FLASH: Discovering Magenta has been selected for the 2015 Thespis Theatre Festival at the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York Sept 1, 5th & 6th
Oklahoma City University produced a 'stripped' version of Discovering Magenta on April 15, 2007 at the Bass School of Music. 5 Musicals had been chosen for a stripped showcase-30 minutes each-and MAGENTA was one of them.
April, 15 2007 at OCU Stripped New Musicals
Bass School of Music
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106
The work of James Corey Kaufman and Michael Bitterman,
Discovering Magenta
is an enjoyable slice of modern show music. Judging by the synopsis the
story is somewhat complex, set against the background
of a mental hospital
and involving a catatonic patient. The music
is however quite
straightforward, melodic and affable.
Michael Bitterman has a tight control on the variety
of musical styles
adopted and certainly can turn out a quality ballad
("Wake Up", "Where Do
I Go From Here?"). Lyricist Kaufman is equally
impressive and with the
likes of the risque "Lonely Guys Club" displays a
wicked sense of humour.
The cast of four -- Douglas Farrell, Amy Fradon, Mark
Ruse, and Vicki
Russell are first class and the arrangements, despite
being largely
synthesiser based, are inventive and tuneful. Discovering Magenta is a
most pleasant slab of show music released privately
by the writers. For
further information on the work check web page www.midmod.com/magenta.html
At the other end of the spectrum is "Discovering Magenta," by James Corey Kaufman and Michael Bitterman. This show follows several story lines that converge in ways that sound, at least from liner notes, completely riveting. The show's main focus is on the relationship that develops between a young health worker and one of his patients, Katrina, whom he manages to wake from a catatonic state. Alongside this story, you meet some of Henry's friends, and a relationship between two of these characters proves to critical to Katrina's ultimate recovery.
It's a dark musical and one that slides with ease from the jocular (the guys extolling single life in "Lonely Guys Club") to the truly haunting (this is particularly true of Katrina's "Days of Madness.") Bitterman's score is a mixture of pop sounds and elusive melodies that capture the slippery mental landscapes of many of the characters.
"Discovering Magenta" is available online – you will probably want to track both of them down. A good place to look is CDBaby.
This has been Andy Propst of AmericanTheaterWeb.com
DISCOVERING MAGENTA is a musical-in-progress by Michael
Bitterman (Five After Eight) and James Corey Kaufman. Something of a psychological
love story, it concerns Henry, a mental health worker attracted to Katrina,
a patient haunted by past incidents involving her brother, whose identity
is a plot point. Secondary characters are henry's friends and fellow psychology
students, Elliot and Rose, the later seeming near a breaking point herself
in her songs "Little Boys" and "This Ain't Oz". Other numbers also reveal
the characters and their feelings, including "Let Me In" "Do You Understand?"
"Repress My Feelings," "Days Of Madness,: and "Cliche Of Love." They are
well sung by Douglas Farrell, Amy Fradon, Mark Rust, and Vicki Russell
in synthesized arrangements by the composer, but the musical would probably
play best at theatres looking for the unusual.