June 26, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — Anne Rivelli, who will be a junior at DePauw University this fall, has the featured role in BAMTheatre's production of Jeanine Tesori's musical, Violet. Rivelli will portray "Violet" in the show, which will be staged July 7-10 at the Hinsdale Community House in the Chicago suburb.
"Writer of four Tony-nominated Broadway scores, including Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek: The Musical, Tesori's work with lyricist Brian Crawley on Violet –- a toe-tapping blend of country, rock, gospel and rhythm and blues -- is arguably among her most powerful," notes an announcement. "Based on the short story The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, the musical tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town, all the way to Tulsa, Okla., in hopes
that a TV evangelist can cure her. Although it ran for less than a month Off-Broadway in 1997, Violet astounded critics and audiences with its energetic music and compelling story of transformation. It also garnered a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical," writes Christy Dimond.
Access the article, which points out that Rivelli is a vocal performance major at DePauw, at the Chicago Tribune's website.