"The Light in the Piazza" took New York by storm as it was something Broadway shows hadn't been for a while — original. With a soaring score by Adam Guettel, the grandson of Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein), "Piazza" has been called "The most beautiful score written for the American theater in at least 20 years." And Guettel was called "the most gifted and promising theater composer of his generation."

"It's such a beautiful score, it's just exquisite," said Going. "You just don't hear that anymore in contemporary music. Lush melodies, one right after another. Richard Rodgers had an incredible sense of melody, which his grandson has inherited."

Going, along with the cast, is also thrilled to be part of a regional premiere. "Doing a new musical is extremely difficult, and it's very exciting to be working on it. The cast is so thrilled with it, they just love it."

"We had our hands full trying to find actors who could sing it as well as act it. But, I'm thrilled with the cast — they're just first-rate people."

Having worked at PTC before, Going has always been pleased with the production values. "They really go all-out. And they certainly are for this as well."

"The idea of being in Italy is terribly important to the story — the fact that they're in this beautiful foreign country."

Davis' sculpture will help. "I've carved it to get a fleshy feeling on the surface, which took a little sanding. Then I'll apply the sculpture coat and a layer of cheese cloth to give it a nice marbley finish. Then it'll look like stone or marble."

With that, for just a few hours, audience members will be transported to a piazza, in Florence, Italy.

If You Go:

What: The Light in the Piazza, Pioneer Theatre Company

Where: Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East

When: Friday through Dec. 20

How much: $26-$49; children K-12 are half-price on Mondays and Tuesdays

Phone: 801-581-6961

Web: www.pioneertheatre.org

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E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com