Music by Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics and book by Brian Crawley
Based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts
Directed by Mikael Burke

As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. With enough money finally saved, she’s traveling across the Deep South in 1964 towards a miracle – the healing touch of a TV evangelist who will make her beautiful. Along the way, a chance encounter with a young Black soldier forces Violet to confront the ugliness of racism and the possibility for true transformation and self-acceptance.

Winner of the Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1997, and then on to a Tony-nominated Broadway debut in 2014 with a revised version, Violet is a moving musical featuring show-stopping score from Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek; Fun Home).

POST-SHOW DISCUSSION:

A post-show discussion is scheduled for Thurs., Feb. 23, immediately following the show with the design and creative team for a behind-the-scenes look into how they constructed Violet‘s visual, sonic, and thematic worlds. 

Director

Mikael Burke is a Chicago-based director, deviser, and educator. A Princess Grace Award-winner in Theatre and Jeff Award-nominated director, Mikael’s worked with Goodman Theatre, About Face Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Raven Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, First Floor Theater, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, The Story Theatre, and Windy City Playhouse in Chicago, and regionally with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis. Recent directing credits include the world premiere of The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest; The Wanderers by Anna Ziegler Fireflies by Donja R. Love; Mrs. Harrison by R. Eric Thomas; and we are continuous by Harrison David Rivers | mklburke.com