February 11th
The Angel of Painted Post, a musical I'm composing music for from a book by Adrian Bewley and lyrics by Richard Castle, performed our first act at the 2014 ASCAP/DreamWorks Musical Theater Workshop at DreamWorks Animation Studios in Burbank. Ours was one of three musicals picked by Stephen Schwartz out of 130 submissions.
The story takes place in 1948 where a teenage girl wakes up from a coma only to find that her resourceful mother, who's husband left her with no way to support her and her daughter, is charging admission for folks to see the vision of the Virgin Mary which appears in her daughter's bedroom window. The vision attracts a young drifter, who gets caught up in a web of lies that test the faith of everyone in this war-weary town of Painted Post, Massachusetts.
The Angel of Painted Post, a musical I'm composing music for from a book by Adrian Bewley and lyrics by Richard Castle, performed our first act at the 2014 ASCAP/DreamWorks Musical Theater Workshop at DreamWorks Animation Studios in Burbank. Ours was one of three musicals picked by Stephen Schwartz out of 130 submissions.
The story takes place in 1948 where a teenage girl wakes up from a coma only to find that her resourceful mother, who's husband left her with no way to support her and her daughter, is charging admission for folks to see the vision of the Virgin Mary which appears in her daughter's bedroom window. The vision attracts a young drifter, who gets caught up in a web of lies that test the faith of everyone in this war-weary town of Painted Post, Massachusetts.
August 19-21
Richard Castle and I were invited by Jeff Herbst, the musical director of the American FolkLore Theater, to fly to Fish Creek, Wisconsin all-expenses paid to see their outdoor theater which is in the middle of Peninsula State Park. Earlier that year, we had written several audition pieces (along with 5 other writing teams) for Jeff who flew us and one other team to experience their 650-seat theater, their audience, and their shows which have been packing them in for over 20 years. Here's a video of our trip (plus fast forward to 2020 when Love Stings is about to debut).
Richard Castle and I were invited by Jeff Herbst, the musical director of the American FolkLore Theater, to fly to Fish Creek, Wisconsin all-expenses paid to see their outdoor theater which is in the middle of Peninsula State Park. Earlier that year, we had written several audition pieces (along with 5 other writing teams) for Jeff who flew us and one other team to experience their 650-seat theater, their audience, and their shows which have been packing them in for over 20 years. Here's a video of our trip (plus fast forward to 2020 when Love Stings is about to debut).
September 23
Richard Castle and I had our song Witch's Curse performed by Shannon Martinous at A Little New Music, one of LA's premier cabaret events held several times a year at the Rockwell Table & Stage in Hollywood.
The song was part of our 15-minute musical.
Richard Castle and I had our song Witch's Curse performed by Shannon Martinous at A Little New Music, one of LA's premier cabaret events held several times a year at the Rockwell Table & Stage in Hollywood.
The song was part of our 15-minute musical.
- January 11th
I performed my song SHE HATES ME at Harriet Schock's Songwriter's Showcase. Jennifer Losi performed my song START and Hillary Rollins performed our song EVERYTHING MUST GO. The other artists were phenomenal. Afterwards, most of us at ate at a restaurant across the street and chewed the fat until late. - May 5th
My writing partner Richard Castle and I had a reading of the first draft of our musical, OKLAHOMA IN WISCONSIN. Elise Dewsbury, dramaturge for New Musicals, Inc., directed the reading which featured Peter Welkin, Christina Valo, Evelyn Halus, David Holmes, Tedd Szetto, and NMI director Scott Guy with Ron Barnett on the piano. The cast had only two rehearsals to learn an hour-and-a-half long show! In the words of one of our audience members, "You guys KILLED it!" Next, we wait for feedback from Jeff Herbst, the Creative director for Northern Sky Theater in Wisconsin who asked Richard and I to write it. - June 3rd
Pat Whiteman sang Hillary Rollins and my song What Kind of Man Would I Be? at the Rockwell Table and Stage. I couldn't make it for I was still moving into my new place in Sherman Oaks. - June 4th
New Musical Inc.'s annual Got Musical event, showcasing pieces from a number of musicals they are helping develop, included Doing a Doo-Wop from Richard and my musical OKLAHOMA IN WISCONSIN. - August 22nd
Maude Maggart performed Hillary Rollins and my song Everything Must Go at the E-Spot Lounge in Studio City. - August 30th
Staged Reading (tickets $10) of original musical by Richard Castle and I, Oklahoma in Wisconsin at 3D Theatricals in Anaheim. - September 9th
Hillary Rollins performed Everything Must Go and What Kind Of Man Would I Be? on September 9th and Don't Tell Mama in New York