Michael John LaChiusa’s “See What I Wanna See” no sooner closes at Signature Theatre than the world premiere production of his musical epic, “Giant,” opens there.
It marks the inauguration of Signature’s American Musical Voice Project, an undertaking that will bring ground-breaking new musicals to fruition. In future seasons, works by Ricky Ian Gordon and Joseph Thalken will be featured.
“‘Giant’ came about through my social acquaintance with the grand-niece of Edna Ferber,” LaChiusa says. “She asked if I’d be interested in writing a musical based on the book. Of course I was familiar with both it and the movie. When I went to Eric Schaeffer with the proposal, he had just gotten the grant for new musicals and said ‘Yes’ immediately with no hesitation.”
LaChiusa then approached playwright Sybille Pearson, a colleague at New York University where both are faculty members. She quickly accepted the challenge to turn the story of power, love, lust and bigotry in the Texas oil country into a theatrical blockbuster. Three years in the making, the musical traces the 21 characters over 25 years.
Each is a story in him/herself. To identify with Bick, Leslie, Jett and the others musically, LaChiusa gave each a motif of distinctive sounds that carry throughout the story from the early days into the 1950s. The solo and chorus numbers are enhanced with orchestration by Bruce Couglin that he regards as “quite brilliant.”
“This company is so focused on telling the story that the 21 people work together as one unit,” he says. “They’re beautifully organized and when I attend I’ll just sit back and enjoy it along with the audience. The work will explain itself.”
Since receiving Tony Award nominations in 1999-2000 for the Best Score and Best Book of “The Wild Party,” LaChiusa has been a major influence on Broadway. He received two more that season for “Marie Christine” starring Audra McDonald. Together, both shows received 12 Tony Award nominations. LaChiusa works frequently with McDonald on various projects including “Send,” a commission by the Houston Grand Opera, and is currently adapting “Carmen” for her.
“I love writing for her because it’s so challenging,” he says. “She’s a wonderful singer and actor whose interpretations filter technical things in texture. When we work together the learning process is always a partnership.”
Growing up in Chautauqua, N.Y., he was filled to the brim with music, theater and culture that he believed existed in every small town until he left and learned otherwise. When he is not creating new music, he shares his knowledge and talent with his NYU students.
“It’s very hard to do everything you’d like to do, but it’s so true that by your students you’ll be taught,” he says. “I’m overjoyed that we’re putting out so many wonderful new voices into the world.”
If you go
Michael John LaChiusa’s latest musical, “Giant,” based on Edna Ferber’s novel
Where: Signature’s MAX Theatre
When: Through May 31
Info: $49 to $77; signature-theatre.
