Beaumaris Theatre Inc. acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Beaumaris Theatre stands. We pay our respects to Victoria's First Peoples and their Elders past, present and emerging.
CONTENTS
Click on the headline below to jump through each section of the program.
ABOUT THE SHOW
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
CAST & CREATIVES
MEET THE TEAM
ABOUT BEAUMARIS THEATRE
The Bridges of Madison County
Based on the best-selling novel, and developed by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World) and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, The Bridges of Madison County captures the lyrical expanse of America's heartland along with the yearning entangled in the eternal question, "What if...?". Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score and Orchestrations, this sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross will leave audiences breathless.
Francesca Johnson, an Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, looks forward to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm when her family heads to the 1965 State Fair. When ruggedly handsome, National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid, pulls into her driveway seeking directions, though, what happens in those four days may very well alter the course of Francesca's life.
Setting
Time: Four days in 1965 and the following years
Place: Winterset, Iowa
Musical numbers
Act One
To Build a Home - Francesca and Company
Home Before You Know It - Bud, Michael, Carolyn and Francesca
Temporarily Lost - Robert
What Do You Call a Man Like That? - Francesca
You're Never Alone - Bub and Company
Another Life - Marian
Wondering - Robert and Francesca
Look At Me - Francesca, Robert and Company
The World Inside a Frame - Robert
Something From a Dream - Bud
Get Closer - Marge and Radio Singers
Falling Into You - Robert and Francesca
Act Two
State Road 21 - State Fair Singer, Michael, Carolyn and Company
Who We Are and Who We Want To Be - Robert, Francesca and Company
Almost Real - Francesca
Before and After You - Francesca and Robert
One Second and a Million Miles - Robert and Francesca
When I'm Gone - Charlie, Bud and Company
It All Fades Away - Robert
Always Better - Francesca, Robert and Company
It would be fair to say I discovered my love for The Bridges of Madison County first, and foremost, through the magical Jason Robert Brown score. My journey then saw me learn and consume the story retrospectively, through the well-known movie and finally Mr Waller’s stylish novel. What was interest and appreciation became an obsession. Why?
I asked myself that question many times, why this story? The answer is simply because the setting and circumstances are authentic. The characters are real, believable people, living their lives the only way they know. They are not perfect caricatures. They are humble, invested, and affected but strong, and truly loyal. I want our audience to believe in them and share in their challenges. To see elements of our own lives through them, and understand their choices. Be vulnerable.
An unconventional adult love story is not easily told. It requires all the elements to align perfectly. The wonderful script and complex music demand great skill from all involved. I have been blessed with a highly talented cast, musicians and production team who have shared and invested in my obsession. Special thanks to Sue and her band for their commitment and incredible music.
Finally, a big thank you to Beaumaris Theatre and the Committee for having me back. I love working in this space and with this group of people. Thank you for backing me and allowing us to present a contemporary musical.
Colin Armstrong
Director, The Bridges of Madison County
Production Team
Director - Colin Armstrong
Musical Director - Sue Fletcher
Rehearsal pianist - Michelle Lu
Cast
Francesca - Candice Sweetman
Robert - Michael Gray
Bud - Adam Rafferty
Michael - Jordan Poyser
Carolyn - Sienna Iscaro
Marge - Liz Catford
Charlie - John Tacey
Marian - Jessica Almery
State Fair singer - Amelia Little
Ensemble - Daniel Ischia & Christine Wood
Band
Violin 1 - Anne Beruldsen/Zoe Bartholomeusz.
Violin 2 - Avelyn Reynolds/Daisy Wong
Violin 3 - Jenny Stokes
Viola - Cathy Hughes
Cello - Deb McLeod/Tina Lund
Bass - Gordon Gunn
Piano - Michelle Lu
Guitar 1 - Chris Li Wan Po
Guitar 2 - Jeff Box
Percussion- James Ward/Aaron Sim
Creative Team and Crew
Production Coordinator - Kristina Doucouliagos
Stage Manager - Stephen White
Set Design - Fred Pezzimenti
Props Coordinator - Ella Creaton
Costume Coordinator - Jacinta Wilson
Lighting Designer & Operator - Damien Calvert
Sound Designer - Adam Solomon
Sound Operator - Sam Johnson
Microphone Coordinators - Rhonda Vaughan and Kate Squires
Follow-spot Operators - Sophie Griffin, Ruby Foxworthy and Zara Solomon
Set Construction - Fred Pezzimenti, Ella Creaton, John Tacey, Daniel Ischia, Colin Armstrong, Christine Wood, Scott Willis, Georgy Charles, Jenni Osburn, Trevor Osburn and Adam Rafferty
Scenic Art - Ella Creaton
Marketing - Kristina Doucouliagos
Photography - Pietro Giordano and Tim Tselepis
Videographer - Tim Tselepis and Kristina Doucouliagos
Flier Designer - Ella Creaton
Program - Kristina Doucouliagos
Front of House Coordinator - Fiona Williams
Front of House Manager - Adam Solomon
Box Office - Beaumaris Theatre Committee Members
Front of House Staff - Beaumaris Theatre Members and Friends
Special thanks to PLOS Musical Productions, 1812 Theatre, Theatrical, CLOC Musical Theatre, Neil Barnett and Nicholas Armstrong.
Beaumaris Theatre was founded by Bill and Angela Martin in 1953. Bill and Angela were thespians who built a theatre in the attic of their home. It housed about twenty audience members and had a small stage and dressing room.
Soon the demand for tickets for these productions far exceeded the space available, so the Martins along with other members of the Beaumaris Players, worked very hard to have the theatre space we now know in Wells Road.
For the last 70 years, thespians from all walks of life and various backgrounds have been treading the prestigious boards laid by Bill and Angela. We are delighted to continue their legacy of producing theatre for the Bayside community and beyond.
BEAUMARIS THEATRE COMMITTEE
President - Debbie Keyt
Vice-President - Dan Bellis
Treasurer - Jenni Osburn
Secretary & Public Officer - Lynda French
Marketing Manager & Membership Secretary - Kristina Doucouliagos
Committee Members - Adam Solomon, Camilla Klesman, Deb Carpenter, Fiona Williams, Georgy Charles and Harrison Ewart-Dart.
BEAUMARIS THEATRE LIFE MEMBERS
Bill Martin; Angela Martin; Roger North; Esme North; Roy Baldwin; Bea Beckwith; Anne Lowe; Jean Freer; Beth Kelsall; John Rees-Osborne; Nancy Sutch-Taylor; Edda Dawson; Barbara Franks; Annie Laurenson; Jenny Mullholland; Stephen Mulholland; Don Strong; Taffy Strong; Michael Coultas; Graham Eddie; Derek Curd; Janine Chugg; Debbie Keyt; Robyn Morris; Steve Morris; Neil Barnett; Rhonda Vaughan; Vince Vaughan; Danny Forward; Jenni Osburn; Trevor Osburn; Kristina Doucouliagos; Fred Pezzimenti and Camilla Klesman.
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Thank you to our supporters and sponsors for continuing to support Beaumaris Theatre.
The Bridges of Madison County
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Book by Marsha Norman
Based on the novel by Robert James Waller
Originally Produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, Jerry Frankel, Gutterman Chernoff, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, Carl Daikeler, Michael DeSantis, Aaron Priest, Libby Adler Mages/Mari Glick Stuart, Scott M. Delman, Independent Presenters Network, Red Mountain Theatre Company, Caiola Productions, Remmel T. Dickinson, Ken Greiner, David Lancaster, Bellanca Smigel Rutter, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, Will Trice
with Warner Bros.Theatre Ventures and The Shubert Organization
in association with The Williamstown Theatre Festival
The World Premiere Production of The Bridges of Madison County was produced by the Williamstown Theatre Festival Jenny Gersten, Artistic Director; August, 2013.
With the cooperation of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc.
The Bridges of Madison County
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.