Upcoming performances include Syracuse show on July 6
Broadway Records has announced that “Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical!” will be released digitally and in stores on Friday, July 12. The production was written by Le Moyne Theatre Program Director Matt Chiorini with additional music, lyrics and orchestrations by Le Moyne Assistant Professor Travis Newton with Assistant Director of Music Greg Giovanini on keyboard.
The show is currently in rehearsal for a summer run, which will include the official pre-release show on Saturday, July 6 at Wunderbar in Syracuse, where the soundtrack CD will be available for purchase. The run will also include being showcased as part of the
Developmental Reading Series at the 2019 New York Musical Festival (NYMF), between July 15-19. The current cast features Chiorini and a number of recent alumni.
“The release of the soundtrack will place Kafka’s Metamorphosis on the national stage,” said Chiorini. “We are very excited to partner with Broadway Records on this endeavor. This production has been a wonderful experience for the students and everyone involved and we hope this record deal will lead to further development of the musical moving forward.”
The world premiere recording was done earlier this year and features Morgan Smith (Le Moyne 2019 grad), Carleena Manzi (Le Moyne 2018 grad), Jack Rento (a current SU student) and Chiorini. The album is currently
available for pre-order at www.BroadwayRecords.com and will be available internationally wherever music is sold on July 12.
Chiorini and Newton have been pursuing a recording deal for several months. In signing with Broadway Records, they have partnered with an up-and-coming record label that is
receiving national recognition. Broadway Records is dedicated to preserving musical theatre and theatre vocalists. Recent releases include the Grammy® and Tony Award-winning The Color Purple (2015 revival), the Grammy® nominated Matilda The Musical and Fiddler on the Roof (2015 revival), the Tony Award® winning revival of Once On This Island, Anastasia, Bandstand, My Fair Lady, Groundhog Day, The Lightning Thief and NBC’s television events, “The Wiz Live!” and “Peter Pan Live!.”
“Beyond the creativity of Kafka’s musical score, I was particularly impressed with the drive and passion that Matt and Travis have for this production,” said Broadway Records President Van Dean. “It is extremely rare for a production that is at this stage in its development to have a national record deal.”
The upcoming schedule of performances:
Saturday, June 29 at 7 p.m. p.m., Arts at the Palace, Hamilton, N.Y. Info and tickets:
artsatthepalace.org
Sunday, June 30 at 1 p.m., Sidney Albert Albany JCC. Info and tickets:
albanyjcc.org/concerts-shows
Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m., Wunderbar, Syracuse. Info
here
July 11, 13 and 14, Capital Fringe Festival, Washington, D.C. Festival. Info
here
July 15, 18 and 19, New York Musical Festival - Developmental Reading Series. Info at
nymf.org
July 26 to Aug. 2, Auburn Public Theater, Auburn, N.Y. Info and tickets:
auburnpublictheater.org
Show synopsis: Gregor Samsa awoke one morning to find that he'd caught the musical theatre bug! Kafka's mystifying and mesmerizing novella comes to hilarious and haunting musical life onstage. Gregor's rude awakening and metamorphosis parallels the journey of our dauntless narrator, Franz Kafka, incorporating some of his other surreal and iconic works, including his infamous "Letter to His Father." As Gregor/Franz approach their inevitable conclusions, we explore with poignancy, humor, and music the ridiculous and heartbreaking realities of family and tolerance. Telling this frustratingly fascinating story with puppets, shadow-play, black light, ersatz literary scholarship, and a dizzying array of low-tech theatrical conventions, Kafka's Metamorphosis is the surreal and satisfying musical adaptation you never knew you always wanted!