“Grief is humbling . . . all consuming. It takes everything.” “Most people stay attached until they feel strong enough to let go.” This masterfully written play, produced by The Arts Club Theatre Company, invites the reader to explore grief and healing through relationships and music. Three characters' lives unexpectedly intertwine in unconventional and compassionate ways. Erin, a classical pianist, and Elaine, an accomplished piano teacher, both have experienced debilitating loss. One, the tragic loss of her son and husband; the other, the loss of playing the piano. As Erin tries to gather up the pieces of her former life, she meets Elaine, who indirectly rekindles the love of music and unexpected healing for both. It is exquisitely written, with metaphors, allegories, and alluring language that draws the reader into deeper levels of understanding of grief, friendships, hope, and healing. Dittrich, a musical director and accomplished playwright from Vancouver, won the Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Original Script.

Other End Matter: Playback music cues
Images: b&w author photo
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

Dorothy Dittrich is an award winning playwright, musical director, sound designer, and composer. Her most recent play, The Piano Teacher, an Arts Club Theatre Silver Commission that went on to win the Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Original Script. Her other plays include The Dissociates, Lesser Demons, Two Part Invention, and If the Moon Falls, commissioned by the Solo Collective.Her musical When We Were Singing has been produced across Canada including the National Arts Centre, and in the U.S. It received a workshop in New York with MTC. Dorothy’s work has garnered her a number of Jessie Awards and nominations including two Dora Mavor Moore nominations for When We Were Singing. She is the proud recipient of the Sydney J. Risk Award for Emerging Playwright. Dorothy is currently working on two new plays and continues to write and read Tippi and Stan, a comedy series set in Vancouver.

Dorothy Dittrich's profile page

• Winner, Governor General's Literary Award for Drama

“Reading The Piano Teacher is a master class experience for writers at any stage who write in any genre; its pitch perfect and powerful writing.” – BC BookWorld