The musical A Christmas Memory, based on the autobiographical short story by Truman Capote, opens tonight, November 13, 2014, at Chicagoland's Theatre at the Center for a one-month run. Paula Scrofano (42nd Street, Hello Dolly!, Gypsy at Theatre at the Centre, Young Frankenstein at Drury Lane) stars.
A wine-tasting precedes the November 14 performance, free with purchase of a full-price adult ticket. For just $10 teens 13-18 can attend the November 22 matinee following by a free pizza dinner and post-show talk.
Eleven days after the Chicago premiere, a different production of the same musical opens at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York, running November 24, 2014 through January 4, 2015. Broadway veteran Alice Ripley (Sunset Boulevard, Side Show, Next to Normal) stars.
As if that weren't enough, the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA will feature A Christmas Memory as well, but for one weekend only, with four performances December 19-21. Jim Johnson directs.
According to the show's website, these productions will be its Chicago, New York and Modesto premieres. Palo Alto hosted the world premiere in 2010.
With a book by Duane Poole, music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner Carol Hall (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, To Whom It May Concern) and orchestrations by Steve Orich, A Christmas Memory adapts the autobiographical story in which Capote recounted the Christmastime memories of seven-year-old Buddy in 1930s rural Alabama--making fruitcakes with his elderly lady cousin Sook who is also his best friend, acquiring whiskey during Prohibition, chopping down a Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, but also being sent off to military school and facing the sad realities of his friend's dementia and death.
The San Jose Mercury News described the musical as "an entertaining and heartwarming theatrical work that is just perfect for the holidays."
Larry Grossman's Broadway credits include A Doll's Life (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, written with Betty Comden and Adolph Green and directed by Harold Prince), Grind (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, also directed by Harold Prince) and the Marx Brothers musical Minnie's Boys.
Duane Poole is also the writer of Scrooge in Love, Love Makes the World Go 'Round featuring the songs of Bob Merrill, and tribute evenings to Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, and Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt for the Pasadena Playhouse.
