Music score by Robert Hugill
WHEN YOU ASK GOD TO BE YOUR DANCE PARTNER, THE MUSIC NEVER STOPS
CandleDancing examines the synthesis of humanity’s physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions by weaving together the words, thoughts and feelings of its sincere yet disconcerted characters who seek to understand the meaning of their lives. Regardless of innocent intentions, all involved find themselves subject to reproof, and new light is shed on the mortal condition. At the center of the controversy is an 11 year old boy, Will, who seems to be channelling the medieval Saint Julian of Norwich. With an investigation into Will’s link to the divine, led by Father Peter Andrews, the circumstances are examined and found wanting, yet miraculous. CandleDancing captures the essence of medieval theology within a modern scenario. An honest play for university or community players. CandleDancing seeks to understand the gift of love, in temperance and eternity. If we can learn to transform ourselves so that we may look without judgment, see without doubt, and love without condition; then we can live fully, feeding on the fruits of the garden, splendor, beauty, and peace.
PLAY DETAILS:
- 6M, 4F, 1B + CHOIRBOYS and CHOIR ADULTS
- FR. PETER ANDREWS: Benedictine monk, in his mid forties, who acts as music minister of the East Abbey. He has a fascination for ancient art history and literature, with emphasis on the origin of language. Father Peter is quite charismatic and strongly attractive yet not typically masculine; his resolute character would be to be found in a determined woman.
- WILL: As the central figure, Will is the young street urchin who appeared unexpectedly on the doorstep of East Abbey. He is thin, blonde, with pale skin and blue eyes. The boy, responding peculiarly to the flame of a particular candle, proves to have quite an enchanting voice and a flair for writing. Will, who is later the mouthpiece for Julian of Norwich, should be played by a lyric soprano to attain the very luminous vocal quality.
- SISTER MARY KATHARINE DUNN: Affectionately known as SISTER KATE, she teaches art, music, and social studies at the East Abbey. Though she has only been there a few years, Sr. Kate has grown an intense attachment to Fr. Peter and sees him as a vehicle to achieve her professional goals. Her plans to save humanity through art preoccupy her life so much that she often steps on people on her climb to accomplish the greater good. Her brawny, masculine, physique has advanced her appearance well beyond her years.
- MOTHER MARY AGNES PARLASKY: Mother superior at the East Abbey. She is in her late forties yet looks much younger. She’s genteel though she appreciates the value of discipline and obedience. Mother Mary Agnes is sympathetic to Fr. Peter and cherishes their life-long friendship. Yet her “duty” to God means more to her than anything or anyone in this world.
- ANNA VALKO: An obsequious young woman who runs the East Abbey cafeteria by day and the laundry by night. She is considering becoming a novice.
- CARDINAL ROLAND: The district official of the diocese where the East Abbey is located.
- JONATHAN and DAVID: Choirboys at the Abbey.
- CARDINAL SANTORI: Second Seat for the Tribunal.
- CARDINAL BONATELLI: Third Seat for the Tribunal.
- FR. DENNIS MALCOLM: Prosecutor for the office of the Defender of the Faith and Secretary to the Cardinal. Recently ordained and a Canon lawyer. Handsome, somewhat in shape.
- SISTER BLANDINA: The Cardinal’s aging secretary.
- DEEP VOICE: an offstage cantor
- CHOIRBOYS: For chanting.
- ADULT CHOIR: For chanting.
- About 2 hours
- Costumes — contemporary and historical
- Setting — simple stylized or classical
- Order # 3380
Available for ALL producing groups.
REVIEWS:
“CANDLEdancing can be a well-developed, lyrical, important play. Koepfinger has a mission here that’s clear and sincere. The playwright’s strength is the passion of her dialogue.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“The power of life to lift and transform us is so easily and so often obscured by our own power and politics. In choosing not to look, not to see, not to participate in life, the warm and beautiful light of even a single candle dancing against our darkness can be ignored or dismissed as distracting, unimportant, or irrelevant. But Truth eventually and inevitably wins. Climbing “up the mountain of enlightenment” takes the temerity of a Mother Agnes, the perspicacity of a Sister Kate, the purity and inspiration of our own Will. In CandleDancing, Coni Koepfinger invites us to center ourselves in all of these personal aspects, all of these parts of our own psyche, soul, and spirit. She weaves a medieval myth that allows us to envision “spiritual horizons” knowing that the garment she made will, like a baptismal garment, cover the “new person,” the one reborn into higher consciousness. May you be enlightened by this tale and choose to be the CandleDancing.” — Stephen Steinbeiser, Duquesne University
Named Best Score 1999—Robert Hugill’s score for CandleDancing at Veronica’s Veil Players by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
- CLICK THE TILE BELOW for the Perusal Pages File (The PDF file contains the first act of the play.)
AUDIO DEMOS made from the Finale Music Notation files of 3 of the 8 musical numbers in the show
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PURCHASING REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address) Before we ship any rehearsal material we will need your performance dates, the name of your organization and the theatre where you will perform.
- Script in PDF format– Order #3380a : $35
- 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3380d : $80
- 2nd Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3380e : $60
- Musical Score in PDF format — Order #3380h : $65.00 (contains: Conductor’s Score and parts for all vocals-solo-and-choir, organ, flute, oboe, percussion (snare, tom-tom, tubular bells)
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
PRODUCTIONS:
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- Hawes and Jenkins Publishing — Revised Second Edition — 2020
- Tate Publishing — Book and Audio Book — 2005
- St. Michael’s Theatre Veronica Veil Players — 1999
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BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
CandleDancing
by Coni Koepfinger
Musical Score by
Robert Hugill
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play.
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“CandleDancing is presented through special arrangement with Premiére Theatrical Licensing on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
from the catalog of