‘The Black Tulip’ Musical Continues this Weekend at Newport Performing Arts Center

Jason Wilson (left) plays the evilly enthusiastic jailer Gryphus and Bruce VanDyke is the story’s protagonist, Nelson vanBaerle in Coastal Act Productions original musical “The Black Tulip” based on the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. (Photo by Larry Coonrod)


By Larry Coonrod

NEWPORT—For the first time ever Alexandre Dumas’ celebrated novel ‘The Black Tulip’ comes to the stage, with final performances of the musical adaption playing June 27-28 at the Newport Performing Arts Center.

Produced by Coastal Act Productions and written by Newport High School teacher Brian Hanna, the story takes place in Holland during the 1670s and follows, Nelson van Baerle, the fictional nephew, of two actual Dutch brothers. 

Holland, as we know it today, was composed of several divided states when the story opens. Opposing political forces clash over control of the future of their country. An innocent tulip fancier, Nelson lives only to cultivate the elusive black tulip and is unwittingly caught in the crossfire of political intrigue. 

Falsely accused of high treason by a bitter rival, Nelson is condemned to life in prison. His only comfort is Rosa, the jailer's beautiful daughter, who helps him concoct a plan to grow the black tulip in secret.
 
Family Affair

Brian Hanna adapted the novel as a musical stage play after his son Jacob expressed an interest in composing the music. Jacob, a recent Newport High School graduate has previously conducted the orchestra in the CAP production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Jacob plans to study commercial music this fall at Brigham Young University and hopes to one day write music scores professionally.
 
Brian said he considered adapting Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” but discovered it had already been done as a musical. He began writing “The Black Tulip” three years ago. It is his first play.

"I set myself a New Year’s resolution that I was going to write for 15 minutes a night, and then by April, I had the bulk of it done," he said. "I felt some sense of obligation to try and strike a balance between staying true to the fact that the two brothers were real individuals and still make it watchable for the audience,” Brian said.
 
Brian and Jacob then began work on the musical numbers, with Brian writing the basic melodies and Jacob expanding the songs and composing the music.

“He amazed me every time,” Brian said.

Convincing CAP Director to Produce

With months of preparation and work behind every production, CAP chooses its plays judiciously. Director Jody Hanna, wife to Brian and mother to  Jacob says she read the play with the same critical eye she would use for any script.

“This director doesn’t cut anyone any slack,” she says with a laugh.

"The toughest thing was giving it to my wife for her perusal,” Brian said. “She's the director so she can say we're going to do this or no, it's not good enough.”

Local Cast

Playgoers will recognize many of cast members as veteran local actors:

• Cornelius deWitt—Sean Rash
  
• John deWitt—Phil Hingson
  
• Nelson van Baerle—Bruce VanDyke
  
• Rosa—Lindsey Marchant
  
• Prince William III—Kevin Peterson
  
• Lord Chamberlain—Hunter Oxley
  
• Gryphus—Jason Wilson
  
• Officer Dekken—Lee Ritzman
  
• Officer Renaerts—Leonard Bruce
  
• Isaac Boxtell—Brian Hanna
  
• Pieter—Parker Anderson
  
• Karl—Robert Kilgore
  
• Margaret—Arminda Crane
  
• Katherine—Barbara Henderson
  
• Ministress—Kiera Morgan
  
• Secretary to Ministress—Sarah Bowers
  
• Lucretia—Sophia Solano
  
• 
  

Coastal Act Productions

All CAP players onstage and off are unpaid. About half of its orchestra is youth and the other musicians who having paying gigs elsewhere who enjoy mentoring the younger members. 

Most CAP productions feature a large youth cast, with many youngsters starting as part of an ensemble before auditioning for a lead role. 

“It’s really great to see adults who started here as kids come back and work with us,” says Jody Hanna.
Musical runs through June 28.

“The Black Tulip” runs through June 28 in the Newport Performing Art Center’s Alice Silverman Theatre.
Evening performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. 

For more information and or to purchase tickets, visit CAP’s website at www.capnewport.com or the Newport Performing Arts Center at www.coastarts.org.