NewsPHOTO CALL: Death Takes a Holiday, With Rebecca Luker, Jill Paice and More, Opens July 21Death Takes a Holiday, the new musical by Maury Yeston and Thomas Meehan featuring Rebecca Luker, Jill Paice and more, opened at the Laura Pels Theatre on July 21 following previews that began on June 10. Julian Ovenden, who stars in the title role, missed his opening due to illness.
By
Krissie Fullerton
July 22, 2011
The romantic musical is based on the Alberto Casella play of the same name. According to Roundabout, "In Death Takes a Holiday, it's just after the first World War and the loneliest of souls arrives at an Italian villa disguised as a handsome young Prince (played by Ovenden), and for the first time experiences the joys and heartbreaks of life. But when he unexpectedly falls in love with a newly engaged young woman (played by Jill Paice), the mysterious stranger discovers that love may in fact be stronger than death."
The cast is usually led by Ovenden, who missed his opening night due to a case of laryngitis. Kevin Earley stepped into the title role for the evening.
The cast features Linda Balgord (Contessa Danielli), Matt Cavenaugh (Eric Fenton), Mara Davi (Alice), Joy Hermalyn (Cora), Jay Jaski (Lorenzo), Simon Jones (Dr. Dario Albione), Rebecca Luker (as matriarch Duchess Lamberti), Patricia Noonan (Sophia), Julian Ovenden (Prince Sirki / Death), Jill Paice (Grazia), Michael Siberry (as patriarch Duke Lamberti), Alexandra Socha (Daisy Fenton), Don Stephenson (as butler Fidele), Max Von Essen (Corrado Montelli).
Here's a look at opening night:
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Death Takes a Holiday, With Rebecca Luker, Jill Paice and More, On Opening Night
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.