Jason Danieley (The Visit, The Full Monty, Candide) and Hannah Elless (Bright Star) will play James and Mary in Asolo Repertory Theatre's world premiere of the new Frank Galati, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens musical Knoxville. Also directed by Galati, previews will begin at the Florida venue April 3 prior to an official opening April 10. Performances will continue through April 25.
The cast will also include Ellen Harvey as Aunt Hannah, Sarah Aili as Sally, Jack Casey as Rufus, Kate Chapman as Jessie, Barbara Marineau as Catherine, Ben Michael as Jay, William Parry as Joel, Nathan Salstone as Andrew, Joel Waggoner as Ralph, and Scott Wakefield as Man at the Scene/Father Jackson.
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Based on James Agee’s autobiographical Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family, the story begins as Agee struggles to write his greatest novel—about the event that touched his young life, and the effect it had on his mother, his town, and his own future.
Galati adapted the book, with music by Flaherty and lyrics by Ahrens; the three previously collaborated on the 1998 Broadway musical Ragtime.
“Agee ‘writes’ the story as the audience experiences it,” says Galati. “Our musical begins in 1955 in the author’s workshop. He thinks, ‘Maybe by telling my story, I can find out who I am.’”
“I tried to create a very American sound that had elements of folk and country—popular parlor music of the period that would have been presented in a casual, intimate way,” adds Flaherty. “Actors often play instruments throughout the evening, supporting one another both musically and emotionally.”
The production will also have choreography by Josh Rhodes, scenic and costume design by Robert Perdziola, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, and music supervision and music direction by Tom Murray.
Asolo Rep commissioned the project starting in 2018 and hosted a developmental workshop in June 2019.
