Swept Away (musical)

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Swept Away
A New Musical Tale
SweptAwayMusicalPoster.jpg
Promotional Poster
Music The Avett Brothers
LyricsThe Avett Brothers
Book John Logan
PremiereJanuary 9, 2022: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, California
Productions

Swept Away is a jukebox musical featuring the music of The Avett Brothers, primarily from the album Mignonette. [1] [2] The show's book is by John Logan. It premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2022 before moving to Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where it ran from November 25 to January 14, 2024. [3] It began previews on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on October 29, 2024, opening on November 19, 2024. [4] [5] It announced a closing date of December 15, 2024. [6] A two week extension was added, setting the new closing date for December 29, 2024.

Contents

The show follows four sailors, who are shipwrecked off the coast of New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1888. [7] The story is drawn from the 1884 shipwreck which also inspired the Avett Brothers' album. [1] The show is 90 minutes in total runtime [1] with no intermission.

Development

The concept of a musical based on the music of The Avett Brothers was first raised in 2014, when theater producer Matthew Masten proposed the idea to the band's manager. [1] The musical was announced to the public in 2019. [8]

Plot

In the early 1900s, Mate, dying of tuberculosis, is tormented by the memories of his crewmates who died after a shipwreck 22 years earlier. The spirits encourage him to "tell the truth" ("Go to Sleep").

In 1888, Mate is a whaling crew member under the Captain ("Hard Worker"). Seeking adventure, Little Brother joins the crew, and, after attempting to bring him back home to their family farm, Big Brother becomes stranded on the ship as well ("Nothing Short of Thankful").

Though excited for the journey, Little Brother laments the love he left behind on land, Melody Anne ("Swept Away"). He and Mate grow closer, much to Big Brother's disdain. On the third day of the voyage, Big Brother tries to rally the crew in prayer, but his attempts are in vain ("Lord Lay Your Hand on My Shoulder"/"Ain't No Man"). Captain ponders the future of the whaling trade and his life as a sailor ("May It Last"). Though Big Brother and Little Brother disagree on their purpose and desires in life, they value their brotherhood and agree on the importance of family ("Murder in the City").

Soon after, the ship is struck by a storm and sinks ("Complainte D'Un Matelot Mourant"). The entire crew dies in the wreckage, save for Mate, Captain, and the Brothers. After six days in a lifeboat with no food, water, or rain, the four men share their hopes for an eventual rescue ("A Gift for Melody Anne"). Little Brother, severely injured after being crushed by the falling mast, dictates a letter to Melody Anne for Mate to transcribe. Captain, distraught at having allowed his crew to perish alone, and Big Brother, insistent that Little Brother will not die alone, also dictate letters to their loved ones. Mate, realizing he has no one to write to, reflects on what he has made of his life ("Through My Prayers").

After sixteen days stranded at sea, the four are starving. Mate tells Captain that Little Brother will die soon anyway and that they should kill him in his sleep so the rest of them can have something to eat and drink ("Satan Pulls the Strings"). Captain refuses to make a decision, instead telling Mate that he is in charge now. Big Brother stops Mate from killing Little Brother, though Little Brother agrees that he will sacrifice himself after seeing one last sunrise. Big Brother concedes, but insists that he will be the one to kill him, not Mate ("No Hard Feelings"). When the time comes to make the sacrifice, however, Big Brother slits his own throat instead.

Mate struggles to continue the story, but is urged by the others to "make himself clean." Mate recounts how they all ate and drank from Big Brother's body. They were found by another ship soon after, but the three never spoke of the incident again. Captain died three years after the incident, and Little Brother just one year ago, surrounded by Melody Anne and their children. With the confession of the truth, Mate completes the retelling of the story and dies ("The Once and Future Carpenter").

Music

Swept Away features songs previously written and recorded by The Avett Brothers, with the exception of "Lord Lay Your Hand on My Shoulder" which was written for the show.

Musical Numbers

Productions

Berkeley (2022)

Initially scheduled to premiere in June 2020, [9] the show was delayed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finally saw its Berkeley premiere in 2022. [10] It was directed by Michael Mayer and led by actors Wayne Duvall (Captain), Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother), John Gallagher Jr. (Mate), and Stark Sands (Big Brother). [7] The show's set was designed by Rachel Hauck. The premiere saw low attendance, attributed to a surge of the omicron variant of COVID-19. [1]

Washington, D.C. (2023–2024)

The Arena Stage production in Washington, D.C., which ran from November 25, 2023, to January 14, 2024, saw much of the Berkeley team return, including the four primary cast members. [3] This production also saw the introduction of an ensemble, who mainly appeared in the opening scenes prior to the shipwreck. [1]

Broadway (2024)

The musical opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on November 19, 2024, following previews beginning on October 29. [4] [5] [11] The show's arrangements and orchestrations are by Chris Miller and Brian Usifer (who is also the show's music supervisor). The show's creative team also includes Will Van Dyke (music director), Susan Hilferty (costume designer), Kevin Adams (lighting designer) and John Shivers (sound designer). [4] On December 5, 2024 it was announced that the show would close December 15, after playing 20 previews and 32 performances due to low attendance. [12] [6] After announcing its closure, a two week extension was added due to popular demand, setting the new closing date for December 29, 2024. [13]

Cast and characters

CharactersBerkeley [14] Washington, D.C [15] Broadway
202220232024
Captain Wayne Duvall
Little BrotherAdrian Blake Enscoe
Mate John Gallagher Jr.
Big Brother Stark Sands

Reception

The 2022 Berkeley production of the show saw mixed reactions. Reviewers largely enjoyed the show's music and the actors' performances, but some felt the characterization was not thorough enough to deliver the emotional climax of the story. [16] [17]

The 2024 Broadway production received positive to mixed reactions. Writing for Deadline Hollywood, Greg Evans said: "As enthralling as it is disquieting, Swept Away ... is a taut and captivating new folk musical featuring the gorgeous songs of the roots-rock group The Avett Brothers and an impeccable cast". [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marks, Peter (November 24, 2023). "An Avett Brothers musical is testing the waters. Next stop: Broadway?". The Washington Post .
  2. ↑ Bell, Adam (December 27, 2023). "Inside look at The Avett Brothers' first musical, a tense shipwreck survival saga". The Charlotte Observer.
  3. 1 2 Gans, Andrew; Culwell-Block, Logan (December 6, 2023). "Photos: Get a 1st Look at Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away, Opening December 6 at Arena Stage" . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Huston, Caitlin (June 18, 2024). "Avett Brothers' Musical 'Swept Away' Sets Broadway Opening Dates". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Paulson, Michael (May 18, 2024). "Avett Brothers Musical, 'Swept Away,' to Open on Broadway This Fall". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (December 5, 2024). "Swept Away Sets Closing Date on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Culwell-Block, Logan (November 25, 2023). "Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away Starts at Arena Stage November 25". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (June 15, 2021). "See the Avett Brothers Debut the Title Song From New Musical 'Swept Away'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Spencer, Tallie (April 3, 2019). "The Avett Brothers Musical 'Swept Away' to Premiere at Berkeley Repertory in 2020". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ Chitwood, Seth. "This musical is based on a controversial New Bedford shipwreck. Could Broadway be next?". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ Evans, Greg (June 18, 2024). "Avett Brothers Musical 'Swept Away' Sets Broadway Opening Date, Venue". Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ Phillips, Zoe G. (December 11, 2024). "Broadway's 'Swept Away' Extends Run After Announcing Closing, Citing "Unprecedented Demand"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Swept Away digital program". Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Swept Away". www.arenastage.org. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ↑ Barmann, Jay (January 29, 2022). "Long-Awaited, Avett Brothers-Scored Musical 'Swept Away' Is Some Dour Stuff at Berkeley Rep". SFist. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  17. ↑ McMullen, Randy (February 1, 2022). "Review: 'Swept Away' at Berkeley Rep tries to do an awful lot — and mostly succeeds". The Mercury News. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ Evans, Greg (November 20, 2024). "'Swept Away' Review: John Gallagher Jr. Steers A Stirring Avett Brothers Seafaring Musical". Deadline. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
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