Flying Over Sunset is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Michael Korie, and a book by James Lapine. The musical is a fictional account of a meeting between Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce and Cary Grant, who all used the drug LSD.
Productions Readings (2015 and 2016) The musical had a reading in August 2015 at the Vineyard Arts Project (Martha's Vineyard) with Christine Ebersole playing Luce, and a cast featuring Boyd Gaines, Julia Murney, Tam Mutu and David Turner.
A second reading was held on July 29, 2016 in Edgartown, Massachusetts. Performers who took part in the reading included the late Marin Mazzie, Boyd Gaines, Betsy Wolfe, Tam Mutu and Jennifer Simard.
Broadway (2021) The production was originally scheduled to open on April 16, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Lincoln Center Pushes to Fall 2020 BroadwayWorld, March 20, 2020
The musical premiered on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on November 11, 2021 in previews with the official opening on December 13, 2021.
The cast included Carmen Cusack as Clare Boothe Luce, Harry Hadden-Paton as Aldous Huxley, Tony Yazbeck as Cary Grant, and Robert Sella as Gerald Heard. The musical was directed by Lapine with choreography by Michelle Dorrance, sets by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Bradley King, and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.
The production closed on January 16, 2022 after 63 performances (28 previews and 35 performances).
Plot
Act l Huxley, Grant, and Luce separately obtained LSD. Each is dealing with a problem: Huxley is grieving his wife's death, Grant his ineptitude with women, and Luce her guilt over the deaths of her mother and daughter. Huxley takes LSD at the drugstore where he obtained it, and imagines the figures from the painting “Judith With the Head of Holofernes” coming to life around him ("Bella Donna Di Agonia"). Grant's first trip is when he meets his younger self and his violent father ("I Have It All"/"Funny Money").
The three ultimately meet at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood.
Act ll Huxley, Grant, and Luce gather at Luce's estate in Malibu, where they proceed on LSD trips with Gerald Heard as their guide.
Cast Character Broadway(2021) Aldous Huxley Harry Hadden-Paton Maria Huxley Laura Shoop Gerald Heard Robert Sella Cary Grant Tony Yazbeck Dr. Harris/Father Nehal Joshi Archie Leach Atticus Ware Clare Boothe Luce Carmen Cusack Ann Brokaw/Judith Kanisha Marie Feliciano Austin/Handmaiden Michele Ragusa Rosalia/Sophia Loren Emily Pynenburg
Musical numbers Source: Playbill
Act I "The Music Plays On" - Company "Bella Donna Di Agonia" - Judith, Handmaiden, Aldous "Wondrous" - Aldous "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (Reprise) - Aldous "I Have It All" - Cary "Funny Money" - Archie, Cary, Father "A Sapphire Dragonfly" - Clare, Ann, Austin "Someone" - Clare "Flying Over Sunset" - Clare, Gerald, Ann, Austin "Flying Over Sunset" (Reprise) - Clare, Aldous, Gerald, Cary, Company
Act II "Om" - Gerald, Clare, Aldous, Cary "Huxley Knows" - Clare, Cary, Aldous "My Mother and I" - Clare, Cary, Gerald, Archie, Father, Ann, Austin "The Music Plays On" (Reprise) - Aldous, Maria "I Like to Lead" - Sophia, Cary "Rocket Ship" - Cary "An Interesting Place" - Austin, Ann, Clare "If Only I'd Known" - Clare, Austin, Ann "How?" - Clare "Three Englishmen" - Cary, Gerald, Aldous "The Melancholy Hour" - Maria, Ann, Austin, Archie, Father, Rosalia "The 23rd Ingredient" - Clare, Cary, Aldous, Gerald "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (2nd Reprise) - Judith, Handmaiden
Reception The show received mixed to negative reviews from critics, including AmNY, The New York Times, Theatrely, and Timeout. Generally, critics tended to dislike the book and music, while praising the show's cast, technical effects, set, sound design, and choreography.
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2022 Tony Awards Best Actress in a Musical Carmen Cusack Best Original Score Tom Kitt and Michael Korie Best Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions Best Lighting Design of a Musical Bradley King Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf Boritt Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical Bradley King Outstanding Projection Design 59 Productions Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical Carmen Cusack Outstanding Scenic Design Beowulf Boritt Outstanding Lighting Design Bradley King Outstanding Video/Projection Design 59 Productions and Benjamin Pearcy Chita Rivera AwardsOutstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway ShowTony Yazbeck Flying Over Sunset tied with MJ the Musical for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical.
References
External links Flying Over Sunset Internet Broadway Database Flying Over Sunset Lincoln Center