(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- PEAK Performances at Montclair State University presents its musical-in-concert performances of Queen of the Mist from February 20–23, 2025 in the Alexander Kasser Theater. This is a bold yet often overlooked musical being presented in a time when its themes are all the more resonant, and its thrilling originality is all the more rare.
In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, an unmarried and struggling 63-year-old woman, went to extraordinary lengths to change her position, in a quest both for financial stability and visibility: becoming the first person to challenge and survive the mighty Niagara Falls, braving them in a barrel she designed and built. This riveting narrative follows Taylor (Mary Testa) as she navigates not only the perilous Falls but also her place in history, amid a chaotic world of manipulative managers, killers, judgmental relatives, and advocates. Unwilling to settle for an ordinary life, she waged war against her fears and gambled with destiny.
Featuring words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa (Hello, Again, Marie-Christine, The Wild Party, The Gardens of Anuncia), these performances directed by Kirsten Sanderson (previous works with LaChiusa: First Daughter Suite, Sukie and Sue, Little Fish, and First Lady Suite) with musical direction by Jude Obermüller (Orchestrations: Marguerite, Rehab: The Musical; as composer: Julius Caesar, Farragut North; with LaChiusa: the Public Theater’s workshop of The Gardens of Anuncia).
Three-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk Award winner, and frequent LaChiusa collaborator Mary Testa (Broadway: Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls; works with Michael John LaChiusa: Marie Christine, See What I Wanna See, First Lady Suite, The Gardens of Anuncia, and Queen of the Mist) reprises the role LaChiusa wrote for her and which she originated in 2011—of the historic figure at the center of this audacious true story.
Performances of Queen of the Mist take place Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 22 at 8:00pm, and Sunday, February 23 at 3pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. The Alexander Kasser Theater is located at 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey.
Queen of the Mist was first commissioned and premiered by The Transport Group in New York City for its Off-Broadway debut in 2011 at the Gym at Judson, and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. About a woman who sought to create a safety net for herself by taking a safety-net-free, death-defying plunge, this wise, moving, and eerily captivating work from one of the great musical theater composers and lyricists of his generation continues PEAK’s 2024-25 season, bringing a diversity of genres and forms to the Alexander Kasser Theater.
Kirsten Sanderson said, “Annie’s 15 minutes of fame fails to lift her out of poverty. Instead she has a profound spiritual experience while going over the falls, one which sustains her through the final years of her life. Annie Edson Taylor—brazen, stubborn, brave and determined, with her one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life story and uncommon world view, is such a great musical theatre character. I’m inspired by the way she defied the conventional restrictions placed on women in her time. Successfully pursuing ideas that others believe are impossible is so important. It’s the very thing that empowers humanity and advances civilization, and that’s why Edson Taylor’s crazy adventure is a tale worth sharing.”
Beyond Testa, Queen of the Mist’s cast also includes George Abud (Broadway: Lempicka, The Band’s Visit; Off-Broadway: Cornelia Street, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Man of La Mancha), Klea Blackhurst (Off-Broadway: Party Face, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Bingo; Solo shows: Everything the Traffic Will Allow, Autumn in New York), Erin Davie (Broadway: Diana, Sunday in the Park with George, Side Show, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Grey Gardens), Kelvin Moon Loh (Broadway: Beetlejuice, SpongeBob SquarePants, The King and I; Off-Broadway: Pacific Overtures, Here Lies Love), Anthony Norman (Broadway: The Prom; National Tour: Dear Evan Hansen, Newsies; Regional: Sweeney Todd; TV: ‘Mare of Easttown’), and Leo Roberts (National Tour: Mrs. Doubtfire; London/West End: Les Miserables, Shrek, Show Boat, West Side Story).
Queen of the Mist features orchestrations by Michael Starobin (winner of Tony Awards for Assassins and Next to Normal). The creative team includes Keith A. Truax (Lighting Design), Ken Travis (Sound Design), Lara de Bruijn (Costume Design), and Kirsten Sanderson (Projections Design).
Queen of the Mist builds on Hausam and LaChiusa's 40-year professional relationship. With this “refreshingly unusual musical” (Time Out London), PEAK Performances doubles down on its devotion to inventive musical theater, as it seeks to find new ways to incubate and uplift bold original works in the genre as the industry increasingly favors intellectual property. The musical follows last year’s presentation of the East Coast premiere of the opera Blind Injustice— “a spirited call for reforms to the American criminal justice system” (The New York Times)—composed by Scott Davenport Richards with a libretto by David Cote, and directed by Robin Guarino. In Summer 2025, PEAK Performances will engage to-be-announced musical theater makers in developmental readings and workshops, challenging this era of scarce opportunities for the creation of innovative work in the field.
Wiley Hausam, Director of Arts + Cultural Programming at Montclair State University, says, “We at PEAK Performances value musicals with something on their minds and in their hearts. I'm always on the lookout for artful works that might have been overlooked or underappreciated at their debut. Michael John LaChiusa is one of the most important writers of musical theater of the past thirty years. He is also extraordinarily productive. I believe that his Queen of the Mist, which I loved when I first saw it in 2011, is more relevant — and more touching — than ever.”
Michael John LaChiusa is a five-time Tony Award-nominated composer, lyricist, and librettist for his Broadway productions of The Wild Party, Marie Christine, and Chronicle of a Death Foretold. LaChiusa’s acclaimed Off-Broadway musicals have been seen at The Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theatre, Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights’ Horizons, and Transport Group, among many others and include The Gardens of Anuncia, Los Otros (with Ellen Fitzhugh), First Daughter Suite, Giant, Queen of the Mist (Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical), Bernarda Alba, See What I Wanna See, Little Fish, Hello Again, and First Lady Suite. His work has been produced by many notable regional theatres, including Rain at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. LaChiusa has been commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival among others, and he has penned Lovers and Friends (Chautauqua Variations) at Lyric Opera of Chicago and Send (who are you? I love you) written for Audra McDonald at Houston Grand Opera. Revues celebrating LaChiusa’s work include La La LaChiusa (Joe’s Pub), Hotel C’est l’Amour, conceived by Daniel Henning (The Blank Theatre), and Heartbreak Country: Michael John LaChiusa’s Stories of America (Jazz at Lincoln Center). LaChiusa’s awards include an Obie Award, a Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Award, a Kleban Prize, and two Daytime Emmy Awards. LaChiusa teaches at New York University and is a resident of New York City.
Kirsten Sanderson (Director) is a New York based Stage and Television Director. She has collaborated with some of America’s best dramatic writers, including Michael John LaChiusa, Shel Silverstein, Steven Schwartz and Blake Edwards. Her theatre work has been seen at Playwright’s Horizons,The Public, PS 122, Circle Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Director's Company, Sundance Theatre Lab, The Blank Theatre Company, Theatreworks USA, The Women's Project, HBO Comedy Arts Festival, New York Fringe Festival, New York Music Theatre Festival, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Town Hall. She stages live television programming for a variety of networks around Manhattan.
Jude Obermüller (Musical Director) is a British musician, working between the music scenes of New York and London. He has helmed the music for collaborations with Sir Trevor Nunn (NYTW), Alan Cumming (NYTW), Eva Noblezada (East Coast Tour), Cynthia Erivo, Bridgerton's Luke Newton, and J.K. Simmons (Carnegie Hall). His orchestrations include Alain Boublil’s revival of Marguerite (Off West End), Rehab: The Musical (West End), and Robbie Williams’ Swings Both Ways (International Tour). From 2014-2020, Jude was Frances Ruffelle’s Musical Director, leading performances at the Kennedy Center, Joe’s Pub, and U.S./U.K. residencies. As Vocal Director and Arranger for Holland America Line, he created several new vocal shows now running across their fleet. As a composer, Jude’s recent theatre scores include Julius Caesar (Singapore Rep), R+J (British Youth Music Theatre), Farragut North and As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse), and Underground (59E59, Off-Broadway). His screen credits include the dance film Dateleap and ad campaigns for Vogue, Comedy Central, and Airalo (Angel Studios/Abbey Road, London). A full scholar of the Royal College of Music and NYU’s Tisch, Jude is a fellow of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters’ Project. His upcoming works include Miss Havisham’s Wedding (with David Gomez & Laura Barati), Bardo: A Musical Webseries, and Feet Keep Me Flyin’ (with Jack Evans & David Gomez). Previously, Jude worked with Michael John LaChiusa as MD for the Public Theater’s workshop of The Gardens of Anuncia.
About the Cast
George Abud (Mr. Russell) is a proud Arab-American actor. Film: Caught Stealing starring Austin Butler & Zoë Kravitz (dir. Darren Aronofsky). Broadway: Marinetti in Lempicka directed by Rachel Chavkin (OBC Recording); The Band’s Visit starring Katrina Lenk & Tony Shalhoub (Daytime Emmy Award, OBC Recording); The Visit starring Chita Rivera & Roger Rees (OBC Recording). Off-Broadway: The Beautiful Lady directed by Anne Bogart (La MaMa); Nerd Face in Emojiland (Drama Desk nom., OOBC Recording; The Duke on 42nd); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui alongside Raúl Esparza, Nathan The Wise opposite F. Murray Abraham, Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Allegro directed by John Doyle (Classic Stage Company); Cornelia Street opposite Norbert Leo Butz, The Band’s Visit directed by David Cromer (Atlantic Theater Company); Lolita, My Love opposite Robert Sella (York Theatre Company). Regional: Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes (The Muny); Richard Nixon in The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical directed by Christopher Ashley (Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical), and Filippo Marinetti in Lempicka directed by Rachel Chavkin (Craig Noel nom., both at La Jolla Playhouse); Lewis Chapman in August Rush directed by John Doyle (Paramount Theatre); Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun directed by Sarna Lapine (Bay Street Theater); Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Geva Theatre Center). International: The New Prince alongside Barbara Walsh, Marc Kudisch, and Paulo Szot (Dutch National Opera) in Amsterdam.
Klea Blackhurst (Carrie Nation, Mrs. Gumstock, River Boy, Woman Reporter) has performed in legendary halls from The London Palladium to Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall to Jazz at Lincoln Center and with symphony orchestras from Atlanta to Philly, Ravinia to Tanglewood. She starred in Goodspeed Musicals’ 50th anniversary production of Hello, Dolly!, originated the role of Miss Lemon in the Marvin Hamlisch/Rupert Holmes musical, The Nutty Professor, directed by Jerry Lewis, and the title role in Hazel at Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, where she also headed a critically lauded production of Gypsy. She is a member of Mendez Boxing Harlem, where she is known as The Belter. Klea is a distinguished Alumna of the University of Utah.
Erin Davie (Jane, The Blonde). Broadway: Camilla Parker Bowles in Diana (Netflix) Yvonne/ Naomi in Sunday in the Park with George, Violet Hilton in Side Show, Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Countess Charlotte Malcolm in A Little Night Music, Young Little Edie in Grey Gardens (Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut), Niki Harris in Curtains. Off-Broadway: The Glorious Ones (Lincoln Center Theater), Applause (Eve Harrington; Encores). Tours: Swing!, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Guys and Dolls. Regional: The Bridges of Madison County at Signature Theatre (Helen Hayes nom.) Sideshow at La Jolla Playhouse/ Kennedy Center (Helen Hayes nom), A Time to Kill at Arena Stage, Sunday in the Park with George at the St. Louis Rep (Kevin Kline award nom), Carousel at Goodspeed, Leading Ladies, Ragtime, South Pacific, 90 Years of MUNY Magic, Camelot, The Apple Tree, Jekyll & Hyde, The Student Prince. She can be heard on Cast albums: Diana, Sunday in the Park with George 2017 revival, Side Show revival, Grey Gardens, A Little Night Music revival, The Glorious Ones. TV: “New Amsterdam”, “The Hunters”, “The First Lady”, “Tales of the City”, “Orange is the New Black”, “Law & Order”, “The Good Wife”. FILM: Angelfish, King Jack, Easter Mysteries.
Kelvin Moon Loh (Officer Darling, Panhandler, Man with a Handkerchief). Broadway: Beetlejuice The Musical, SpongeBob SquarePants (dir. Tina Landau), The King and I (Lincoln Center, dir. Bartlett Sher), Side Show (dir. Bill Condon). Select Theater: See What I Wanna See (OOTB, dir. Emilio Ramos), Here Lies Love (Public Theater, dir. Alex Timbers), Pacific Overtures (Classic Stage Co., dir. John Doyle), American Idiot (1st National, dir. Michael Mayer). Television: Only Murders in the Building. Kelvin can be heard as a vocalist in movies Spirited, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, The Greatest Showman, and the upcoming Kiss of the Spiderwoman starring Jennifer Lopez. He appears as Perch Perkins in the movie version of SpongeBob SquarePants The Musical. Follow @kelvinmoonloh
Anthony Norman (Mike Taylor, Panhandler, Barker). PEAK performances debut! Anthony is swimming with excitement to be performing alongside these legends. Recent theatre credits include Jimmy in Reefer Madness (25th anniversary revival), Evan in Dear Evan Hansen (1st nat’l tour), The Prom (OBC), Newsies (1st nat’l), Murder for Two (The Rev). TV/Film credits include: “Happy’s Place” (NBC), “Mare of Easttown” (HBO), “Chicago Med”, and Love Reconsidered (Amazon). Shout out Colette, Nate, Steve, Matt, Richard, Mom and fam. For Finley.
Leo Roberts (Mr. Mallardo, Panhandler, Mr. Rudetsky, River Man, New Manager). The british baritone now based in New York city, Leo Roberts recently starred as Stuart Dunmire in the original US touring production of Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical. After collaborating on two workshop stages of Michael John LaChiusa’s new musical, An American Eclipse, Leo is thrilled to join the stellar cast of Queen of the Mist. Known from London’s West End, Leo’s standout roles include Steve Baker in Show Boat, Shrek in Shrek the Musical, The Beast in Beauty And The Beast, and many more productions such as Les Misérables. Beyond the stage, Leo is a competitive athlete, channeling the same discipline, energy, and passion into his training as he does into his performances.
Mary Testa (Annie Edson Taylor) is the recipient of the Legend of Off-Broadway Award, Three Tony nominations, two Lucille Lortel nominations, six Drama Desk nominations, two Drama League nominations, two Outer Critics Circle nominations, an Obie Award, and a special Drama Desk award celebrating Queen of the Mist and 'Three Decades of Outstanding Work.' Broadway: Oklahoma!, Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, Chicago, 42nd St, Marie Christine, On the Town, Forum, etc. Opera: Anna Nicole/BAM. Off-Broadway: Oklahoma!, The Portuguese Kid, The Government Inspector, First Daughter Suite, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Queen of the Mist, Love Loss.., A New Brain, See What I Wanna See, etc. Film: Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, “The Mother” (short; 3 Best Actress Awards), Big Stone Gap, Eat Pray Love, The Bounty Hunter, etc. Television: “The Good Fight”, “Divorce”, “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “Bull”, “SMILF”, “Two Broke Girls”, “Difficult People”, and “Whoopi”. Featured on fourteen original cast albums, Mary's album with Michael Starobin, Have Faith, is now available.
PEAK Performances, which is based at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ, commissions, develops, produces and presents live professional musical theater, opera, dance, and music by world-class artists. Its 2024-25 season is the second under the direction of Wiley Hausam.
