Our Story
Chasing the Wind is ultimately a story of self-discovery. Solomon, a slave to his pretty gruesome past (sibling murder, incest, rape and failed coup d'ètat) feels trapped in his privileged yet highly dysfunctional surroundings. He wants to find his own way. He wants to find meaning and a sense of destiny. He wants to feel alive. In our privilege, we are taught very early on to pursue our dreams and ultimately to pursue our happiness. But where has it gotten us? Where is life found? As we engage in Solomon’s story, perhaps we enter into our own. His story is our story. His story matters. So his story must be told. With your help and support, we can tell our story.
Where Are Your Donations Going?
The process of developing a musical happens in stages. One would think a group of talented enthusiastic writers come up with an idea, write it, find skilled actors, and off they go to Broadway! Even the best of shows are not developed this way. In fact, many of the greatest musicals tend to take more time and undergo more phases.
The next developmental stage for Chasing the Wind is an orchestrated Concert Reading of the full show where we can invite higher-ups who can move our musical along. But the cost of this type of performance is high. We have to cover the fees, travel and lodging for a cast of at least 12 actors; the fees for the musicians in the orchestra; the Music Director and Director, Stage Manager, Audio Engineer, printing fees, and orchestrations. The cost of the venue for the performance as well as rehearsal space alone can be very expensive. Even on a tight budget, it all adds up very quickly.
$25,000 will allow us to have a high caliber performance so that we may pitch Chasing the Wind to agents, theaters, and producers who can take our show to the next stage of development. If we go beyond our goal, we will make a professional studio recording of one or two of the songs which would help greatly with promotion.
The Cast
André McRae - Composer & Lyricist
André McRae, a native of Philadelphia PA, is the proud winner of the Oxnard Gold Award in the American Traditions Competition, a competition celebrating the diversity of American music. He took home the top prize singing Operatic repertoire and Musical theatre songs. André is no stranger to being awarded for his talents. He received scholarships for all three of his degrees at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BM, MM, and an Artists' Diploma in Opera).
André quickly began performing upon graduating from the Conservatory, in theaters all around the country scoring the lead in Ragtime, Joe in Showboat, and principal roles in Smokey Joe’s Café, Dreamgirls, Godspell among others. He also toured Europe and Japan in Porgy and Bess. McRae has been a featured soloist and performer with the National Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and The Broadway Concert Series, Encores! at New York City Center.
Melvin Tunstall III - King Solomon
A graduate of the acclaimed Musical Theater Program at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Melvin is currently appearing in the Broadway smash hit Beautiful: the Carole King Musical and has been seen internationally in the original Toronto company of Rock of Ages, and the new European Tour Cast of Ain't Misbehavin. Other professional credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Flick in Violet, Jim in Big River and Victor in Smokey Joe's Cafe. Also a budding writer/director, Melvin wrote the book to the TYA phenomenon Polkadots and continues to work on his newest project Higgins in Harlem: a new Pygmalion in New York City.
Carolyn Cole - Queen of Sheba
SIGNATURE: Hairspray (2012 Helen Hayes Award), Spin, Company, Tina GirlStar! (reading), Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre co-production, 2013 Helen Hayes Award); OFF-BROADWAY: The New Hopeville Comics; a rock opera. NATIONAL TOUR: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Donny Osmond), Martha Speaks. REGIONAL/DC AREA: The Mikado, The Stephen Schwartz Project, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Women of the Blues. CABARETS/CONCERTS/BENEFITS: Carolyn in the City, Monday Nights New Voices, An Evening with Carolyn Cole, Born to Take the BELTway, Carolyn Cole: The Farewell Tour (Live CD Recording).
Awa Sal Secka - Abby
REGIONAL: ArtsCentric: MEMPHIS (Felicia Farrell). Signature Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon, King Herod u/s), U.G.L.Y. workshop. Round House Theatre: Caroline, or Change ( Dottie Moffet. Theatre Alliance: Black Nativity (Narrator/Elder). Creative Cauldron: Chasing the Wind (Abby), Caroline, or Change (Washing machine/Moon). Mosaic Theatre: Eretz Chadasha: The Promised Land (Mother). ATMTC: James and the Giant Peach (Aunt Sponge). Studio Theatre: SILENCE! The Musical (Ardelia). Olney Theatre: Avenue Q (Ensemble/female swing). NATIONAL TOUR: BIG NATE the Musical (Ms. Godfrey/Nate's sister). UPCOMING: Signature: Gun and Powderworkshop. Kennedy Center: Me...Jane (As Cast). Ford’s Theatre: The Wiz (Ensemble/ Dorothy u/s). Olney Theatre: On the Town (As Cast). A.A. in Theatre Performance from Montgomery College.
Sue Gaukel - Haggith
Susan has been a professional performer, teacher, director and vocal/theatre coach for over 20 years. She earned her MFA in Musical Theatre Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is currently Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Direction at Shorter University. Susan has performed professionally in various cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Tacoma. Favorite roles include Mother in Ragtime, Roxanne in Cyrano the Musical, Florence Vassy in Chess, Eva Peron in Evita and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. She trained with Sara Louise Lazarus, ( New York City) Paul Gemignani, Victor Garber, (Manhattan School of Music PMTW) and Dona Vaughn and Maitland Peters ( Manhattan School of Music NYC), among others. Susan also writes and performs cabarets which she has performed or directed in Cincinnati and the Seattle area. Susan’s very favorite roles however, are being the wife of her wonderful husband and mother to her amazing daughter.
Christian Hoff - Nijah
Christian Hoff is a tenor in The U.S. Army Chorus. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, earning his bachelor degree in vocal performance under the tutelage of Gran Wilson. As a member of the UMD Chamber Singers, Christian has performed major choral symphonic works such as Handel's Messiah, Britten's War Requiem and Brahms' German Requiem, in collaboration with the NSO and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Christian recently performed the lead role of Eddie Birdlace in Pasak and Paul's "Dogfight" with the Red Branch Theatre Company. He has also performed the role of Tobias Ragg in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd as a member of the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center. Christian has most recently performed as a tenor soloist with the U.S. Army Chorus at venues such as The White House, The U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to read our page and watch our video! In fact we are so thankful, we have decided to assign every level of giving a special "Thank you" in a different language! We are so excited to bring Chasing The Wind to the world. Please consider donating as you are able, any amount is appreciated. If you cannot donate at this time, please share this campaign with your friends and family.
For more information, contact ctwthemusical@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support.
André McRae