The Light In The Piazza The Musical

Music and Lyrics- Adam Guettel

Recommended Resources

Plot Summary & Audition Notes

List of Characters in The Light In The Piazza

The Light In The Piazza 2005 Original Cast Recording

The Light In The Piazza Sheet Music (Vocal Selections)

The Light in the Piazza (Original Broadway Cast Recording) - Download The Album Now! 

Based on a book The Light in The Piazza by Elizabeth Spencer.

Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara are on a trip through Italy when Clara falls in love with an Italian. Clara doesn't know that she is mildly mentally handicapped as a result of a childhood accident. Her mother is trying desperately to protect her and tried to prevent Clara's marriage to Fabrizio .

The music is very Sondheim-influenced, but the lyrics are a bit weak.

Margaret Johnson (Legit soprano ranging from G below middle C up to G#, 40's to 50's;)

Margaret is an upper middle class woman from Winston-Salem, NC via the early 1950's. She is warm & appealing with a dry and self deprecating sense of humor. She is a good mother although she appears over protective and sometimes controlling. Southern accent.

Clara Johnson (Strong legit soprano ranging from low A, strong belt/mix to high E with a nice ring, 26)

mildy mentally retarded - appears younger than she is. Her transition through the course of the story is her realization that she is different. Clara is utterly open and charming and always in the moment. In truth, Clara has the mental and emotional skills of a 12 year old. People meeting her for the first time would be astonished to know this. She is composed and spontaneous...ladylike and playfully wry at times. She is the perfect young lady ala a Southern 1950's finishing school. She should be a classic American beauty. Southern accent.

Fabrizio Naccerelli (Lyrical tenor to a high B, early 20s)

Fabrizio is a dazzingly handsome Italian boy. He is innocent, pure and sweet. He speaks very little English. Most of his dialogue is in Italian and broken English. He is any young American girl's dream of what a young Italian man should be.

 

Giuseppe Naccerelli (Baritone, Late 20s to mid 30s)

Fabrizio's older brother. He only speaks Italian. He is married to Franca but pursues other women. He is not terribly bright, but certainly manages to live his life the way he wants to.

 

 

Franca Naccarelli (Legit Soprano, Late 20s to mid 30s)

Franca is Giuseppe's passionate and sexy wife. She loves Giuseppe but he makes her unhappy much of the time. Think Gina Lolabridgida.

 

 

Signor Naccarelli (Baritone, mid 40s to 50s)

Fabrizio's father. Signor Nacarelli is Fabrizio's father. He owns a clothing shop in Florence. He is very smooth and speaks English very well.

Signora Naccarelli (Legit Soprano, Mid 40s to 50s)

She is Fabrizio's mother. She appears to be the dutiful, traditional Italian wife and mother but she has her own thoughts about everything. She primarily speaks Italian.

Roy Johnson (Baritone, 40s to 50s)

Margaret's husband. He is an executive with a tobacco company in Winston-Salem, NC. He is emotionally unavailable and cool. He should have a southern accent.

Tour Guide

 

Priest
[ENSEMBLE WOMAN/CLARA UNDERSTUDY] Early to mid 20's. An actress with a strong soprano (legit) low A to high A strong belt mix to high E. See the breakdown for CLARA.
[ENSEMBLE MAN/FABRIZIO UNDERSTUDY] Must play early 20s. An actor who is a lyrical tenor and sings to a high B. See FABRIZIO breakdown.
[ENSEMBLE MAN/ROY & SIGNOR NACARELLI UNDERSTUDY] An actor in his mid 40's to 50's. Baritone. See ROY and SIGNOR NACARELLI breakdown.
[ENSEMBLE WOMAN/SIGNORA NACARELLI] & MARGARET UNDERSTUDY An actress in her 40's and 50's with legit soprano. See breakdowns for SIGNORA & MARGARET.
[ENSEMBLE MAN/GIUSEPPE UNDERSTUDY] An actor in his 30's. Baritone. See breakdown for Giuseppe.
[ENSEMBLE WOMAN/FRANCA UNDERSTUDY] An actress in her late 20's to 30's. Legit soprano. See Franca breakdown.
[ENSEMBLE MAN] Actor in his 50's to 60's. Baritone. Should be able to play elegant and working class.
[ENSEMBLE WOMAN] Actress in her 50's to 60's with any vocal range. Should be able to play elegant and working class.
[MALE SWING] Actor in his 30's to 40's with a great voice.
[FEMALE SWING] Actress in her 30's to 40's with a great voice.

The Light In The Piazza Links - Related Websites

Audition Preparation Materials

List of Songs in The Light In The Piazza

The Light in the Piazza (Original Broadway Cast Recording) - Download The Album Now! 

• Overture
• Statues and Stories (Margaret, Clara, company)
• The Beauty Is (Clara)
• Il Mondo Era Vuoto (Fabrizio, Signor)
• American Dancing
• Passeggiata (Fab, Clara, Marg, Sig)
• The Joy You Feel (Franca)
• Dividing Day (Marg)
• Hysteria (Clara, Fab, Marg)
• Say It Somehow (Clara, Fab)
• Aiutami (Fab, Guiseppe, Sig, Franca, Signora)
• The Light in the Piazza (Clara)
• Octet (Priest, Clara, Signora, Sig, Franca, Fab, Marg, Giu, company)
• The Beauty Is - Reprise (Marg)
• Let's Walk (Sig, Marg)
• Clara's Interlude (Clara)
• Love to Me (Fab)
• Fable (Marg)