The musical Violet borrows from American traditions of blues, gospel, and folk to tell the story of the growth and enlightenment of a young woman as she searches for a miracle.
Violet will be performed at 8:00 p.m. on March 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, and April 1, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on March 26 and April 1. All performances will be held in the Clark Theatre at Dillingham Center.
Tickets can be purchased at the Dillingham Center box office, the Clinton House Ticket Center, and Cornell University's Willard Straight Hall. Ticket prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (203) 260-9508. For more information call (607) 274-3224 or visit www.ithacaevents.com.
Violet is based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts. The original production opened at Playwrights Horizons on March 12, 1997 and was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for best musical, as well as the prestigious Richard Rodgers Production Award.
Throughout Violet’s childhood her father attempts to protect her from the harsh treatment she receives because of her distinguishing scar. As a young woman, Violet is convinced that she is not beautiful and must be healed. The show travels through the 1964 south and racial tensions underscore the play’s action. Violet boards a bus to travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to be healed by a television preacher who she has seen perform what she calls miracles. On the way there she meets two soldiers, Flick and Monty who help her reimagine her life full of beauty, intimacy, and love. The real question the show ponders is “What is beauty?”
Violet’s director, Lee Byron, is in his eighth year as department chairperson and director of the Department of Theatre Arts at Ithaca College. Lee’s previous IC directing credits include Bat Boy and Side Show. His professional career began 29 years ago as an assistant stage manager for A Little Night Music directed by Garland Wright, one of his many inspirations. At Ithaca College, Lee teaches directing, script analysis, and various theater administration and management classes. He is a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and a founding member of the International Music Theatre Teachers Symposium. Lee holds a B.A. in theater and an M.B.A., both from Penn State.
Violet's musical director is Brian Hertz. He most recently was the conductor for The Wiz at The Hangar Theatre. This past year, he conducted Seussical the Musical and assistant conducted The Consul at Ithaca College, and was a pianist for I Do! I Do! at Cortland Repertory Theatre. As an undergraduate at Ithaca College, Brian conducted performances of A Little Night Music, was the musical director for Side Show, and worked on five other productions. He also has 25 musical direction credits on Long Island. In 2001, Brian was a young artist at the Opera Festival of New Jersey, where he performed in five operas with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Brian is currently a graduate student in musical theatre/opera conducting at Ithaca College.
The cast of Violet includes Meredith Beck ’09, Jonathan Burke ’08, Ryan Cupello ’09, Marissa Dargahi ’07, Aly Friedman ’06, Shauna Goodgold ’07, Ben Hart ’08, Ashlee Hoffman ’06, Alex Krasser ’09, Auri Marcus ’06, Aaron Morris ’07, Omar Najimi ‘09, Elizabeth Pace ’08, Liz Priestley ’06, Jeremy Reese ’09, Jay Schmidt ’08, Tricia Tanguy ’06, and Jared Zirilli ’08.
The artistic design team includes assistant professor Andrew Holland, assistant professor Steve TenEyck, Caitlin Dixon ’06, Michael Speech ’06 and Alexander Weisman ’06.
A nationally recognized professional theater training program, the Department of Theatre Arts attracts students from across the United States. Through Ithaca College Theatre and the production season, undergraduate students present all aspects of theater in a professional model. Ithaca College Theatre has been a cultural resource for Tompkins County and the region for more than 70 years.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20060320094252449