see the website: www.enchantedaprilthemusical.com

ENCHANTED APRIL, a Lyrical New Musical.

RICHARD B. EVANS, Composer, and
CHARLES LEIPART, Bookwriter and Lyricist, team up to create a heartfelt musical masterpiece!

It’s 1922. A cold, rainy, post-war-London February.  In the London Times, a small classified ad appears:

“To those who appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine: To let for the month of April - a medieaval castle on the Italian mediterranean shore.” 

Life and love are about to bloom for four discontented London ladies: Rose, married to a self-centered novelist of pulp historical fiction; Lottie, married to a cold, parsimonious, business-minded solicitor; Lady Caroline, a jaded debutante, looking for the meaning of it all; and Mrs. Fisher, a widow, living in her Victorian memories.  These four ladies find each other - and the castle of their dreams for one magical month in San Salvatore. The ladies only expect a pleasant holiday away from their London cares, but what they find awakens them to a world of passionate feeling and the joy of living.  

Now if only the same transformation can be worked on their husbands and lovers - who are about to descend on their ladies’ heavenly retreat.  Only then will the enchantments of April in Italy be complete!  

ENCHANTED APRIL, the 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, has previously been the subject of two successful films and a stage play. For Evans and Leipart the characters who inhabit the world of this brilliant story – their hopes, their individual stories, their interactions, their discoveries, and the immense sensuality of the Italian locale that transforms them – all demand expression as a Lyrical New Musical!

RICHARD B. EVANS is a multi-faceted composer with a long and richly varied musical career. Evans’ musicals include THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING, A Musical Vaudeville; ENCHANTED APRIL, A Lyrical New Musical; THE PLAYBOY OF BALYDUFF, The New Irish Musical; MIDLIFE! The User’s Guide; and THE GOLDEN TOUCH (commissioned by the International Institute of Vocal Arts). Evans has also composed MIDAS AND MARIGOLD, A Family Opera and DUBLIN 1916, An Irish Oratorio, as well as numerous art songs, chamber works, and choral works that are performed widely.

CHARLES LEIPART writes for the stage and musical theatre. Leipart wrote the book and lyrics for the very timely "economic musical", THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING, A Musical Vaudeville, with composer Richard B. Evans. His awards include the prestigious Kleban Librettist Award for 2002; and the Global Search for New Musicals, Cardiff, Wales, 2005 for his musical FROG KISS. Leipart's other musicals include EXPRESSO TRASHO, THESHOWGIRL OF 52nd STREET, THE DOCTOR'S WIFE, and LADY ON A CAROUSEL, an original musical about Marilyn Monroe.

The first Industry Readings of ENCHANTED APRIL were held March 15 and 16, 2010, at NYC's Chelsea Studios. Directed by Annette Jolles, Music Directed by Larry Yurman, the readings were performed by a stellar Broadway cast:

Rebecca Luker and
Amy Goldberg

Jill Paice and
Director Annette Jolles
 

Robert Petkoff 

 George Dvorsky

SuEllen Estey  

Ben Dibble and
Amy Goldberg

 Joy Hermalyn

Music Director: Larry Yurman,
Asst. Music Dir: Paul Staroba,
Violin/Mandolin: Antoine Silverman
 

ENCHANTED APRIL is being commissioned by West Bay Opera, the highly respected opera company based in Palo Alto, California, with General Director Maestro José Luis Moscovich. WBO<http://wbopera.org> is the second oldest opera company in the western United States.  

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