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the war of the romantics,
by Kyle Brosnihan
Presented by Inter Poets Theater
Brick Aux Gallery
628 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 18, 6:30pm
Suggested Donation $10-20
Step into the salons, concert halls, and scandal-ridden love triangles of 19th-century Europe, where music isn't just art—it's a battlefield.
The War of the Romantics brings to life the fierce cultural clash between two titanic musical visions: the revolutionary genius of Richard Wagner and the classical purity of Johannes Brahms. But behind the public feuds and philosophical manifestos lies a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and longing. Wagner wages war on the musical past while secretly courting Cosima—daughter of Franz Liszt and wife of the famed conductor Hans von Bülow. Meanwhile, across the ideological divide, the quiet, brooding Brahms finds himself drawn to the brilliant and resilient Clara Schumann, whose husband Robert is spiraling into madness.
With appearances by Friedrich Nietzsche, Liszt, and other legendary figures, this witty and emotionally rich period piece explores the love, ambition, and obsession that fueled the most dramatic era in classical music. At once intellectual and deeply human, The War of the Romantics is a sweeping ode to art, desire, and the high notes of history.
This is a script reading for a work in development.
Cast:
Niccolò Walsh
Hans von Bülow / Klaus
Lillian Bornstein
Cosima Wagner / Hilda
Paul Lutvak
Franz Liszt / Johann Jakob Brahms / Konzertmeiser
Ozzy Dickson
Hans Richter / Messenger of King Ludwig II
Paul Schack
Richard Wagner
George Copeland
Johannes Brahms
Manu Dávilla
Robert Schumann / Otto Wesendonck
Sofia Talarico
Clara Schumann / Mathilde Wesendonck / Minna Wagner
Alex Morrison
Joseph Joachim / King Ludwig II / Friedrich Nietzche
Written by Kyle Brosnihan
Directed by Paul Schack
Special thanks to the The Brick for providing such a great space. Special thanks to Sarah Sculnick for letting us do the first cast readthrough in her apartment. Special thanks to Emily Wilson and Ben Lerner for their conversation and encouragement.
Bios
Kyle Seamus Brosnihan is a Filipino-American playwright and poet. Raised in Nebraska, he now lives in Brooklyn. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College in 2022. His plays include Condominium, The War of the Romantics, The Cappuccinos, and The Performance. His poetry has been published in Electric Literature, The Brooklyn Rail, The Margins, HAD, Barrelhouse, Beautiful Days Press, and elsewhere. His chapbook Portraits was published with Gasher Press, his chapbook TISOY was published with Bottlecap Press, and his chapbook Lemons was published with Bullshit Lit. IG & Twitter: young_bandido