Tin Pan Scores “The Wonderneath”

About a month ago we met the formidable Ali Schmitz who impressed us with her huge spirit, imaginative ideas, clear headed administrative capabilities, and her articulate and intelligent mind. She had some wild schemes but had a plan and the experience to back it up.

So we started to work together on her new piece, “The Wonderneath” Basically, she wanted us to use Tin Pan music to underscore and enrich the entire show. Most performers are acrobats, fire dancers, aerialists etc… so there is next to no dialogue. It’s the wonderful experience for us of scoring a live silent-film! We used songs from our repertoire and adjusted them and moved some lyrics around to make everything fit the story. How would I describe it? … a metropolitan, turn-of-the-century, Alice in Wonderland tale with killer music and fire breathing saxophone. I am proud to say that Ali gravitated to many of my original songs: For those of you in the know “Brooklyn of Old,” “Dandelion” and “Blue Nature” all made it into the final staging. It’s a trip to hear one of your songs performed by a fire-dancing spider oracle! and another one sung while under the threat of decapitation!

Ali’s been wonderful throughout and she has the rare and delightful quality of being able to say “Yes” to any idea – and people have been throwing out some pretty creative and seemingly impossible stuff. Appropriately, the theater we are using is “The House of Yes.” It’s all coming together and peaking just at the right time. Last night was another rehearsal. Next week are the tech and dress and preview runs and then opening night is February 26th. The show runs through March 6th.

Get your tickets here! $15 advance – $20 the day of the show