Mar. 6-17: Thom Sesma and Diane Phelan Featured in Prospect’s Death For Five Voices

Click the title link above for the full story. Photo by Lia Chang: Thom Sesma (The Times They Are A-Changin’, Man of La Mancha, Nick & Nora), Diane Phelan (Prospect’s Honor), Wilson Bridges (Signs of Life), Ryan Bauer-Walsh (Billy Elliot), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flowerwith Prospect Theater Company, A.R.T. and Second Stage, Prospect’sThe Rockae), Hannah Jane McMurray (The Hidden Sky), and Peter Saide (Jersey Boys) are currently featured in Prospect Theater Company’s inaugural “Prototype Production” with public performances of DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES, an original musical drama inspired by true events in the life of infamous Renaissance composer – and murderer – Carlo Gesualdo.

Featuring a book by Prospect’s founding artists Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, music and lyrics by Mills and direction by Reichel, DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES began performances on March 6, 2013 at the West End Theatre in the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street in New York, and will continue through March 17, 2013.

A talkback with Mills and Reichel and other members of the production team will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 5:30pm and is free and open to the public.

Set amid the political intrigue, religious conflict and artistic vibrancy of the late Renaissance, DEATH FOR FIVE VOICESinvestigates the dark harmonies of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa – who is remembered for his unusually complex sacred music and for the extravagantly vicious double murder of his wife and her lover. Featuring a sophisticated and intimate choral score, this new musical explores sexual and creative passions while illuminating the fine line between madness and genius.

Mills and Reichel’s prior collaborations include Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge, Illyria, The Rockae, The Flood, Honor, and The Pursuit of Persephone, among other works. Mills has been honored for his work with the prestigious Cole Porter Award (2011), Kleban Prize for Lyrics (2010), and the Fred Ebb Award (2007). He is the lyricist for the upcoming Broadway musical The Honeymooners.

Scenic design for DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES is by Ann Bartek (Prospect Theater Company’s Myths and Hymns). Costume design is by Sidney Shannon (Prospect Theater Company’s The Blue Flower,Iron Curtain, Honor). Lighting design is by Susan M. Nicholson (The Who’s Tommy 15th Anniversary Concert). Daniel Feyer (Prospect Theater Company’s Working – A Musical, With Glee and The Pursuit of Persephone, Evil Dead: The Musical) is the musical director.

The production of DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES continues Prospect Theater Company’s critically-acclaimed 2012-2013 season which has also included new productions of WORKING – A MUSICAL and the hard rock concert THE ROCKAE.

DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES has performances through March 17, 2013. The remaining performances are Friday, March 15 at 8pm, Saturday, March 16 at 3pm and 8pm, and Sunday, March 17 at 3pm.

The West End Theatre in the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew is located at 263 West 86th Street. To purchase tickets ($25), visitwww.ProspectTheater.org or call (212) 352-3101.

A prototype is an early model built to test a concept or process, which can be replicated or learned from. The goal of Prospect’s new Prototype Production initiative is to allow artists the opportunity to develop new musicals through a full rehearsal process, with feedback from audiences through a brief run of public performances. Prospect provides time and space for experimentation with theatrical elements, including design and orchestration, giving authors and creative teams a laboratory in which to create new work that contains all the aspects of a full-scale production, while maintaining a safe creative environment for risk-taking and experimentation.

DEATH FOR FIVE VOICES has been developed from concept to full script through a workshop process with Prospect’s founding artists Peter Mills and Cara Reichel over the past six months. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience the first staging of this original new musical drama and engage with artists in discussion about the work and process of creating the production.

Prospect Theater Company is one of America’s leading producers of new musical theater. Since 2000, the company has fully produced 18 new musicals in New York City, in addition to mounting productions of new plays and classic works, and supporting numerous developmental opportunities for emerging musical theater writers. Prospect was founded in 1998 by five graduates of Princeton University in order to allow a diverse group of emerging theater professionals to work together in pursuit of artistic excellence and innovation. The company membership now includes a network of almost 1,000 affiliated artists. Notable productions include: Working – A Musical (2012), Iron Curtain(2006, 2011), Myths and Hymns (2012), Cole Porter’s NYMPH ERRANT (2012), With Glee (2010), The Blue Flower (2008), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (2009), The Hidden Sky (2010), Illyria (2002, 2008), and the Drama-Desk nominated The Pursuit of Persephone(2005).