Embarrassments

With book by Laurence Klavan, music by Polly Pen, lyrics by Klavan and Pen, and additional text by Pen, Embarrassments is a complex musical that enters the mind of expatriate American novelist Henry James. Full of acute observations on the literary and theatrical life of 1895 London and New York, this innovative musical reveals another side of James as he hopes to change his life with a new venture – the opening of a play. Meanwhile, deep in James’ imagination, a parallel story (which would eventually be published as his short story “Nona Vincent”), is unfolding about a New York playwright who must make sacrifices to see his vision fully realized on the stage.