Ariana DeBose is set to star as Geneviève in the first major New York City production of the rarely-seen musical The Baker’s Wife.
The musical was written nearly 50 years ago by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, but it never made it to Broadway. The show has been a cult classic for decades, with the song “Meadowlark” considered to be one of the best songs in the musical theatre canon.
Here’s the synopsis: “In a quiet French village, a baker and his wife bring fresh bread…and fresh gossip. But when temptation stirs and hearts wander, the whole town gets caught up in a swirl of romance, mischief, and melody.”
Classic Stage Company has announced that Ariana will star in the upcoming off-Broadway production from October 23 to December 14 at CSC’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater. A complete performance schedule, additional casting, and full creative team will be announced at a later date. The show, featuring a book by Fiddler on the Roof writer Joseph Stein, will be directed by Gordon Greenberg.
“Ariana is one of our finest young singing actresses, and I’m excited by the depth and nuance she will bring to the title role,” Schwartz said in a statement. “Plus, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing her sing ‘Meadowlark,’ so I know CSC audiences are in for a treat.”
Greenberg added, “Ariana DeBose brings an electric mix of vulnerability, wit, and star power to Genevieve – qualities that not only honor Stephen and Joe’s beautiful work but also ignite it in thrilling new ways. She’s the kind of performer who makes you lean forward in your seat—not just because of her voice, which is extraordinary, but because of the emotional truth she brings to every moment. Watching her inhabit this role will be like discovering the character for the first time.”
Tickets will be available to CSC’s donors before they go on sale to the general public.
The news comes months after Ariana dropped out of another high-profile stage production. This will mark her first stage show since wrapping her Tony-nominated run in Broadway’s Summer.
