My Heart is the Drum

A New Musical

Concept and music by Phillip Palmer
Book by Jennie Redling
Lyrics by Stacey Luftig

When Afua Yansi is pulled from school and forced to marry, she flees her village in Ghana to pursue her dream: a college education. Guided by the spirit of her grandmother, she confronts life-threatening dangers, and in doing so, discovers her true strength.

A joyous tale of modern Africa with driving rhythms and rich vocal harmonies, this big, coming-of-age musical celebrates the promise within us all.

My Heart Is the Drum had its world premiere at Village Theatre from March 17 to May 22, 2016. The show was produced at Kent State University, and was also developed at the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals; the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), and the BMI Lehman-Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

Running time:
Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, plus intermission

Cast size:
16+

Band size:
9-12

“The story...is full of light, courage, hope, and even comedy; the music is gorgeous...”
— HeraldNet
“The lyrics were fantastic. Poetic, true to the characters, and inventive.”
— The Eastside Scene
“Set in Ghana in 2000, this promising musical features a yearning, percussive score by composer Phillip Palmer and a winning assortment of ballads and comic songs from lyricist Stacey Luftig.”
— Seattle Times
“Promising new voice, gorgeous and authentic piece, love its African-induced score. Epic journey, big musical, transportive.”
— National Alliance for Musical Theatre 2013 Festival Nomination Committee

Video

Audio

 

News

News
DRUM is a Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist
DRUM is a Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist

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!

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DRUM returns to NAMT
DRUM returns to NAMT

Songs 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).

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MY HEART IS THE DRUM wins 2017 Jerry Bock Award
MY HEART IS THE DRUM wins 2017 Jerry Bock Award

Honored 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.

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DRUM at Village Theatre
DRUM at Village Theatre

Our world premiere, and a wonderful 10-week run, March through May.

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Sitzprobe time for DRUM at Village Theatre
Sitzprobe time for DRUM at Village Theatre

The sitzprobe (seated orchestra rehearsal) sounded great last night. So proud of the cast and orchestra. Ten-day countdown to opening!

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World premiere of MY HEART IS THE DRUM. The marquee at Village Theatre is up!
World premiere of MY HEART IS THE DRUM. The marquee at Village Theatre is up!

Two weeks until opening night.

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Stacey Luftig and Phillip Palmer win Fred Ebb Award
Stacey Luftig and Phillip Palmer win Fred Ebb Award

On 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….

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MY HEART IS THE DRUM to be presented at Village Theatre Festival of New Musicals
MY HEART IS THE DRUM to be presented at Village Theatre Festival of New Musicals

Our 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.

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MY HEART IS THE DRUM team awarded a residency: Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals
MY HEART IS THE DRUM team awarded a residency: Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals

What 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!

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Glorious staged reading of MY HEART IS THE DRUM
Glorious staged reading of MY HEART IS THE DRUM

Sharing 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….

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MY HEART IS THE DRUM chosen for NAMT!
MY HEART IS THE DRUM chosen for NAMT!

My 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.

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MY HEART IS THE DRUM, first reading!
MY HEART IS THE DRUM, first reading!

My 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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Ryan Foy