Performances

Friday September 24, 8:00 - 9:30 +

Past Years Performances

Betty Buckley stars as Zelda Fitzgerald - the subject of Williams Clothes for a Summer Hotel

Ghosts from a Summer Hotel

by Tennessee Williams
Concert Version by Sarah V. Michelson
directed by David Kaplan
starring Betty Buckley

A Special Festival Presentation

One Show Only!

"With public caution, our passions can be indulged in private."
-- Edouard to Zelda Fitzgerald in Clothes for a Summer Hotel

Broadway legend Betty Buckley stars in a concert reading of Williams’ last play on Broadway, Clothes for a Summer Hotel, the subject of which is Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. The original 1980 production was scored to music by composer Michael Valenti, who will play variations on that score during this Provincetown concert version. The action is set in the North Carolina hospital where Zelda would die in a fire. In her hallucinations, the hospital becomes the Riviera hotel where she had an affair with a French aviator. A concert version of the play has been created for this special presentation by Sarah V. Michelson, who for the past two years brought her moving, 5-actor version of Williams' Camino Real to Provincetown.

Joining Ms. Buckley for this special event will be Jeff Zinn, playing F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mr. Zinn is the artistic director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, in Wellfleet, MA. Playing the aviator will be Peter Christian Hansen, who also stars at this year’s festival in the world premiere production of The Enemy: Time.

Ms. Buckley has been a presence in the American theater since 1969, when she debuted on Broadway as Martha Jefferson in 1776. Since then, Ms. Buckley has starred in numerous films including last year's M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening, Carrie, Tender Mercies, and on television in "Eight is Enough" and the HBO Series "Oz."
A quintessential leading lady of the American Musical Theater, Ms. Buckley has made an indelible mark in  award-winning roles including Grizabella in "Cats," and with other diverse and magical performances in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Sunset Boulevard," and "Triumph of Love" (for which she received her second Tony Nomination.) For Hartford Stage, Ms. Buckley played the part of Marguerite Gautier in Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real."

The original Broadway production was scored for music by Michael Valenti.  The composer  attended and accompanied rehearsals for the Broadway production. For this special occasion in Provincetown Mr. Valenti will perform live, accompanying the reading. Certain scenes will be underscored – as they were in the Broadway rehearsals and performances. An overture on piano combining the musical themes from the original production will debut. Valenti has written music for television (Emmy winner series: A Walk Through the 20th Century), radio (Peabody Award: Newsmark), and for Pope John Paul II (Processional for a Pontiff) in New York's Central Park.

Listen to music from the show. [Windows Media Player]

Ghosts from a Summer Hotel

By Tennessee Williams
Concert Version created by Sarah V. Michelson
Directed by David Kaplan
A concert reading of Clothes for a Summer Hotel, Williams’ last Broadway play
With music by Michael Valenti

Featuring
Betty Buckley as Zelda Fitzgerald
Jeff Zinn as F. Scott Fitzgerald
Peter Christian Hansen as Edouard

Set Painting by Sky Power of Berta Walker Gallery
Violinist Dinah Mellin
Lighting Design by Megan Tracy
Technician Chris Racine

Betty Buckley is renowned for her many years of concert and cabaret performances which have garnered rave reviews and numerous awards. While in Provincetown for the Festival, Ms. Buckley will also be performing in concert at The Crown and Anchor on Sunday evening, September 27 at 8pm with her longtime collaborator Kenny Werner with whom she has recorded 10 CD's. Tickets are available at www.onlyatthecrown.com.

Don't miss an evening with Betty Buckley and Kenny Werner!

Sponsored in part by:

Loreal