Reunion

Book by Jack Kyrieleison. Story by Jack Kyrieleison & Ron Holgate. Traditional music adapted by Michael O'Flaherty / Characters: 4m, 2f, extras / Historical, Drama / A moving musical narrative of the Civil War, told in the words of the very diverse men and women who sided with the Union. Presented as a musical entertainment years after the events by the rag-tag company of actor Harry Hawk, the man who stood alone on stage when Lincoln was shot by Booth. Reunion is an attempt to tell the story of the Civil War through the eyes of those who took up the Union cause--an intersection of theatre and history, weaving together songs, visual images and dialogue. It is designed as a Victorian entertainment--the great American epic as it might have been told by a 19th-Century Homer and a wandering company of actors. "Reunion should be seen across the country." -The New York Times. "CRITIC'S PICK! Charming...heartwarming...brought to vivid life. Reunion underlines the common futility of all wars and the mess we're still dealing with from this particular one. You'll learn something without feeling lectured to." -Backstage. "A haunting glimpse into history. Reunionresonates at Ford's."
-Washington Post. The songs date from the Civil War or before, and the dialogue is drawn from or inspired by participants' accounts of actual events. The original production got a lot of sound out of 6 actor-singers and a 5-piece orchestra--piano/synthesizer, trumpet, percussion, guitar/banjo, and violin. About the Music The 26 songs in Reunion-all from the Civil War or earlier-tell the human stories of the struggle within the North for the soul of the war. All of the songs are used to advance the narrative. As none was chosen solely because of popularity, there are some familiar Northern songs that won't be found in Reunion, including "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Just Before the Battle, Mother." The familiar songs that are in the show are given unique treatments. And a couple of songs written in the South are included, because they were as popular in the North as they were in the South. All have new arrangements by musical supervisor Michael O'Flaherty.