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Music by: Elton John
Directed by: Robert Jess Roth
Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
Book by: Linda Woolverton
Adapted from ‘The Vampire Chronicles’ by Anne Rice
Previews from March 25th 2006
April 15th 2006 - May 28th 2006
The PalaceTheater
Broadway
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2006 Tony Award® Nominee - Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Carolee Carmello
2006 Tony Award® Nominee - Best Costume Design of a Musical
2006 Drama Desk Award® Nominee – Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Carolee Carmello
SYNOPSIS
Lestat is the romantic and heartbreaking story of the extraordinary journey of one man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him. Thrust into the seductive and sensual world of an immortal vampire, Lestat sets out on a road of adventures in a quest for everlasting love and companionship but is forced to reconcile his innate sense of good with his primal need to exist
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OPENING NIGHT CAST
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Hugh Panaro
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Lestat
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Carolee Carmello
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Gabrielle
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Drew Sarich
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Armand
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Jim Stanek
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Louis
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Allison Fischer
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Claudia
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Roderick Hill
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Nicolas
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Michael Genet
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Marius
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Will Swenson
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Laurent
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Joseph Dellger
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Magnus
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Megan Reinking
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Beautiful Woman
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Nikki Renée Daniels
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Eleni
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ENSEMBLE
Rachel Coloff, Nikki Renee Daniels, Joseph Dellger, Collen Frizpatrick, Patrick Mellen, Chris Peluso, Dominique Plaisant, Megan Reinking, Will Swenson, Tommar Wilson
SWINGS
Sean MacLaughlin, Sara Solie, Steve Wilson
STANDBY
Claudia - Amy Sparrow
UNDERSTUDIES
Lestat - Drew Sarich, Will Swenson
Gabrielle - Rachel Coloff, Colleen Fritzpatrick
Armand - Sean MacLaughlin, Will Swenson
Louis/Nicolas - Chris Peluso, Tommar Wilson
Marius - Joseph Dellger, Steve Wilson
Laurent/Marquis - Steve Wilson
Magnus - Sean MacLaughlin, Steve Wilson
ACT 1
Auvergne, France, 1781. Lestat, is in the midst of battle with a pack of wolves that attacked him in the forest near his home: From The Dead. He arrives home, safe and victorious, but even in his triumph his father still finds him a disappointment. Comforting her son, his mother Gabrielle, urges Lestat to escape their oppressive way of life, Beautiful Boy, instructing him to runs away to Paris to reunite with his childhood friend, Nicolas. Lestat reluctantly abliges and finds Nicolas working as an actor at a Parisian theater: In Paris. That night, together again, Nicolas and Lestat reminisce about their childhood back home: Bugs And The Bears. After hearing a strange voice, that seems to know his name, Lestat leaves Nicolas’ flat to clear his head. While he is out alone the vampire Magnus, the very voice that had been plaguing him, attacks Lestat and gives him the Dark Gift of vampire immortality.
Having finally found the heir he had been searching for, Magnus throws himself into a fire leaving Lestat with no one to guide him in his new existence. Lestat, confused and angered by what has just happened, soon becomes overwhelmed by The Thirst and faces the moral dilemma of how he must now kill in order to live. Having been gone for three days, Nicolas is unaware of Lestat’s whereabouts and has become worried. Gabrielle, in a sickly state, comes to Paris in order to see her son one last time before she must leave him for good. She briefly visits with Nicolas, unbeknownst to either of them that Lestat is listening to their conversation outside. Gabrielle reassures Nicolas that Lestat will be fine and leaves him. It is obvious that her days are truly numbered. Lestat, distraught by the pain he’s caused Nicolas, contemplates the temptation of making him immortal: Right Before My Eyes.
Lestat goes to visit Gabrielle, hoping that she won’t see what’s become of him. Gabrielle sees the change in Lestat and begs him to give her the Dark Gift in order to save her and to allow them to be together for eternity: Make Me As You Are. Lestat bestows the Dark Gift to Gabrielle. Much to Lestat’s surprise, with her new-found freedom she chops off her hair and goes around dressing as a man. As they explore Paris as Children of the Night, they come across another vampire, Armand. He has been following Lestat for some time and offers Lestat his wisdom of many years of living as a vampire. Lestat anxiously follows Armand, Gabrielle reluctantly agrees, underground to the catacombs where he leads a small coven of vampires. Armand, along with his followers, curse Lestat and Gabrielle for living among mortals, telling them that their behavior will incite the wrath of God: To Live Like This. Lestat shows the coven that Armand has been lying to them and convinces them they needn’t hide in the shadows and could instead make a life in the theater, being who they are openly without having to fear mortals discovering them. Armand, angered by the betrayal and Lestat’s arrogance, reveals to Lestat that he has captured Nicolas and threatens to make him a vampire. Lestat begs Armand to release him and, knowing that the seed of temptation and doubt his been planted, Armand concedes. Now knowing his secret Nicolas asks Lestat to make him a vampire. Lestat refuses but eventually gives in. Unfortunately something goes wrong and Nicolas slips into a catatonic state.
The “Théâtre des Vampires” has finally come to fruition entertaining audiences by telling how vampires came into being, Morality Play, all the while testing the audiences if they really believe what they are being told. Armand, having returned to see the performance, explains to Lestat that Nicolas was simply too pure for the Dark Gift and had now gone insane. Lestat questions him about the mythical ancient Marius, who had been the subject of the Morality Play performed by the vampires, and whether he actually exists. Armand confesses that he was in fact made by Marius and that his ancient powers would be able to save Nicolas, but according to Armand he has been missing for centuries. Much to Armand’s protests Lestat, with blind determination, takes Gabrielle and Nicolas and leaves Paris in search of Marius. They travel on the “Devil’s Road” across Europe for ten years and still have not found Marius. Gabrielle is convinced that the search is worthless and that Nicolas is just a lost cause and merely a shell of his former self. She tells Lestat that she can no longer be with him and needs to begin her new life without him: The Crimson Kiss. Just as Lestat is preparing to continue the journey, Nicolas begs to be released. Lestat laments over what he knows must do to his friend: Right Before My Eyes (Reprise). Out of compassion and pity, Lestat throws Nicolas into the fire, finally releasing him from the prison of his immortality. As Lestat is scattering the ashes, the sky opens up and Marius appears beckoning for Lestat to come with him.
ACT 2
Marius takes Lestat to his home in the Mediterranean much to Lestat's confusion and anger. He confronts Marius demanding to know why he had waited until Nicolas had died before he came. Marius calmly explains that neither of them had any control over Nicolas' decision. Realizing that he can finally know the answers to what has been plaguing him; Lestat questions Marius on life as a vampire. Marius explains that in order to cope with the passing time he must live one complete human lifetime and sends Lestat to the new world. Reluctantly Lestat makes the long journey arriving in New Orleans, where the people and way of life couldn't be more different from home: Welcome to the New World. When he arrives a distraught and suicidal widower, named Louis, catches Lestat's attention. In an attempt not to start his new life alone, Lestat impulsively makes Louis into a vampire, tricking him by offering the answers of life that Louis seeks. Unfortunately under the web of lies Lestat has created, the new companionship quickly sours. Louis, unlike Lestat, can not seem to shake the guilt he feels by having to kill in order to survive. He questions the morality and goodness of where they fall in God's plan. Lestat tiring, yet at the same time charmed, by Louis' doubts and fears tells him that he must embrace what they are and not dwell on questions that have no answers: Embrace It. Louis' patience growing ever smaller threatens that one day he will eventually leave him.
Lestat leaves the flat, knowing that his and Louis' relationship will not last the way it is forever. As he is walking he comes across a little girl, orphaned and terminally ill. Seeing this as a way to preserve his companionship he takes the girl's life and makes her into a vampire. He quickly takes Claudia, his new "daughter", back to the flat as a gift to Louis. Louis is shocked and angered at what Lestat has done. However the loss of his own child instantly makes him feel affection for the girl and the vampire family is formed. Claudia is spoiled rotten by her new parents, not denied anything that catches her fancy. However she is a killer and unlike Louis, feels no remorse for those she must kill in order to survive: I Want More. Lestat is amused by Claudia's antics and childish impulses, but will not hesitate to punish her when needed. Louis, already wrapped around Claudia's finger, tries to get Lestat to understand that what she's doing is because of what she is and not for spite. It is clear that there is a wall that Claudia has put up around herself from Lestat. She clings to Louis and Louis to her; the household is separated and the situation only grows worse as the years pass. While Lestat and Louis continue to dote on their child they fail to realize that though she continues to physically be a child, she is mentally an adult. Her questions about mortality echo those of Louis and both have begun to grow tired of Lestat's reign over their lives.
Before an annual ball, Louis, with Claudia's insistence, confronts Lestat about a journey they plan to take to search for others like them, to find the answers they seek. Lestat brushes it off but Claudia has had enough and demands Lestat reveal what happened to the vampires he made before them. Lestat blows up at the both of them and abruptly leaves. Claudia becomes humiliated and angered at the ball by the fact that she is forever a child in everyone's eyes, including Louis. She laments over the things she will never get to see and do, I'll Never Have That Chance, and finally reaches her breaking point. Afterwards, her trap set in place, Claudia speaks privately with Lestat about how she wishes that their relationship could be restored and offers a gift of forgiveness for all the trouble she has caused. Her gift, a woman from the ball, has born poisoned and Louis walks into the room just in time to see Lestat fall in pain. Louis tries to stop Claudia but she over powers him and stabs Lestat repeatedly in an insane rage. Louis, knowing that what she has done will only be temporary burns the flat to the ground in order to save Claudia from Lestat's vengeful return. The two run off to Europe as Lestat narrowly escapes the blaze.
Three months later healed, but not by much, Lestat makes the voyage back to France. He contemplates on what he has done and seeks the solace of his old home: Sail Me Away. He returns to the “Théâtre des Vampires”, surprised to see that Armand has now taken control. Armand begins questioning him on why he has come back and what has happened to his fledglings. Lestat vaguely describes his adventures and those he made in New Orleans. Lestat confesses to Armand that he wishes to drink his ancient blood in order to fully heal and Armand, seeing that his revenge at last is falling into place, half-heartedly agrees. He reveals to Lestat that Louis and Claudia have been living at the theater as actors since they arrived in Europe. After the performance Louis and Claudia are surprised that Lestat has found them. Armand, now knowing all the details he needed to, rally’s up his fellow vampires against Claudia, citing that she has broken the key rule of vampires, never kill your own kind. Louis and Lestat are restrained by the other vampires as Armand gives Claudia a pseudo-trial, To Kill Your Kind, resulting her death.
Louis and Lestat meet on the roof of the theater that night carrying all that's left of their daughter, a piece of her dress and her ashes. Louis is near the brink of suicide blaming himself for what has happened to Claudia. Lestat calmly tries to reassure him that if they return to New Orleans they can rebuild their lives, together. Louis explains that while he does not blame Lestat for Claudia's death, he can never be with him again and that Lestat should accept his choice: Embrace It (Reprise). He finally leaves Lestat, a broken heap on the floor. Armand saunters in, finding Lestat distraught and takes a gleeful joy in what has occurred. When Lestat asks why Armand angrily explains that Lestat didn't listen to him and in the end it was all his own fault: After All This Time. Lestat, jaded by what has already occurred, isn't much affected by Armand's vengeance and reveals to Armand what Marius had said about him. Armand's weakness is finally revealed and in a rage throws Lestat from the roof.
Lestat, broken in body and spirit, is finally willing to accept that he is evil and that everything that has happened is his own fault. He is through having to cope with the life of a vampire and lies in wait, ready to submit himself to the rising sun: Sail Me Away (Reprise). Marius suddenly shows up, trying to reason with Lestat that he must not give up and has to overcome what he has been through. As Lestat continues to be stubborn, Gabrielle reveals herself to him. She urges him to live and with a new sense of purpose by the presence of his mother, Lestat forces himself to escape from the impending doom of the sun: The Crimson Kiss (Reprise). Now seeing that he is strong and worthy Marius allows Lestat to drink his ancient blood in order to save him. Lestat, learning from his past and willing to live for the present now has found the truth that he has searched for and can live for eternity.
(Written by the Webmistress of JSO)
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SONG LIST
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ACT 1
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ACT 2
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Overture
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Entr'acte
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From the Dead
(Lestat)
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Welcome to the New World
(Lestat & Company)
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Beautiful Boy
(Gabrielle)
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Embrace It
(Louis & Lestat)
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In Paris
(The Company)
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I Want More
(Claudia)
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The Bugs and the Bears
(Nicolas & Lestat)
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I'll Never Have That Chance
(Claudia)
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The Thirst
(Lestat)
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Sail Me Away
(Lestat)
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The Thirst - Reprise
(Lestat)
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To Kill Your Kind
(Armand & Company)
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Right Before My Eyes
(Lestat)
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Embrace It - Reprise
(Louis)
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Make Me As You Are
(Gabrielle & Lestat)
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Sail Me Away
(Lestat)
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To Live Like This
(Armand, Lestat & Company)
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To Kill Your Kind
(Armand & Company)
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Morality Play
(Laurent & Company)
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Embrace It - Reprise
(Louis)
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The Crimson Kiss
(Gabrielle)
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After All This Time
(Armand)
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Right Before My Eyes - Reprise
(Lestat)
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Finale - Sail Me Away/Crimson Kiss Reprises
(Lestat & Gabrielle)
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