THE NIGHT THE CARDIFF GIANT SANG ROSSINI ON THE LAWN

by Charles Traeger, directed by Wallace Norman

WORLD PREMIERE WHAT IS A CARDIFF GIANT AND WHY IS HE SINGING ROSSINI ON THE LAWN? One of the most famous hoaxes in America occurred in 1869 with the unearthing of a 10-foot tall stone Giant by workers digging a well in upstate Cardiff, New York. Heated religious debates erupted concerning Genesis (6:4): “There were giants who once lived on earth.” The discovery of the 'petrified man' created a huge sensation and thousands of believers and curiosity seekers flowed into the town to view him, only to learn a year later that the giant was a hoax created by George Hull, an avowed atheist, who made a fortune selling tickets to see the bogus body. Fast forward to 2006 in Cooperstown, New York where Traeger has set his play, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Glimmerglass Opera and where the Cardiff Giant is still on display at the Farmers' Museum. During the off-season a mysterious man who calls himself George Hull is arrested after breaking into the Farmers' Museum. The arrested man claims to have heard the giant sing and says that he will sing again. Who is this charming, wise, yet strange and suspicious man? Is he a prophet? Is he dangerous? Is he a lunatic? Is he the only one who has heard the Cardiff Giant sing? Will the Giant sing again? Join us to unravel the mystery.