THE WOMAN IN QUESTION
Book and Lyrics by Cheryl Coons
Music by Peter Eldridge
Two women on the brink of independence, and the notorious artist driven to capture them both.
1943, Vienna. Summoned by a Nazi museum director, retired couture designer Emilie Flöge comes to the Exhibition Hall to authenticate a sketch by her soul-mate, the controversial painter of women, Gustav Klimt. As she waits in the gallery, Emilie sees dozens of sensuous portraits of women by Klimt, looted by the Nazis. One painting in particular disturbs her... Woman in Gold, the iconic portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer, a socialite with a deformed hand who was Emilie’s greatest rival for Klimt’s affection. As she stares at Adele, Emilie transforms to her younger self and relives the drama of the love triangle, finally learning the secret of the identity of the woman in Klimt’s sensual masterpiece, The Kiss.
THE AUTHORS
Cheryl
Coons
is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and the Chicago Regional Representative for the Dramatists Guild of America. Cheryl has participated three times in the NAMT Festival, with Phantom of the Country Opera (1994), River’s End (A selection from the score featured in the 2004 concert) and River’s End (Festival Selection in 2005.) Her original musicals have won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work (Sylvia’s Real Good Advice), Florida’s Carbonell Award for Best New Work (At Wit’s End), the ASCAP Foundation Harold Arlen Award (River’s End), the Bay Area Theatre Critic Circle Awards for Original Script and Original Score (River’s End), and the Theatre for the American Musical Award from NYMF (River’s End). Cheryl has appeared at Carnegie Hall, performing her original material in a concert sponsored by ASCAP and hosted by Michael Feinstein. She serves on the board of Porchlight Music Theatre in Chicago.
Peter
Eldridge
(Composer) is an internationally known jazz artist and composer. He is also a member of the vocal group New York Voices, which has recorded nine studio albums, involved in two 'live' projects that have garnered Grammy awards, and has toured internationally for over twenty-five years, including appearances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Kennedy Center, among many others. He has released five solo albums, including his soon to be released 'Disappearing Day'. Peter's songs have been recorded by artists such as Jane Monheit, Nancy Wilson and Paquito D'Rivera. His music was featured in Playwright's Horizon's production of the play This, by Melissa Gibson. He recently wrote the musical score with composer/conductor Adam Waite for the documentary film No Job for a Woman. Peter is a professor of voice at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
THE MUSIC
Dreaming In Vienna
So Much to Talk About
A Little Chaos
Something More
Legacy (Trio)
For All Time
INFO/CONTACT
The Woman In Question
Book and Lyrics by Cheryl Coons | Music by Peter Eldridge
Cast: 9 (5 Female, 4 Male)
For production information please contact