We’re putting together a series of videos to bring the words and music of Gayland to life, right before your very eyes! The first video is for “Rainbow, Shmainbow,” Gayland’s opening number.
Please share, friends!
comedy
Time to get serious about Gayland – New pix of librettist and composer
In preparation for shopping the latest version of Gayland in the next few months we’ve recently completed a photoshoot with San Francisco Bay Area photographer Tom Minczeski. Here are some of of our more serious compositions. : )
Latest Gayland reading delivers fun and insights
The Gayland reading on Wednesday, February 15th in New York delighted the audience of 25 with plenty of laughter. The new “Young Buck/Old Buck” delivered lots of belly laughs by using classic operatic allusions to highlight the competition between Zack and Gaige during Zack’s first day on the job at the Willow Show. The new “#BringBackZack” came across as a bundle of joyful energy. And the audience named the revised “I Wanna See Your O Face” as its favorite song. Creators King and St. John were also able to see spots where new music wasn’t working as well, and in need of revision.
The learning overall was that the Gayland 6.0 revisions solved the earlier structural problems. So now there’s a sturdy scaffolding in place, and the next round of revisions will be fine-tuning particular musical pieces.
Team is working on revisions for new version of Gayland
After consultations with several Broadway experts, our Scene 3 song has now changed from “Don’t Forget Your Cock Ring” to “Don’t Forget Your Bible.” This must be the hardest 180 degree turn in revision history! : )
Amen!
Audience Feedback Very Helpful In Making Act 1 Revisions
The Gayland writing team is meeting over the weekend to make edits to Act 1, based on what we learned from the recent Act 1 reading in NY. Thanks much to the audience and your varied and perceptive feedback. It’s really helping us make the choices required to slim down and add oomph to the first act.
“Breeder Love Promo” Rehearsal
Here’s our wonderful cast rehearsing one of the new songs, “Breeder Love Promo.”
Performers
Danielle Erin Rhodes
Ivan Griffin
Sam Given
Shaleah Adkisson
Stephen Elkins
Blake Zolfo
Troy Valjean Rucker
Natalie Pavalek
Music Director
Mark Hartman
Gayland 5.0 Act 1 Table Reading Went Very Well
We had about 25 friends and Broadway professionals in attendance. The first act ran long at 1:25 minutes, so we’ll need to cut that by about 15 minutes. We also solicited written feedback from audience members, which is proving to be fascinating.
Some of the roles were played by old fav actors we’ve worked with before, and in some roles we tried out new actors. It’s wonderful to be working in NY where there are so many talented performers.
Our new Music Director, Mark Hartman, proved himself to be extremely musically adept, technically eagle-eyed, a tireless coach, and also very funny. We’re delighted to have connected with him.
Thanks to our wonderful cast:
Danielle Erin Rhodes – Willow
Shaleah Adkisson – Boo, Sally
Stephen Elkins – Zack
Ivan Griffin – Brock, Dad
Blake Zolfo – Finn, Pops
Sam Given – Gaige
Troy Rucker – Belsen Barnard, Pizza Guy, Caleb, Ensemble
Natalie Pavalek – Bambi Krushjoy, Zoe, Publicist, Ensemble
Next steps for us are a rewrite, and then a read of probably the entire play in a couple of months.
Broadway Music Director Mark Hartman joins our team for the next Gayland read!
Music Director Mark Hartman, whose past Broadway and off-Broadway credits include Avenue Q, Sondheim On Sondheim, Pageant, Silence! The Musical, and concerts of Oliver!, Camelot, and Brigadoon, will be the Music Director at the next Gayland table read. We’re thrilled to have Mark’s expertise helping us bring Gayland to life!
See more of what Mark has been up to here.
Gayland 5.0 is done!
Gayland 5.0 is finished! Now with fun new characters like Bambi Krushjoy, the talent management attorney for Fox Worldwide.
Our plan is to have another table read in Manhattan very soon, with a small audience. Stay tuned!
Gayland, The Musical 