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Take a dark, mysterious, musical journey into the heart and soul of Edgar Allan Poe, America's first truly visionary poet. This story of love, personal demons and self-discovery delves into the mind of Poe with disturbing yet relatable charm. Poe’s poetry is transformed into soaring musical numbers creating a timeline that lures the audience into his world.
Take a dark and mysterious journey into the life of Edgar Allan Poe. This imaginative musical uses Poe's poetry and short stories as its base and his shifting obsession with the women in his life as its catalyst. With hauntingly beautiful melodies, Nevermore breathes new life into Poe's work and explores a twisted true-life tale that is as bizarre as his classic stories of the macabre.
After the $5.00 purchase of an Edgar Allan Poe anthology found at a local bookstore, the birth of this new musical began. The poetry filled with meter, rhythm and percussion drew me to unlock the mysterious, obsessive life of a soon to be lyricist already one hundred and fifty years deceased. Even Poe himself, "panned" for his "musicality" as a writer, felt that true beauty was the combination of music and poetry. The language, imagery and colors found in his writing matched perfectly to construct a sound of hauntingly beautiful melodies. It all began with the poem "Dreams". It was in the back of the book lending itself to easy access. Upon stumbling on a melody that lifted the words into a song of hope, my journey into this American poet's diary seemed to only increase. I truly believe the collaboration on this piece was very unique and became a fine tapestry intertwining history and literature with music.
MATT CONNER
NEVERMORE
Music by MATT CONNER
Lyrics adapted from the writings of EDGAR ALLAN POE
Book by GRACE BARNES
Originally Produced by Signature Theatre, Arlington Virginia; Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director; Sam Sweet, Managing Director
EDGAR (bari-tenor): the poet. Ranging in age from 17 to death at 40. Stubborn, determined and obsessed with his work.
MUDDY (mezzo): Virginia's mother and Edgar's surrogate mother. Muddy is stoic and is the grounded voice of reason.
MOTHER (mezzo): Edgar's mother. She died when Edgar was still a child. She is a haunting presence in Edgar's life.
ELMIRA (mezzo): a southern belle. Edgar's first and last love. Ranging in age from 17 to 40. Elmira is understanding, patient and a place of salvation.
VIRGINIA (soprano): age 13, Edgar's bride and cousin. Virginia is youthful, naive and a source of inspiration for Edgar.
THE WHORE (alto/belter): an embodiment of Edgar's fantasy. A street wise woman who is insightful and compassionate.
Piano/Conductor
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass
Harp
Percussion
One
May 30 - June 1, 2013
Music Theatre of Madison - MTM
Madison, WI 53713
June 14 - 16, 2013
Sol Children Theatre Troupe
Boca Raton, FL 33431
