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''Giant'' is a musical based on the 1952 Edna Ferber novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and the book by Sybille Pearson. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in 2009. The story follows a ranch family in Texas over 30 years, and the effect of the oil boom. The musical premiered Off-Broadway in 2012. ==Production history and background== Edna Ferber's great-niece, Julie Gilbert, had approached LaChiusa about five years ago to write a musical based on the novel ''Giant''. LaChiusa and Pearson initially thought it impossible to stage as a musical. The novel covers decades, and has a large number of characters, with a massive backdrop in wide-open, early 20th-century Texas. "Pearson said she and LaChiusa decided to use the novel, rather than the movie, as the basis for their adaptation because 'the movie, in its own greatness, changes some of the plot.' "〔Branson, Hailey. "A musical of Giant proportions Washington theater to stage classic Texas tale", ''The Houston Chronicle'', May 9, 2009, p. 4〕 The Signature Theatre commissioned LaChiusa to write the musical as the first installment in its American Musical Voices Project. Jonathan Butterell directed the world premiere production in Signature's MAX theatre, where it ran from April 28 through May 31, 2009. The ranch family was played by Lewis Cleale (Bick) and Betsy Morgan (Leslie), Ashley Robinson was Jett, the young ranch hand who finds oil, with Michele Pawk as Luz, Bick's older sister and John Dossett as Uncle Bawley, Marisa Echeverria as Juana, the Mexican wife, Jordan Nichols as Bick's son Jordy Jr, and Andres Quintero as Angel, son of Mexican American laborers.〔Jones, Kenneth. ("Cleale, Dossett, Blazer, Robinson and More Begin Giant, the Musical, Run April 28 in VA," ), Playbill.com, April 28, 2009〕〔(''Giant'' production information" ) sig-online〕 The show closely follows the novel, rejecting the many plot changes that were made for the classic 1956 film of the same name starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.〔Weldon, Glen.("Signature's ''Giant'': Writing on the Sprawl, The world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's unevenly glorious musical" ) ''Washington City Paper'', May 13, 2009〕 The music displays various musical styles from Mexican folk to country to rock 'n' roll, jazz and mariachi.〔Choochan, Gail. "Signature's 'Giant' worth the investment of four hours", ''The Free Lance-Star'' (Fredericksburg, Virginia), May 21, 2009, no page number〕〔Frederick, Missy. "Size Isn't All That Matters In Signature's Giant", ''DCIST'' May 15, 2009〕 A reading of the musical was held in New York City on January 10, 2011 with Kate Baldwin, Michael Esper, Steven Pasquale and Tom Wopat and directed by Michael Greif.〔Hetrick, Adam. (Texas-Bound Giant Musical Gets NYC Reading With Kate Baldwin, Michael Esper and Steven Pasquale" ) Playbill.com, January 14, 2011〕 The Dallas Theater Center, in a co-production with the Public Theater, presented the musical, with performances starting on January 18, 2012 in previews and running through February 19, with direction again by Greif. The cast featured Kate Baldwin (Leslie), Aaron Lazar (Bick), P.J. Griffith (Jett), John Dossett (Bawley) and Dee Hoty (Luz).〔 The musical originally was written with three acts and two intermissions, but for the Dallas production, it was re-written to have two acts and one intermission.〔Spindle, Les.("INTERVIEW: Michael John LaChiusa Is a Giant Talent" ) theatermania.com, May 19, 2012〕 The musical then premiered Off-Broadway at the Public Theater running from October 26 to December 16, 2012 (the engagement was originally scheduled through December 2, 2012).〔Hetrick, Adam. ("'Giant', Starring Kate Baldwin, Brian D'Arcy James and P.J. Griffith, Gets Extension at Public Theater" ) playbill.com, November 19, 2012〕 Most of the Dallas cast returned while Michelle Pawk and Brian d'Arcy James took over the roles of Luz and Bick respectively. The first post New York production will take place at Illinois Wesleyan University in November 2015. The competitive BFA in Music Theatre has been granted the rights while they are still limited to professional companies and prior to licensing opening up for academic and amateur productions. 〔("Brian d'Arcy James, Kate Baldwin, Bobby Steggert, Michele Pawk to Lead Public Theater's 'GIANT'- Full Cast Announced!" ) broadwayworld.com, September 10, 2012〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Giant (musical)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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