The Gardens of Anuncia
by Michael John Lachiusa

Name: The Gardens of Anuncia
Brand: Michael John Lachiusa
SKU: 9780573711503

Off-Broadway

The Gardens of Anuncia Book Cover — The Gardens of Anuncia Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Role(s) for Latine Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk Award

Nominee: Two 2024 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Book of a Musical Nominee: 2024 Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best New Musical

Synopsis

Before her amazing career on Broadway, Graciela Daniele was a young girl growing up in 1940s Buenos Aires in the shadow of the Perón regime.

The Gardens of Anuncia is her coming-of-age story in the form of a gorgeous, tango-infused new musical written by her longtime collaborator and friend, Michael John LaChiusa.

With wit and wisdom, the show follows Anuncia as she tends the garden of her country house and reflects on her life, looking back on her girlhood in Argentina and paying homage to the family of women whose love and sacrifices allowed her to become the legendary creative force she is today.

Press Reviews

"Touching… arguably LaChiusa’s finest musical."
— The Wrap

"A true pleasure… a chance to spend a little time in this artist’s often strange, mostly wondrous mindscape. The pleasure is ours."
— Theatrely

"A petite charmer… Michael John LaChiusa's charming little gem of musical is melodic, funny, warm and packed with star performances… LaChiusa's lush 15-song score, performed with pulsing percussion and brass by a backstage orchestra, is peppered with Latin bolero, tango and mambo rhythms, and his lyrics are shot through with a rich vein of humor and heart."
— San Diego Union-Tribune

"At the heart of The Gardens of Anuncia, Michael John LaChiusa’s sweet reverie of a musical, is a respect and recognition for the renowned Broadway choreographer Graciela Daniele, a longtime friend and collaborator… LaChiusa mercifully does not overstate contemporary parallels between the paranoia of Juan Perón’s dictatorship and our own uncertain times, rather emphasizing the way women have long relied on one another for protection."
— The New York Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
OLDER ANUNCIA Mid-70s to early 80s	—	70s	Mid-70s to early 80s
YOUNGER ANUNCIA Plays 8 years old to early teens	—	—	Plays 8 years old to early teens
MAMI (Carmen) – Anuncia’s mother, late 30s	female	30s	(Carmen) – Anuncia’s mother, late 30s
GRANMAMA (Magdalena) – Anuncia’s grandmother, mother of Carmen and Lucia, early 60s	female	60s	(Magdalena) – Anuncia’s grandmother, mother of Carmen and Lucia, early 60s
TÍA (Lucia) – Anuncia’s aunt, sister of Carmen, early 30s	female	30s	(Lucia) – Anuncia’s aunt, sister of Carmen, early 30s
GRANPAPA (Rogelio) – Anuncia’s grandfather, 60s	—	60s	(Rogelio) – Anuncia’s grandfather, 60s
THE DEER	—	—	—