Dangerous Beauty
2006 Festival
Director
Sheryl Kaller
Cast
Randy Blair, Christine Bokhour, Shawn Elliot, Dee Hoty, Joe Kolinski, Megan McGinnis, Michael Minarik, Charlie Pollock, Jenny Powers, Tim Smith, Paul Anthony Stewart and Haviland Stillwell
Contact for Rights
Susan Dietz, dietzo@gmail.com
Number of Acts: 2
Number of Principals (Male): 6
Number of Principals (Female): 4
Preferred Ensemble Size: 6
Total Cast Size: 16
Orchestra Breakdown:
Four pieces
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
Dangerous Beauty tells the tumultuous tale of Veronica Franco, a notorious courtesan/poet of 16th century Venice. Forced to become a courtesan when her mother reveals that they have lost their fortune and therefore the marriage to the man she loves is impossible, Veronica ultimately embraces the courtesan life because it affords her the means to an education and an active role in the cultural and political life of her beloved city. As Venice is ravaged by war, plague, and the Inquisition, Veronica is put on trial for Witchcraft. An epic story of passion, politics and poetry. Dangerous Beauty features a book by screenwriter Jeannine Dominy, lyrics by Golden Globe winner (for the song ‘The Rose’Â) Amanda McBroom (Heartbeats: NAMT Festival 1992), and music by Johnny Mercer Songwriter award winner Michele Brourman (I Married Wyatt Earp, Heartbeats: NAMT Festival 1992).
Development History
Dangerous Beauty was performed in a staged reading at The Powerhouse Theater in July 2005 as part of New York Stage and Film’s Summer Theater Season; presented in a reading at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura, California in May 2005; and selected for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theater Workshop in February 2004.
Festival Successes
Commercial option, Full productions at the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University (IL) in 2008 and Pasadena Playhouse (CA) in 2011.