The Tony Award-winning 1994 musical, intimately staged by Tony Award winner John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company, Road Show), began previews Feb. 8 and officially opened Feb. 28. Critics embraced Doyle's spartan staging of the Italian-set musical rumination on the light and dark nature of love, which was originally scheduled to close April 7. Passion will now continue through April 14.
The libretto is by James Lapine, the music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Doyle also designed the set for the production that ulitizes an all-male cast playing all roles (including supporting female characters) except for the central triangle – starring Tony nominee Kuhn (Chess, She Loves Me, Les Miserables, Rags) as Fosca, Tony nominee Errico (Amour, High Society) as Clara and Silverman (The Phantom of the Opera) as Giorgio.
The cast also includes John Antony, Tony nominee Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Amy Justman (understudy), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri) and Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic).
Passion has costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Jane Cox and sound by Dan Moses Schreier. Orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick. Makeup design is by Angelina Avallone. Hair consultants are J. Jared Janas & Rob Greene. Production stage manager is Adam John Hunter. Assistant stage manager is Claudia Lynch.
CSC is at 136 E. 13th Street. Tickets are $75 on Tuesday through Thursdays (select sides at $60) and $80 Friday through Sunday (select sides at $65). Passion plays Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 PM; Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM. Passion will also have Wednesday matinees at 3 PM March 6 & 27 and April 3.
For tickets, visit classicstage.org or call (212) 352-3101 or (866) 811-4111.
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Classic Stage Company is under the leadership of artistic director Brian Kulick and executive director Greg Reiner.
Watch a Playbill Vault video in which original Passion star Marin Mazzie ("Clara") reflects on the musical.
