GableStage presents Old Wicked Songs: The Play I Had to Write

Description

As a college student at Duke, Jon relished in the opportunity to study abroad in Vienna. As he fell in love with the art, the architecture and the music of that storied city, he also became aware of an insipid underlying antisemitism that forced him to face his own complicated feelings about his Judaism. Years later, Jon would write about this experience in his award-winning play, Old Wicked Songs.

Set in Vienna in 1986 right before Kurt Waldheim is elected president of Austria, the play focuses on a burned out and emotionally detached piano prodigy who is forced to learn and sing the Robert Schumann’s famous song cycle, Dichterliebe, with words by the brilliant Jewish poet Heinrich Heine.

In their conversation, Marans and Newport will play recordings of Dichterliebe and invite audiences to discuss the complexity of Schumann’s music as juxtaposed with Heine’s passionate poetry. They will discuss how this fascinating musical and lyrical blending is mirrored in Old Wicked Songs by the young student and the older professor. While both have very different perspectives, both must listen to each other if they hope to create beautiful music.

Don't miss the Miami premiere of Old Wicked Songs at GableStage January 13-February 4.