NAMT Songwriters Showcase, 10.19.17

Today went really well! I know I should type more but I’m kinda overwhelmed so I’m just gonna post these pics of cast – Christiana Cole, Tanesha Gary, Rona Siddiqui (MD), Troy Anthony (Composer), Latoya Edwards, Larry Owens (my bf) and me!! Plus wonderful director Laura Brandel (in the rehearsal candids) 🙂

Clips from THE RIVER IS ME – in concert!!

So my writing partner Troy Anthony and I had a fun great-learning-experience concert this past summer at Feinstein’s 54 Below. Even though it was summer, when ticket sales are usually slow and droopy, we sold out!! I know some friends and fam didn’t get to make it to see the show…but I’m still very proud of the cast and wonderful creative production team and everyone’s hard work….and wanted to post a clip!! 🙂

**Quick obligatory shout out to our wonderful performers featured in this clip: Latoya Edwards, Tanesha Gary, Larry Owens, Jason Veasey, Francesca Ferrari and Brett Macias!!**

“Too Soon (To Say Goodbye)” closes out Act I of The River Is Me. MA and BO have been split apart when they try to escape MA’s abusive boyfriend. In this number, MA senses something is wrong and makes a choice about defying her MAN and going down to Mississippi to get her baby before she fears it is too late. Tanesha Gary singing her little heart out as MA in this clip!

 

“Go Go Waterman” is a song moment where the hero BO teaches his new friends about his favorite superhero and pulls them into his story by pretending they’re all magic. The indomitable Larry Owens is BO for this song.

 

You’ll see “Ma At The Casket,” a song moment where the protagonist BO has been lynched and his MA has to come and identify the body. Friend and saint Tonya Pinkins is singing this one!

 

THE RIVER IS ME – at NATIONAL ALLIANCE for MUSICAL THEATRE Songwriters Showcase!!

I’m very excited to announce that The River Is Me will have a featured little presentation of sorts at NATIONAL ALLIANCE for MUSICAL THEATRE  this year in the Songwriters Showcase!!

It’s the 29th Annual NAMT conference, and it is a REALLY BIG DEAL that my wonderful writing partner Troy Anthony and I were asked to participate this time ’round with a few song selections from The River Is Me! As NAMT mentions on the website, “[t]he purpose of the Festival is to create a nurturing environment for discovery, development and advancement of the musical theatre art form. NAMT seeks to do this with a focus on quality, diversity and new voices.” NAMT is like Yale for musical theatre writers — you have to work hard to get there, and there is no coasting after you get in, but if you’ve done well enough to earn a spot in the conference, you’ve earned yourself a pedigree and chance for networking that really can shore up your chances of life happiness/success, which are the exact same thing for me 🙂

So there’s the conference conference and then there’s this little jewel of a “Special Event” called the Songwriters Showcase, where newbies and oldbies can showcase new songs.

This winter, Troy and I hope to find a theatre or agent who can formally endorse us so we can apply to be in the NAMT Conference proper.

Anyhoo, the industry-packed event is tomorrow at 2pm. Very nervous, but overall very proud of the work we get to share with the theater world and very excited!! Cross fingers for us!! 🙂