Well I have to say that the last few months have been quite incredible. And exciting. And overwhelming! And emotional… And very, well, musical theatre!
We have come very far from September in the Bal Maiden Musical project and I am finding it hard to keep up. Firstly the creation of our beautiful website by Engine House Digital designers Stuart and Lucille which literally gave light to my musical, making it seem even more real for the first time since the choral workshops in Spring. And it was wonderful to see the discussions come to fruition on the web. Thank you to Brendan McGreal (Cornish Underground) for recording and mixing a take of my River Notes choir singing the MIners’ Song in lightning quick time to put on the website.
Secondly it was good to start creating contacts and artistic links with all the many collaborators that we are inviting to work with us to put on the show. I have had some amazingly helpful and constructive conversations with so many people. Special thanks in particular to Jenefer Lowe and Hevva for lending us some Bal Maiden outfits for our first photo shoot for the website. And to Carey Davies the best sound engineer in the west who talked me through sound engineering and sound design for the show, I am very grateful for his words of wisdom. Thank you also Klaus Kruse and Kerry Taylor at Amata for putting the word out to all the acting, musical theatre, theatre and performance, dance and choreography and technical theatre arts students. And also to Paul Joines who was the first person to get back to me in response to advice in recruiting students from the Technica Theatre Arts degrees, brilliant! And Nathan May, sound engineer and student who has been so engaged already with the production. Abi Squibb, head at Marlborough school has also been so enthusiastic and kind, giving me a platform at assembly to talk about the musical dressed as a bal maiden! Sally Knight has been lovely too in starting a conversation about the exciting world of choreography and supportive of the concept. And also to Colin Leggo and his team at Princess Pavilion for welcoming us and hosting the auditions. Cheryl Brendish and Gareth Churcher head of Cornwall Music Service Trust have been so fantastic and enthusiastic about the musical which has been such a confidence boost. From one composer to another, thank you so much. Jimmy Miller and Simon Neald at Source FM have been great in putting out the word too, grazie mille as they say in Italy. My River Notes choir too has been just awesome and very patient with me. Lastly to my director, Olivia (perfect artistic collaborator, so lucky) and the Cobb Riddle and Spall directors, so supportive and focused in navigating the choppy waters of funding applications, striving to keep me from melting into a puddle like a confused and anxious snow person.
The show is a distant blip on the horizon and already so many helpful contributions and participation that need to be acknowledged.
Not least, the AUDITIONEES!
Wow. What an amazing collection of performers that walked into the theatre in November and December. We were so impressed with the talent that greeted us. It was such an exciting process and as a result we have cast the whole show bar two roles. How cool and fabulous is that? The congratulation emails were sent out to everyone who participated offering them roles and I was so buoyed by the enthusiastic, excited and happy responses of acceptance to be in my Bal Maiden musical show. Rehearsals start in March but before then we have a ton more work to do to make sure we are ready to go full steam ahead, production wise at the start of Spring. I have been invited to Source FM in February to have another chat with Jimmy MIller during his Musical Allsorts to discuss how the production is progressing!
Roll on 2023!
