Venice (musical)
| Venice | |
|---|---|
| Music | Matt Sax |
| Lyrics | Matt Sax and Eric Rosen |
| Book | Eric Rosen |
| Productions |
2010 Kansas City Rep 2010 Los Angeles 2013 The Public Theater, New York |
Venice is a musical collaboration between Matt Sax and Eric Rosen. The plot focuses on a dystopian near-future fictional city named Venice. The show opened at the Copaken Stage in Kansas City in 2010 as a co-production between Kansas City Rep and Center Theatre Group. Venice also ran at the Public Theater in New York from May 28 through June 30, 2013. The cast of Venice at The Public includes Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Damiano, Jonathan-David, Claybourne Elder, Leslie Odom, Jr., Victoria Platt, Angela Polk, Matt Sax, and Haaz Sleiman.[1]
The Kansas City production received regional and national attention for its unique use of hip-hop and multimedia elements.[2] Time Magazine called it "the next major American musical", citing its timely allusions to post-9/11 America and the election of President Barack Obama.[3]
Plot
The city of Venice has been at war for a generation. Venice Monroe, who was named for the city, is sworn in as the new leader of the city, promising to bring change to the society. A symbolic wedding is planned between Venice and his childhood friend, Willow. Venice's half-brother, Markos, is a commander in the city's military. He plots to disrupt the wedding and keep the public in fear.[4]
In many ways, the musical parallels Shakespeare's Othello. There are two men in this musical who are in love with the same woman; there are main characters who are Generals and military advisors. The men are power-hungry, driven to possess (be it a lover, a territory or a political seat) and that power becomes their undoing. In the end, it destroys all the players, an earmark of Shakespeare's tragedies.
Characters
- Clown MC (Matt Sax) - leads the audience through the performance, ostensibly writing the script as the audience is seeing it.
- Venice Monroe (Haaz Sleiman) - the protagonist, newly elected mayor of Venice.
- Markos Monroe (Leslie Odom Jr) - Venice's half-brother, a military commander who seeks power through endless war.
- Anna Monroe (Uzo Aduba) - Venice and Markos's mother, who died in the initial attack a generation ago.
- Emilia Monroe (Victoria Platt) - Markos's wife, who he uses as a pawn in his plots against his brother.
- Willow Turner (Jennifer Damiano) - a young woman who has spent her entire life in the "safe zone"; agrees to marry Venice to help bring peace to the city.
- Michael Victor (Claybourne Elder) - director of the city's security.
- Theodore Westbrook (Jonathan-David) - a war profiteer who allows Markos to manipulate his love for Willow into nefarious ends.
- Hailey Daisy - an entertainer who uses her powers of seduction to weaken the city's defenses.
Notes
- ↑ http://www.publictheater.org
- ↑ Alan Scherstuhl (22 April 2010). "The Rep's Eric Rosen and Matt Sax are mixmasters of their universe". The Pitch. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ↑ Richard Zoglin (14 May 2010). "Venice, by Way of Kansas City: The Year's Best Musical". Time Magazine. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ↑ John Coovert (19 April 2010). "KCRep ends their season with a bang in Venice". Lost in Reviews. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ↑ BroadwayWorld (1 April 2010). "Photo Flash: Kansas City Rep's VENICE in Rehearsal". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ↑ Christopher Guerin (28 April 2010). "Visionary "Venice"". KCMetropolis. Retrieved 28 October 2010.