The Tony Award-winning musical written by NYC composer/lyricist Adam Guettel, Richard Rodger’s grandson, is the perfect story for NAU Lyric Theater to perform, says Director Eric Gibson. “The students are the same ages as the characters and we have very strong women in the program now.”

The story focuses on daughter Clara, who is brought to Italy for the first time and discovers love among the splendors of Florence and Rome. After watching Clara experience love, her mother Margaret questions her own marriage and realizes she might be falling out of love. She wants Clara to have a happier marriage than her own. Margaret also worries that her daughter’s “special and simple ways” will eventually negatively impact the Italian family she is about to join. After a personal struggle, Margaret lets go. Clara is free to lead her life.