The premier producing theater in the Southeast and a past recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, has shown in excess of 100 original productions, including Tony Award winners The Color Purple and The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Founded in 1968, the Alliance continues to showcase original stories, as well as fresh takes on classic stories.
As part of its 55th season in 2023-24, the Alliance is showing the world premiere of Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale and the regional premiere of English, a critically-acclaimed off-Broadway comedy that received the 2023 Obie for Best New Play. Before that, the Alliance will kick off its new season with a limited engagement showing of The Shining from September 15 to October 1 at the Coca-Cola Stage.
The Shining, which details a father’s descent into madness as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel during the winter, is a novel written by Stephen King that was adapted for film by director Stanley Kubrick in 1980. Below are five things to know about the Alliance production, which transforms the classic story into a must-see musical.
Based on the Stephen King Novel
Arguably one of King’s most well-known works, The Shining was first published in January 1977 and follows Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy, and son Danny as they spend the winter in isolation at the remote Overlook Hotel. Jack accepted the position of caretaker at the hotel in hopes of securing a fresh start from his troubled past while spending quality time with his family and writing a book. As time goes on and the winter conditions become more harsh, the Overlook begins to show a more sinister side and Jack slowly descends into madness.
A Co-Production with the Atlanta Opera
The Ordway Music Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota debuted The Shining musical in May 2016. The Atlanta Opera is co-producing the limited engagement showing for audiences at the Alliance Theatre. The production is part of the Atlanta Opera’s Discoveries series, which highlights innovative works in alternative venues throughout Atlanta.
The Shining musical is a two-act story. The first act introduces the Torrance family to the audience, detailing Jack’s history of alcoholism and abuse, and explores the history of the Overlook, which includes a former caretaker, Delbert Grady, who murdered his wife and two daughters prior to taking his own life. Dick Hallorann, the hotel cook, also tells Danny that he believes the young boy has a special gift, known as the “shining,” that allows him to see the evil forces in the hotel.
The second act details Jack’s spiral out of control and possession by evil forces, including the ghost of Grady, who convinces him to murder his wife and son.
Composer Paul Moravec
Paul Moravec, whose music has been referred to as “tuneful, ebullient and wonderfully energetic” by the San Francisco Chronicle, is composing the score for The Shining. He composed the music for the original production at Minnesota Opera and has also completed the scores for original musicals such as Tell All the Truth and Light Shall Lift Us, the latter of which was an online OPERA America anthem with a virtual orchestra and more than 100 opera soloists.
Moravec has produced a pair of albums with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, as well as the Grammy-nominated Sanctuary Road in partnership with Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner and has also received three American Academy of Arts and Letters awards, the Rome Prize Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Conductor Timothy Myers
Known around the world for his command, energy, and eloquence on the podium, Timothy Myers is conducting the Atlanta Opera for The Shining at Alliance Theatre. Myers’ recent credits include West Side Story at Houston Grand Opera, the debut of The Fix at Minnesota Opera, and a production of Tosca at the Circuit of the Americas amphitheater. He also led a subscription concert with the North Carolina Symphony.
Myers is the Sarah and Ernest Butler Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor at Austin Opera. He previously held conductor and director positions at North Carolina Opera and Opera Africa.
A Look at the Cast
The three main roles of Jack Torrance, Wendy Torrance, and Dick Hallorann will each be played by two performers. Craig Irvin and Thomas Glass will play Jack. A baritone with dozens of credits, Irvin has recently performed in Into the Woods with the Tulsa Opera and Candide at the Atlanta Opera. Glass’ recent credits include Madame Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera and Harvey Milk: Reimagined at the Opera Theatre St. Louis.
Kelly Kaduce and Kearstin Piper Brown are splitting the role of Wendy Torrance, while Kevin Deas and Aubrey Alicock are sharing the role of Dick Hallorann. Victor Ryan Robertson, an Atlanta native who debuted on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera in 2017, is playing both Delbert Grady and Stuart Ullman, the hotel general manager. Malcolm MacKenzie, Kameron Lopreore, and Eva Lukkonen are among the other cast members.