WHAT: Di Lady Di. A new musical.
WHO: Book, music and lyrics by Charlotte Munson. Music by Richard Munson. Starring Charlotte Munson. Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse.
WHERE: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre , CA 91024. There is free parking available in lots behind the Playhouse and across the street, as well as street parking. There are several dining establishments just yards from the Playhouse.
WHEN: February 24- March 5, 2023. Friday & Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm.
ADMISSION: $45. Seniors (65+) $40. Youth (21 and under) $25.
DISCOUNTS: Teen tickets (age 13-19) are available at $5 through the TeenTix Pass program. Go to our website to learn more.
RESERVATIONS: (626) 355-4318.
ONLINE TICKETING: http://sierramadreplayhouse.org
ESTIMATED RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes, plus one intermission.
CONSUMER ADVISORY: Some profanity. http://sierramadreplayhouse.org
The title Di Lady Di refers of course to Lady Diana Spencer, the teenaged bride of the future monarch of the United Kingdom who would go on to become one of the most famous and admired women in the world.
The narrative begins when Diana is still a girl. Her family is torn apart by divorce, and she is separated from her mother. Born into a noble family, she is accorded the title of Lady. Blonde, beautiful, and a virgin at nineteen, she attracts the attention of the Prince of Wales who, a decade her senior, is under pressure to marry and generate heirs to secure the royal line. He had been dating her older sister.
Diana marries the Prince, and does her duty by birthing two sons. The Prince rewards her love with betrayal. He has a mistress.
His unfaithfulness sends her into a spiral of depression and she is ultimately granted a divorce.
She refuses to remain a victim, however. She is prominent as an activist for a variety of humanitarian causes, notable among them advocacy for AIDS patients and a push for the abolition of land mines. She becomes the public’s favorite Royal and regains her own agency as The People’s Princess.
Even death cannot erase her personal triumph.
Di Lady Di is a musical, with a song score of twenty-three selections, with intelligent lyrics.
Charlotte Munson is the show’s star, and also crafted the show’s book, music and lyrics. She is the recipient of a Master’s Degree from University of Tennessee. Her extensive credits include roles in New York (All Kinds of People, Hedge Fun, Princes in Cyberland) and regionally (Into the Woods, South Pacific, City of Angels, so many more). In October 2022, she won the Actors Circle Award from the Short & Sweet Hollywood Festival for her performance in her play A World Apart.
Her collaborator in composing the music for Di Lady Di is her father, Dr. Richard Munson. He has performed his music with his ensemble in New York at P.S. 122, Carnegie Hall and The Mudd Club.
Di Lady Di received the award for Best Musical from the Hollywood Fringe Festival and was designated Best of the Fringe by The Tvolution.
“Munson delivers a thoroughly captivating, ultimately quite moving performance in a production ingeniously staged.”—Stage Scene L.A.
“Moving and funny and comforting and yet still daring and wild in places….much like the princess.”—-NoHoArtsDistrict.com
“A perfect performance in a perfect production.”—-The Tvolution
Di Lady Di is an Official Selection of the Sierra Madre Playhouse Solo Shows Festival for 2023. For full information about all events, go to http://sierramadreplayhouse.org
Covid-19 safety protocols are being observed. As of this writing, this means that audience members will be required to wear masks inside the Playhouse auditorium.
