SUNY Cortland’s Performing Arts Department has announced the cast for its spring production of “Violet,” a musical about a young woman seeking healing for her disfiguring scar, and in a cross-country journey, finds healing for her soul.
The play will be performed from Friday, March 23, to Sunday, March 25, and Friday, March 30, to Sunday, April 1, in the Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.
This powerful story, which is set in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, stirs the senses of beauty, love, courage, faith and what it means to see beyond appearances.
Inspired by Doris Betts’ short story, “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” composer Jeanine Tesori and playwright and screenwriter Brian Crawley created “Violet,” which opened on March 12, 1997, at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. The music ranges in genre from blues to bluegrass, country and western, southern rock and gospel, with each song and its supporting choreography propelling Violet along her personal odyssey.
The cast includes Angelia Golden as Violet; Sara Laursen as Young Vi; Rasheem Ford as Flick; Timothy Fuchs as Monty; Paul Warren Smith as Father; Annali Fuchs as Music Hall Singer; Lisa Reid as Hotel Singer; Khalia Brown as Landlady; Keith Golden as Radio Soloist; and Joey Gugliemelli as Preacher. The supporting cast includes Catherine Young, Jackie Collins, Carly Merrill, Alejandro Circelli and William Rivera.
“Violet” is directed and choreographed by Kevin Halpin. The associate director and choreographer is Cindy Halpin and the musical director and conductor is Corinne Aquilina. Howard Lindh is set designer, Preston Marye is technical director, Joel Pape is lighting and projections designer, Mark Reynolds is costume designer, and Mark Abrahamson is stage manager.
Admission is $16 for the general public, $14 for senior citizens and SUNY staff; and $7 for all students and children. Tickets are on sale at Jodi’s Hallmark Shop on Main Street in Cortland and at the door prior to each performance.
For more information, visit the Performing Arts Department website or call (607) 753-2811.