World Premiere
May 6-June 20, 2009
Coraline
Music and Lyrics by Book by
Stephin Merritt David Greenspan
Based on the Novel by
Neil Gaiman
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Poor bored Coraline. She’s left to rattle round her perpetually distracted parents’ house all by her lonesome. Then one day, her dreams of a better reality are answered as she steps through an old oak doorway and passes into a perfected replica of her own world. Greeted there by a vastly loving Other Mother and kindly Other Father, she’s thrilled! But, as the saying goes: Be careful what you wish for…
A musical like no other, Coraline sprang from the minds of three of the most wildly popular cult heroes of our time. Adapted from the truly terrifying children’s book by Neil Gaiman (author of the international sensation Sandman), this tale of menace and mayhem is set to music and lyrics by smart-rock iconoclast Stephin Merritt (of The Magnetic Fields), and boasts a book by celebrated downtown actor-cum-auteur, David Greenspan, who serves double-duty as the villain, Coraline’s suspiciously nurturing Other Mother.
“Critics sometimes compare Stephin Merritt with Cole Porter because Porter is shorthand for the kind of smart, urbane lyrics Merritt writes.” –NY Times “David Greenspan is probably all-round the most talented theater artist of my generation.” –Tony Kushner
I've heard about 3/4 of the songs, sung by Stephin himself, and they're wonderful, although that's all I know about it at this stage. If you're interested, the season is very short, and the theatre seats just fewer than 300 people, so it might be a good idea to get tickets as soon as you can -- right now you can subscribe to the season of three plays: Save up to 40% off the regular ticket price and choose your seats before they go on sale to the general public. Details at http://www.mcctheater.com/subscribe.html
And changing the subject a bit, more pictures of people in tee shirts at Kitty's Neverwear Blog -- http://kittysneverwear.blogspot.com/ -- and if you have a good photo of you in one of her tee shirts, you should send it to her and it will make her happy. She's on tour with Duran Duran right now... and her website is http://neverwear.net
which I mention because there isn't a link to it from the blog. I also gave Kitty the Cassette editions of CORALINE and TWO PLAYS FOR VOICES and some ANANSI BOYS MP3s, so if you are looking for them, she has them there.
My friend Larry Marder is bringing back Beanworld, and blogging it -- http://larrymarder.blogspot.com/. Thrilled to see that Dark Horse will be republishing Beanworld and bringing the new ones out. It's been too long.
The terrifyingly talented former Web Elf has her own web site up at www.olganunes.com, while Thea Gilmore has a new CD coming out, a UK tour, and widget. Of these, I am putting up the widget.
and finally, the first review I've seen of The Dangerous Alphabet. He's right -- Gris Grimly is a star...