Passion (musical)
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Passion is a musical play, first staged on Broadway in 1994, adapted from Ettore Scola's film Passione d'Amore (which was, in its turn, based on Igino Tarchetti's novel Fosca). The book was by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Central themes include obsession, beauty, power, manipulation, passion, illness, and love.
Set in Italy in 1863, the plot revolves around Fosca, an ugly woman, and her love for Giorgio, a comely soldier who in turn is in love with an attractive woman named Clara. These roles were created by Donna Murphy, Jere Shea, and Marin Mazzie respectively.
Continuing a trend Sondheim and Lapine began with Sunday in the Park with George Passion is mostly through-composed, weaving dialogue and song effortlessly. It is also a partially epistolary play, being told in part through letters.
Beginning previews on March 24, 1994, Passion opened on Broadway on May 9, 1994 and closed on January 7, 1995, completing a run of 280 performances. Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, It was awarded the Tony for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Musical Score, and Best Actress in a Musical (Donna Murphy)