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Saturday, September 22, 2007
HISTORY OF PAINTING THE WIND The Musical
SEPTEMBER 1996 - I discover the book, Painting
the Wind, and begin reading it to my students as part of an Arts-in-Education program about the artist Vincent van Gogh.
JUNE
-SEPTEMBER 2002 - I do readings of the book at numerous arts teacher training workshops. I see the potential of the story's
inspirational message and explore the idea of a dramatization.
OCTOBER 2003 - I begin work on the adaptation of the
book. I write the first scene and the lyrics to the opening song Le MISTRAL.
NOVEMBER 2003 - I receive the information
for obtaining the stage rights to Painting the Wind and speak with author Michelle Dionetti.
MARCH 2004 - I meet with
Michelle Dionetti, and discuss my creating a musical adaptation of her book.
APRIL 2004 - I travel to the Arles in
Provence to do research for the libretto and experience the place where van Gogh had lived and worked.
AUGUST 2004
- At my home in the Adirondacks, fellow friend and playwright, Hana Roth Seavey, introduces me to composer, rock musician
and classical guitar teacher, John Henry Sheridan. He and I spend a week collaborating on the first four songs for Painting
the Wind. I meet Michelle Dionetti and finalize the stage rights to Painting the Wind.
FEBRUARY 2005 - I return to
Provence and spend a month living there, continuing my research into the place and the people of Arles and bring back examples
of traditional Provencal folk music, instruments and costumes.
MAY 2005 - We produce a successful reading with music
of Painting the Wind at the Fading Ad Art Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on May 22nd.
MARCH/APRIL 2006 - John Henry
completes the score and orchestrations for Painting the Wind. We decide to produce a fully-staged reading of Painting the
Wind. We audition and hire Kate Marks as director/choreographer and Paul Staroba as Musical Director for the reading.
MAY
2006 - After auditioning actors, musicians and rehearsing we produce a two night fully-staged reading of Painting the Wind
at the South Oxford Theater Space in Brooklyn, New York on May 25th.
JUNE 2006 - Artist and Website Designer, Frank
Jump, creates Paintingthewind.com, the internet site for Painting the Wind the Musical.
DECEMBER 2006 - We collaborate
on COLORS, a new song, for the Three Santons in the show. I meet with Heidi Lauren Duke, director, to discuss future production
ideas for Painting the Wind and prepare for the IPAY Showcase 2007.
SEPTEMBER 2007 - Collaborate with John Henry
Sheridan on new song, TAUNTING, for the show. Develop reprise of title song PAINTING THE WIND with new orchestrations.
8:12 am est
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| Sunflowers 2006 by Paul Kaplan |
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Synopsis of Painting the Wind
This is a musical in which we experience the
transformative power of art. It is the story of Claudine, a young girl from Provence, who meets Vincent van Gogh, and whose
life is forever changed by seeing his paintings. The musical depicts life in the Provence town of Arles at the end of the
19th century. It follows Van Gogh's struggle for artistic recognition and, at the same time, Claudine's efforts to convince
her provincial parents to permit her to pursue her newly discovered passion for becoming an artist. Claudine's wonder, determination
and belief in the artist, bring to light a different side of the artist, Vincent van Gogh.
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