The Night of the Hunter by Stephen Cole & Claibe Richardson

by Stephen Cole

When Ben Harper steals ten thousand dollars from a bank in depression era West Virginia and tells his young son and daughter never to reveal the whereabouts of the cash, he sets in motion one of the most thrilling, frightening, and heartfelt stories ever to fill the pages of a best selling novel. The film version, named one of the 100 greatest films of the 20th Century, starred Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters...

When Ben Harper steals ten thousand dollars from a bank in depression era West Virginia and tells his young son and daughter never to reveal the whereabouts of the cash, he sets in motion one of the most thrilling, frightening, and heartfelt stories ever to fill the pages of a best selling novel. The film version, named one of the 100 greatest films of the 20th Century, starred Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. The musical version is the winner of the prestigious Edward Kleban Award for Libretto, the Award Winning Concept CD has garnered rave reviews from Billboard. The musical has been produced in SF, Dallas and NYC as part of the New York Music Theatre Festival winning many awards along the way.

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The Night of the Hunter by Stephen Cole & Claibe Richardson

Recommended by

  • Brian Vinero: The Night of the Hunter by Stephen Cole & Claibe Richardson by Stephen Cole
    “

    This Kleban Award-winning musical is an excellent choice for a theatre looking for a piece rooted in the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tradition, but with a decidedly post-Sondheim edge. The score is pure American Gothic, with many opportunities to show off singers in both solos and brilliantly arranged ensemble numbers. The story, which has triumphed as a novel and film finds new immediacy as a theatrical work where a live audience can feel a shared sense of fear and suspense as this musical thriller unfolds.

    This Kleban Award-winning musical is an excellent choice for a theatre looking for a piece rooted in the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tradition, but with a decidedly post-Sondheim edge. The score is pure American Gothic, with many opportunities to show off singers in both solos and brilliantly arranged ensemble numbers. The story, which has triumphed as a novel and film finds new immediacy as a theatrical work where a live audience can feel a shared sense of fear and suspense as this musical thriller unfolds.

    ”

Development History

  • Workshop, John Bowab Production, NYC, 2001
  • Workshop, The Goodman Theatre, Chicago, Il, 1999
  • Workshop, Vineyard Theatre in NYC, 1998

Production History

  • Professional, Lyric Stage, Dallas, TX, 2010
  • Professional, New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYC, 2006
  • Professional, Willows Theatre Company, SF, 2002
  • Professional, Studio Cast on Varese Sarabande CD starring Ron Raines, Sally Mayes and Dorothy Loudon, 1999