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On April 2nd, 2025, the IGNITE concert series hosted by Prospect Musicals will feature a unique concert performance of Emily Xu Hall’s new musical adaptation of Chekhov’s renowned work, CHERRY ORCHARD. This adaptation is set to star acclaimed Tony Award recipient Katrina Lenk.
Katrina Lenk is celebrated for her diverse talents, having won a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Tony Award for her role as Dina in the 2017 Broadway production of The Band’s Visit. She has also successfully taken on the groundbreaking gender-swapped role of Bobbie in the 2022 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, a performance that contributed to the production earning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
The musical adaptation creatively reinterprets aspects of Chekhov’s original play through a rich blend of folk, jazz, and musical theatre music. The cast will include talented performers such as Lisa Helmi Johanson (known for roles in POTUS and the national tour of Into the Woods), Ari Afsar (who appeared in Hamilton in Chicago and wrote for the film “Wedding Season”), and Sam Balzac (who contributed to Fifty Million Frenchman at the York and is the writer of The Guild The Musical). Other cast members include Jordan Bell, McKenna Michael Bisaha, Jenna Rose Husli, Dino Nicandros, and Rick Rea, each bringing their own significant experiences to the production.
This project has been developed through various prestigious institutions and initiatives, including the NYU Grad Acting Alumni Association’s Studio Tisch, the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University, and the Musical Theatre Factory, among others.
Musical direction will be led by Daniel Sefik, known for his work on Hamilton, with Mateo Chavez serving as music associate. Production consultants include Zachary Longstreet, while Zhiwei Ma takes on the production role.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The story unfolds after a tragic event—Lyuba, a mother, is devastated by the drowning of her son and turns her back on her family. Years later, she learns that her family’s home is set to be sold, prompting her to return and confront the consequences of her absence. Here, she encounters her daughter Anya and stepdaughter Varya, who have both matured significantly without her presence.
Anya is becoming increasingly radicalized and questioning societal expectations, while Lyuba struggles with her stepdaughter Varya’s connection to a man who evokes painful memories from her past. Now facing the reality of their home falling into foreclosure, these three women must grapple with their collective grief and unresolved emotions related to the loss of the boy. Will they find a path to healing and a renewed sense of hope within these walls, or will they succumb to their challenges?
Emily Xu Hall (黃福霖) is an accomplished composer, lyricist, playwright, and actress, holding an MFA from NYU Graduate Acting. Her accolades include the 2021 Dramatists Guild Stephen Schwartz Composer Award and the 2019 American Theatre Wing Jonathan Larson Award for her contributions to music, lyrics, and book. In 2018, she was also the inaugural winner of the “Go Write a Musical” Lilly Award for Women. Her recent work has been recognized as finalists at notable events such as NAMT and the O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference. As a screenwriter, she contributed to Sony Pictures’ live-action movie musical “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” (2022), collaborating with a renowned songwriting team to create music for the film.
Emily’s Off-Broadway projects include Nomad Hotel at the Atlantic Theatre Company, while she has also composed and performed for other unique productions. As she continues to develop new musicals, including Cherry Orchard, she collaborates with established figures in the field like Craig Lucas and Oliver Butler. In addition to her composition career, Emily has taken on various acting roles in both Off-Broadway and regional productions, showcasing her versatility in the performing arts.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com