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Melancholy Play

Melancholy Play

Book and Lyrics by Sarah Ruhl
Music by Todd Almond

March 2018

“Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical” is playwright Sarah Ruhl's first musical based on her 2002 play of the same title. It tells the story of Tilly, whose melancholy is of such exquisite quality that it causes every stranger she meets to fall in love with her. One day, inexplicably, Tilly becomes happy, and wreaks havoc on the lives of her paramours.  Tilly’s hairdresser becomes so melancholy that she turns into an almond and it’s up to Tilly to get her back.  

"Theatre Elision has done it again, produced a musical theater piece that I have never heard of before and is delightfully absurd."

Twin Cities Stages

Cast and crew

Tara Schaefle as Tilly

Ben Rubenstein as Frank

Jim Ahrens as Lorenzo

Christine Wade as Frances

Ruthie Baker as Joan

Harrison Wade on piano

Mary Alice Hutton on violin

Fangye Sun on violin

Anne Ainomae on violin

Rosa Thompson-Vieira on cello

Directed by Lindsay Fitzgerald

Stage Managed by Krin McMillen

Music Directed by Harrison Wade

Vocal Directed by Christine Wade

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