The Night Governess is inspired by a 19th-century thriller by Louisa May Alcott—but in this new operetta, things go further than anyone expects. It’s 1857 and the Coventry Family awaits the arrival of a new governess. When the seemingly genteel Jean Muir enters, she proceeds to systematically seduce the entire family, including their dog.
THE NIGHT GOVERNESS or The Story of a Knowledge Vampire
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Polly Pen
Based on Behind a Mask or A Woman’s Power by Louisa May Alcott
Directed and Music Directed by NDavid Williams
Cast and Artistic Team:
The Family:
Mrs. Coventry (The Matriarch): Naphtailda Jean-Charles
Gerald (The Eldest Son): Michael Stafford
Ned (The Younger Son): Kyle Hendricks
Nellie (The Daughter): Joy Missey
Chloe (A Visiting Cousin): Maggie Rabitsch
Sir John Coventry (A Distant Relation): Fletcher Baum
The Other Ones:
Dean (The Housekeeper): Madison Wenig
Chaos (The Family Dog): Fletcher Baum
Jean Muir (The Governess): Dominique Karanfilian
Production Stage Manager: Jessica Wexler
Pianist and Assistant Music Director: Michael Anthony Harris, Sr.
Director and Music Director: NDavid Williams
About Polly Pen
Polly Pen writes books, music, and lyrics. She is an Obie Award winner for the score of Bed and Sofa, (NYC premiere Vineyard Theatre/London premiere Finborough Theatre). Other works include Goblin Market, (Vineyard Theatre), The Night Governess (McCarter Theatre), Arlington (Magic Theatre, Vineyard Theatre), Her Lightness (Sarasota Opera), The Dumb Cake (a radio musical for NPR), Embarrassments (Wilma Theater), and Christina Alberta’s Father (Vineyard Theatre). Pen is the recipient of numerous Drama Desk nominations, she received the Dramatist Guild’s Flora Roberts Award in 2009, and has been a National Theatre Artist-in-Residence at McCarter Theatre. She is currently a proud professor at NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. In another life, Pen worked extensively as an actor on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in repertory theatres throughout the U.S.
About NDavid Williams
NDavid Williams (director and music director) is the director of the BFA program for the Department of Theatre Arts. He is also a music director of the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre and has been the music director of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, where he frequently collaborates with Theatre legends, Terrence Mann and Leslie Uggams. Williams is the founder of Music Theatre Italy and the new Act Healthy—a summer musical theatre intensive in Italy. Williams is a well-known classical pianist and accompanist who has worked throughout the country and in Europe. He was also the host of his own morning classical music radio show. His many theatre credits include Falsettos, A New Brain, Guys and Dolls, On the Town, Company, The Music Man, A Chorus Line, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Bat Boy, Baby, The Frogs, and Gypsy. He wrote the music for Reconstructing Mama with book and lyrics by Stephen Svoboda. He was also the co-writer and director of The Miami Vaudeville Review of 1926.
