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Photo courtesy of Tim Laman
PURE Theatre today announced the World Premiere of Pleasure Never Lies, a new musical by Broadway veterans Marshall Hagins and Brad Moranz. Going from high kicks to high science, the duo has created Charleston's most intriguing new musical, which tackles evolutionary biology with the same flair the former castmates brought to A Chorus Line. Performances will run from April 10 - May 3 at the Cannon Street Arts Center.
Pleasure Never Lies follows Sam, a maverick bird scientist working in the jungle of Papua New Guinea whose radical theories about female choice in evolution threaten the academic establishment. When her former mentor (and lover) arrives to film a nature documentary, the embers of their relationship and professional rivalry ignite personal drama in a race to save both careers and a pristine wildlife reserve.
"It's Legally Blonde meets David Attenborough…with better singing." quips Brad Moranz. Best known for his scene-stealing turns on Broadway as Cosmo in Singin' in the Rain and as Groucho Marx in A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Moranz has since settled in Charleston and composed the score for this new musical. The score blends contemporary musical theater with birdsong-inspired melodies, while the story tackles significant themes about who gets to tell the story of science.
His collaborator Marshall Hagin’s journey is equally surprising. Hagins went from dancing in Mame on Broadway to earning a PhD in Biomechanics.
"I never imagined my scientific career would lead me back to theater," says Hagins, "But when I read Richard Prum's book about female choice in evolution, I knew it had to be a musical."
The show was commissioned in August 2020 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York and has gone through several phases of development, including a twelve-month workshop at PURE Theatre. Early audiences have praised the show's wit and unexpected emotional depth.
"We're not explaining science," Hagins shares. "We're asking what happens when you challenge the accepted narratives—in science, in love, in life."
"People hear 'musical about science' and expect something dry," says Moranz, "But this is a passionate story about fighting for your ideas and following your heart."
The show is directed by PURE Artistic Director Sharon Graci and features a host of local talent, including Kindred Moore, Matt Shingledecker, Tiffany Parker, Teresa Catherine, Maddie Casto, Noah Anderson, and PURE Core Ensemble member Shivam Patel.
Tickets for Pleasure Never Lies range from $47 to $53. Pay What You Will Performances will be on April 10 and 16, and Pay What You Will tickets will be available for online purchase two weeks before the show's opening. There are $12 student tickets available for every show. Tickets are available now at puretheatre.org.
Additional information about Pleasure Never Lies can be found on PURE’s website at puretheatre.org or by calling the box office at 843.723.4444 (Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm).
