Broadway's Eden Espinosa (Wicked, Brooklyn, Rent) plays the central role of Sadie Thompson in the world-premiere production of Michael John LaChiusa's musical adaptation of the 1921 W. Somerset Maugham short story Rain.
The musical, also titled Rain, is having its world premiere at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, CA, with previews beginning March 24, and an opening night set for April 1.
The story has been adapted to stage and film several times, perhaps most famously in 1928 with Gloria Swanson as Sadie, a former prostitute who tries to start life anew on a South Pacific island, only to cross paths with two men, an army sergeant and a missionary, who roil her new life.
LaChiusa’s collaborator on the project is librettist Sybille Pearson, who partnered with him on the Off-Broadway musical Giant.
Old Globe artistic director Barry Edelstein makes his musical theatre debut with the production.
The prolific LaChiusa has been nominated for Tony Awards five times. His musicals include Marie Christine, The Wild Party, Hello Again, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The Petrified Prince, See What I Wanna See, Little Fish, Bernarda Alba, First Lady Suite, Queen of the Mist and the recent First Daughter Suite.
Pearson's playwriting career includes the book to the 1983 musical Baby.
Also in the cast: Jared Zirilli (Alfred Davidson), Elizabeth A. Davis (Anna Davidson), Betsy Morgan (Louisa MacPhail), Jeremy Davis (Jo), Marie-France Arcilla (Noi Noi), Rusty Ross (Kiwi), Mike Sears (Quartermaster and Hopper) and Tally Sessions (Alec MacPhail).
On the creative team: Mark Wendland (scenic design), Katherine Roth (costume design), Russell H. Champa (lighting design), Ken Travis (sound design), Patrick McCollum (movement), J. Oconer Navarro (music director), Bruce Coughlin (orchestrations), Telsey + Company/Andrew Femenella, CSA and Patrick Goodwin, CSA (casting) and James Latus (production stage manager).
Tickets are available by phone at (619) 234-5623 or on the web, theoldglobe.org.
