World Premiere 'Nevermore' is for Evermore

Let me start by saying this is NOT a review...I'll be posting the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post reviews when they appear.

But what a thrill it was to attend the world premiere of this challenging musical. I attended with great trepidation. I've witnessed a world premiere at Signature before and saw the uninspired "Over and Over" by Kander and Ebb. So...I was curious with little expectation...especially in light of the fact that this was the composer Matt Conner's first attempt at a musical.

When you walk into the theater, you hear the wind blowing through the darkened passageway to the space and you are immediately struck with the incredible set design by Derek McLane who has many Broadway credits. Dark drooping trees envelope the stage. You can view the talented eight piece orchestra (led by Jenny Cartney) behind a scrim in the rear of the stage. I believe they tune up off-stage not to ruin the effect. During the seating of the audience, the four women of the cast slowly walk around the incredible set and the audience in a dreamlike pace...there is occasionally cackle of a laughter. Creepy it is.

The lightening then strikes...literally and figuratively...the music...oh...the music...so beautiful. Signature nabbed the biggest name in the orchestration field, Jonathan Tunick, who was the first individual to win a Tony award for best orchestration in Tony history. The wonderful lighting is by Mark Lanks and terrific sound is by Tony Angelini. Grace Barnes is responsible for the book which has to cover most of Poe's life...which ofcourse ends mysteriously in Baltimore.

The one male in the production is Poe himself...and what a terrific job by Daniel Cooney who seems to never leave the stage during the 90 minute non-stop marathon. Poe had such a sad life and Cooney captures it with a powerful sensitive performance and a wonderful voice.

The women in Poe's life are all terrific. Poe's mother is played by Florence Lacey, his mother-in-law (and aunt) is played by Channez McQuay. Poe's childhood sweetheart is played by Jacquelyn Piro. The only fictional character in the show (a sensuous whore) is played by Amy McWilliams.

What a thrill it is to see an actress you've seen perform in high school now in a professional role...Lauren Williams who attended Baltimore's premier theater high school, Carver Center for the Arts and Technology in Towson, MD. I've seen Lauren in "Oklahoma" and "Bells Are Ringing" at Carver and witnessed her amazing portrayal of on the twins in "Side Show" at the Maryland Arts Festival. To see her play Poe's 13 year old cousin and wife was certainly exciting...and she does a remarkable job in a very challenging role.

This is a show with a big future and composer Matt Conner will be heard of many times in the future. There are sixteen musical numbers and they are breathtaking melodies. His proud parents, from rural Virginia, had wide smiles after the show and why not!

Final kudos to director Eric Schaeffer, the Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre, who had the vision and confidence when he first heard Conner's music matched with Poe's lyrics...that this could be really special.

Schaeffer describes the show as a "cross between an American musical and Cirque de Soleil. The characters come to life and interact in very alarming ways - as people, voices, ghosts, and demons. "Nevermore" is a journey of death flashing before Poe's eyes. It's a montage, a whirlwind, a dream, a life and a nightmare all in one. But first, and always first, it's theatre."

"Nevermore" ends its run February 26, 2006. So if you want to see this...you better act quickly...call 800-955-5566 or log onto Tickets.com. You can also go to www.signature-theatre.org to gain more insight into the production.

To hear some of the music...go to Signature Speaks which can be viewed at www.signature-theater.org/blog.