The Pursuit of Persephone is a musical with music and lyrics by Peter Mills and book by Cara Reichel.[1] The show details F. Scott Fitzgerald's time at Princeton University, and his love for Ginevra King.[2] Elements of the plot are loosely adapted from This Side of Paradise (Fitzgerald's own fictionalized account of his time at Princeton).

Productions

The show premiered at the Connelly Theatre in New York City in 2005, featuring Chris Fuller as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jessica Grové as Ginevra King.[2][3]

In 2006 much of the original cast returned for a concert reading of the show at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.[4] That same year, a production of the show was staged at the University of Michigan, starring Justin Paul as F. Scott Fitzgerald.[5]

In 2014 the show was reworked and presented by the Prospect Theater Company under the name "The Underclassman".[6][7]

Cast

2005

Off-Broadway[8]

 2006

Concert Reading[4]

 2014

Prospect Theater[7]

F. Scott Fitzgerald Chris Fuller Matt Dengler
Ginevra King Jessica Grové
Marie Hersey Piper Goodeve
Edmund Wilson David Abeles
John Peale Bishop Benjamin Sands Marrick Smith
Trip Everett Jordan Bondurant
"Ham" Samuels Jeremy Morse
Clive Bagby Jason Edward Cook

Reception

The show received some praise for its music, costuming, and casting, but often received criticism for its book.[9][8]

The 2014 production similarly was praised for its music, while critics felt the underlying story was not interesting enough to captivate audiences.[6][7]

Awards

Award Category
2006 Drama Desk Awards[10] Best Music Nominated
Best Orchestrations Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Paradise Revisited. "Paradise Revisited Review of The Pursuit of Persephone". Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  2. 1 2 The New York Times (2005-05-10). "New York Times Review of The Pursuit of Persephone". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  3. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (30 April 2005). "New Musical Pursuit of Persephone Tracks Romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald, April 30-May 22 in NYC". Playbill. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 "The Pursuit of Persephone, a concert reading at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on the 26 Jun 2006". New York Theatre Guide. 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  5. ↑ "Duet for Broadway's next pair of star songwriters". Australian Financial Review. 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  6. 1 2 Feldman, Adam (21 November 2014). "The Underclassman". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  7. 1 2 3 Karam, Edward (23 November 2014). "This Side of Princeton". Off Off Online. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  8. 1 2 Hoban, Phoebe (2005-05-10). "Fitzgerald's Romance Puts a Song (or 26) in the Heart". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  9. ↑ Fox, Jena Tesse. "The Pursuit of Persephone". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  10. ↑ "Peter Mills". NewMusicalTheatre. Retrieved 2023-01-24.


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