Previews of "GLORIOUS!" by Peter Quilter begin Tonight at Canyon Moon Theatre!

Don't miss this hilarious comedy based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, diva extraordinaire of the 1940s!

GLORIOUS! by Peter Quilter opens this Thursday, May 27, at Canyon Moon Theatre in Sedona, Arizona!

Glorious! by Peter Quilter runs May 27 through June 13 at Canyon Moon Theatre. The (London) Sunday Times called the play  “a lunatically funny comedy…glittering, hilarious...a comedy with a heart…”

In1940’s New York, the performer everyone wanted to see including avid fan Cole Porter was Florence Foster Jenkins, a delusional and joyously happy soprano whose pitch was, unfortunately, far from perfect. Her elaborate costumes, from a Spanish senorita’s garb to an “angel of inspiration” outfit complete with wings and halo, delighted her audiences.

Quilter’s play provides a hilarious portrait of Jenkins as an indomitable spirit who may have committed “murder on the high C’s,” but who also had an enthusiasm for music that no cranky critic could squelch. Florence Foster Jenkins spent her fortune in pursuit of her dreams. She believed that singing badly was better than not singing at all. And for this, she became famous and has captured the imagination of audiences over the years. Quilter was not being entirely ironic when he called his play Glorious! 

Canyon Moon's production, directed by Producing Artistic Director Mary Guaraldi, recreates her absurd performances as it follows Jenkins during the last year of her life, from recording sessions and galas to Carnegie Hall, where, at the age of 76, she made her legendary sold-out debut and swan song. Helping her along the way are a cadre of real-life figures: Jenkins’s manager/boyfriend St. Clair Byfield, her accompanist, a young pianist with the wonderfully descriptive name of Cosmé McMoon, her friend and fellow amateur, Dorothy, and Maria, a temperamental maid.

Gerard Maguire (St. Clair Byfield) has had a long and distinguished career as an actor, writer, director and teacher since graduating from NIDA, Australia’s leading drama school. An audience favorite at CMT, Gerard played Henry in The Lion in Winter and directed The Business of Murder.

Glorious! Introduces four actors new to the CMT stage. Susy Hopkins (Florence Foster Jenkins) is a classically trained soprano who has appeared in concert at Lincoln Center and was featured in the Joseph Papp production of La Calisto in New York City.  Aiden Redsteer is a graduate of Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy where he worked with Canyon Moon’s Mike Levin. He is now at NAU studying theatre. He was nominated for a best actor award this past season at NAU.

Michelle Lambeau (Dorothy) has been an active participant in theatre for twenty years.  This year, Michelle produced and directed her original adaptation of Jane Austen's Lady Susan. Morgana Campbell (Maria/ Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge) began her theatre experience in 1998 while attending Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, AZ.

The show plays May 27-June 13 with no performance on June 5.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday performances begin at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $19, $11 for full time students. Tickets for preview performances (May 27, 28) are $16. All shows take place at the Oak Creek Factory Outlets on Hwy 179 in the Village of Oak Creek. Canyon Moon Theatre is a professional, non-profit theatre that serves the northern Arizona community and its guests. Single tickets for Glorious! will be available for purchase at Marketplace Café and Rycus’ Corners in the Village of Oak Creek and at Bashas' in West Sedona. You may also call 800-838-3006 to make reservations.