HART's latest production, "The Light in the Piazza," is a bittersweet love story with a happy ending, and its music is some of the most difficult ever presented on the HART stage. Cast and orchestra are more than up to the challenge.

"I saw it in Chicago, and it wasn't as good as this performance," said Judy Ross at Friday night's opening. "This was splendid."

Before the show, HART executive director Steven Lloyd talked about the contributions of Western Carolina University's musical theatre department.

"We couldn't have produced this show without their talent," he said.

He was talking about WCU students Jonathan Cobrda, Tierney Leigh Cody, Joshua Jones and faculty members Dominic M. Aquilino, Kristen Hedberg and Susan Brummell Belcher, whose husband is WCU chancellor David Belcher.

Adam ...