Archive

Identifier: PRELUDEKISS2007

Inclusive Dates: 2006 - 2007

Extent:

Production Files documenting the 2007 production of Prelude to a Kiss at the American Airlines Theatre.  Directed by Daniel Sullivan, with set design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Donald Holder, original music and sound design by John Gromada, and hair and wig design by Tom Watson.

The production starred John Mahoney as the Old Man, Annie Parisse as Rita and Alan Tudyk as Peter; with Matthew Rauch as Taylor, Francois Battiste as Tom and the Jamaican waiter, James Rebhorn as Dr. Boyle, Robin Bartlett as Mrs. Boyle, Macintyre Dixon as Minister, John Rothman as Uncle Fred, Marceline Hugot as Aunt Dorothy and Leah.  The ensemble included Brandon J. Dirden, Susan Pellegrino, and Karen Walsh; the ensemble performers also acted as understudies, as did Macintyre Dixon, Matthew Rauch and John Rothman. 

This production of the play does not appear to have been nominated for any awards.

"Immediately after a young couple named Peter and Rita have exchanged wedding vows, an unknown elderly man asks to kiss the bride. As he does, Rita's soul and the old man's magically exchange bodies.  Neither Peter nor the wedding guests grasp what has happened. Peter leaves the wedding with a woman he believes is Rita. During their honeymoon, he comes to realize that Rita's body is no longer inhabited by Rita's true personality. He must find the old man and keep his love for Rita alive despite the fact that she is now in an unattractive body." (wikipedia.org; accessed October 14 2015)

With its focus on the inner beauty of the soul and love remaining true despite the failing of the body, analysis of the play has interpreted it as a comment on the AIDS crisis, which was at its peak in 1988 when Lucas wrote the piece.  The play was a finalist for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The play was commissioned for South Coast Repertory and premiered there in 1990.  Shortly afterward it transfered to New York City, first off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre and then later on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theater, starring Alec Baldwin and a then-unknown Mary-Louise Parker.  Baldwin went on to star in a 1992 film version opposite Meg Ryan, with Sydney Walker playing the Old Man.  

Production Files span 2 Hollinger boxes consisting of 19 folders, one Playbill, marketing flyers for the show, and a stage management compact disc containing copies of music used in the production.  

The digital holdings on the Archive 1 server include folders for:
Media (includes B-Roll and cast interview footage)
Opening Night (177 jpeg images)
Playbill (20 jpeg scans)
Press (Archives scanned selects)
Production Photographs (685 jpegs and approved selects)
Show Art (poster and window card)
SM Music Tracks (uploaded to server from the cd in Production Box 2)

There is a related collection of marketing materials on the Marketing shelves. Contracts have been removed and housed in the Contracts cabinets; these are confidential and access is restricted.  There is also a hard copy of the poster on the Poster shelves.
 

Access Restrictions: Open and available to approved researchers by appointment only. See folder details for specific restrictions.

Preferred Citation: Prelude to a Kiss 2007, Roundabout Theatre Company Archive