Adam Guettel used to be known primarily as the grandson of Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, the creator (with Oscar Hammerstein) of mega-popular musicals like Oklahoma! and South Pacific. But Guettel has now achieved acclaim as a composer in his own right. His musical Floyd Collins was a critical success, an unlikely marriage of heavenly music and earthbound book (literally — it was about a man trapped in a cave). But he truly broke into the mainstream last year with multiple Tony winner The Light in the Piazza, the romantic but crisply intelligent story of a (possibly) doomed love affair set in Italy. Piazza, with music and lyrics by Guettel and book by Craig Lucas, is anchored by an irresistible central character: middle-aged matron Margaret Johnson, who's drawn to the romance of Italy while feeling the need to protect her fragile daughter from its potentially dangerous allure. Victoria Clark won a Tony for her performance on Broadway, and the national tour features another Broadway musical star, Christine Andreas, in the role. Adam Guettel is becoming just as famous as his grandpa. Go see why. Oct. 3-8, 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sun., Carol Morsani Hall-Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, downtown Tampa, $32.50-$72.50, 813-229-7827.
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 4, 2006.