Based on the best-selling novel, and developed by the Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning creative team of Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World) and Marsha Norman, The Bridges of Madison County captures the lyrical expanse of America’s heartland along with the yearning entangled in the eternal question” “What if…?” Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score and Orchestrations, this sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross will leave audiences breathless.

Francesca Johnson (played by Marlene Inman), a beautiful, mature Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, looks forward to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm when her family heads to the 1965 State Fair. When National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid (Jon McHatton), pulls into her driveway seeking directions, though, what happens in those four days alters the course of Francesca’s life.

For artistic director Steve DeBruyne, Bridges came a sudden surprise. The show wasn’t actually in the theatre’s initial season plans, but he received email from Music Theater International on the day the rights were released for regional productions. “And we applied right away” DeBruyne says. He and partner Matt Tomich had seen the touring version when it passed through East Lansing, and they knew they wanted to do it. “The Wharton Center was packed, and the show was very moving,” says DeBruyne.

The set is designed and built by Tomich, who faced some unique challenges in creating the set for Bridges. “You’d think the hardest part might be the Roseman Bridge, the bridge that Robert is photographing for The National Geographic in the show, but it was actually Francesca’s home,” says DeBruyne. Tomich, who designs all of the Dio sets, designed this one so that the entire set folds away to hide the house which allows the bridge to move into place. With the help of the 14-person cast, the scenes move smoothly from one setting to the next. This is a pretty neat affair as the Dio stage is small with no wings.

Marlene Inman and Jon McHatton

Jon McHatton is making his debut at The Dio. McHatton has been in a touring production of Camelot, as well as playing leads in Grease, Oklahoma and Urinetown, among other shows. “I was drawn to the role of Robert for many reasons. First, the score is absolutely gorgeous and Jason Robert Brown is by far my favorite music to sing, “ says McHatton. “The character Robert is a lot like myself. He’s a photographer, I’m an actor so we both know what it’s like to travel places and never really have a chance to settle down or be with someone.”

Other featured actors include Anne Bauman, Molly Cunningham, (director) Steve DeBruyne, James Fischer, Andrew Gorney, Madison Merlanti, Dan Morrison, Luciana Piazza, Derek Ridge, Julianne Roberts, Carrie Jay Sayer and Jared Schneider

All tickets at The Dio include dinner, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages.

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