lempicka' to End Broadway Run a Month After Opening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ Levitt, Hayley (14 July 2018). "Eden Espinosa and Carmen Cusack Belt About Art and Love in Lempicka". Theatermania. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ Vine,Hannah (25 July 2018). "First Look at Carmen Cusack and Eden Espinosa in Lempicka at Williamstown Theatre Festival". Playbill. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "LEMPICKA - A New Musical | Official Website".
- ^ Reiter, E. H. "Review: LEMPICKA at La Jolla Playhouse Is a Bold and Compelling Musical Portrait". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
- ^ Putnam, Leah (4 May 2022). "Eden Espinosa, Amber Iman, More to Lead Long-Awaited La Jolla Run of Rachel Chavkin-Helmed Lempicka". Playbill. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2023-10-30). "'Lempicka,' New Musical About Art Deco Artist, to Open on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Rosky, Nicole (May 19, 2024). "LEMPICKA Plays Final Broadway Performance". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (May 2, 2024). "'Lempicka' to End Broadway Run a Month After Opening". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ SpotCo. "Cast". LEMPICKA | Official Broadway Website. Retrieved 2024-03-19.