The second Main Stage production of Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2018 season is the world premiere of Lempicka. The new musical, with direction by Tony nominee Rachel Chavkin, book and lyrics by Carson Kreitzer and music by Matt Gould, runs July 20–August 1. The cast is led by Tony nominee Carmen Cusack and Eden Espinosa.
As Lempicka gears up for its world premiere, Playbill and Williamstown Theatre Festival have teamed up to give readers an insider look at the development, rehearsals, tech, and finally, opening night of the new musical.
The exclusive three-part series will premiere on Playbill's IGTV channel July 18. You can follow Playbill and watch the series on Instagram here.
Fleeing the Russian revolution and leaving behind a world of opulence and wealth, aristocrat Tamara de Lempicka (Espinosa) and her beloved husband Tadeusz (Andrew Samonsky) are forced to make a new life. In the rising tide of fascism, Tamara takes to painting to survive, and when she meets the free-spirited Rafaela (Cusack), a prostitute on the fringes of Parisian society, she’s torn between the life she cherishes with her husband and the passion, ambition, and possibility awoken in her by her new muse. Inspired by the life of the artist who transformed herself from penniless refugee to star of the art world when the world itself teetered on chaos, Lempicka looks at the beauty and danger of one painter pursuing it all.
The cast also includes Tim Creavin, Natalie Joy Johnson, Justin Gregory Lopez, Azudi Onyejekwe, Grace Porter, Steven Rattazzi, Michael McCorry Rose, Sav Souza, Nathaniel Stampley, Alexandra Templer, Kay Trinidad and Rachel Tucker. Lempicka is choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. The design team includes Riccardo Hernandez (Scenic Design), Montana Levi Blanco (Costume Design), Bradley King (Lighting Design), and Nevin Steinberg (Sound Design). The music team includes Remy Kurs (Music Supervisor), Charity Wicks (Music Director), and Cian McCarthy (Orchestrations).
Lempicka was developed by Williamstown Theatre Festival, under the artistic direction of Mandy Greenfield, and is a recipient of a 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The production is sponsored by James & Virginia Giddens, Andrew Martin-Weber, and one anonymous donor. Williamstown Theatre Festival’s 2018 Season Partners include Herbert A. Allen, James & Virginia Giddens, Jessica & Matt Harris, Andrew Martin-Weber, and two anonymous donors. The 2018 Festival is supported by grants from The Shubert Foundation, the Tiger Baron Foundation, the Edgerton Foundation, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Lempicka is presented by special arrangement with Seaview Productions, Marathon Live Entertainment, and Jenny Niederhoffer Productions.
Tickets may be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the box office located at the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance at 1000 Main St (Route 2), Williamstown, MA 01267, by phone at (413) 458-3253, or online at wtfestival.org.
