paul’s case [spears & walat]
[02/2014]
composer | GREGORY SPEARS
librettists | GREGORY SPEARS & KATHRYN WALAT
conductor | GLENN LEWIS
scenic & lighting designer | JERRY SHERK
costume designer | TONI WEST
creative consultant | PATRICK RIZZOTTI
photographer | DAVID BACHMAN
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/5EeAXqcKdCeg23SUnYdKSd;642x830.jpeg?auto=webp)
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/8AtXdW7lyuMfTLA8vMzLik;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul (Daniel Curran) is hauled into the Principal's (Phillip Gay) office for his strange behavior...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/723sDVl5kKce1YTBWgfdYt;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...where he only infuriates his teachers (from L to R, Samantha Korbey, Nicole Rodin and Rebecca Belczyk) even more.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/45Gb52HEVLccIMyYKlGRBr;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul runs to his job as an usher at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/1NzKsE2lj6hcO2nJo7k4gQ;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...leaving behind his irate father (Alex DeSocio) at home.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/lu05o4TsEWec8R8cUYxaqF;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul's English Teacher tries, and fails, to warn Paul about the disappointments of life.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/aFCSD0wUI2ldBn7o2mTyXJ;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
During the concert, Paul falls in love, briefly, with one of the singers (Samantha Korbey)...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/kzSaA9RpmHBfMDTXK6HxM1;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...only to be torn from the concert hall and forced to work in a bank by his father.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/gTvLZZEv42ndLNDDFmebiO;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Alone in his office...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/61SDzMhjgSQfTxFQN1lu5E;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...Paul decides to steal the cash deposit...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/02q1jXerm4lbShPBus3BK1;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...and run away to New York City.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/b3ZQjWaf0jdgbMiXhYIggp;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
At the Waldorf-Astoria, surrounded by wealth...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7hqNqBH0IascDNcfLPe17a;290x435.jpeg?auto=webp)
...everything is quite perfection.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/lHjwfMQ8Dc4eA49y4SaZXq;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul is dressed in his newly-purchased evening wear...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/glVpTLjRAwbe0d7T2UlLT6;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...then meets a Yale freshman...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7ABCMEiv3Bxblk78EWO7CV;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
and joins him for a night on the town.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/d6aL1WNy4YNd4KtCsmRgE8;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
The next morning, Paul reads that his thievery has been found out, and that his father is heading to New York City to get him.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/lDuGuzoBuhQdPWGFWUFM1N;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul begins to contemplate suicide, but eschews the revolver.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/0LXEaAfiHtSegUeynoHmnC;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
After being stripped of his finery...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/aA3XHq52dApcGvDGLZez3H;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...Paul runs to the train yard...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/cWkQqIoFZ0lf7x8o72SHth;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...buries his red carnation...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/cc4mkKRedsAb68Lvrg49E5;472x314.jpeg?auto=webp)
...and throws himself in front of an oncoming train.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/jhsmvKaak2GbNWCesbq2Rb;500x333.jpeg?auto=webp)
Paul's death is mourned by all who knew him...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/jUAg2VrccGQe5rDZob0ncB;290x435.jpeg?auto=webp)
...as he returns as a vision, his voice fading into the darkness.