Wishing Star Theatre Performs Lake Bluff Teacher's 'Beethoven in Vienna'

A Lake Bluff musical educator is about to see her work in writing come alive on stage locally.

Libertyville’s Wishing Star Theatre kicks of its weekend-long run of the musical production, Beethoven in Vienna on Friday, Aug. 12, based on the novel Three Weeks in Vienna by Lake Bluff teacher Susan L. Haugland.

Previously performed in London’s West End and in New York Times Square Arts Center, Beethoven in Vienna examines events surrounding that deaf, iconic German composer’s ninth (and final) symphony as seen through the lens of Karoline Unger. Wishing Star’s upcoming performances mark the musical’s first fully staged showing.

A young, albeit highly accomplished soprano, Unger, 19 was a fervent, presumably infatuated, admirer of the considerably older Beethoven, 54. As such, literary fragments were left behind from Unger’s journal entries regarding her esteem for her celebrated contemporary; such artifacts fueled Haugland’s fodder for Three Weeks in Vienna.

Haugland, who metaphorically referred to Ludwig van Beethoven as “a lifelong love of mine,” was inspired by literary accounts of Beethoven’s predecessors. One such story was the chronicling of legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from director Milos Forman’s 1984 film, Amadeus.

The film “Amadeus left you feeling a huge genius that is Mozart,” Haugland said. “I wanted to do that same thing for Beethoven.”

According to Haugland, modern storytellers often cast Beethoven in a light where “he comes off being a lunatic.” Instead, through her work, Haugland hoped primarily to capture Beethoven’s acute talent.

“Beethoven in Vienna is a love story,” Haugland . “In the end, (it is one) that reveals the romantic attraction of one’s intellect, which is often far more powerful than looks or wealth.”

Among the universal themes of love and infatuation, Beethoven also covers a study of social classes, questions piqued through artistic existentialism, the protected nature of the genius mind and the inherent perils of living apart from the ideals of society.

The latter theme is explored in Beethoven individually through Unger, for she lived unconventionally compared to her 19th century female contemporaries.

Haugland claimed the mood flowing through Beethoven ultimately lands on positive footing. She and the production’s director, Shifra Werch, worked in uncommonly harmonious tandem to realize Haugland’s vision, which she refers to as “mature subject material.”

Still, Haugland maintains that Beethoven aptly speaks to a diverse audience, as it explores interesting themes and houses traditional music for those who might not know anything about this leading figure of his time, a period spanning the Classical and Romantic eras of the 18th and 19th centuries.

One’s “genius is the most attractive asset [he] has,” Haugland said.

Nicola Jane Buttigieg created the music for Beethoven in Vienna. The musical performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14.

For tickets, visit Wishing Star. Audiences recommended for ages 13 and older.