FRANKENSTEIN a new musical
FRANKENSTEIN, a new musical
It is the musical language of the synagogue liturgy that imprinted itself on Eric and became one of his defining influences; and is imbued in his Frankenstein score.
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Eric Sirota’s new musical, FRANKENSTEIN, is playing Off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre (308 West 46th St. @ 8th Ave.) in the heart of the theatre district, on Monday nights at 7:00pm. For tickets, detailed schedule and info on group discounts, please visit: www.TheFrankensteinMusical.com
Based on Mary Shelley’s classic novel which is entering its bicentennial year, FRANKENSTEIN is a two-act sweeping, romantic musical that honors its source material. Having lost his mother at a young age, Victor Frankenstein seeks to end man’s mortality and arrogantly enters territory beyond his control. While he enjoys unconditional love from Elizabeth, he grants none to his creation.
The composer/playwright (and physicist) Eric Sirota was raised in Brooklyn where he attended the East Midwood Jewish Center synagogue and Day School. It was the musical language of the synagogue liturgy intoned by Cantor Joseph Eidelson (z”l) that imprinted itself on Eric and became one of his defining musical influences; and is imbued in the Frankenstein score. Sirota jokes that it was not until studying musical theory and composition at Brown University, did he even discover the major keys.
Actually, comments from music composition classmates that his music sounded “Jewish,” and not merely by being in the minor keys, led Sirota to ask what made it that way? He began a path of “independent study” to research and understand from a technical musical theory point-of-view (as the scientist he is), about the modes he used, which were second nature to him, but not part of the Western music canon. This made his musical palette even richer.
Sirota attended Stuyvesant High School in New York, Brown and then Harvard, where he obtained a PhD in physics. He is a highly published research physicist and a fellow of the American Physical Society. He lives in Flemington, NJ, with his wife, Cara London, an artist; and their children Julia (22) and Craig (20).
Among his other works, Eric wrote the Flemington Oratorio, performed at the 2006 dedication of the Flemington Jewish Community Center’s new synagogue building, where he and his family are active congregants. Another musical “Your Name On My Lips”, an original contemporary story about following one’s passion with obsession and commitment, was recently produced at Theater for the New City, in New York. Currently, he is developing “Go, My Child” a new musical, which is an original account of the lives of Abram and Sarai, filling the gap between chapters 11 & 12 of Genesis. Sirota examines leaving one’s parents, infertility and the search for truth, set against the background of xenophobia.
He has been developing Frankenstein for many years, and it was an Official Selection of the New York Musical’s Festival’s 2015 reading series (NYMF), under the title “Day of Wrath”, the title of the song at the conclusion of Act-I. That name invokes reference to the Dies Irae, which is strongly connected to the awe-filled Unetane Tokef, for which Sirota has composed a dramatic musical setting. www.EricSirota.com
FRANKENSTEIN (music, book & lyrics) by Eric B. Sirota is produced by John Lant and Tamra Pica in association with Write Act Repertory; directed by Clint Hromsco and with music direction and arrangements by Anessa Marie. Featured in the cast are Danny Bristoll, Jonathan Cobrda, Amy Londyn, Charles Baran, Benjamin M. Haupt, Cait Kiley and Gabriella Marzetta.
Performances are Mondays at 7:00 pm through December at St. Luke’s Theatre, located at 308 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). 2018 dates will be announced after Thanksgiving. For tickets and more info please visit www.TheFrankensteinMusical.com
Credit: Adam Smith Jr. (in photo: Jonathan Cobrda as Victor and Danny Bristoll as the Creature)
https://www.sun-productions.com/images/WAR-Frankenstein-PP8.jpg
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