NEXT Festival of New Musicals: How to Play the Cello (Until You Don’t)

Theater Latté Da’s NEXT Festival showcases new works that stretch the boundaries of musical storytelling, providing audience members the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the creative process. Following each stage reading presentation is an in-depth conversation with the project's writers. How to Play the Cello (Until You Don’t) is loosely based on the life of Jacqueline Du Pré, one of the greatest cellists of all time, whose career was cut short in her 30s by Multiple Sclerosis. Through original songs and reimagined classical pieces Jackie guides us on the explosive journey of her life. She discovers the cello for the first time, falls in love with it, finds out she’s “talented,” becomes obsessed with greatness, conquers the world, falls ill, loses her ability to play, and ultimately has to face the question: what is an artist who can’t make art anymore?