New York Musical Festival presents

LISA AND LEONARDO

Music by DONYA LAND
Lyrics by ED McNAMEE
Book by ED McNAMEE, DONYA LANE & MICHALE UNGER

Starring

LIZZIE KLEMPERER and TIMOTHY JOHN SMITH
COOPER GRODIN, DENNIS HOLLAND, JENNIFER LORAE, MARISSA MILLER, SAMIA MOUNTS,
BRIAN OWEN, RAVI ROTH, PERRY SOOK, JAMISON STERN, KEATON TETLOW, JORDAN WEAGRAFF &
ANNE WECHSLER

Directed by MICHELLE TATTENBAUM
Choreographer: JONATHAN CERULLO
Music Director: ROBERT FROST
Scenic Design: REID THOMPSON
Costume Design: MICHAEL BEVINS
Lighting Design: ISABELLA BYRD
Sound Design: IEN DENIO
Casting: STEPHANIE KLAPPER
Orchestrations: DONYA LANE
Production Stage Manager: ALICE POLLITT
General Manager: DTE MANAGEMENT/RYAN CONWAY

The Duke on 42nd Street
229 West 42nd Street (between Broadway & Eighth Avenue)
www.nymf.org
7/21 @ 8pm; 7/23 @ 9pm; 7/25 @ 12pm; 7/26 @ 12pm; 7/28 @ 4pm; 7/28 @ 8pm

The passion, politics, and romance behind the world’s most famous painting is portrayed in LISA AND LEONARDO, a new musical by Donya Lane, Ed McNamee and Michael Unger. What began as a simple wedding portrait of his wife Lisa (Lizzie Klemperer) commissioned by Francesco del Giocondo (Dennis Holland) to be painted by Leonardo da Vinci (Timothy John Smith) became the source of intrigue, infidelity, and obsession. The status of masterpiece was not easily obtained for this amazing work.

Following the history of 16th Century Florence, Machiavelli (Cooper Grodin) and Marchesa Isabella d’Este (Marissa M. Miller) have managed to embroil Leonardo in the city’s political upheaval using his painting as a pawn. As Leonardo becomes obsessed with perfecting his painting, his loyal student Salai (delightfully portrayed by scene stealer Ravi Roth) attempts to bring order while encouraging creativity in the da Vinci household.

What’s addressed in this ambitious musical through Leonardo’s lines is the cost of creation. How far does one go in order to bring a dream to fruition? In times all that’s left of dreams is the madness. How long does one persevere? Art is never finished, only abandoned. And the ultimate question – How shall I say that I was here? LISA AND LEONARDO is a tribute to the genius and dedication of a man with visions ahead of his time.

- Laurie Lawson -