Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court, directs the musical about an angel "who follows her heart, desperately trying to return home against impossible odds."
Book and music are by Eric Whitacre; lyrics are by David Noroña and Eric Whitacre.
The piece "explores the plight of young angels awaiting rescue in a world of violence," according to production notes. It blends "Western music theatre traditions with anime, Asian drumming and martial arts," and "the music combines lush, operatic singing with trance, techno, ambient rock and cinematic sounds."
Paradise Lost is the winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award and gained Whitacre the Richard Rodgers Award for most promising musical theatre composer.
The cast includes Annie Abrams, Seth Barnett, Dan Callaway, Brad Culver, Jason Currie, Ryan Cusino, Jessica Harwood, Lena Gwendolyn Hill, Emily Kosloski, Eddie Lopez, Rodolfo Nieto, Kevin Odekirk, Jordan T. Ogron, Hila Plitmann, Juli Robbins, Daniel Tatar, Katharine Terray, Marie M. Wallace, and Melissa WolfKlain. The two central characters are Extasis, played by Plitmann, and Logos, played by Callaway. Plitmann is an internationally known opera soloist and recording artist. Callaway has performed on some of America's leading stages and in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera.
The creative team includes Greg Chun (musical director), Tom Buderwitz (scenic design), Steven Young (lighting design), Soojin Lee (costume design), Martin Carrillo (sound design), Chuck Olsen (properties design), Bubba Carr (choreography), Caleb Terray (fight choreography), Richard Landon (wing/special effects), Kirk Hanson (anime producer), Lyn Gaza and Michael Manning (anime producers and creation), Jon Garcia (technical Director), Liza Tognazzini (production stage manager, Julia Flores (casting) and Mark Barna (associate producer).
Composer Whitacre's recent CD, "Whitacre: Cloudburst and Other Choral Works," received a 2007 Grammy nomination and has been one of the top-selling classical albums of the past year. Lyricist Noroña is currently starring in the NBC comedy "Lipstick Jungle" and he originated the role of Franki Valli in Jersey Boys at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Michetti has directed The Theatre @ Boston Court's productions of A Picture of Dorian Gray, Pera Palas, Summertime and its inaugural production of Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836.
Paradise Lost previews for six performances beginning July 19 and opens July 28-29 and runs Wednesdays through Sundays through Sept. 2.
(The theatre is holding two opening night performances "to accommodate heightened interest indicated by advanced sales.")
For tickets and information, visit www.bostoncourt.org or call (626) 683-6883.
Boston Court is located one block north of Colorado at the corner of Mentor Ave. and Boston Ct. in Pasadena.
