‘Children of Eden’ opens August 7 at the Boothbay Playhouse

Mon, 07/28/2014 - 7:00pm

Story Location:
275 Wiscasset Road
Boothbay, ME 04537
United States

The Boothbay Playhouse closes its 2014 summer season with “Children of Eden,” an epic musical about parents, children and faith. From the Garden of Eden to the tides that raise Noah’s Ark, “Children of Eden” is a sweeping musical interpretation inspired by the first nine chapters of Genesis. In Act 1 the music and lyrics take us through Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the Snake, and the banishment from the Garden of Eden by a Father completely broken by his children. The children who refuse to listen or learn lessons from his teachings.

Act 2 introduces Noah and his children. We meet them just as Noah is finishing the Ark. Noah gathers his family together, only to discover that his third son, Japheth, has disobeyed and married a "forbidden" girl — a descendant of Cain. Soon, rain covers the earth, and Noah needs to make the decision whether the wife of Japheth should be saved and allowed on the Ark, or dismissed completely and left to perish with the other living creatures.

“Children of Eden” spins an age-old tale of inter-generational conflicts and family patterns that are passed from parent to child. It is very much about how parents raise their children, and protect them, and how they must eventually let them go to make their own way in the world.

Written by the composer of many famous musicals and films including Broadway hits “Wicked,” “Godspell,” “Pippin” and the animated Disney movie “Pocahontas,” Stephen Schwartz to this day considers it his best musical score. He describes the show as “a deeply humanistic work that will appeal to both religious and agnostic audiences.”

This production is directed by Ginny Bishop and Emily Mirabile, and stars Joel Biron (Father), Landon Sholar (Adam), Kristen Robinson (Eve), Michael Burrell (Cain), Nate Friant (Abel), Ryan Peterson (Young Cain), Stephen Densmore (Young Abel), Joseph McGrann (Noah), Emily Mirabile (Mama Noah), Robo Bishop (Japeth), Courtney Chaney (Yonah), Jake Duvall-Early (Shem), Kelsey Krull (Aphra), Nick Mirabile (Ham), Sophia Thayer (Asha), and features an ensemble of over 30 including Rachel Barter, Jane Bertelsen, Erin Blomquist, Jordan Chamness, Aaron Densmore, Dean Domeyer, Devin Domeyer, Gretchen Elder, Emme Harris, Sarah Harris, Kate Hilscher, Ellie Hilscher, Rick Hilscher, Caroline Hunt, Jean Hunt, Suzanne Jones, Margaret Kelsey, Phoebe Ludwig, Riley McCurdy, Nick Mirabile, Ally Nein, Katy Nein, Lily Nein, Melissa Nein, Tess Pancera, Gwen Pasch, Abbie Peterson, Jenna Peterson, Ciara Pitcher, Emma Suitor, Genevieve Taylor, Noelle Timberlake and Natalie Wright.

Shows are August 7-9, 13-16, 19-20 at 8 p.m. with a 4 p.m. matinee Sunday, Aug. 17.

Tickets are $23/adults and $19/children 17 years old or younger. Tickets can be purchased at the Boothbay Playhouse box office or by calling 207-633-3379.