Nevada Belle
Encyclopedia
Nevada Belle is a musical play written by George Morgan and Duane Ashby. Nevada Belle had its workshop premiere in 1998 at the Livery Theatre in Ventura, California
. It then went through a long period of rewrites before having its official world premiere at the Petit Theatre in Oxnard, California
in 2004.
, playing the detective in a rolling murder mystery dinner theatre. One day the owners of the train asked Morgan if he might consider writing an original musical play to be incorporated into their evening shows. Collaborating with arranger/lyricist Duane Ashby, they created a story about six young women traveling from New York to Virginia City, Nevada
in the late 19th century.
. Though they arrived there at different times, the authors use some license and put all six characters on the same train at the same time. Except for a short opening sequence outside a theatre in New York (where Sarah Bernhardt
is performing), the entire story takes place on a steam train as it travels across the United States. The six young women are recruited and watched over by famed Virginia City courtesan Cad Thompson.
The play's main character, Rosa May
, worked several years for Cad Thompson in Virginia City before eventually settling in Bodie
.
The show has fifteen Broadway style tunes. Nevada Belle is distributed by Music Box International: www.musicboxint.com
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. It then went through a long period of rewrites before having its official world premiere at the Petit Theatre in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
in 2004.
Background
In the mid-1990s screenwriter and playwright George Morgan was working as an actor on a tourist train in Fillmore, CaliforniaFillmore, California
Fillmore is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 15,002 at the 2010 census, up from 13,643 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, playing the detective in a rolling murder mystery dinner theatre. One day the owners of the train asked Morgan if he might consider writing an original musical play to be incorporated into their evening shows. Collaborating with arranger/lyricist Duane Ashby, they created a story about six young women traveling from New York to Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
in the late 19th century.
Story
Nevada Belle tells the true story of six young women who lived in the 19th century, all of whom ended up working the saloons in Virginia City, NevadaVirginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
. Though they arrived there at different times, the authors use some license and put all six characters on the same train at the same time. Except for a short opening sequence outside a theatre in New York (where Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
is performing), the entire story takes place on a steam train as it travels across the United States. The six young women are recruited and watched over by famed Virginia City courtesan Cad Thompson.
The play's main character, Rosa May
Rosa May
Rosa May was a prostitute during the late 19th century and very early 20th century who lived in the Virginia City and Bodie, California areas. Legend states that she was selflessly nursing sick miners during an epidemic and succumbed to the illness herself...
, worked several years for Cad Thompson in Virginia City before eventually settling in Bodie
Bodie, California
Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States, about 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe. It is located east-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8379 feet . As Bodie Historic District, the U.S. Department of the...
.
The show has fifteen Broadway style tunes. Nevada Belle is distributed by Music Box International: www.musicboxint.com