Slideshow: Berklee Presents World Premiere Musical The Kiss

On April 26-27, the Berklee Performance Center hosted the world premiere of The Kiss, a new musical theater work inspired by Gustav Klimt's painting of the same name, as part of the Signature Series at Berklee.

May 5, 2017

On April 26-27, the Berklee Performance Center hosted the world premiere of The Kiss, a new musical theater work inspired by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt's painting of the same name. The brilliant new show, part of this season's  Signature Series at Berklee, captivated the audience for two nights with humor, beautifully capturing the mystique surrounding the life of Klimt and others who were close to him.

The Kiss was directed by Rene Pfister, associate professor in the Voice Department, and featured book and lyrics by playwright Cheryl Coons, and music by Voice Professor Peter Eldridge, who worked in collaboration with Coons to compose the music and bring the story to the stage.

"The Kiss also is the debut of the Contemporary Musical Theater Initiatives's new page-to-stage series, in which students, alumni, and faculty produce new original stage productions each year," according to Pfister.

The cast and orchestra featured dozens of Berklee students involved in the Berklee Musical Theater Ensemble and the Berklee Musical Theater Orchestra. The production came to life with behind-the-scenes work on lighting, sound, and projection from students taking Berklee's new minor in stage management

Pfister offered his thanks to all those involved "for putting your heart and soul into this project."