Music Theatre of Madison's Concert Series will bring lesser known musicals to the Madison area in concert form, thereby introducing more musicals that challenge, educate, and enrich their audiences.

       Music Theatre of Madison's premiere concert, Violet, was performed from October 27-29, 2006 at the Bishop O'Connor Auditorium on Madison's West Side. The show was directed by Dennis Yadon, with music direction by Patrick Christians.

  The cast was comprised of Kevin Blakeslee (Monty), Andrea DeVriendt (Young Violet), Tony Gallagher (Bus Driver, Preacher, Leroy Evans, Mechanic) Tracy Hines (Old Lady, Hotel Singer), Anthony Lamarr (Flick), Sarah Melton (Waitress, Lula, Mabel, Mechanic's Wife), Meghan Randolph (Violet), Toya Robinson (Landlady, Music Hall Singer, Creepy Lady), Drew Wolff (Billy Dean Elum, Earl, Virgil) and Dennis Yadon (Father)

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Lyrics by Brian Crawley

Based on "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts

     Set in the south in 1964, Violet is the story of a young woman with a disfiguring scar who sets out to get a famous telvangelist to cure her. Along the way she meets two very different young soldiers-Monty, a lady's man who has always gotten what he wanted, and Flick, a black man who teaches Violet about courage and love. Both young men fall for Violet's unique inner beauty and accompany her on her journey to what she believes will be true happiness.  

Composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Mille) and lyricist Brian Crawley began developing Violet in 1994. After it's premiere at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut, it was transferred to the famed off-Broadway venue Playwright's Horizons, where it ran for one month in 1997. In spite of its short run, Violet was the winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Musical. An original cast recording is available through Resmiranda records and can be purchased at amazon.com.

PHOTO GALLERY

Meghan Randolph as Violet and Kevin Blakeslee as Monty, "Lay Down Your Head"

From Left to Right: Toya Robinson, Sarah Melton, Tracy Hines as the Old Lady, Drew Wolff, Meghan Randolph and Anthony Lamarr, "On My Way"

Kevin Blakeslee as Monty

Toya Robinson as the Music Hall Singer

Dennis Yadon as Father and Andrea DeVriendt as Young Violet, "Luck of the Draw"

Meghan Randolph as Violet and Tracy Hines as the Old Lady

Tracy Hines as the Hotel Singer

Sarah Melton as the Gospel Singer, "Raise Me Up"

Tony Gallagher as the Preacher

Anthony Lamarr as Flick and Meghan Randolph as Violet

Photos by Mariya Bates and Kristin Randolph