Tale for a Starry Night
Experience the Wonder
What is Tale for a Starry Night?
Tale for a Starry Night is a heartfelt story about family, acceptance, and redemption. When Nisa’s mother dies, she must leave her village in ancient Colchis to find the father she never knew. With the help of Petru, a young man she meets along the way, she makes her way to his door, and, though initially welcomed into his home, Clarissa, his proud new wife, schemes to have her banished. Alone again, she finds her courage, a new home, and love. Years pass in happiness, until her beloved Petru falls ill and her father reappears, a broken man with menace in his heart. With the people of her village at her side, she must find the strength to face not only her father’s threat but the powers of the underworld too save them all.
A family-friendly script, folk-inspired music and dance, period settings well suited to outdoor venues, and the chance to cast a large ensemble make this an ideal production for college, community, and professional theaters.
The Characters
Nisa
An innocent teen with abandonment issues. Her search for a home is the emotional focus of Act I. Reconciling with her estranged father is the emotional focus of Act II, which finds her in her 20’s, the sage mother of two. Contralto/Mezzo (B3 to D5).
Milos
Nisa’s father, a brutal, selfish womanizer who presumes his high military status entitles him to brush the consequences of his amorous exploits aside. Over the course of the play, he is humbled and seeks to set things right with his neglected daughter. Barritone (A2 to D4) Early 40’s.
Petru
A handsome, good-hearted village lad who is instinctively triggered to become Nisa’s protector. Later, Nisa’s husband and well-regarded member of the village. Tenor (D3 to F4); Late teens/early 20’s in Act I; Late 20’s/early 30’s in Act II.
Castolus
Early 30’s. Ambitious lieutenant to Milos, an even more arrogant reflection of him at a younger age.
Tisha
20’s. A sultry servant in Milos’ household and his latest fancy. A war captive who held high social rank in her own community, which makes Clarissa’s tyranny that much harder to bear.
Thena
20’s. Attractive captive slave woman serving in Milos’ household. A boundary tester and good keeper of secrets.
Clarissa
Late 30’s/early 40’s. Jealous wife of Milos, accustomed to wealth and high social standing. A household tyrant and schemer who plots to expose Milos’ womanizing.
Headman
40’s/50’s. A village elder who cares his people with compassion. He is the storyteller of this Tale for a Starry Night.
Healer
50’s/60’s. A villager who assumes the responsibility as a go-between for the villagers and divine powers. Knowing his earthly run will eventually end, he is on the lookout for an apprentice to replace himself.
Alkana
40’s. A village elder and Petru’s mother. The female counterpart to the Headman. Authoritative but compassionate.
And, of course, The Chorus
The Music
1. Mother, No One’s Listening to Me – Sample
2. Kind of Your Kind of Man – Sample
3. What Makes a Friend a Friend – Sample
4. It’s Coming Up Again – Sample
5. Home That Was Never Home – Sample
6. If You Could Have Seen It – Sample
7. What I’m Trying to Say – Sample
About
the Author
Gregory Miles Thomas is the author, composer, and lyricist of Tale for a Starry Night. As steward of the Tale he has watched it grow over the years from a tiny seed to a full-scale musical. Sourced by Anthropology, International Folk Dancing, shamanism and theater, it is meant to dazzle, entertain, and evoke a sense of wonder in its audience.
Greg loves the enhanced storytelling that is musical theater and aspires to craft works that audiences will love and long remember.
Retired from the teaching of English and Humanities, he now lives in Boise, Idaho where he is active in community theater.
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Website Credits
Design by Greg Thomas
Landing page and navigation artwork created using Bing Image Creator
Character illustrations by Bryan Strickland.
Trailer artwork & video editing by Bryan Strickland
Special thanks to Onward Multimedia for building the website.