Recurring John

PREMISE

How well can you come to know a person who you never meet?

A mother sings a lullaby to her child. A teacher imparts ‘wordly wisdom’ upon a student. A tired lawyer eagerly awaits the chance for a promotion. A man recounts his emotional journey on his wedding day. A homeless park dweller fondly recounts the lives of passersby.

These and more seemingly disparate lives are bound together by a common thread of recurrence; they have all been touched and impacted in some way by the same person.

This contemporary and unique conceptual take on the song cycle aims to explore the impact of one life through presenting seven chronological vignettes of individuals affected by a man named John, who never himself appears to the audience in the piece.

SONGS

Prologue/What is the Impact of a Life?
Mother’s Lullaby
Straighten Up
The Life for Me
They Never Saw Me
Stories in the Park
Perfect
World of Wonder

AUDIO

HISTORY

First Reading

AUGUST 10, 2014
2014 SUMMERWORKS FESTIVAL (MUSICAL WORKS IN CONCERT)
TORONTO, ON
Artscape Youngplace

Director: Jeff Madden
Producer: Seren Brooke Lannon
Music Director: Donavon LeNabat
Cast: Natasha Buckeridge, Kevin Dennis, Arlene Duncan, Alexis Gordon, Chris Tsujiuchi, Jennifer Walls, Paula Wolfson
Orchestra: Donavon LeNabat (keyboards), Natalie Wong (Violin), Erika Nielsen (Cello), Matt Marcoccia (Guitar), Ross MacIntyre (Bass), Justin Han (Percussion)
Lighting/Stage Management: Lindsay Jenkins
Sound: Glen McCann
Photos by Dahlia Katz:

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Premiere

JUNE/JULY, 2015
2015 CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
CHICAGO, IL

Director: David Lipschutz
Producer: Chicago Musical Theatre Festival/Underscore Theatre
Music Director:Gary Powell
Cast:Alisha Fabbi, Sadie Rose Glaspey, Allison Kochanski, Judi Riley, Ty Rood, Nick Shoda, Brenda Turner
Pianist:Jeffrey Poindexter
Stage Management:Mary Doctor

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REVIEWS

NOW Toronto: “…composer/lyricist Kevin Wong is extraordinarily gifted. His songs, many of them infectiously catchy, have harmonies as complex as the central (unseen) character himself, and the lyrics are variously funny and poignant” (NNNN)

Mooney on Theatre: “…beautiful, raw, engaging and memorable.”

My Entertainment World: “Each and every standalone number in his new song cycle is memorable, amusing, touching, rousing or some combination thereof.” (B+)

LICENSING

For more information, please contact Kevin at kevin [ a t ] kevinwongmusic [ d o t ] com.