The award-winning story of a forgotten prodigy from a famed musical family, "The Other Mozart" will bring its tale to SUNY Oswego's Waterman Theatre at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23.
Part of the university's Artswego Performing Arts Series, the touring production focuses on Nannerl Mozart, the genius older sister of the famed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. "The Other Mozart" had a successful Off-Broadway run and earned two New York Innovative Theatre awards and eight nominations, as well as Drama Desk and Off Broadway Alliance nominations.
Nannerl -- a nickname for Maria Anna Mozart (1751-1829) -- also was a musical prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer, who performed throughout Europe with her brother to equal acclaim, but her work and her story faded away, lost to history.
"The Other Mozart" has earned rave reviews, described as "strikingly beautiful," by The New York Times.
A Los Angeles Times review complimented the "dazzling, original performance" with "superb sound design" and "hauntingly beautiful compositions."
Daniela Galli acts the title role in this production, which was created and written by Sylvia Milo. Galli began her journey as a dancer and musician in her native Brazil, where she was a member of modern and tap dance companies and played the oboe with the Symphonic Orchestra of Campinas. After working as a set designer off-Broadway in a number of notable venues, Galli turned her focus to acting, studying at HB Studios and making her mark in Brazil's theatre, film and television industries.
Her many global TV, film and stage credits include Netflix's "The Killer," for which she received a best actress nomination at the Gramado Film Festival, and the Brazilian series "Obscure Power," which earned her a Contigo Award best actress nomination.
Directed by Isaac Byrne, the experimental play unfolds in a set design of an 18-foot dress, designed by Magdalena Dabrowska of the National Theater of Poland.
"The Other Mozart" draws from Mozart family letters and represents, according to the production's website, "one example of a systematic tragedy happening innumerable times throughout history. ... Nannerl Mozart was a brilliant musician whose story has been relegated for centuries as a footnote in her brother’s story."
In addition, a free workshop for students on "Creating 'The Other Mozart'" featuring Galli and stage manager/assistant director Kodi Lynn Milburn will take place at 1 p.m. on March 23 in Tyler Hall's black box theatre. Galli and Milburn will discuss the artistic and financial considerations, artistic and technical collaborations, branding and promotional imperatives entailed in creating and producing a play.
Tickets for the evening performance are free for SUNY Oswego students; $5 for other students; $15 for faculty, staff and alumni; and $20 for the general public. Starting March 20, tickets are available at all campus box offices, online via tickets.oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-3073. The Marano Campus Center box office is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and tickets will be available from Tyler Box Office from 5 to 7 p.m. the day of the event.
For more information about arts events at SUNY Oswego, visit oswego.edu/artswego.