The Chattanooga Theatre Centre will kick off the holiday season with an original musical adaptation of Beatrix Potter's beloved tale, "The Tailor of Gloucester."
The production, a concert version adapted for the stage by Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Huseman and Chuck Tuttle, CTC education and outreach director, will be staged in one performance only on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at the theater, 400 River St.
Much like an operetta, the production contains more singing than speaking; in fact, the only spoken words come from the narrator. Huseman wrote the music, which includes six songs, and scored all instrumental accompaniment over four months.
"Chuck loved the story so much and Beatrix's words are so lyrical, that I set her words to music," he describes.
Appropriate for children and their families, the musical presents a heartwarming tale of a penniless tailor and his mouse companions trying to survive in his freezing workshop over a hard winter. The tailor has a terribly important commission to complete for the Mayor of Gloucester's wedding on Christmas Day, but he is ill and tired.
How will he possibly complete the beautiful embroidered waistcoat? Luckily, some very kind and resourceful mice return a favor to the tailor by helping complete his work.
"Everything I write I try to make very singable, very tuneful. With this one, I also had to go thematically because the tailor has to sing in a certain style, the mice have a more delicate style. The mayor has to sound very pompous. Whenever I'm writing, I try to get inside the character and see how we want them to sound," says Huseman.
"It's just such a neat story about hope and having hope. It's about miracles, the unexpected happening by unexpected creatures. I think the music will speak to any age."
The production was created for the CTC's musical theater program featuring young actors participating in the Summer Academy. This concert version features adult and young people in the roles.
Adults cast in the show are Christi Barr, Beatrix Potter; John Echols, tailor; Chris Barr, mayor; and Beth McClary, Simpkin the cat. Young actors who have been active in the CTC Youth Theatre and Summer Academy play the mice, including Zachary Huseman, MaKayla Petriccione, Lauren Hayes and Alex Champion.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a holiday reception before the performance.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by calling 423-267-8534, online at TheatreCentre.com or at the door.