Theatre--Performance (Musical Theatre)

UL Opera Theatre and The Compound are pleased to announce their collaboration on an exciting spring production: a revival of GRAND PRÉ, a musical by local playwright Cody Daigle and local composer Roy Bertucci.

In 1755, British military at Grand Pré, Nova Scotia, began a forced removal of all Acadian civilians, sending them on boats to other corners of the world. This removal would cast the Acadian people out of their homeland, tear apart families, and force the Acadians to resettle in ports all along the Eastern Seaboard, finally settling in Louisiana after many years of travel.

GRAND PRÉ musicalizes the beginning of the “Great Removal,” set against the story of a family already at war with itself. As the LeBlanc family struggles to accept the inclusion of a British solider to their family by marriage, forces in the outside world move to dismantle the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia for good. GRAND PRÉ is a musical about a moment of sweeping historical change, the human cost of history and the price we pay for loyalty.

Originally commissioned in 2005 by the Acadian Cultural Center and Cite des Arts, GRAND PRÉ was first produced in 2005. This version of GRAND PRÉ is a significantly revised version of the original show, containing an overhauled book, a new character and a new musical number.

GRAND PRÉ features performances by Jonah Slason (Louis), Alexandra Hollerman (Helene), Jenee Luquette (Cecile), Sadie Bekurs (Isabelle), Garrett Guidry (Thom), Tessa Espinosa (Alice), Jay Broussard (Allain), Shelby Runyan (Barillot), Aren Chaisson (John Winslow), and Holden Greene (Charles Lawrence).
Shawn Roy directs this new production with David Boudreaux supplying musical direction and new orchestrations. Duncan Thistlethwaite (scenic design) and Gina Baronne (costume design) round out the artistic team.

GRAND PRÉ marks a unique collaboration between two local producing agencies. UL Opera Theatre has supplied Acadiana with top-notch musical offerings for several years (including last year’s exciting THE MIKADO and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD), and The Compound is one of the area’s newest companies, having scored a major success with their workshop production of the new play WILLIAM AND JUDITH.

This collaboration brings together two exciting companies in an effort to bring a new musical to life.

GRAND PRÉ will run March 8-11 at the Ducrest-Gilfrey Auditorium at Angelle Hall on the U: Campus. Curtain on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee curtain is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.  There will also be a free school show on March 9th at 10 am.

For more information, call 482-6012.