Abyssinia

Abyssinia is a musical with music by Ted Kociolek, lyrics by James Racheff, and a book by both Racheff and Kociolek. It is the story of a young girl who is born during a tornado and grows up with the gift of song. It is based on the novel Marked by Fire, by Joyce Carol Thomas. Abyssinia uses mainly gospel music.

Synopsis

Abyssinia, set in rural Oklahoma at the turn of the last century, begins with a tornado just as a young woman in the fields, Patience Jackson, is about to give birth. The community healer, Mother Vera, confronts the "finger of god" and it withdraws. Patience and Strong Jackson's child is born. Her daughter, Abyssinia, has a beautiful voice and healing powers. She also has an enemy; Trembling Sally, who lost her children to the tornado on the day Abyssinia was born. Sally is determined to bring pain and sorrow into this young girl's life. Abby is tested, like job, and reaches the breaking point when she is raped by a gang of boys. She loses her respect for faith and her voice.

Mother Vera takes her under her wing, to "Step outside yourself for a change. Give a hand. Be a comfort." After a long inner journey, Abyssinia is able to confront Trembling Sally as one who knows.

Productions

Abyssinia was first produced in 1987 by Musical Theater Works at the CSC Repertory Theater. It was directed by Tazewell Thompson. The scenery consultant was Evelyn Sakash, the lighting consultant was Clarke W. Thornton, the costume consultant was Amanda Klein, musical supervision and choral arrangements were by Daryl Waters, the choreography consultant was Julie Arenal, and the production stage manager was Greta Minsky. The same year, the musical was produced by CSC Repertory Theater in New York, directed by Tazewell Thompson.

The North Shore Music Theatre produced Abyssinia twice, once in 1995 and once in 2005. It also sponsored a reading in 1994 at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's New Works Festival. The 2005 production ran at the Schubert Theater in Boston, Massachusetts. It was directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood, with music direction by Michael O’Flaherty, lighting design by Kirk Bookman, and costumes by Pamela Scofield. The orchestra consisted of Michael O’Flaherty, Mark Pinto, Jay Daly, Walter Bostian, Ed Krauss, Michael Ambroszewski, and Gregory M. Brown.

Abyssinina was also presented three times by Goodspeed Musicals, in 1987 and 1988 at the Norma Terris Theater and in 2005 at the Goodspeed Opera House, directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood.^[1]

Casts

References

• http://www.joycecarolthomas.com/musical.html

External links

• http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9B0DE4DD1F31F931A25757C0A961948260
• http://www.wbur.org/arts/2005/51246_20050830.asp
• http://www.theatermirror.com/CRabyssiniansmt.htm
• http://aislesay.com/MA-ABYSSINIA.html