Show History

History

Inspiration

Lyricist, Marcy Heisler, was just out of college when she met Zina Goldrich at the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. The two became creative partners, charged with the task of writing a story around songs about manners. As Marcy Heisler recounts, "[We] borrowed from our childhoods, created homages to our friends, and put the songs in the head of advice-giver extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, a girl who understands both the value of dreams and friendship, who takes the extra step to make things happen, who trips on her own ambition but gets great joy out of helping those she loves." Heisler and Goldrich developed the show through the Northwoods Theatre Institute, ASCAP and Second Stage, where they were Artists in Residence at various times. Composer, Maury Yeston, served as a mentor to the duo during the development.

Productions

In July of 2006, the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in New York City produced Dear Edwina as a special benefit featuring Kate Wetherhead as Edwina.

Dear Edwina premiered Off-Broadway at the DR2 Theatre in New York City, opening November 14, 2008, and closing April 19, 2009. Directed by Timothy McDonald with choreography by Steven G. Kennedy, the production received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Music (Zina Goldrich) and Outstanding Lyrics (Marcy Heisler). A return engagement ran at the DR2 Theatre from December 11, 2009, to February 15, 2010. The musical returned once more to play a holiday season run at the DR2 Theatre from December 17, 2010, to February 25, 2011.