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We journeyed to Calabria, Italy where an elderly woman lives on the
outskirts of town. Her spells, charms and infinite wisdom delight all who
know her. When her plans for Christmas dinner fail, the village must pull
together in order to save the holiday. "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona" is a
musical based on the popular children's books..
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Photos
Setting:
Calabria, on the toe of the boot that is Italy, a long time ago.
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Directors Note
After reading many of Tomie dePaolaıs Strega Nona books, it was
obvious to
me that the author is one of those fortunate grown-ups who hasnıt
forgotten
what it was like to be a child. His stories are imaginative and fun,
and his
illustrations, though certainly the work of a gifted artist, seem,
nevertheless, to ignite in me the desire to take paper and crayons in
hand
and play. That's something we adults rarely give ourselves the time or
freedom to do.
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona is a simple story about people who love
each
other, who take care of each other, and who take delight in the simple
things like raisin cakes, almond cookies, and decorating the town
square. It
is the story of a town where age and wisdom are respected, and where
magic
can still happen. The lessons of this simple story are those we all
learned
in childhood. It is human to make mistakes. Itıs really nice to
forgive,
and, best of all, it is truly joyous to receive.
Sometimes, the act of receiving makes us feel emotionally in debt. We
feel
compelled to respond with a gift of equal value in order to balance the
books. We forget what we knew a long time ago. When someone gives us a
gift,
they are giving us love. The same can be said of the theatre.
Performing is
an act of love, especially in a show like this onea celebration of
coming
together. So relax. Smile. And rejoice!
About the Play
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona was commissioned by The Childrenıs
Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it received its
world premiere on November 25, 1987.
Acknowledgements:
Produced by permission of Whitebird, Inc.and The
Childrenıs Theatre Company, Minneapolis. Howard
Hammond and the Collins family generously provided
keyboards.
Bruce Vogel of Folio, Inc. and Sue Turner supplied color copies.
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About the Author
Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1934 to a
family of Italian and Irish heritage. He credits his creativity to his
favorite childhood radio show, Letıs Pretend. He was also inspired by his
mother, who often read to her children. By the age of ten, dePaola was
writing his own
books to amuse his family.
He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in
Brooklyn,
New York; he received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the
California
College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. He is
currently a teacher
at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. He lives
nearby with his
four dogs.
DePaola is the illustrator of over 250 books, about a third of
which he also
wrote. He also illustrates greeting cards and paints church
murals. His most
famous character, Strega Nona, is based on his Italian
grandmother. He has
been a guest at the White House and on the Barney and Friends
television
series.
About the Adapter
About the Adapters
Thomas W. Olson adapted Merry Christmas, Strega Nona into a
dramatic script.
He began his career at 17 as an actor with The Childrenıs
Theatre Company;
he eventually served as their stage manager, literary manager,
dramaturg,
and resident playwright. Among his scripts are The Hobbit, Pippi
Longstocking, The Prince and the Pauper, and The Wind in the
Willows. His
adaptations of Frankenstein and The Marvelous Land of Oz were
shown on
television.
Alan Shorter wrote the music and lyrics for Merry Christmas,
Strega Nona.
His other scores include Dracula, The Hobbit, The Troubles:
Children of
Belfast, and The Velveteen Rabbit. He is also a director.
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