The theme of this Backstage Wednesday has to do with collaboration —- specifically between Transport Group and creator Michael John LaChiusa. This collaboration has created some experimental and risk-taking theater that has affected and raised the bar for what Off-Broadway Theater has to offer New York City. 

In Transport Group’s first collaboration with First Lady Suite, this four one-act chamber musical explored the lives of celebrated first ladies.

Transport Group bills these pieces separately as the following:

“Over Texas takes place aboard Air Force One on November 22, 1963 and focuses on Mary Gallagher, the First Lady’s personal secretary, and Evelyn Lincoln, personal secretary to the President, who try to relax as they fly to Dallas on that fateful day; Where’s Mamie? becomes a time-travel fantasy as Mamie Eisenhower, melancholic, and alone on her birthday, is paid a visit by Marian Anderson; Olio presents Margaret Truman at a recital trying her best to sing as she is constantly upstaged by First Lady Bess; and Eleanor Sleeps Here is a heart-rending examination of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickock as they’re flown over Washington by Amelia Earhart.”

Within this production, director Jack Cummings III and Michael John LaChiusa worked with Broadway notables such as our dearest friends Mary Testa, Julia Murney, Donna Lynne Champlin, Robyn Hussa, and Cheryl Stern as well as Mary Beth Peil, Ruth Gottschall, Sherry Boone, James Hindman, and Diane Sutherland. Can you imagine the powerhouse performance these ladies (and gentleman) had to offer their crowds?

First Lady Suite got such a great buzz that it was a sold out run and Transport Group began offering audiences standing room tickets! The word of mouth was so great that Patrick Hoffman, Head of Lincoln Center Theatre on Film and Tape Archive, decided to film it for the Lincoln Center archives.

You can get a chance to hear this beautiful work. For the world premiere recording of First Lady Suite, you can visit PSClassics.com (http://www.psclassics.com/cd_first.html) and read an exclusive interview with Michael John on the PSClassics website regarding the creation process for this piece.

Here are some notable quotes from past reviews:

“First Lady Suite” was the show that signaled that Mr. LaChiusa was a young composer to watch, among the brightest of the cerebral songwriters of the post-Sondheim era.”  - Ben Brantley (New York Times)

“enjoyable and thrilling at many moments due to impressive direction from Transport founder Jack Cummings III, as well as to an outstanding cast.”  - Matt Windman (TheatreScene.net)

“LaChiusa’s music… insidiously wins you over and takes fanciful flight. All ten performers are impeccable as both singers and actors” – John Simon (New York Magazine)

“[LaChiusa’s] gift for tossing off engaging melody and his sly sense of humor are as abundant and nourishing as April rain. LaChiusa must have done much giggling while writing these vignettes, and that sense of fun comes across.” – David Finkle (TheaterMania)