RHINEBECK WRITERS RETREAT
2023 TRIPLE R PRESENTATION:
STARSTRUCK
a sanctuary for development of new musicals
Tony Nominee
Beth Malone
Emily Saliers
of the Indigo Girls
Mary Ann Stratton
On May 8th 2023, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat presented a reading of the new musical STARSTRUCK, written by Tony-nominee Beth Malone (FUN HOME), Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, and Mary Ann Stratton.
STARSTRUCK was selected for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat’s Triple R program, where the writers receive two readings and a residency to do extensive development of their musical. They started with a cold table read in NYC, followed by a residency in Rhinebeck to revise the script and score.
The cast includes Beth in the lead role, Jeb Brown (BEAUTIFUL THE CAROL KING MUSICAL), Claybourne Elder (COMPANY), Ann Harada (INTO THE WOODS), Marc Kudisch (GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY), and Krysta Rodriguez (INTO THE WOODS). The reading is directed by Sherri Eden Barber (resident director of HAMILTON tour) and music directed by Cynthia Meng.
The General Manager is Dailey-Monda Management.
Synopsis
Where the universe meets Sawtooth, Idaho, Cyd DeBerg, crusades for International Dark Sky status stirring up a political firestorm and attracting the attention of the NPR podcast, Far Out! with Roxanne Cooley. Roxanne's magnetism knocks Sawtooth out of its orbit including Cyd’s right hand man, Chris. In Cyrano fashion, Cyd begins a courtship on his behalf, but when words come too easily and feel uncomfortably true, Cyd is forced to concede the world as she knew it. Cyd and Roxanne are upended by the mysterious universe, truths hidden in darkness, and a collision course of love.
Marc Kudisch
Kyrsta Rodriguez
Ann Harada
Claybourne Elder
Jeb Brown
Sydney Patrick
Drae Campbell
Tré Frazier
Zell Steele Morrow
Beth Malone is currently a Series Regular on Apple TV's, City On Fire. Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include "Fun Home" (Tony Nominee), "Angels in America" (Revival), "Ring of Fire", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominee, Out Critics Circle Honoree). TV credits include "Gaslit," (Hulu), "All Rise", "Brainded", "Bull" (all for CBS), Chicago Med," "Bluff City Law" (NBC), "The Baker and The Beauty" (ABC). Film credits "Tick, Tick, Boom", "The Comedian", "Brittany Runs a Marathon". Beth is the co- book writer of the musical Starstruck.
Emily Saliers - composer (BMI) is a founding member and one half of the Grammy award winning duo Indigo Girls. Indigo Girls have toured worldwide and sold over 15 million albums since being signed to Epic Records (Sony) in 1989. She holds a BA in English from Emory University. In addition to her work with Indigo Girls, Emily co-owned the restaurant Watershed in Decatur, Georgia whose chef won the James Beard award for Best Chef, Southeast U.S.A. Emily is co-author of the book A Song to Sing a Life to Live: Music as Spiritual Practice written with her father, Professor Don Saliers. She has written soundtrack music for film, including the Sundance short film One Weekend a Month, among others. She teaches a songwriting workshop in Nashville, TN every year and released her first full length solo album, Murmuration Nation, in 2017. Indigo Girls co-founded Honor the Earth, an Indigenous environmental and cultural justice organization with Native American activist, Winona LaDuke. Indigo Girls have been active in issues such as sensible gun legislation, immigration policy, LGBTQ rights, and environmental justice. They are members of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Emily is currently working on a musical with Broadway’s Beth Malone as well as a musical with the Elliot/Larsen musicals team. Her newfound love of musical theatre has become an obsession. Emily adores her family, dogs, good food, and the sea.
Mary Ann Stratton is a published memoirist, essayist, and poet who has taught creative writing for twenty-seven years. She has been the featured poet in numerous events performing her poetry throughout Colorado and has won top honors garnering her an invitation to perform with Denver’s Poet Laureate. STARSTRUCK is Mary Ann’s second play and first musical.
"Starstruck got unstuck at Rhinebeck. The support and generosity of spirit makes Rhinebeck Writers Retreat the optimal setting to bravely try new things. We owe a great deal of thanks to Rhinebeck for creating such a perfect environment for work”
-Beth Malone & Emily Saliers