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A Bridge You’ll Want to Cross

by 
Mira Temkin
 at 
Trib Local

Get ready for an evening of breathtaking theatre as the Marriott Theatre presents the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, this musical captures one of the most romantic stories ever written and brings it to life with stellar performances by the two lead actors.

A true sweeping romance, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is the touching story of two people caught between duty and desire, loyalty and love. A beautiful, but bored Italian war-bride longs for the excitement she once had as a young girl. Now Francesca Johnson is a dedicated Iowa housewife with two children who lives a simple life, with little passion. When her family leaves for the 1965 State Fair, Francesca's world is shattered as a ruggedly handsome National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid, seeks directions. A quick ride to photograph one of the famed covered bridges of Madison County sparks a soul-stirring, passionate affair for the couple, whose lives are forever changed.

With a haunting score by Jason Robert Brown and book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Marsha Norman, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY builds on the magic of the 1995 film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. Seven-time Jeff Award Winner Nick Bowling (Man of La Mancha, The King and I) returns to The Marriott Theatre to direct, with musical direction by Jeff Award Winner Ryan T. Nelson.

Appearing on the stage is Nathaniel Stampley as "Robert" (Jefferson Award Winner for The Marriott Theatre: Man of La Mancha) who will no doubt be nominated once again for his powerful performance. Jeff Award Winner Kathy Voytko stars as "Francesca" is beautiful with strong vocals, yet great vulnerability. When her family returns, her performance of guilt and longing is raw and real.

The set is brilliant, using the walls of the theatre to surround the audience with starry nights and Iowa roads as well as a creative way to build the bridge. Set design is by Jeff Kmiec and costume design is by Sally Dolembo with orchestra conducted by Patti Garwood.