our journey
the genesis
My journey with Ms. Anderson’s story began over 20 years ago as a volunteer at my children’s co-op. On this particular day the teacher pulled out the children’s book, “When Marian Sang” by Brian Selznick and Pam Muñoz Ryan. As she began reading, I was captivated and couldn’t believe that I had never heard of Marian Anderson. I immediately ordered her autobiography. I’m not an avid reader, so the fact that I quickly absorbed the book spoke volumes. I put the children’s book and the autobiography on the shelf, and told myself that one day I would turn Marian’s life into a musical.
CUT TO: September 2015. After 18 months of working to secure the option to a beloved musical, I was told the rights had gone to a mystery artist from London. I was heartbroken, but also knew that I had to keep creating for the musical stage…. So I pulled “When Marian Sang” off the shelf and placed it on the kitchen table. The next day, Chelsea Marie Davis, a dear friend and powerful singer/songwriter, came to my house for lunch. Chelsea walked into the kitchen, picked up “When Marian Sang" with great enthusiasm, and shared the profound experiences she had with students singing through the book as a teaching artist. I told Chelsea that I wanted to turn Marian’s story into a musical. She said, “Can I help!?” I said, “Yes!!”
At that same moment in time, Amy E. Gewirtz and I had started talking about co-founding a theatre collective. Having grown up in Philadelphia, Marian’s home town, Amy immediately saw the beauty and cultural relevance of bringing MARIAN’s story to the musical stage. And the dream was born….
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
Yours truly,
elkin antoniou g
MARIAN writer | producer
development to date
November 2023
The University of Michigan hosted a 2 week writers’ residency with the creative team.
November 2022
The team collaborated with City College Center for the Arts to present two private readings at the Marian Anderson Theatre in Harlem, NY.
June 2022
The team hosted their first Industry Reading in NYC, directed by Tamara Tunie.
April 2022
Twelve Broadway and Opera performers were invited to an Artist Retreat in New York City, where they learned a total of 38 songs as part of a the first fully sung thru, closed reading of MARIAN.
June 2021
The creative team hosted their first fully sung through reading of the new script & score in Long Beach, CA.
November 2020
MARIAN was featured as a Semi-Finalist in the NAMT 32nd Annual Festival of New Musicals.
January 2020
The creative team completed rewrites on the script, recorded 15 rough song demos, & submitted MARIAN to the National Alliance of Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival of New Musicals.
November 2019
Esteemed composer, arranger, music director, Victoria Theodore, joined the MARIAN family of collaborators.
October 2019
The team hosted a closed reading in New York, with Chelsea Marie Davis & classical music expert, Jessie Flasschoen, singing the new score.
Summer 2019
The team met in Washington DC to hold a closed reading of the first draft with no songs; they visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture & Anacostia Community Museum, & the National Portrait Gallery to view exhibits featuring Marian Anderson; & made a personally profound visit to the Lincoln Memorial.
Fall 2018
Five-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, Caleen Sinnette Jennings, was commissioned as the musical’s co-bookwriter.
Fall 2017
Liquid Theatre Collective secured the Exclusive Musical Stage Rights to Marian Anderson’s archival estate.
Summer 2017
Chelsea Marie Davis & Elkin Antoniou G began the development process with NAACP Image Award Winner, Michael Genet. Co-lyricist, Emily Ruth Hazel, joined the creative team.
Spring 2017
Explored Marian Anderson’s archives @ University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Genet singing @ a MARIAN fundraiser
Field trip to the Lincoln Memorial
Elkin Antoniou G @ the National Portrait Gallery
Emily Ruth Hazel & Chelsea Marie Davis during fundraiser in Long Beach, CA
Jessie Flasschoen performing "Bad Soprano" during October 2019 NY reading
Cast & Creative / Producer team for the October 2019 reading in NY
DeOnzell Green during NAMT recording - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Summer Greer during NAMT recording - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Recording "One Voice" - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Soara-Joye Ross & Victoria Theodore during NAMT recording
Arnold Livingston Geis during NAMT recording - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Edmond Rodriguez during NAMT recording - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Summer Greer & DeOnzell Green recording for NAMT - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
MARIAN featured as a NAMT semi-finalist
Lindsay Patterson Abdou rehearsing the role of Anna for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Arnold Livingston Geis and Oriana Falla rehearsing for June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Tonoccus McClain rehearsing the role of Orpheus for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Victoria Theodore rehearsing the cast for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Loren Smith rehearsing the role of Billy King for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
DeOnzell Green rehearsing the role of Marian for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
Summer Greer rehearsing for the June 2021 reading - Photo Credit: John Doukas Photography
April 2022 Artist Retreat
Composers Chelsea Marie Davis & Victoria Theodore rehearsing for the June 2022 NY Reading
June 2022 NY Reading
Cast of the November 2022 Reading @ the Marian Anderson Theatre in Harlem, NY
Final rehearsal before the November 2022 Reading
Cast & Creative Team of the November 2022 Reading @ the Marian Anderson Theatre
Director, Tamara Tunie, enjoying the work of the University of Michigan students. Photo credit: Christopher Boyes. Lynne Shankel - Carole Caplan Lonner Professor in Musical Theatre Composition Assistant Professor, Department of Musical Theatre
U-M students presenting the finale, "One Voice". Photo Credit: Peter Smith. Lynne Shankel - Carole Caplan Lonner Professor in Musical Theatre Composition Assistant Professor, Department of Musical Theatre
U-M student, Zee Happonen, workshopping the role of Young Marian. Photo Credit: Christopher Boyes. Lynne Shankel - Carole Caplan Lonner Professor in Musical Theatre Composition Assistant Professor, Department of Musical Theatre
Legendary MET opera star, George Shirley, with the U-M MARIAN cast and creative team. Photo Credit: Peter Smith. Lynne Shankel - Carole Caplan Lonner Professor in Musical Theatre Composition Assistant Professor, Department of Musical Theatre