Hartford artistic director Michael Wilson stages the work at the Connecticut playhouse for a Oct. 13-Nov. 13 run. The opening night is slated for Oct. 21.
Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky — with music by David Cale and Jonathan Kreisberg and a book by Cale — centers on a washed-up singer-songwriter who is headed back home to Montana when he comes upon an aspiring country singer. The work previously played at Chicago's Goodman Theatre.
Glendening will make her Hartford Stage debut in the role of Clea, which previously was played by Faryl Millet — who has been cast in the upcoming Julie Taymor movie musical "Across the Universe." The actress — who was understudy for the lead role of Caroline in Good Vibrations — has also appeared regionally in Meet Me in St. Louis, Pentecost, The Wild Party, Carousel, West Side Story, Into the Woods, Pirates of Penzance, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Phantom, Peer Gynt and The Music of Jacques Brel.
Creator Cale will reprise his role as Floyd for the Hartford Stage. The musicians featured in the production are Joe Fitzgerald, Jim Heffernan and Dylan Schiavone. Floyd and Clea was developed as part of Hartford Stage's 2004 Brand:NEW Festival of New Works.
The action in the new country-rock musical takes place in country bars, according to a release. Hartford Stage's theatre space will be transformed in the "OK Corral" by the installation of special floor seating to "capture the honky-tonk atmosphere of the production." Audiences may purchase tickets to sit in the "OK Corral" and be an onstage part of this unique theatrical experience. The design team for Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky features Jeff Cowie (scenic), Rui Rita (lighting), David C. Woolard (costumes) and Michael C. Miceli (sound) — based on original sound design by Andrew Pluess and Ray Nardelli.
Hartford's 42nd anniversary mainstage season opened with the current presentation of David Grimm's The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (through Oct. 2). The new year will bring the Eugene O'Neill tale A Moon for the Misbegotten (Jan. 5 Feb. 5, 2006), Lorraine Hansberry's drama A Raisin in the Sun (Feb. 16-March 19, 2006), the continuing Tennessee Williams tradition with A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur (Apr. 6-May 7, 2006) and Terrence McNally's gritty drama Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (May 18-June 18, 2006).
Tickets to Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky at Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford, CT are available by calling (860) 527-5151 . For more information, visit www.hartfordstage.org.
