'The Light in the Piazza' Opens at Dexter's Encore Musical Theatre

The production of Craig Lucas' The Light in the Piazza will open Thursday.

Winner of six Tony awards, including Best Original Score, The Light in the Piazza follows the story of Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara, two Americans on vacation in Italy during the summer of 1953.  While sightseeing, Clara, a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman, loses her hat in a sudden gust of wind. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio.

Margaret, extremely protective of her daughter, attempts to keep Clara and Fabrizio apart. As The Light in the Piazza unfolds, a secret is revealed: In addition to the cultural differences between the young lovers, Clara is not quite all that she appears. Unable to suppress the truth about her daughter, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara's future, but her own hopes as well.

Broadway veteran Barbara Scanlon (Camelot, The Phantom of the Opera) plays Margaret Johnson. Scanlon said she is looking forward to performing in the Encore's smaller venue, especially because her character "breaks the fourth wall"—talking directly to the audience in character, and she can see their reactions. 

She said the role is challenging and she finds "something new in the character" at every rehearsal. Scanlon said performing with her fellow actors in Dexter is "right up there" with being on the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera.

Equity actor Scott Crownover plays Signor Naccarelli, and he is also excited to perform in his first show at the Encore. A resident of Ann Arbor, Crownover said he likes the convenience of having a "professional theater 10 minutes from my house." He said he loves the "just go for it" attitude at the Encore and how encouraging the theater crew has been for all the newcomers.

Returning to the Encore stage is Stephanie Souza of Chicago. Souza is fresh off her run as Marian in the Encore's production of .

Souza said she loves playing Clara, as it is one of her "dream roles," especially the "fun, spontaneous and naive" aspects of her personality. In preparing for the role, Souza said she spent time watching children play. She also loves performing in scenes with Scanlon.

"From day one, it was like this is my mom—there was never an awkward moment," Souza said. "She is so great to work with, and I feel I have so much to learn from her."

Brian L. Giebler, a voice student at the University of Michigan, plays Fabrizio.

"The Italian comes naturally to me for this show, because I've had so much experience with it," he said.

Brian is a newcomer to the Encore and has enjoyed "learning the ins and outs of the actual (theater) business" from professional Broadway actors, as well as fulfilling one of his "dream roles."

The Light in the Piazza opens Thursday and runs through Oct. 2.  Tickets for all performances are on sale now and may be purchased by visiting theencoretheatre.org or by calling the box office at 734-268-6200. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors and youths 17 and younger.

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