IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS

by Nora Louise Syran

Full Length. A Play with Music of Montmartre
The French Impressionists --notably the "female artists" Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt-- as seen through the eyes of Auguste Renoir's model, muse and artist: Suzanne Valadon. Who was Suzanne Valadon? You may not know her name, but you know her face. Dancing for Renoir, drinking with Toulouse-Lautrec. Born Marie-Clementine, Suzanne Valadon was an illegitimate school...

Full Length. A Play with Music of Montmartre
The French Impressionists --notably the "female artists" Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt-- as seen through the eyes of Auguste Renoir's model, muse and artist: Suzanne Valadon. Who was Suzanne Valadon? You may not know her name, but you know her face. Dancing for Renoir, drinking with Toulouse-Lautrec. Born Marie-Clementine, Suzanne Valadon was an illegitimate school drop out who "grew up with giants!" She lived in Montmartre, Paris and after falling from the trapeze in the circus went on to model for painters Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Berthe Morisot, among others. She inspired Edgar Degas who announced her "indeed one of us."

Valdon's friend, Aristide Bruant, of Chat Noir fame, leads an ensemble cast in bringing to life some of the beautiful melodies of Montmartre. It's been a great honor to breathe new life into them by translating/adapting them into English.

Citations of the painters throughout the play are in italics

Songs:: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbjMf0v8IS8hheWhqQYi4H14KerMXKKJ2
Projection images (to update): https://youtu.be/ObPVtpR-HoY (from original 2018 one act)

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IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS

Recommended by

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    Art and history and music! It is all here! What a fabulous play for students (or anyone!), combining the Impressionists with their context and inspiration. In addition to being entertained, you learn things along the way - always a wonderful combination.

    Art and history and music! It is all here! What a fabulous play for students (or anyone!), combining the Impressionists with their context and inspiration. In addition to being entertained, you learn things along the way - always a wonderful combination.

    ”
  • Peter Fenton: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    [11/1/2024] In IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS, it is so clear through this play how much knowledge and love Nora Louise Syran has for the city of Paris and its rich art and music history. I appreciate Syran's modern approach to interpreting of all the various French Impressionists, packaged in kind of a dream-like vignette style, which I couldn't help but feel was a love letter to Paris itself. Anyone part of a production of this play would learn a lot and have a great experience every step of the way!

    [11/1/2024] In IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS, it is so clear through this play how much knowledge and love Nora Louise Syran has for the city of Paris and its rich art and music history. I appreciate Syran's modern approach to interpreting of all the various French Impressionists, packaged in kind of a dream-like vignette style, which I couldn't help but feel was a love letter to Paris itself. Anyone part of a production of this play would learn a lot and have a great experience every step of the way!

    ”
  • Jennifer O'Grady: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    Syran’s marvelously theatrical full-length play with music, set in 1890s Paris, explores the revolutionary Impressionism art movement and centers Suzanne Valadon, an artists’ model, muse and eventual artist, who refuses to be “boxed in” merely because she's a woman. Syran brings to life a plethora of fascinating characters including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and many others, as well women painters Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt who struggle for the same opportunities their male contemporaries receive. The play offers flexible casting and provides a unique...

    Syran’s marvelously theatrical full-length play with music, set in 1890s Paris, explores the revolutionary Impressionism art movement and centers Suzanne Valadon, an artists’ model, muse and eventual artist, who refuses to be “boxed in” merely because she's a woman. Syran brings to life a plethora of fascinating characters including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and many others, as well women painters Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt who struggle for the same opportunities their male contemporaries receive. The play offers flexible casting and provides a unique theatrical experience that I would love to see on stage!

    read more
    ”
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Development History

  • Reading, Playwrights Thriving, November 4, 2023
  • Workshop, ASEICA Valbonne, FRANCE -- the current full length is based upon this original one act, 2018