Violet

Violet (1997), a musical play by Brian Crawley (book, lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (music). [Playwrights Horizons, 32 perf.; NYDCC Award.] The Southern girl Violet ( Lauren Ward) is marked with a facial scar she's had since her father had an accident with his ax. In 1964 she sets out from Spruce Pine, North Carolina, by bus to attend a revivalist meeting held by a televangelist in Oklahoma with the hopes of getting cured. On the journey she befriends two servicemen, the good ol' boy Monty ( Michael Park) and the African‐American Flick ( Michael McElroy). The faith healing at the revival does not remove the scar, but she does find the strength to overcome her prejudices and fall in love with Flick. Notable songs: Raise Me Up; On My Way; Let It Sing; Down the Mountain. Based on Doris Betts's novel The Ugliest Pilgrim, the chamber piece was praised by the press and plans were made to move to a commercial venue until a pan in the all‐powerful New York Times scuttled the transfer. The work has since been slowly finding recognition in regional houses. Jeanine TESORI (b. 1961) was born in Manhasset, New York, and studied music at Barnard College. She arranged dance music and orchestrations for several musicals on and Off Broadway and conducted orchestras before Violet revealed her composing talents. She also wrote the music for the Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).