Allen Community College theater students will be performing a new play, coming May 2, that will appeal to the audience’s dramatic side as well as their musical.
“33 Variations” is the newest play, handpicked by ACC theater director Tony Piazza. The production focuses one of Beethoven’s last works.
“I was really captivated by the piece,” Piazza said. “It’s got to be interesting to me, or I am not going to do it.”
The play, written by Moisés Kaufman, focuses on a woman who is investigating why Beethoven spent such a large amount of time focusing on an underwhelming piece of music. During the play, the action switches back and forth between the perspective of the woman, and then back to Beethoven’s perspective.
Piazza said the woman’s daughter is a large part of the story as well — their relationship changes as the lead character deals with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The entire play is set to music, which will be played on the piano live by Ted Clous.
“I just love the way the music is such an integral part of it,” Piazza said. “It’s a bit of a concert in a play.”
The play was written in 2009, and was featured on Broadway, starring Jane Fonda.
Check The Register for a review of the play next week.
ACC play draws on drama, music
