St. Olaf Theatre Department presents "Violet"

This fall, the St. Olaf Theatre Department presented Violet, with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Cawley. Violet is a young girl who has a terrible scar that runs across her face, which she received when her father lost control of his axe. The musical tells the story of her pilgrimage from Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be healed by a television preacher. The musical is based on a short story entitled The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts. It was directed by Professor Karen Wilson, and I served as the music director and pianist. The show ran in St. Olaf's Haugen Theater, a small black box, from October 6-11.