The Coachella Valley Repertory is set to present a production of “The Light in the Piazza,” a musical that has garnered six Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards. The show will run from January 22 to February 9, with an ASL-interpreted matinee on January 28. Directed by CVRep Executive Artistic Director Adam Karsten, the production features music direction by Stephen Hulsey and choreography by Karen Sieber.
“The Light in the Piazza” takes place in Tuscany during the 1950s and tells the story of Margaret Johnson, a wealthy American woman, and her daughter Clara, who has developmental disabilities due to a childhood accident. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Clara’s hat is caught by the wind and lands at the feet of Fabrizio, a young Florentine man. This chance encounter leads to love at first sight but also brings complexities as Margaret grapples with whether protecting Clara might deprive her of life’s experiences or shield her from its challenges.
Adam Karsten shared his perspective on directing this piece: “Whenever we engage with works of art of any sort, we should be gaining a larger understanding and appreciation of beauty, love, serendipity, and passion. Ushering us with its sensitive words and captivating score, The Light in the Piazza inspires us to explore themes of maternal love, personal sacrifice, and the challenges of navigating a romantic relationship, including one with someone who has intellectual disabilities. The play challenges us to re-evaluate our understanding of these relationships, but perhaps more importantly, all of the relationships depicted before us. Our goal will be to show the beauty within each of them.”
