THE LANDING
Music by John Kander
Book and Lyrics by Greg Pierce
Story by John Kander and Greg Pierce
Choreography by Josh Rhodes
Directed by Walter Bobbie
With Julia Murney, David Hyde Pierce, Frankie Seratch and Paul Anthony Stewart
Legendary theatre composer John Kander (CHICAGO, CABARET) and gifted playwright Greg Pierce’s (SLOWGIRL) first collaboration is a beautiful and haunting new musical, consisting of three thematically-connected tales of desire, love and loss. THE LANDING will feature Tony and Emmy Award-winner David Hyde Pierce (CURTAINS, VANYA AND SONIA…, “Frasier”), Julia Murney (THE WILD PARTY), Paul Anthony Stewart (HARBOR), and Frankie Seratch and is directed by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobbie (VENUS IN FUR, CHICAGO).
Toast with cast and crew of THE LANDING at our benefit performance on November 24!
To celebrate this new work and its “beguiling, risk-taking, new writing team,” we are offering special benefit tickets for closing night of THE LANDING on November 24. A $200 ticket will include premium seating for the show, as well as a champagne toast with the cast and creators onstage after the performance. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support The Vineyard while experiencing THE LANDING in a once-in-a-lifetime way! For benefit tickets, contact our Development Associate, Julie Erhart at jerhart@vineyardtheatre.org.
“ELEGANT AND POIGNANT!
Fans of Mr. Kander will certainly appreciate hearing this old master elicit increasingly complex feelings from what at first feel like basic melodies. Greg Pierce, has infused his wispy bedtime stories for grown-ups with an autumnal sense of regret for lives lost and paths not taken.The deft cast artfully matches its surroundings… gentle, color-coded stylishness in sophisticated storybook shades of gray, blue and red. David Hyde Pierce is quietly terrific throughout!”
– Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“ENCHANTING! ‘THE LANDING’ KEEPS YOU ENTHRALLED.
It is a lovely, quirky new musical theater work with a sparkling cast! Julia Murney brims with cheerful loopiness and Hyde Pierce radiates a comical menace. ‘The Landing’ leaves you wanting more. Let’s hope Kander and Pierce have lots more like this ahead!”
– Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press
“HAUNTING, STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL AND DEEPLY MOVING!
Directed with a nimble hand and a full heart by Walter Bobbie. ‘The Landing’ transports us and lift our hearts. Young Frankie Seratch juggles Noah, Darius and Collin with impressive dexterity. Paul Anthony Stewart brings a robust sensitivity, then shows his deft lighter side.”
– Elysa Gardner, USA Today
“GO RIGHT AWAY!”
– Brandon Thorp, Village Voice
“THE AMERICAN MUSICAL HAS A BEGUILING, RISK-TAKING,
NEW WRITING TEAM AT THE VINEYARD THEATRE THESE DAYS!
Excellent actors! Kander’s music mixes his street-smart show-biz signature
with yearning romantic ballads.”
– Linda Winer, Newsday
“HEART-PIERCING.
Under Walter Bobbie’s stylized direction and mounted on John Lee Beatty’s abstract sets gorgeously lighted by Ken Billington, the pieces in this minimalist show look unmoored from what we earthlings call reality. The conceptual treatment of longing and loneliness is imaginative and the four-piece ensemble is excellent.
– Marilyn Stasio, Variety
“GOOD NEWS!
A brave departure for John Kander. Gorgeous, insightful and often funny.”
– Robert Holfer, The Wrap
“HAUNTING AND UNFORGETTABLE!
Director Walter Bobbie leads this four-person cast to committed and boundlessly energetic performances. The Landing is an excellent production. Fascinating and heart-rending!
– Zachary Stewart, Theatermania
“KANDER’S MUSIC HAS A LOVELY TINKLY SOUND WITH
KANDERESQUE SOPHISTICATION AND BOUNCE.
Well performed, especially by the versatile and always terrific David Hyde Pierce. Being the front and center boy is a tall order to fill and Frankie Seratch handles it with considerable charm and confidence. It’s a lot of fun and gives Julia Murney a chance to strut her vocal and performance talents. Paul Anthony Stewart adds to the fun in multiple roles.”
– Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp
“’THE LANDING’ IS AN ELEGANT TRIPTYCH OF SHOWS!
John Kander is in a metaphysical, not New York, frame of mind. The cast is superb!”
– Jeremy Gerard, Bloomberg News
Scenic Design
John Lee Beatty
Costume Design
Michael Krass
Lighting Design
Ken Billington
Sound Design
Nevin Steinberg
Production Stage Manager
Roy Harris
Assistant Stage Manager
Colyn Fiendel
Production Manager
David Nelson
Press Representative
Sam Rudy Media Relations
Casting
Henry Russel Bergstein, CSA
General Management
DR Theatrical Management
Music Coordinator
John Monaco
Conductor
Paul Masse
Orchestrations
Larry Hochman
Music Director
David Loud
Musicians
Vincent DellaRocca
Vivian Israel
Greg Landes
Music Copying by Kaye-Houston Music/Anne Kaye & Doug Houston
This production is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award.
Artists
David Hyde Pierce
Broadway: Kander & Ebb’s CURTAINS (Tony Award), VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (Tony nomination), LA BETE, ACCENT ON YOUTH, SPAMALOT, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, BEYOND THERAPY. Off-Broadway: CLOSE UP SPACE, ELLIOT LOVES, ZERO POSITIVE, THAT’S IT FOLKS!, THE MADERATI, THE AUTHOR’S VOICE, HAMLET, MUCH ADO, THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Film: The Perfect Host, Down with Love, Full Frontal, Wet Hot American Summer, A Bug’s Life, Treasure Planet, Wolf, Nixon, Sleepless in Seattle, Little Man Tate, Crossing Delancey. TV: “The Powers That Be”, “The Outer Limits”, “Titus”, “Frasier” (Emmy, SAG Award). As director: Anselmi & Hargove’s musical IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, George Street Playhouse; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Williamstown Theatre Festival.