Sunday, December 2, 3 p.m.
Adler Theatre, 136 East Third Street, Davenport IA
Lauded by Broadway World as “a stunning new holiday musical” and by The Independent as “a beautiful story” that's “fun for the whole family,” the touring Christmastime production Noël: The Musical brings seasonal messages and beautiful music to Davenport's Adler Theatre on December 2, and with a depth that led The Independent to call it “a feel-good show, but with a storyline touching on the very real issues of homelessness, bullying, loneliness, and the materialism of the holidays.”
Set in modern day London, Noël tells a heartwarming tale of a little girl who is preparing for her starring role in a school Christmas play when her mother suddenly disappears. To avoid being taken into care, Noël keeps her mother's disappearance a secret and embarks alone on a quest to find her. Along the way, she befriends a diverse group of homeless characters, who have themselves lost their way in life: Duchess, a lady with a mysterious past; Edgar, a disabled veteran; and Nick, a curmudgeon who has lost his faith in humanity. As the story progresses, we discover that Nick is indeed Santa Claus, and has become disenchanted with a world that he believes has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Noël's bright innocence and unwavering belief in finding her mother, however, inspires Nick to find joy again, resulting in a show that encourages its patrons to find hope in themselves and in the world.
Among Noël's creative team, book writer Eoin Colfer is a New York Times bestselling author who has achieved international acclaim for his hugely successful series of children's-book series Artemis Fowl, which have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Liam Bates, who wrote the songs and score, is an Irish composer, orchestrator, and conductor who has won both a Promax Gold Award and the John McCabe Prize, and who, as a student at the Royal Academy of London, received master classes from legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. And directing the production is Sam Scalamoni, whose accomplishments include winning a SALT Award for Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical of the Year (for Les Misérables), and a Broadway World Award for Best Director of a Play (Agatha Christie's An Unexpected Guest).
Noël: The Musical will be presented at 3 p.m. on December 2, admission is $28-58, and tickets are available by calling (800)745-3000 or visiting AdlerTheatre.com.
