2008 Season

Vanishing Point
Book & Lyrics by Liv Cummins

and Rob Hartmann
Music by Rob Hartmann

Directed by Mickey Lund

Music Direction by

Mark Hildebrand

With Margaret Allman, Wendy Baird, Sherry Kuznicki, and Joe Gems on Piano

Author Agatha Christie vanished for 11 days in 1926. That same year, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished for three weeks. Amelia Earhart disappeared during her 1937 round-the-world flight. Agatha and Aimee never spoke of what happened during their disappearances, and Amelia was never seen again. This musical comedy-fantasy brings the three women together on a trip through time and space as they recall their past and explore their future.

Director’s Notes

Nineteen years ago, I directed a short abstract scene written by author Liv Cummins entitled Banana Bread. Until now, it is the only piece of Liv’s I’ve ever collaborated on. Over the years, I’ve been witness to Liv’s incredible journey from young artist to exceptional author, having been included in the development of several of her pieces including The Bridge, The Big One, Three, and Vanishing Point. Each of these pieces centers on strong female characters, in no small part because Liv herself is a strong, goal-oriented, driven woman. As I went about selecting shows for, by, and about women for the 2008 season, I knew my chance had come to collaborate with Liv once again. It wasn’t hard to convince Liv and, in turn, composer and author Rob Hartmann to let me produce and direct this piece about three remarkable, adventurous women. I am humbled and honored to be working with these two incredibly talented people and can only hope that I do their work the justice it deserves.

I am equally humbled to have the opportunity to work with such talented actresses. From the day I first heard Vanishing Point performed, I could think of no one more suited to these roles than the three women performing here today. Never have I been so inspired by their overwhelming desire to engage in this collaborative process and their ability to understand the very nature of the characters they embody.

There have been many influential women in my life who, like Amelia, Aimee, and Agatha, set the standards by which I strive to live my life today. Women like my friends Liv, Karen, and Angela, who take nothing for granted, seeking out new adventures and living life to its fullest. Women like my mother, who is a living testament to the power of positive thinking and the way determination can see you through difficult times. And women like my grandmother, whose 92nd birthday would have been celebrated on May 2, 2008. and whose powerful family bond lives on today in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To each of them, and to all the women in all our lives who influence us every day, I dedicate this show. It is in their honor that we celebrate the lives of Agatha Christie, Amelia Earhart, and Aimee Semple McPherson, all three of whom learned to face adversity head on, with purpose and pride, and became the role models and historical figures we know them as today.

REVIEWS
Download Review 1
Download Review 2