Galileo
BOOK BY DANNY STRONG
SONGS BY MICHAEL WEINER & ZOE SARNAK
CHOREOGRAPHED BY DAVID NEUMANN
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MAYER
WORLD PREMIERE
RODA THEATRE
MAY 5–JUN 23, 2024
Spellbinding…a ceaselessly high-octane rock music score exploited mightily by the wicked talents of director Michael Mayer.
Raúl Esparza is brilliant…he sets the stage ablaze.
Raucous, sumptuous, and moving.
Exceptionally acted…a gorgeous production.
Visually stunning, intellectually stimulating.
If you skip this production of Galileo, you will miss something compelling, powerful, even magical.
Four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza stars in a dazzling world-premiere musical helmed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Swept Away), written by two-time Emmy winner Danny Strong (Dopesick, Empire, The Butler). When maverick scientist Galileo Galilei makes celestial observations that challenge humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe, he’s summoned to Rome to defend his discoveries before the most powerful religious institution in the world, which is facing a rebellion of its own. With an original rock score and lyrics by Michael Weiner (Broadway’s First Date) and Zoe Sarnak (The Lonely Few, Empire Records), Galileo is an explosive collision of science and faith, truth and power. Galileo will likely join the constellation of world premieres that traveled from Berkeley Rep to Broadway — be the first to see it here!
Production information
Runtime: Approximately two hours and 30 minutes including one 15-minute intermission
Stage effects advisory: None
Content advisory: Loud noises and sound effects throughout
Creative team
Rachel Hauck | Scenic Design
Anita Yavich | Costume Design
Kevin Adams | Lighting Design
John Shivers | Sound Design
Jason H. Thompson, Kaitlyn Pietras | Projection Design
Tom Watson | Hair, Wig, Make-Up Design
Jim Carnahan, CSA; Jason Thinger, CSA | Casting
Brian Usifer | Music Supervision and Orchestrations
Roberto Sinha | Music Director
Ben Villegas Randle | Associate Director
T. Oliver Reid | Associate Choreographer
Jonathan Bauerfeld | Associate Music Director and Score Associate
Sean Kana | Contractor
Rick Steiger* | Production Stage Manager
Amy Marsico* | Stage Manager
Karen Evanouskas* | Assistant Stage Manager
Cast
(in alphabetical order)
Bradley Dean* | Bishop Grasso; U/S Galileo Galilei
Gabrielle Elisabeth* | Ensemble; U/S Virginia Galilei & Young Nun
Raúl Esparza* | Galileo Galilei
Adam Halpin* | Ensemble (Bruno Giordano & Vice Commander Caspari); U/S Bishop Maffeo Barberini
Michal Kolaczkowski* | Swing; Dance Captain; U/S Bruno Giordano & Vice Commander Caspari
Jeremy Kushnier* | Bishop Maffeo Barberini
Claire Kwon* | Swing; U/S Young Nun
Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert* | Ensemble; U/S Virginia Galilei & Mother Superior
Christian Magby* | Alessandro Tarantola
Michael J. Mainwaring* | Ensemble; U/S Paolo Tarantola
Madalynn Mathews* | Virginia Galilei
Alexander Mendoza* | Ensemble; U/S Alessandro Tarantola & Bishop Grasso
Javier Muñoz* | Cardinal Morosini
Brian Ray Norris* | Ensemble; U/S Galileo Galilei & Paolo Tarantola
Chase Peacock* | Ensemble; U/S Bishop Maffeo Barberini
Noah Plomgren* | Swing; U/S Cardinal Morosini, Bruno Giordano & Vice Commander Caspari
David Rowen* | Swing
DeMone Seraphin* | Ensemble (Paolo Tarantola); U/S Bishop Grasso & Cardinal Morosini
Madeleine Spacapan* | Ensemble; U/S Mother Superior
Erica Sweany* | Ensemble (Mother Superior)
Zalah Brenae Vallien* | Ensemble (Young Nun)
Adrian Villegas* | Ensemble; U/S Alessandro Tarantola
Band
Roberto Sinha | Keys / Music Director
Jonathan Bauerfeld | Keys / Associate Music Director
Stephen Danska | Guitar
Daniel Fabricant | Bass
Yuri Kye | Violin
Dave MacNab | Guitar
Joshua Mikus-Mahoney | Cello
Chris Sutherland | Drums
* Indicates a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional stage actors and stage managers in the United States
Raúl Esparza (Galileo Galilei) and the cast of Galileo: A Rock Musical, making its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Photo by Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Christian Magby (Alessandro Tarantola) and Madalynn Mathews (Virginia Galilei) in the world premiere of Galileo: A Rock Musical, performing at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Photo by Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Jeremy Kushnier (Bishop Maffeo Barberini) and Raúl Esparza (Galileo Galilei) in the world premiere of Galileo: A Rock Musical, performing at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Photo by Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Season sponsors
Sponsored in part by
Mechanics Bank Wealth Management
Photo by Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Madalynn Mathews (Virginia Galilei) and Raúl Esparza (Galileo Galilei) in the world premiere of Galileo: A Rock Musical