There is a rare opportunity to see the Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash musical, One Touch of Venus, in Boston this weekend. The Boston Conservatory Theater Ensemble presents this rarely performed gem, March 3—6, 2011, at the newly-renovated Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway St., in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for all students with valid ID. Box Office: (617) 912-9222 or http://bostonconservatory.ticketforce.com/. Music by Kurt Weill. Lyrics by Ogden Nash. Book by S.J. Perelman and Ogden Nash. Based on The Tinted Venus by F.J. Anstey. Directed for The Boston Conservatory by Stacey Stephens and choreographed by Michelle Chassé. Music directed by Steven Ladd Jones. Conducted by Peter Mansfield.
One Touch of Venus is the story of a department store window dresser who feels a strange attraction to a statue in a New York art museum. One night, while drunk, he impulsively kisses her and she comes to life, revealing herself to be Venus, the goddess of love. He falls in love with her, and takes her to the the display house in the store where he works. There, his boss falls in love with her too. Hijinks ensue.
Marlene Dietrich was cast in the original 1943 production, but she withdrew during rehearsals, saying it was “too sexy and profane.” This cleared the path for Mary Martin to establish herself as a huge Broadway star. Though known for the stinging satire he created in the 30s in Germany with Berthold Brecht, Weill embraced American popular music of the time and became a respected and admired Broadway composer. One Touch of Venus features one of his best-known songs, “Speak Low.”
“The show is about transformation, not only that of Venus coming to life but the affect she has on the city and those she encounters. The design of the show will reflect that transformation as well. The stage will be set with the skyline of drab, wartime New York City. The costumes will have that same ‘colorless’ feel. As Venus affects change, the city and inhabitants will come to life in full color. It is the drabness of suburban life that sends Venus back to original state, leaving the city and those she encountered forever changed.” – Director Stacey Stephens
Carolyn Miller as Venus. Photos by Charles Bandes.
Elia Kazan staged the original Broadway production of One Touch of Venus, which featured choreography by Agnes DeMille. The musical opened at the Imperial Theatre on Oct. 7, 1943, and ran for 567 performances.
This performance is funded in part by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, Inc., New York, NY.
About The Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory trains exceptional young performing artists for careers that enrich and transform the human experience. Known for its intimate and supportive multi-disciplinary environment, The Boston Conservatory offers fully accredited graduate and undergraduate programs in music, dance and theater, and presents more than 200 performances each year by students, faculty and guest artists. Since its founding in 1867, The Boston Conservatory has shared its talent and creativity with the city of Boston, the region and the nation, and continues to grow today as a vibrant community of artists and educators. For more information, visit www.bostonconservatory.edu
