Review Fix chats with Kit Goldstein Grant, who discusses her new production “The Nose,†which is set for a run at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival.
For more on this production, click here.

THE NOSE by Kit Goldstein Grant, directed by Lacy Reily, music director Matthew Bennis, book, music and lyrics by Kit Goldstein Grant; starring Christopher Michaels, Jo Walker, Scott Caron, Adrian Rifat, Ron Orlovsky, and Loulu Luzi. Based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol. A man’s nose disappears from his face, and turns up the next day gallivanting around St. Petersburg dressed as a general — what a lot of nonsense! (Children’s Musical)
Performance Schedule:Â Fri 8/05, 1:00pm; Sat 8/06, 11:00am; Sun 8/07, 12:00pm
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this project?
Kit Goldstein Grant: Nikolai Gogol’s fantastic and absurd story of the same name, “The Nose,†was the direct inspiration. The story is about a petty civil servant whose nose runs away. It’s amazing! I also delved into other Russian literature while writing, and there are definitely some Chekhov and other influences mixed in.
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Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Grant: For this show, cold. I wrote the bulk of the songs for THE NOSE on long walks during a frigid winter, back when I was living in upstate New York. Kind of appropriate for a show set in St. Petersburg! I almost froze my nose off.
Review Fix: What makes this different or special?
Grant: The story has so much imagination and unconventional absurdity. THE NOSE is a story about a man whose nose runs away and masquerades as a man more important than he is. Writing Russian-flavored music was also really fun and different for me as a composer. The show is designed for a young audience, but the satirical humor is a lot of fun for adults.
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Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this process?
Grant: I’m learning how much I enjoy collaborating. I frequently write alone, which I also really enjoy, but I love the part where a director and music director come in and bring their own interpretation to the material.
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Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of something like this?
Grant: Fantastic, It’s a bit overwhelming to be helming the production of a show when you are also the writer of book, music, and lyrics, but it’s very exciting to be able to finally see this show fully realized, and to get to share it with an audience.
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Review Fix: What are your ultimate goals for this production and for the future?
Grant: I’d love for this show to be performed in a small off-Broadway theater or in a touring production that travels to schools.
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Review Fix: What do you think your audiences will enjoy the most?
Grant: The humor, the imagination, and the runaway nose!
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Review Fix: What’s next?
Grant: A concert reading of my black comedy musical THE WRONG BOX is in the works for the fall. More details at www.thewrongboxmusical.com!
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