THE NEW YORK NEW MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and Bryan Putnam INK are pleased to announce the world premiere production of THE TOYMAKER, directed by Lawrence Edelson. THE TOYMAKER will play a limited engagement at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.) Performances begin Monday, October 5 and continue through Sunday, October 18.
A tale of enduring passion and hope, The ToyMaker tells the story of Sarah, a young woman who is struggling in her marriage after two failed pregnancies. Rumors of a childless toy maker of the past set her on a desperate search for the last toy made by this man. Thus begins a journey that spans the globe and time itself. Sarah's quest to find the 'childless toy' and solve the mysteries of a village destroyed by war lead her to a destiny of fulfillment she once thought impossible.
"Putnam takes his audience on a journey that transcends time and place, wrestling issues of genocide and parental grief. The music is manipulated through the slightest of tweaks and the subtlest of sounds, demonstrating a thorough understanding of emotion through music...Putnam plucks a town, a culture, a moment from the historic archives and dresses it with bold characters and romantic twists, careful not to exploit the dark truths and the harsh realities beset in the period. " - Daniel Burke, Currents Magazine (The ToyMaker, Original Reading)
The ToyMaker was inspired by the true events of June 10, 1942, when the small mining and farming village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia was destroyed by German forces as a reprisal for the assassination of SS Leader Reinhard Heydrich. One of many 'pawn towns', this peaceful Christian village saw the murder of its men and boys, while the women and children were taken to nearby camps where most of them faced certain death. The town was burned, fields were planted, the river rerouted and the village was then removed from all German maps. Ordered to disappear "into the night and fog", a memorial now stands in remembrance of this once peaceful and joyful town and those who lost their lives. The ToyMaker weaves together this tragic slice of history and the humanity of those who perished, with a contemporary personal journey, creating a deeply moving portrait of love, family, and friendship.
The production stars Rosena M. Hill (Bdwy: The Color Purple, Spamalot, Imaginary Friends, Oklahoma, Riverdance on Broadway, Marie Christine and Ragtime.) as Sarah Meeks, Rob Richardson (Bdwy: A Tale of Two Cities) as Petr Klimes, Jessica Burrows (Zhivago The Musical at the La Jolla Playhouse directed by Des McAnuff, originating the role of Lara and Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme at the Ahmenson) as Anna Klimes, Greg Stone (Helen Hayes nominated for the Signature Theatre reimagining of Les Miserables. Bdwy: The Pirate Queen, Urban Cowboy, Oklahoma! and Les Miserables) as Jason Meeks, Bryan Welnicki as Doby, Darren Biggart as Capek, Dale Soules (Bdwy: Broadway; Grey Gardens, The Magic Show, The Crucible, Dude, Hair.) as Johanna, Joan Barber (Bdwy: Man of La Mancha (with Richard Kiley and Raul Julia), Follies, The Sound of Music, Big, Beauty and the Beast, King David, and A Christmas Carol) as Uta, Ira Denmark as The Old Man, Sarah Jayne Blackmore (Off-Bdwy: Growing Up 70's starring Barry William) as The Girl, company members include Shawna Hamic (winner of 2008 NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation), Kim Rachelle Harris, Frederic Heringes (The Phantom of the Opera), Gregory Maheu, Michael Scibilia (Nat'l tour: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Man of La Mancha), Stacey Scotte, Kristen Sharpley, Abby C. Smith (Nat'l tour: James and the Giant Peach), Christopher Brian Williams, and James Zannelli.
