Music Maestro!

The hypnotized mind of Sergei Rachmaninoff serves as the setting for Dave Molloy's innovative new musical. Set during the composer's darkest period, when a bout of crippling self doubt resulted in a three year writer's period, it's a non-linear patchwork of memories and delusions, all set to a near continuous soundtrack of his work, and brought to life with gleefully anachronistic dialogue. It's yet another exciting piece from writer Molloy, who bowled New York critics over in 2013 with his Off-Broadway electro opera inspired by War and Peace, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.

Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda) inhabits the intense, anxiety-riddled composer, while his piano playing alter-ego is played by Or Matias. Also among the cast are Obie Award winner Eisa Davis (Passing Strange) and Tony winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon). Rachel Chavkin, who previously collaborated with Molloy on Natasha..., directs once again.

What is Preludes About?

The year is 1900, and celebrated composer Sergei Rachmaninoff is in a funk. His thoughts are haunted by the events of three years previous, when his first major work, Symphony No. 1 in D-minor, Op. 13, was savaged by the critics after a disastrous St. Petersburg performance. He has hardly put pen to paper since, and desperate to end his seemingly interminable writer's block, consults with hypnotherapist Nikolai Dahl. Together the pair delve into Rachmaninoff's mind, sifting through memories and fantasies in search of his lost inspiration.