Manhattan Theatre Club has commissioned two new musicals: The Orange Grove and It’s All Relative.
The Orange Grove, featuring a book by Lindsey Ferrentino (The Fear of 13, The Queen of Versailles) and music by Samuel Beam, is a modern retelling of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, moving the story to a Florida orange grove.
It’s All Relative features a book by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz and music and lyrics by Benjamin Velez (Real Women Have Curves), centering on a gathering of friends called by Mileva Marić, the first wife and collaborator of Albert Einstein and a brilliant scientist in her own right.
Both projects will get developmental residencies at Florida’s Hermitage Artist Retreat. Production timelines have not yet been established for these in-process works
“I’m thrilled to commission these two brand-new musicals,” says Artistic Director Nicki Hunter in a statement. “One of my hopes for MTC’s future is that we can build upon our rich legacy as a home for new plays by also developing exciting world-premiere musicals. I’m particularly looking forward to embarking on that journey with this group of talented artists and to continuing to expand our roster of musical theatre voices in years to come.”
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