Musical Cafe is thrilled to announce the four new musicals, authored by local writers and composers, which will be showcased at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on October 29 and 30 at 8PM.
THE VERY LAST ONE AND ONLY HIGHLY ENDANGERED MOUNTAIN LION IN PENNSYLVANIA
Book and Lyrics by Greg Beattie
Music by Greg Beattie and Jon Kull
Director: Loretta Janca
Music Director: John Johnson
Dramaturg: Ron Lytle
The Very Last One and Only Highly Endangered Mountain Lion in Pennsylvania is at one level the sweet story of a hapless, lonely but lovable mountain lion who discovers the power of friendship on his quest for what he's lost: his wife, his dignity, his destiny and his roar. At another, it's a cautionary tale about the need of the oppressed and endangered to unite against tyranny and media distortion. Altogether, it's a fast-paced, uplifting musical comedy for all ages.
JEWISH BOYS: THE MUSICAL
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Joshua Gilstein
Director: Ciera Eis
Music Director: Billy Wolfe
Dramaturg: Melissa Hillman
Jewish Boys: The Musical is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that unfolds as an emotional journey of self-discovery and love. Jacob Feldman ventures from a Midwest college town to the vibrant city of Chicago, looking for a larger dating pool (and maybe even a husband!). In Chicago, Jacob finds more than he ever imagined – transformative moments, a chosen family, and a crescendo of life's authentic aspirations.
LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF
Book, Music and Lyrics by Ray Christensen
Director: Marianna Wolff
Music Director: Cesar Cancino
Dramaturg: Anthony Clarvoe
Legend of the Werewolf explores the dark side of belief via a story inspired by a favorite tragic hero from classic horror films. Chilling and compelling songs in a style somewhere between Sondheim and King Crimson challenge the audience as well as the musical theatre genre.
MIRABAI, THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS
Book, Music and Lyrics by Leah Sirkin
Director: Roshni Datta
Music Director: Cesar Cancino
Dramaturg: Gary Graves.
Mirabai, the Barefoot Princess tells the story of the 16th century ecstatic Indian songstress who is in love with the playful flute-playing god Krishna, but is forced to marry a prince. This modern rendering of the Mirabai story highlights feminist themes and features a variety of musical styles from Indian classical and folk, to bhangra, hip hop and the blues.
WHAT WE DO
Musical Cafe is a musical theatre development and education program for Northern California-based writers and composers.
From a juried submission process, our Next Stages program chooses musicals that will each have two full private readings with an excellent cast. At each reading, the creatives receive detailed feedback and support from our team of literary and musical dramaturgs. The creatives then have time for re-writes before the second round of readings roughly two months later.
Eligibility Requirements: At least one member of the creative [i.e. writing] team must be a resident of one of the following Northern California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Yolo.
Some of the musicals we work with are chosen for a full length, concert style public showcase.
Our Musical Cafe Showcase Series present new works in progress. Presented in front of an audience consisting of theatre professionals and friends of musical theatre, four shows are chosen for twenty minute semi-staged showcase performances.
Musical Cafe also presents classes, workshop and seminars on the myriad aspects of creating musical theatre through out the year.
NEW PROGRAM: SONG SALON
Are you a musical theatre composer or lyricist seeking a safe space to share your ongoing projects and build community? Musical Cafe hosts a monthly virtual song salon to honor the craft of creating new musicals!
The goal is to celebrate and support each other's work! Feedback will only be given at the writer's request. Participants are asked to uplift each other’s work with applause and positivity.
We are seeking new and original musical theatre songs, either from a show you are working on, or a stand alone / cabaret style piece you would like to showcase. Songs must be five minutes or less.
The door is wide open, and we would love to see your work whether you are emerging, or are a seasoned professional.
If you would like to be included in the salon, please email us at: mcsongsalon@gmail.com
WHO WE ARE
Musical Cafe is a program of Play Cafe, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help San Francisco Bay Area playwrights develop their work. The Musical Cafe team includes several production managers and a group of volunteers who sell concessions, usher, photograph, and make numerous other contributions of time and effort to ensure the success of each Showcase performance. Creatives and casts selected for a particular Showcase become an essential part of that team, and are encouraged to become part of our ongoing effort to make new, original, locally-sourced musical theatre in the Bay Area.
Many of the Bay Area's wonderful actors and singers have participated in Musical Cafe to date, and we are always looking for the newest, freshest actors and singers to audition for and perform with us.
Most importantly, our enthusiastic, energetic Musical Cafe audience members and behind-the-scene supporters have been and remain a key part of this program and whatever success we've achieved.
Photos by Marc Sternberger
Videos by John Quick
Photos by Colin Hussey
