In this episode we continue our conversation with Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer about the Broadway musical: Real Women Have Curves.

Ana García (Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba) dreams of flying away. But when her family’s East Los Angeles garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother Carmen’s (Tony Award nominee Justina Machado) expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds. 

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL features a Tony-nominated score by Grammy® Award–winning songwriter Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec), a book by Lisa Loomer (Girl, Interrupted) with Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls), music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo (Waitress), and choreography and direction by Tony® winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud). Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit HBO film, critics have lauded CURVES as “entertaining and empowering” (NY Daily News), and “a laugh-out-loud musical comedy with a massive dose of heart.” (The Washington Post).

This episode features the songs “Daydream” performed by Florencia Cuenca and “Adios Andrés” performed by Justina Machado and the Original Broadway Company of Real Women Have Curves.

Connect with Benjamin Velez:

Website: https://www.benjaminvelez.com/

Instagram: @benjaminvelezmusic

Connect with Lisa Loomer:

Instagram: @lisalromano

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer about the Broadway musical: Real Women Have Curves.

Ana García (Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba) dreams of flying away. But when her family’s East Los Angeles garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother Carmen’s (Tony Award nominee Justina Machado) expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds. 

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL features a Tony-nominated score by Grammy® Award–winning songwriter Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec), a book by Lisa Loomer (Girl, Interrupted) with Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls), music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo (Waitress), and choreography and direction by Tony® winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud). Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit HBO film, critics have lauded CURVES as “entertaining and empowering” (NY Daily News), and “a laugh-out-loud musical comedy with a massive dose of heart.” (The Washington Post).

This episode features the songs “Make It Work” performed by Florencia Cuenca, Jennifer Sanchez, Carla Jimenez, Aline Mayagoitia, Sandra Valls and Shelby Acosta, “Jugglin” performed by the Original Broadway Cast of Real Women Have Curves, as well as “Flying Away” performed by Tatiana Cordoba.

Connect with Benjamin Velez:

Website: https://www.benjaminvelez.com/

Instagram: @benjaminvelezmusic

Connect with Lisa Loomer:

Instagram: @lisalromano

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon about their new musical, The Bubble.

Adapted from the groundbreaking film by Eytan Fox and Gal Uchovsky, the musical follows Noam, an Israeli soldier and musician, and Ashraf, a closeted Palestinian, who meet at a border checkpoint and fall in love during the Second Intifada. Supported by their chosen family, the pair construct a utopian “bubble” in Tel Aviv, and risk their lives to be together when the bubble bursts. This explosive new musical pulses with energy, urgency, and unyielding hope for peace, capturing the struggle and resilience of love in a divided world.

This episode features the songs “Love, Love Tel Aviv” performed by Omer Shaish, Joél Pérez, Krystina Alabado, John Charles McLaughlin, and Kayley Ann Collins,  “Le'Olam (Until Forever)” performed by Omer Shaish and the Green Room 42 Ensemble, and also “Yalla Yalla” performed by Sahar Milani.

Connect with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon:

Website: https://www.mcguireandsimon.com/

Instagrams:@janinemcguire and @arrilawtonsimon 

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon about their musical: The Bubble.

Adapted from the groundbreaking film by Eytan Fox and Gal Uchovsky, the musical follows Noam, an Israeli soldier and musician, and Ashraf, a closeted Palestinian, who meet at a border checkpoint and fall in love during the Second Intifada. Supported by their chosen family, the pair construct a utopian “bubble” in Tel Aviv, and risk their lives to be together when the bubble bursts. This explosive new musical pulses with energy, urgency, and unyielding hope for peace, capturing the struggle and resilience of love in a divided world.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “I Used To Hear Music” performed by Omer Shaish and “I Could Get Used To This” performed by Joél Pérez.

Connect with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon:

Website: https://www.mcguireandsimon.com/

Instagrams:@janinemcguire @mcguireandsimon and @arrilawtonsimon

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Charlie Romano and Harold Hodge Jr about their new musical, Call Me From The Grave.

Call Me From The Grave explores the life and myth of the legendary Blues guitar player, Robert Johnson. In Greenwood, Mississippi, a young sharecropper, Robert, dreams of becoming a Bluesman. When his loving girlfriend, Virginia, becomes pregnant, Robert puts his dreams on hold to build a life and a family with her. However, Robert’s life comes crashing down when Virginia dies of complications in childbirth and their newborn son is taken into the exclusive custody of her unapproving father. Feeling he has failed as a husband, father, and a musician,

Robert is at his lowest when he is approached by the Devil. Robert exchanges his soul for the music career he has always dreamt of, on the condition that he never returns home. As the years go by, Robert gains all the fame and renown that he is promised. However, after learning that the people he loves are in need back home, Robert must choose between his fame and his family.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Some Deals Can’t Be Undone” performed by Sara Speller, Julian Manresa, and the Yale College Original Cast Ensemble, and also “He Will Free You” performed by Daneille Yvonne James.

Connect with Charlie Romano:

Website: https://www.charlieromano.com/

Instagram: @charlieromanomusic

Connect with Harold Hodge Jr:

Instagram: @haroldemort

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Charlie Romano and Harold Hodge Jr  about their new musical, Call Me From The Grave.

Call Me From The Grave explores the life and myth of the legendary Blues guitar player, Robert Johnson. In Greenwood, Mississippi, a young sharecropper, Robert, dreams of becoming a Bluesman. When his loving girlfriend, Virginia, becomes pregnant, Robert puts his dreams on hold to build a life and a family with her. However, Robert’s life comes crashing down when Virginia dies of complications in childbirth and their newborn son is taken into the exclusive custody of her unapproving father. Feeling he has failed as a husband, father, and a musician, Robert is at his lowest when he is approached by the Devil. Robert exchanges his soul for the music career he has always dreamt of, on the condition that he never returns home. As the years go by, Robert gains all the fame and renown that he is promised. However, after learning that the people he loves are in need back home, Robert must choose between his fame and his family.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “A Soul Ain't Free” performed by Xavier Washington and Danielle Yvonne James and “Waiting For You” performed by Me'lena Laudig.

Connect with Charlie Romano:

Website: https://www.charlieromano.com/

Instagram: @charlieromanomusic

Connect with Harold Hodge Jr:

Instagram: @haroldemort

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Kathleen Wrinn, the founding Artistic Director of the New Works/New Voices initiative at Syracuse University that develops new musicals.

We explore in greater detail how the program has developed Lighthouse, a musical with book, lyrics & story by abs wilson, and music and story by Veronica Mansour.

We also discuss Kathleen’s forthcoming book, Developing New Musicals in University Theatre Programs: A Practical Guide, co-authored with Alisa Hauser. 

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Runaway Girl” and “Bus Stop” performed by Veronica Mansour.

Connect with Kathleen Wrinn:

Website: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/

Instagram: @inittowrinnit

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Kathleen Wrinn, the founding Artistic Director of the New Works/New Voices initiative that develops new musicals at Syracuse University. We discuss how Magia, the musical featured in our previous episodes, will be developed at New Works/New Voices this year. We also explore how the program has previously developed Lighthouse, a musical with book, lyrics & story by abs wilson, and music and story by Veronica Mansour.

This episode features the song “Lighthouse” performed by Veronica Mansour.

Connect with Kathleen Wrinn:

Website: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/

Instagram: @inittowrinnit

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we continue our conversation with Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão about their new musical, Magia.

With book, music, and lyrics by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão, Magia (magic) follows Leilani, a teen girl who attempts to save her ailing father by stealing a wish from the magical island, Tekoha. With a Latin-Caribbean fusion score, Magia asks the question “What is real magic and how can we access it in a society that accepts the status quo?” Magia is a welcoming celebration of Afro-Latino-Caribbean culture and experiences in an imaginative fantasy musical with spices from the countries that represent the writers: The Bahamas and Brazil.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Lights on the Other Side” performed by Tamieyah Johnson, as well as “Dress Like Them” performed by Nathan Leitão and Letitia Bullard.

Connect with Letita Bullard:

Instagram: @letitiab242

Connect with Nathan Leitão:

Instagram: @nathan.leitao

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão about their new musical, Magia.

With book, music, and lyrics by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão, Magia (magic) follows Leilani, a teen girl who attempts to save her ailing father by stealing a wish from the magical island, Tekoha. With a Latin-Caribbean fusion score, Magia asks the question “What is real magic and how can we access it in a society that accepts the status quo?” Magia is a welcoming celebration of Afro-Latino-Caribbean culture and experiences in an imaginative fantasy musical with spices from the countries that represent the writers: The Bahamas and Brazil.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Mama, Tell Me” performed by Letitia Bullard, Nathan Leitão, and Tamieyah Johnson and “Mangoes” performed by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão.

Connect with Letita Bullard:

Instagram: @letitiab242

Connect with Nathan Leitão:

Instagram: @nathan.leitao

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices