post production … blues or bliss?
After finishing a month run.. I’m asked.. so - now what? And how do you feel? Don’t you miss the show being up?
Honestly - rest and relief isn’t such a bad thing. We achieved a lot in our first production, but after a week of much needed sleep - my shirt sleeves are rolled up and I’m ready to get back to work! We’re beginning talks with NYC Directors, theatres.. even a Cirque director.
Having completed a non equity production and filming it - we are so lucky to be able to step back and look at the show as a product - see where it needs work and address those issues - hopefully with a top creative team and funding in place for a workshop - followed by a Regional production.. followed by - well - we see the show on Broadway. An original story with beautiful music, great choreography and Cirque - sounds like a winning combination.. and we are working to make that a reality.
Stay tuned for the exciting development of THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DELUNA!
Cherry Hills Theatre founder, Max Rossman said:
I recently had a wonderful and unexpected experience when I attended a performance of The Awakening of Angel DeLuna. Magic was in the air. The show had an uplifting message combining hope with the excitement of a circus. The music was so unforgettable that I still can’t get it out of my mind. The show is destined for greatness:
Ken Davenport.. the need to produce new musicals... →
I love Ken Davenport’s blog. YES! we need more musicals - so what is the problem? The reality is that crafting a polished musical takes time, money, and incredible amounts of work. You have to believe in your dream - assemble an amazing creative team, find good legal representation..constantly work toward your goal while giving up all semblance of a normal work life.. and pray your investors come. It would be great if more theatres or investors could offer playwrights workshops to hone their craft. We need the words and music of playwrights.. visionaries… to help us look anew at our lives…especially in these times - and those voices need to be encouraged!
This Lively Earth - Review: Loss Gain & Angel DeLuna →
This is an extremely insightful blog by Priscilla Stuckey, PhD, who saw the show last week!
All I can say is she writes beautifully about Angel DeLuna! I heard from another group of people who saw the show last week, that they got into a long discussion about all the metaphors driving home from the theatre… it is very interesting to me just how different people view the show - but the good news is - it gets them talking about the the show.. and how it relates to their own life! Now that’s exciting to this playwright!
Heart of Gold (Featuring John Riggs and Kyle Smith) →
Enjoy our show stopping song - HEART OF GOLD… sung by John Riggs and Kyle Smith…
poor guys have to wait for applause to die down every nite so they can finish the scene…
Taking another Look at ANGEL DELUNA
So… here’s the secret if you are coming to watch The Awakening of Angel DeLuna - this is NOT your average boy meets girl formula piece of theatre - nor was it intended to be another simple commercial formula show… which is why our Director for our off Broadway Equity Reading TRACY BERSLEY - a woman who has taught playwriting at n and PRINCETON had this to say about the piece: ”AS a Director it is heartening to find a new musical with an equally strong book and music. the first time I encountered your work I was struck by the detail and magic of the world you’ve created. I believe the strong audience emotional response to your reading is just the beginning. You’ve managed to strike an unusual balance of genres….comedic, sentimental..and transcendental.
The show was also endorsed by ALEX WINITSKY who produced 100 shows for Warner Bros… he said: “This is one of the most exciting and freshest projects to cross my desk in a long while”
Like the movie Inception - there’s more to Angel than meets the eye. The clues are in the lyrics and the metaphors that hand in hand are driving the action of the show. So Angel is three shows in one - a love story; a circus romp; and a philosophical piece about the nature of the mind. This is reflected in songs such as: THE LONG FORGOTTEN SONG… about coming out of the illusions of the carousel of the mind; and THE SPIN… ’everyone;s got their perspectives abounding… string them together and it’s all astounding…” and The Center of the Universe…. “it;s All about You.. Only ONE SONG.. Not Two.. In The Center of the Univere… THE MIRACLE IS YOU!” The song IN AN INSTANT (you can watch it on our website.. speaks for itself!
So take another look at Angel. Come in with fresh eyes. The Center of the Universe Carousel represents the spinning mind.. the animals… all the ATTACHMENTS that have to go for us to let go of our personal illusions… to sink into our own HEART OF GOLD… ‘for whatever fortune you may hold… all that matters is your Heart of Gold:… there are many many more hidden metaphors in the show. See it twice - once for the love story and twice to see the impact of the dismantling of Angel ‘s Carousel.. .and how the spinning mind must stop; ;”FOR ALL ILLUSIONS MUST BE GONE…TO HEAR THE LONG FORGOTTEN SONG” When Angel finally lets go of her carousel - both the real one and her spinning mind.. she is finally able to fully embrace Ollie.. thus their marriage is the true marriage of the head and heart….
FANTASTIC REVIEW IN THE BOULDER WEEKLY! →
Could we ask for anything more?
In An Instant - from The Awakening of Angel DeLuna →
Here’s a favorite musical number from The Awakening of Angel DeLuna. The song was written by Judylynn Schmidt and Lee Ellis; composed by Lee Ellis, Choreographed by Kate Griffler and sung by -Kevin Schwarz, John Riggs, Arnie Folldendorf !!!
Great Opening Weekend for The Awakening of Angel DeLuna!!!
BRAVO CAST TO AND CREW! THANKS AND KUDO’S TO ALL!
listen to our interview at KGNU!
Hi All.. Lee Ellis - the composer and co lyricist of The Awakening of Angel DeLuna will be featured in an interview with moi, Judylynn Schmidt tomorrow on KGNU Boulder, interviewed by Duncan Campbell on his show, Living Dialogues…
Tune in - This wonderful program and promo re The Awakening of Angel DeLuna and its Boulder pre-Broadway premiere will be broadcast on KGNU Boulder 88.5FM and Denver 1390AM on Sunday June 12 from 12:30-1pm Mountain Time, and simulcast, then archived indefinitely, at www.kgnu.org.
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