Show History

History

Inspiration


The Glorious Ones is based on the 1974 novel of the same name by noted author Francine Prose. Set in sixteenth-century Italy, the show is about a commedia dell'arte troupe during the Italian renaissance. Because the subject matter of The Glorious Ones regards a theatrical performance style (commedia dell'arte), the presentation of the show is also inspired by that style.

Productions


The Glorious Ones premiered at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, running from April 27, to May 20, 2007. It then opened Off-Broadway at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. A production of the Lincoln Center Theatre, it ran from October 11, 2007, through January 6, 2008. Directed and choreographed by Graciella Danielle, The Glorious Ones was nominated for five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical, Best Music and Best Lyrics. The New York cast featured Marc Kudisch, Erin Davie, Natalie Venetia Belcon and David Patrick Kelly.

The show opened in London at the Off-West End Landor Theatre in 2012. Toronto Civic Light Opera Company produced the Candian premiere of The Glorious Ones in May 2014. That production starred Joe Cascone (Flaminio), Joanne Kennedy (Columbina), David Haines (Dottore), Eric Botosan (Pantalone), Elizabeth Rose Morriss (Isabella), Jordan Quinn (Francesco) and Susan Sanders (Armanda).

Cultural Influence

• A cast recording of the Lincoln Center production cast was released in 2008.

• The theatrical form, commedia dell'arte, has had a major influence on theatrical history, and many familiar authors were influenced by this form, including Shakespeare, Moliere and Franz Kafka.