Mary Zimmerman Pens New Book for Goodman Production of Candide

Director Mary Zimmerman has penned a brand new book for her production of Candide, to be presented by the Goodman Theatre, September 17 – October 24.

Rather than employ the existing book by Hugh Wheeler, Zimmerman has returned to Voltaire’s original 1759 Candide, Or Optimism for her adaptation. She has ordered the sequence of events in Candide’s adventure — many of which had been altered for previous productions — to align more closely with the novella’s original structure. In addition, music director Doug Peck has tailored Leonard Bernstein’s score for the cast of 19 and orchestra of 12, to work better with Zimmerman’s adaptation, including the use of underscoring for scenes that Zimmerman selected from the novella but were never set to music.

As previously reported, the musical will feature Geoff Packard (Candide), Lauren Molina (Cunegonde), Larry Yando (Pangloss), Hollis Resnick (Old Lady), Jonathan Weir (Governor), Erik Lochtefeld (Maximillian), Margo Seibert (Paquette), Jesse Perez (Cacambo), and Tom Aulino (Martin), along with ensemble members Spencer Curnutt, Rebecca Finnegan, Govind Kumar, Rob Lindley, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Emma Rosenthal, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Joey Stone, Tempe Thomas, and Joseph Tokarz.

The design team will include Daniel Ostling (set), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), T.J. Gerkens (lighting) and Richard Woodbury (sound). Danny Pelzig will choreograph.

For more information, click here.