Jennie Redling, Phillip Palmer, and I decided to apply for a Jonathan Larson Grant this year for MY HEART IS THE DRUM, even though we're in the midst of a major rewrite...which included a first scene with an opening number still to come. So we consider it pretty encouraging that out of nearly 400 submissions, DRUM was one of 36 finalists for the 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant awarded by the American Theatre Wing. Here's looking at next year, with a new opening number!
Read MoreSongs from MY HEART IS THE DRUM will be featured at this year's 46th MINUTE Concert at the NAMT Festival! We'll be presenting shortened versions of "A World Beyond Kafrona," sung by Brittney Johnson (Sunset Boulevard, Motown, Beautiful, Les Mis) and "Your Heart Is the Drum," sung by Danielle Greaves (Sunset Boulevard, Hairspray, Rent).
Read MoreHonored to share this BMI award with DRUM composer Phillip Palmer. Standing to Phillip's right is Sheldon Harnick, who wrote the lyrics to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. My favorite moment of a lovely luncheon was when Mr. Harnick pretended to steal my prize money.
Read MoreOur world premiere, and a wonderful 10-week run, March through May.
Read MoreThe sitzprobe (seated orchestra rehearsal) sounded great last night. So proud of the cast and orchestra. Ten-day countdown to opening!
Read MoreTwo weeks until opening night.
Read MoreOn November 30, Phillip Palmer and I received the 2015 Fred Ebb Award for excellence in musical theater writing. An incredible honor. Not the least of which because an idol of mine, Sheldon Harnick, was one of the judges. The materials we submitted (Phillip, music; me, lyrics) were four songs from MY HEART IS THE DRUM….
Read MoreOur first staged reading of MY HEART IS THE DRUM–the entire show–will take place at the Village Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on August 9, 2014. Our cast and music director are wonderful, and of course, we love our director, Schele Williams, who also directed for us at NAMT. And Issaquah, Washington, where the Village Theatre Festival is held, is a beautiful and friendly city. Phil, Jennie, and I are jet lagged but happy.
Read MoreWhat a wonderful week! Seven days in snowy East Haddam, Connecticut to work with Phillip Palmer and Jennie Redling on My Heart Is the Drum--in cozy house of our own. Loved the time to share work and shmooze with such talented writers and with gifted dramaturg Lee Johnson. Thank you Donna Lynn Hilton, Bob Alwine, and Jonathan Brielle for the opportunity!
Read MoreSharing your musical through the National Alliance of Musical Theatre is a writers dream--top notch cast and crew, super well organized, mentor provided--and they even pay you! Thanks to everyone at NAMT for two fantastic 45-minute presentations of Act I of MY HEART IS THE DRUM. Directed by the magnificent Schele Williams (Motown, the Musical) and music directed with top expertise by Joseph Church (The Lion King), the all-Broadway cast included Saycon Sengbloh, Kyrstal Brown, Tommar Wilson….
Read MoreMy Heart Is the Drum (book by Jennie Redling, music by Phillip Palmer, lyrics by me) was one of just nine musicals chosen out of 175 submitted to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre conference! We will be presenting a streamlined, 45-minute version of Act I at New World Stages on October 17 and 18. For more info, go to www.namt.org.
Read MoreMy Heart Is the Drum, Act I. November 15, 2010, 8:00 pm. Ripley Grier Studios, NYC. Music by Phillip Palmer, book by Jennie Staniloff-Redling, lyrics by Stacey Luftig. Music direction by Joseph Church. Thank you to all of our talented performers!
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