"shAme" Opens This Week - Scarlet Letter fans rejoice!

Fans of my musical "The Scarlet Letter" will be happy to hear that it has been reworked and reborn and opens in LA in its new form as the Rock Opera called "shAme".  It's been many years since the journey for this show started here in LA, first as a ragtag group of singers and musicians performing it in small clubs like Genghis Cohen, and then to its first run starring Kathy Fisher, David Ossman, Maureen Davis and Jamie James for 10 weeks at Luna Park, opening for acts like Alanis Morrisette and Sun Ra.

It has journeyed to Boston for a great and very successful run, and even to Berlin where it was produced as a radio play.  Over the years, there have been many things I wanted to change and tweak, some roles I wanted to expand and other to eliminate.  When Janet Roston agreed to direct a new rock opera version that would bring it back to its club roots, I finally had the chance to re-imagine it with new material, but still keep the songs that audiences loved.  Then when Mario Melendez at the King King gave us the dates and committed to the run, my dream became a reality!

I am SO excited about this production.  I have been to run-throughs this week, and the cast is amazing.  Katrina Lenk brings her incredible acting and mellifluous voice to the role of Hester, hit singer songwriter Mark Luna ("Angel on My Shoulder", "Never Saw Blue Like That") brings his incredible voice and presence to the role of Dimmesdale, the unpredictable and uncompromising Danny Shorago (of the Fuxedos) mires the depths of a tortured soul in the role of Chillingworth, and our new discovery, Laura Darrell is transcendent as the troubled teenager Pearl.

The roles of the Puritans have been greatly expanded in this version, and the supporting cast is no less spectacular.  Those who saw our workshop production of "Possession" two summers ago will remember Daniel Lujan and Kelly Becerra, who return to work with us as the Governor and Constance, respectively. Kelly also does double duty as one of the sexy fantasy spirits.  Trina Taylor (Felicity), Joe Donahoe (Sexton), Erin Zaruba (Prudence) and the hearthrob of Beverly Hills High musical productions, James W. Lynch (Winthrop) round out this young and very talented cast.

Director Janet Roston brings, dance, multimedia, and daring staging to the show to create a theatrical experience that bridges the worlds of theatre and rock and roll.  

The show opens on Wednesday May 28 for a preview and then runs every Wednesday at the King King in Hollywood until July 16th.  I'll be there every night - come and join me in a night of 'shAme".