Music by Howard Marren
Book and Lyrics by Nan Knighton
About the Show
Nan described this project in her Center Stage Interview with ThePimpernel.com:
The whole thing takes place in a dollhouse, but it's not a kids' musical. It's definitely for
adults. The characters are the dolls and different creatures that live in a doll house over a
long period of time as history changes around them. I got the idea because for years and years I
kept walking by my daughter's dollhouse and I'd notice that the father had been standing in the
middle of the staircase for three years and I'd think, "This is a major metaphor for life." The
whole family had been sitting around eating wedding cake for two years and I always kept
thinking for years, "This is a musical, this is a play. You know, to go into this dollhouse and
make these people characters." One Christmas my daughter was given an extra father, so suddenly,
there she was with her dollhouse but she had two fathers. She came to me a few days later and
said, "Well, I've worked it out. The old father is now going to be the babysitter and he's going
to live in the attic. The new father..." I thought, "This is a show. This is absolutely a show."
Latest News
One song from the show - "I'm No Good In Bed" - has been recorded and released by Kate Shindle
on her debut album, "Till Today" (SSP Records, 2002). The album is available for
purchase at Amazon.com.
The song has also been performed by Lisa Atkinson at the
Hot-Off-The-Press! Cabaret in Toronto, Canada.
Open House has yet to be produced in any form.
Related Items
18 March 2004 - Question & Answer
Nan discusses her work with Howard Marren
(Snapshots and Open House).
12 February 2004 - Question & Answer
Nan discusses the two musicals she is developing
with Howard Marren: Snapshots and Open House.
12 February 2004 - News Update
Five Songs Featured At Cabaret
15 January 2004 - News Update
Nan's Songs To Premiere In Toronto Cabaret
31 March 1999 - First Center Stage Interview
Nan discusses what the show is about,
and how the idea came to her.
Summer 1998 - Kathy Stanchak Interview
Nan mentions working on Open House.
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