Write-up in The Guardian

baldwin new play festival

Anthony Luciano, the director of the Krista Knight-penned “Salamander Leviathan,” a self-described “casio-pop” style musical about what happens when an optimistic man is confronted with the devil, believes the play will have a life after the Baldwins.

“None of us think this is going to be the last time we do this play together,” he said. “It’s cool to be part of something that you think will move forward.”

“Salamander Leviathan” is like the raucous brother of the bunch. The play is a rock ‘n’ roll musical, with tunes written by Arkansas native Barry Brinegar.

The composer, who also leads the band David’s Pegasus, penned music that director Luciano believes is “loud, fun and really earnest.”

It’s the first musical Luciano has directed, though music has still found a place in his previous work. (A veteran of Shakespearean theatre, the director sneaked live music into his production of “The Tempest.”)

Even though the play sports some familiar traits — the delta-blues score and sell-your-soul-to-the-devil narrative — Luciano says that it also reflects the state of the world today (all with a “super hot” cast).

“The play proposes a question that is really pertinent right now. It feels like the world is a little strange… it feels as if any sort of positive change is impossible,” Luciano said. “I think the play is really surprising because it remains hopeful. But it’s not in any way adolescent or idealistic. It recognizes that change is still possible but it recognizes that it comes at a great cost.”