Jason Ma, Christine Toy Johnson and Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Congrats to Christine Toy Johnson and Jason Ma on their latest new musical collaboration, BARCELONA, starring Ali Ewoldt as Antoinette/An Wei, Arielle Jacobs as Julianna, Stacia Fernandez as Kathryn, Joel Perez as Antoni Gaudi and Chris Vasquez as Rafael, which was presented as an industry presentation, under the direction of Alan Muraoka in The Theatre at CAP21 on October 2, 2014.
The 29-hour reading, a creative process which began over two years ago, was produced as part of Johnson and Ma’s 2014 artists residency at CAP21.
The new original musical, BARCELONA, featuring book and lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson and a music and lyrics by Jason Ma, is an inspiring story about the enduring power of love, inspiration and art – and the family ties that bind them. Julianna (Arielle Jacobs), an American novelist consumed with guilt over causing the accident that killed her sister Antoinette (Ali Ewoldt), receives a necklace from her dead sister in a dream she has about famed architect Antoni Gaudi (Joel Perez) – and goes to Barcelona to try to discover what it all means. The fascinating tale features a lush score by Jason Ma, and takes the audience on a time traveling journey from Gaudi’s era (1879 and 1926) into 2014.
The cast and creative team of Barcelona. Photo by Lia Chang
The cast also features Alan Ariano, Eric Badiqué, Adam Hyndman, Dea Julien, Rita Markova, Kelsey Ryan Moore, Q. Smith, and Ryan Vasquez as The Voices of La Sagrada Familia, with musical direction by Yan Li.
Aladdin star Adam Jacobs came out to support his sister Arielle Jacobs. Photo by Lia Chang
Adam Jacobs, Telly Leung, Tim Huang, Lily Fan, Jhett Tolentino, Nelson Eusebio, Pun Bandhu, Liz Cassola, Eileen Rivera and I were among the invitation only audience who were transported to BARCELONA in The Theatre at CAP21.
Tim Huang, Christine Toy Johnson and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia chang
Jason Ma and Christine Toy Johnson. Photo by Lia Chang
Johnson (book writer/lyricist) is an award-winning writer, actor, filmmaker and advocate for inclusion based in NYC. Her work has been developed with/produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Crossroads Theatre Company, Diverse City Theatre Company, The Barrow Group, Weston Playhouse, Gorilla Rep, Cap21, New Perspectives Theatre Company, the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, A-Squared Productions, etc and is included in the Library of Congress Asian Pacific American Performing Arts Collection. Alumna: BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop. Member: Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project (founder).
Ma (composer/lyricist) is a composer, lyricist, filmmaker, theater artist. He has provided theater music for The Old Globe, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Leviathan Lab, Ugly Rhino and written music/lyrics and book for the full-length musical GOLD MOUNTAIN. He wrote the score for the short film YIELD, and as a principal at Red Phone Productions produced, and provided story, film scores and song for THE BARRELMAN CAPER and the award-winning INS & OUTS. He is currently in postproduction writing music for the short film MILDRED, DAUGHTER OF VENUS.
Collaborative Arts Project 21, a.k.a. CAP21, was founded in 1993 by Frank and Eliza Ventura to create a home where theatre artists could bring their work to life and continue honing their skills in a collaborative environment. As a professional theatre company with a conservatory, CAP21 is dedicated to creating new work, developing new talent and building new audiences.
Q. Smith, Telly Leung, Alan Muraoka, Adam Jacobs and Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Yan Li, Alan Muraoka, Chris Vasquez and Joel Perez. PHoto by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Lia Chang, Christine Toy Johnson and Alan Muraoka. Photo by Yan Li
Other articles by Lia Chang:
Geoffrey Holder, Artist, Dancer, Choreographer, Two-Time Tony Award-winning Director and Costume Designer for The Wiz, Dies at 84; Son Pens Intimate Account of Last Days
Oct. 15: An Evening with Hollywood Legend Nancy Kwan at the New-York Historical Society
Oct. 10: Baayork Lee to Receive 2014 Paul Robeson Citation Award presented by the Actors’ Equity Foundation
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Oct. 28-Nov. 23: Ma-Yi Theater Company Presents Carlos Celdran’s LIVIN’ LA VIDA IMELDA and Han Ong’s CHAIRS AND A LONG TABLE at the Clurman Theater at Theatre Row
The Fortress of Solitude starring André de Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kevin Mambo, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kyle Beltran & More Begins Performances at The Public
Photos: Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion on View through April 19, 2015 at New York Historical Society
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Celebrating my Mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999
Museum of the Moving Image Presents A Tribute to Ruby Dee
Yuri Kochiyama Memorial Service at First Corinthian Baptist Church in New York
Oct. 5: Meet Award Winning Playwright J.E. Franklin at Booksigning for ‘To Break Every Yoke’ at Castillo Theatre
Rome Neal Seriously Injured in Fall; Fundraisers Set at The Five Spot on October 12 and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on November 6
TCG’s SPARK Leadership Program Class of 2014: Victor Maog, Nelson T. Eusebio III, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr, Snehal Desai, Deena Selenow, Jacob G. Padrón, Jr., Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll, Kelvin Dinkins, LaTeshia Dezelle Ellerson, Lisa Portes
Video: Jeremy Lin Pranks Visitors at Madame Tussauds San Francisco
Oct. 8 – 12: 2014 National Asian American Theater Conference & Festival Lineup
Oct. 10-12: Dan Kwong’s WHAT? NO PING-PONG BALLS? with Kenny Endo at Interact Theatre Company as part of 2014 National Asian American Theater Festival and Conference
David Henry Hwang and Lynn Nottage Appointed to the Playwriting Faculty of Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Program
Photos & Video: The Wiz’s André De Shields Sang “So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard” in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream at Carnegie Hall
Joe Mantegna to Helm ‘Criminal Minds’ Season 10 Episode to Honor the late Meshach Taylor
Photos: Maxine Hong Kingston, Billie Tsien, Bill T. Jones, Linda Ronstadt, John Kander, Julia Alvarez, Jeffrey Katzenberg Receive 2013 National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama
Golden Globe Winner James Shigeta, Veteran of Film and TV, Dies at 85; Excerpts of 2007 A/P/A Institute Q & A with Sukhdev Sandhu
Photos: Artist Arlan Huang, One Brush Stroke at a Time
Late Night Singing with Garth Kravits at 54 Below with The Skivvies, at Jim Caruso’s Cast Party at Birdland and Michael Raye’s Soul Gathering
Photos and Video: Ben Vereen Performs at Carnegie Hall in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream
Photos and Video: Obba Babatunde and cast members from the original cast of Dreamgirls perform at Carnegie Hall in The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream
Joe Mantegna, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, President Bill Clinton and More Remember Meshach Taylor
Photos: Meshach Taylor Celebrates 67th Birthday with Arlene and Joe Mantegna, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, Jean Smart, Dennis Franz, Ernie Hudson, John Heard, Keith Szarabajka, Stuart Gordon, Shadoe Stevens and More
Bryan Cranston, Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessie Mueller, Lena Hall, Sophie Okonedo, Kenny Leon, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, All The Way, A Raisin in the Sun, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and More Take Home 2014 Tony Awards
Celebrating my mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999
Crafting a Career
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
Lia Chang Photo by GK
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
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