Arts and Entertainment

Penn State Centre Stage presents 'The Light in the Piazza'

Musical set for April 4-15 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center

Kevin Dort, playing the role of Fabrizio, rehearses a dance with Allsun O'Malley, portraying Clara Johnson, for the Penn State Centre Stage production of the musical 'The Light in the Piazza,' opening at the Downtown Theatre Center on April 4. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage will present Adam Guettel’s hit musical "The Light in the Piazza," April 4-15 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, with direction by Penn State master of fine arts directing candidate Darcy Evans and musical direction by master of fine arts musical directing candidate Chris Rayis.

Filled with sunshine and light as a summer breeze, this exhilarating musical follows the Italian travels of Margaret Johnson and her stunningly beautiful daughter, Clara. When a dashing young Italian captures Clara’s heart, Margaret is compelled to reveal the secret about her daughter.

Director Darcy Evans adds, "I am grateful for the opportunity to direct this beautiful musical, which tells its story through the eyes of a mother and her daughter, a rarity in the musical theatre. Playwright Craig Lucas describes it as 'a paradigm for all mothers and all parents of children in terms of how you let go of them and how they let go of you, the difficulty of it, and the knowledge that your kids will never really be safe.' I believe it is also a story about the power of love and its capacity for healing."

Tickets prices are: evenings, $25; preview/matinee, $20; Penn State Student (with valid PSU ID), $12.50.

Tickets for the opening night reception at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, on Friday, April 7, are $30 (does not include show ticket; includes pre-show hors d’ouevres and desserts. Doors open at 6 p.m.; show begins at 7:30 p.m. Purchase show ticket separately.)

Tickets are available at the Penn State Downtown Ticket Center, Eisenhower box office, Bryce Jordan Center, or by calling 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX.

Last Updated March 31, 2017