Casterbridge is a tuneful and towering new musical of human destiny, with book and lyrics by David Willinger and music by Christopher Beste, based on Thomas Hardy’s classic Victorian novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge. Ne’er-do-well Michael Henchard, when drunk, organizes an auction to sell off his wife. After taking a vow never to drink again, he pulls himself up by his bootstraps to be a pillar of society – mayor and company owner – reunites with his wife, and starts over – only to get pulled back down by his own nature. A romantic tragedy of human flaws, destiny and will. The score is inspired by English country music of the period. Directed by David Willinger.