Blanche - The Bittersweet Life Of A Wild Prairie Dame

A Theatrical, Poetic Song Cycle

 "One of the best shows of in New York"  -Michael Giltz - Huffington Post top 20 list

Music/Lyrics/Concept

Created by Onalea Gilbertson

Additional music by Morag Northey & Jonathan Lewis

Directed by Rachel Avery

BLANCHE is set in the far corner of a 93-year-old woman’s mind. The songs are poetic family movies inspired by the indomitable spirit of a woman who survived the Great Depression, WW II and tragic lost love. Told through the eyes of her Granddaughter, BLANCHE is a mash up of folk, torch, jazz and chamber music; featuring piano, violin, cello and guitar.  Blanche's recorded voice is artfully woven in the soundscape. This exquisitely poignant theatrical song cycle reminds us- If we don’t tell their stories all will be forgotten…

          

PRODUCTION HISTORY

BLANCHE was originally commissioned by the prestigious Banff Centre for the performing arts, was workshopped at the Sunset Theatre and recently had it's New York premiere at the 47th Street Theatre as a special event of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. BLANCHE has also played the Capital Fringe in Washington DC, FringeNYC, and Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary, AB Canada as a part of the international festival The High Performance Rodeo.

Excerpts from BLANCHE on Youtube

onalea.com/original-blanche.html BLANCHE is set in the far corner of a 93-year-old woman’s mind. The songs are poetic family movies inspired by the indomitable spirit of a woman who survived the Great Depression, WW II and tragic lost love. Told through the eyes of her Granddaughter, BLANCHE is a mash up of folk, torch, jazz and chamber music; featuring piano, violin, cello and guitar. Blanche's recorded voice is artfully woven in the soundscape. This exquisitely poignanttheatrical song cycle reminds us- If we don’t tell their stories all will be forgotten…

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