3:00 pm | FREE Admission | 1 hour 15 minutes/no intermission
On A Midsummer’s Night by Debbie Lan, Librettist/Composer is a composed-through, Pop Opera adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ As part of Artist’s New Work Forum the original musical will be work-shopped at the Rosendale Theatre on December 18, 3:00 pm. Admission is free. Directed by Allyson Uzzle, with a terrific cast Carrie Wykoff, Doug Motel, Molly Lugo, Rachel Van Carpels, Sarah Urech, Gil Sweeney, Matteo Undici, Tim Bruck, and Margaret Stanne.
Debbie Lan is a composer, lyricist, arranger, performer and teaching artist with two award winning CDs of original music for kids and their families with her band, Grenadilla. Her song ‘Arabella Angelique’ garnered a #1 hit on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live! 13 under 13 chart. Most recently Debbie co-wrote the song, ‘I am Malala’ with Grammy Nominee Alastair Moock for his latest release ‘All kinds of You and Me’. Her songs ‘Doodle doodle doo’ and ‘Grenadilla Lolly’ can be heard on a documentary for the Film Institute at Lincoln Center and ‘Sitting on Top of the World’ is on the September 2105 release of ‘Smiles Ahead’ for Mighty Mo Productions.
Originally from Cape Town South Africa, Debbie was Musical Director and composer-in-residence for CAPAB, the state run theater from 1981 – 1984, writing and arranging songs for eight original shows. She performed with her band on the club circuit until signing with Mountain Records and releasing her debut album ‘Debbie Lan’ in 1985 to much critical acclaim. The album produced one top ten hit and six videos.
In 2007, Debbie founded Bloom, a women’s voice ensemble. Currently 32 members, Bloom meets once a week to sings an eclectic mix of songs arranged by Debbie, and performs 4 to 5 times a year community events.
The Artist’s New Work Forum provides an opportunity for artists to present new work or works-in-progress to the public. Admission is free, and audiences are asked to participate in a survey and Q&A immediately following the presentation with the artist(s). Gauging audience reaction is a key element to work-shopping the piece and is at the core of this program.
This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.