Molly Elizabeth McCarter
Brundibar
Composed by Hans Krasa
Adaptation by Tony Kushner
Production Design by Maurice Sendak
Directed by Tony Taccone
Set Design by Kris Stone
Costumes by Robin I. Shane
Lighting by Donald Holder
Sound by Michael Bodeen
Photo Credits: Kris Stone
Brundibar was a collaboration between Tony Kusner & Maurice Sendak to revive the work of Hans Krasa. The piece had been composed/written in pre-WWII Poland, and first performed in the Nazi internment camp Theresienstadt as part of propaganda filming. The majority of the cast, musicians, designers and Krasa himself later perished in Auschwitz.
Originally staged at Berkely Repertory Theatre the production was moved to Yale Repertory theatre in New Haven, CT and then to The New Victory in in NYC.
The production involved large rolling scenery, stilt walking and and actor flying. The stage management team worked closely with ZFX in each location to install, practice and run all flight work.
The production traveled with 8 equity performers. Two of the performers were under the age of 12. Each location involved coordinating tutors schedule and chaperones.
There was a local childrens chorus of up to 30 performers in each location. These children came from local schools and in NYC were a troupe from Rosie O'DOnnell's Broadway Kids. A Non-Profit serving underpriveledged children. The childrens chorus in each city was taught songs, blocking, minor roles and also performed large amounts of the onstage scenery moves. This rehearsal was conducted by stage management in advance of the arrival of the director and equity company.
For the first two stops Brundibar played in conjunction with Comedy on the Bridge. This show used the same cast and made use of the childrens chorus. The set for act one consisted largely of a brige that when assembeld spanned almost 40 feet and weighed close to a ton. During a 10 minute intermission the bridge was completely struck by a crew of 12 using 2 chain motors to host the bulk of the the bridge up above the stage clearing room for the rolling towers of Brundibar.
Composed by Bohuslav Martinu
Adaptation by Tony Kushner
Production Design by Maurice Sendak
Directed by Tony Taccone
Set Design by Kris Stone
Costumes by Robin I. Shane
Lighting by Donald Holder
Sound by Michael Bodeen
Photo Credits: Kris Stone
Comedy on The Bridge
But The Giraffe
Written by by Tony Kushner
Production Design by Maurice Sendak Directed by Tony Taccone
Set Design by Kris Stone
Costumes by Robin I. Shane
Lighting by Donald Holder
Sound by Michael Bodeen
Photo Credits: Kris Stone
When the Prorduction reached New York Comedy on the Bridge was cut from the show and Tony Kushner wrote a companion peice, But The Giraffe, telling the story of a jewish family in Poland packing to flee the Nazi invasion. The peice was cast, designed, built and rehearsed in less than 10 days before first day of tech at The New Victory.
Paperwork & Press
All told, the production involved over 90 performers, each performance included almost 200 costume changes, and scene changes that involved both IATSE crews as well as children. Below are links to examples of paperwork used to assist in the transfer and communication of the complex production from venue to venue as well as various articles and press.