Down & Dirty: The Musical

UPDATE: Both performances have SOLD OUT within one hour! You can still be involved by donating - see below.

I will be music directing for MyTalk 107's Project Down & Dirty: The Musical at the beginning of October.

Directed by Peter Rothstein and choreographed by Michael Ferrell, this will be a crazy night of entertainment, featuring the radio hosts of MyTalk 107 FM putting on a musical created in 3 days!

In addition to learning what it takes to put together a musical, throughout the week, these hosts will be raising money for 4 non-profit theater organizations in the Twin Cities: Alive & Kickin, Interact Theater, Theater Latté Da, and Ten Thousand Things Theater. The TWO shows will feature performances by each of the groups in addition to several local stars! Tune in to learn how to donate money to these incredible organizations.

To read more about project down and dirty, check out their website.

Romeo & Juliet with TTT

Ten Thousand Things Theater is presenting Romeo & Juliet as the beginning of their season this year. I am so honored to be working with this group that focuses on bringing art into spaces that need it most such as shelters and prisons.

The run features several free public performances and a short run at Open Book in downtown Minneapolis and the MN Opera. We open on September 25th and close November 2nd. Do not miss this beautiful production directed by Peter Rothstein and featuring Namir Smallwood and Anna Sundberg.

New Choral Works Premiered!

Two choral works will receive their world premier on April 25 and 26.April 25 - Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, MN (7:30pm)April 26 - Lakeville North High School in Lakeville, MN (7:30pm)The first is a commission by the Minnesota Valley Men's Chorale under the direction of Steve Boehlke and is based on the beautiful poem "Look To This Day" by the ancient Sanskrit writter Kalidasa. I am so excited that the choir has taken on this chellenge and I could not be more thrilled with the talent and energy they bring to the piece.The second is a mixed choir piece for children's and adult choir based on an original text by Larry Sagen. Commissoned by award-winning choral educator Judy Sagen, the piece is entitled "Listen To The Children" and speaks to the wisdom that children bring to the world with their innocence and love. Both the Minnesota Valley Men's and Women's Choral will premier the work alongside children from local youth choirs including the Allegro Choir. I hope you can make it! It has been so much fun making music together!

"Clouds" Tribute to Zach Sobiech at the Mall of America

Folk songwriter Zach Sobiach recorded his hit Clouds as a way to say goodbye with only weeks to live. Zach died on May 20 this year at only 18 years old of cancer, and several artists have paid tribute and celebrated this song, but not until now have so many done it together.

As a part of KS95's Kids Radiothon, thousands (and that's not an exageration!!) of people will come together to sing this song on December 5 from 6:00-7:00pm at the Mall of America Rotunda.

I had the amazing honor of helping out in a VERY small way to put together music for the many, many school and adult choirs, as well as hundreds of individual singers who will raise their voices to help raise money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. 

Please take a listen to Zach's song Clouds which debuted last December.

Also, read the Pioneer Press article about the event here.

Musical Mondays at Hell's Kitchen

Don't miss Musical Monday's this February 3rd as we fall in love, or out of love with a Valentine's Day theme. it's the season of love and you can't go wrong with this cast!

Sasha Andreev

Serena Brook

Lauren Davis

Laurie Flannigan-Hegge

Adam Moen

Ricardo Vazquez

of course hosted by your favorite duo: Max Wojtanowicz and Sheena Janson.

I'll be behind the piano. Hope to see you there on February 3rd!

New Commission!

I have been commissioned by the Minnesota Valley Men's Chorale to compose a choral piece for their end-of-the-season concert this spring! The piece will be based on the beautiful poem "Look To This Day" by the ancient Sanskrit writter Kalidasa.

I'm so excited to work with several friends and collegues on this project and thrilled to work with the Minnesota Valley ensemble. A talented and versatile group under the direction of Steve Boehlke, they lend both their voices and hearts to the music they sing, and I am honored that we get to work together.

The work will be performed next spring, 2014! Check back for information on performance dates, times and places. I hope you can make it!

Flip Theater Company and "The Last 5 Years"

I'm excited to announce my involvement in a brand NEW theater company in the Twin Cities! Flip! Theatre Company will debut with a production of The Last 5 Years at the Minneapolis Theater Garage in October 2013.

We are currently gearing up for auditions. We are considering everyone to be a part of this intimate cast. Check out MN Playlist for audition info.

Congrats to Shelly Bachberg!

A GIGANTIC congratulations to the cast and staff of Shelly Bachberg:

How Helen Keller and Anne Frank Freed the Slaves: The Musical. 
And a special acknowledgement to creators Max Wojtanowicz, Michael Gruber, and Nikki Swoboda for an excellent job on their work on this brilliant Fringe production. Thanks to the energy and time of these amazing minds and talents, Shelly Bachberg became the second highest selling show at the 2013 MN Fringe by total attendance (Official Press Release). Job well done to all! I had a blast!

Mixed Blood & "Passing Strange"

Exciting News!

I will be music directing at the Mixed Blood Theater again this spring!

Look for more information about our production of Passing Strange coming up soon!