Hurricane House the Musical
The video above is an abstract interpretation of Hurricane House the Musical and it was created to showcase one of the original compositions from the show.
This is not a very complicated campaign. It is designed to give you the information you need about the show and why we would need and appreciate your contribution. One of the things we did not want to do is belabor this process, because, frankly, none of us reads as much as we should. Lol, I don't. With that said, on this page you will find a synopsis of the show, original music, what we need the money for and the creative team bios.
Hurricane House the Musical Synopsis
Delta Mason, 22, leaves home one steamy summer night in her North Carolina town for some ice cream and does not return. The frantic family (mother Caroleena, father Bruin, brother Leavell and identical twin Delia) searches for her, a search complicated by the appearance of a hurricane bearing her name. Hurricane Delta is so massive that the townspeople must evacuate. But the Masons believe they have a compelling reason to remain. Only the athiest Leavell seems to understand that they will all be killed. But does the rest of the family know something about God and the spirit that Leavell must re-learn? Will his lack of belief kill them all, or will it save them?
We need $7500 to complete the second draft of our musical. If we can raise this amount, it will push us one step closer to mounting a workshop production in New York City. Workshop productions are a necessity to attract producers who will invest in our full Off-Broadway production. Although we managed to create the first draft via Skype, it is imperative that we all meet in person, in a room with a piano, the script, and the creative energy of New York City. That's right, we have never met in person and that is a testament to the power of technology. But, this is the point in our process when we have to create face to face.
Here is what your monies will be used for:
**offset the legal costs of the option and collaboration agreements between the creative team
**accommodations and flight for the lyricist who lives in Italy
**Rehearsal space in NYC for a week of intensive work on the second draft of the show
**fee to have second draft evaluated by the Producer's Perspective before we mount the workshop production
**any other incidentals pertaining to the production of Hurricane House the Musical(per diem, copies, supplies, fees etc.)
In closing, we want to stress that theatre is a collaborative effort. That collaboration is not only between the creatives; it extends to those who can recognize the vision and decide they would like to help that vision come to life. Without you, what we love to do would not be possible. You have our sincere THANK YOU!!
Unfortunately, we have chosen not to offer any perks because we would have to ask for additional money to pay for them. What we will offer is recognition at every level of our production and updates on the various stages of the show.
Hurricane House Creative Team Bios
Wendell Edward Carter: Book
Wendell Edward Carter hails originally from Charlottesville, Virginia. Educated at Haverford College, Stanford and Cornell Universities, he became a playwright after the tragic death of a younger sibling lead to the near-spontaneous genesis of a play about the experience and its aftermath (Hurricane House). Wendell is the author of some 14 plays. As a theatre producer or playwright, he has had productions in the George Houston Bass Play-Rites Festival at the Rites & Reasons Theatre (Providence, RI), The Acting Studio (NY, NY), The National Black Theatre Festival (Winston-Salem, NC), The Goldman Theatre of the Jewish Community Center (Washington, DC), the American Theatre Project (Washington, DC), The Harmony Hall Regional Arts Center (Fort Washington, MD), and at the Source Theatre (Washington, DC). His most recent production was the premiere of his play RARA AVIS (Rare Bird), at Temple M in New York City in June 2009. He is currently writing his first novel, Melting the Snow. He resides in New York City.
Matthew A.C. Cohen: Music
Matthew A.C. Cohen was born in 1989 in Merrick, New York. He has earned a B.S. degree in Music Composition and Theory, with a special interest in film scoring, arranging, and Jazz saxophone. Matthew has studied saxophone with Dave Pietro, Alejandro Aviles, Jeff Newell, and Andy Middleton, and studied Jazz improvisation and arranging with prominent arranger and pianist Dr. David Lalama. He studied composition with Herbert Deutsche, Dr. Matthew Van Brink, and award winning composer, Dr. Kenneth Lampl, and has an M.F.A in Scoring for Motion Picture at Columbia College Chicago.
Simon Mas: Lyrics
After studying jazz and popular music in Italy for years, Simon Mas attended the prestigious Berklee College of music in Boston ending on the Dean's list for two semesters in a row. After arriving at Newcastle University in 2004, Simon was awarded entry to the Year Abroad Exchange Program on academic merits and ended up studying at the University of Texas in Austin. Upon returning to the UK, Simon earned a BMUS degree in Music in 2008 and a MMus degree in Composition and Musicology in 2009, both from Newcastle University. Since graduation, Simon has produced 3 albums and 1 EP.
W. Jeffery Jelks: Producer/Director
As a theatre producer/director, it has been his pleasure to bring to life the eclectic work of these intelligent, colorful and prolific artists. The Further Adventures of Gussie Mae in America by Letitia Guillory, Daddy’s Home, Curious Child, Brussel Sprouts and Monsters by Renee Flemings; In the Dark with the Walter Lees by Wendell Edward Carter; Imperfection Flawed by Lillie Marie Redwood; Playin’ the Wall by Michael Mayson; Friend of the Family by Michael Monasterial; Watermelon, Git it While it’s Hot by CeCe Antoinette, and Oscar Grant’s Roommates were all directed by Jeffery in various venues in New York City, Maryland, Cincinnati, Connecticut and Texas. He also has served as Creative Consultant for the plays Grim Foster’s Love Songs by T. Tara Turk and Brown Gal’s Rising by Cece Antoinette. Jeffery studied acting with Tony-award winning Uta Hagen and Oscar-winning Sandy Dennis and directing with Bill Alton. He was honored to be chosen as a participant in the prestigious Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and is a recent recipient of a 2013 Spring Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant.