Table Reading: "Quentin — A Roosevelt Musical"
Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical is a heartfelt and original exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and legacy, told against the backdrop of early 20th-century America and the First World War.
Composer William Linster will present scenes and musical highlights from Act 2 of his in-development show, Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical, with book and lyrics by Lawrence Alexander, and directed by Carol Ziske. The Table Reading Series is produced by Gracewell Productions.
Last season, we presented Act 1 of this new work, and we are delighted to bring you the conclusion of the story! The musical centers around Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of Theodore Roosevelt, who embarks on a forbidden romance with Flora Payne Whitney, a wealthy heiress from a different social sphere. The Roosevelts, renowned for their political activism and their role in trust-busting (which significantly impacted the Whitney family's wealth), stand in stark contrast to the reserved Whitneys, who are determined to avoid scandal of any kind.
The story follows Quentin as he navigates the pressures of familial expectations, personal ambition, and the looming shadow of war. Through a mix of historical events and artistic interpretation, the musical delves into themes of heroism, love, and the impact of war on individuals and their families. Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical weaves together dramatic scenes, emotional soliloquies, and powerful musical numbers to create a moving portrait of a young man caught between personal desire and duty, love and loss, and the enduring question of how to make one's mark in the shadow of a powerful legacy.