CAST

Kumudha

STEPHANIE ASTON

The Prince

JORGE GARZA

The Storyteller

NICHOLAS SHELTON

CREATIVE TEAM

Artistic Director & Conductor

MANUEL ALBERTO AYBAR

Stage Director

JOHN HANSEN

Artist & Scenic Designer

JEFF CAIN

Costume Designers

JOANN OWENS & LUPE TEEL

Lighting Designer

NIKOLAY MASLOV

Chorus Master

JEANINE TRENT

Choreographer

JESSICA ADAMS

 John Adams

(born February 15, 1947)

The Story

A Flowering Tree tell the story of Kumudha, a young woman who for the love she feels for her family, magically transforms herself into a flowering tree, whose fragrant and aromatic petals she and her sister sell at the market. Kumudha repeats this cycle in secret for she recognizes the magnificence of her gift.  One day, while transforming herself into this magical realm, she is spied on by the local Prince, who desires to love and posses  Kumudha in her human and magical form.  Appealing to his father, the King, the Prince marries Kumudha and finds bliss in her company.

However, not too long after their marriage, one of the Prince's sisters, covetous of Kumudha's beauty, discovers the ritual of transforming into the tree and along with her friends taunts, torments and tortures Kumudha to the point of leaving her in half human form, misshapen, misbegotten and mistreated. Though Kumudha looses her physical beauty she never looses sight of her inner strength and conviction as time, and the cruelty of others, passes her by.

The Prince, not knowing of his wife's fortune, looses sight of himself, renounces his wealth and position and becomes a mendicant, relying, much like Kumudha, on the whims and occasional charity of others.  Through this winding path Kumudha and the Prince find each other once again, and having overcome adversity are reunited in their love.