Music of the WHITE HORSE THEATER COMPANY Cyndy A. Marion: Producing Artistic Director Incorporated in 2003, White Horse Theater Company is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to producing and developing new American plays and celebrate American culture by re-examining American classics. Music and Lyrics by Joe Gianono Resident composer of the WHITE HORSE THEATER COMPANY since 2007 1- In The Bar Of A Tokyo Hotel (2007) From the play by Tennessee Williams Mark is a world-famous artist. He and his grasping wife Miriam are caught in a fiercely symbiotic bond of need and hatred. Having played midwife to his incredible career, Mark has been both Miriam’s validation and despair. Now she wants to leave, afraid that Mark is in the grip of a breakdown and he can no longer create. Mark, however, senses a breakthrough coming. He returns again and again to his canvases, which “demand what I can’t give them yet”. The scene is set both for a savage and witty dance of death, and an autobiographical meditation on creativity and envy of success. With a gentle Japanese flavor and a Satie inspired score, the “windchime” shakes up the quiet air. The main flute theme is based on Johanna’s “Woodstock” Dorian windchimes. 2- Small Craft Warnings (2008) From the play by Tennessee Williams Small Craft Warnings is a play that centers on a motley group of people gathered in a seedy coastal bar in Southern California. It might be thought of as an analogy between a maritime term and the sometimes perilous or fragile nature of people's lives, especially these 9 lives. Unfortunately the players are people, not cats. Once they hit the rocks there aren't many second chances. The two-fold meaning of the title is manifested in musical terms throughout the piece starting with the choice of instruments, viola and piano. The main 4- note theme played by the piano at the beginning, represents the 4 syllables of the title. Following the statement of the main theme are 2 variations, which add up to 9 notes representing the 9 characters of the play. The second theme played by the viola (violin) with its slow 2 note up and then, 2 notes down melody happens later in the piece and suggests a certain sense of pathos. The viola (opt. violin) melody with its fragile character floats endlessly over the piano accompaniment which occasionally stops and starts suggest caution. Most of the maritime imagery is incorporated into the piano accompaniment. One can sense the deceptiveness of seemingly calm waters at every turn. Featuring: Luellen Abdoo, Violin and Elain Chelton, Piano 3- Jesus Isa Real 4- Slippery Slope (2009) From the play, The Book of Lambert by Leslie Lee A new work by Obie-winner and Tony-nominated playwright Leslie Lee, directed by Cyndy A. Marion, depicts the lives of several lost souls living in the subterranean depths of an abandoned NYC subway station. Lambert, their leader, a disillusioned young African-American ex-English teacher is writing a prophetic book on life. In an effort to guide and re-focus this lost flock, Lambert unleashes his own identity issues while coming face to face with the demons of his past. There is a religious component as they re-enter the real world and “see the light”. Featuring Sadina Johnson , Lead Vocal 5- La Bionda/ Elegy and Pas de deux 6- Tango Apache (2010) From the play, Clothes For A Summer Hotel by T. Williams Tennessee Williams attempts to dissect the dysfunctional marriage of that beautiful and damned couple F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Known as “Scott and Zelda” they have become a fabled couple, legends of a bygone era and of the triumph and tragedy that afflicted the decade with which they are most associated, the 1920s. This uneven "ghost play" pits the alcoholic, repressed Scott against the intense, overly sensual Zelda. Like Williams in his "stoned age" of substance abuse and commercial failure, Scott is a physical and artistic wreck. Suffering from frequent panic attacks and shortness of breath, the once-glittering author, now a Hollywood hack, has come to visit his mentally ill wife outside the North Carolina asylum where she has been institutionalized and ultimately dies in flames. This dramatic “period” score includes an “Apache” dance in the form of a Tango. Although it is a traditional medium tempo spirited tango it has a hint of a modern feel, Elegy is a lamenting, reflective piece that remembers the fateful life of Zelda (Sayre) Fitzgerald, wife of the famous author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Towards the end of her fated life Zelda is a resident of the Highland Mental Institution. In this particular scene of the play she reflects her life as a writer and wife, then, starts to dance, as she like to imagine herself as a ballerina. She died tragically by fire trapped in the burning Highland Mental Institution. Tango Apache has the flavor of the volatile French dance form known as “APACHE”, named after French street gangs, common in the early 1900’s. One of the signature characteristics of the Apache is that it was not particularly friendly to women. Women were basically dragged and hurled along the floor rather violently. This feeling is intentionally, strongly represented in the music. Featuring The Beryllium Chamber Ensemble: Beryl Diamond Chacon (Violin), Will Hakim (Viola), Hiro Matsuo (Cello) Nelson Padgett (Piano) and special guest Gene Bertoncini (Guitar). 7- Suddenly Last Summer (2011) From the play by Tennessee Williams In a 1937 Victorian mansion in New Orleans, young socialite Catherine Holly is committed after witnessing her cousin, Sabastian's violent death on a trip to Cabeza De Lobo (translation: Head of the Wolf), Spain . Her aunt, Violet Venable, wants to hide the events of her son's death from and attempts to bribe young surgeon, Dr. John Cukrowicz, to perform a lobotomy on Catherine. But John vows to find out the truth about Catherine's state before taking any action and Catharine tells the gruesome story of Sebastian's death by cannibalism at the hands of locals whose sexual favors he sought and of flesh eating birds. The music reflects the dark side of the decadent idle rich in the white hot primal sun. So much for the “kindness of strangers!” 8- ‘Night Mother (2013) From the play by Marsha Norman ‘Night Mother centers on the interactions between Thelma, an elderly woman and Jessie Cates, her daughter, whose depression has pushed her to the brink of suicide. As Jessie steels herself for her last act, Thelma gallantly encourages her to opt for life. The main three note musical theme, which reflects the title, is set against a repeating single note in the left hand of the piano, suggesting the ticking of a clock. The flute enters with the second theme representing the strange irony of Jessie’s situation. On one hand, Jesse is quite calm, as if it were a perfectly normal day in suburbia and on the other, a woman who is going to blow her brains out with her father’s pistol at bedtime, after a typically normal, uneventful evening. Featuring Evan Obrien, Piano and James Obrien, Flute 9- I Cant Imagine Tomorrow (2914) From the play by T. Williams The characters "One" and "Two" are the only friends of one-another. They carry out the same evening ritual of card playing and watching the news on TV in an effort to avoid any real confrontation. "One's" physical deterioration and approaching death forces her to prepare for the inevitable. "Two" resists this change and his consuming fear of losing "One" leads to an emotional breakdown. I Can't Imagine Tomorrow employs silence and fragmented discourse in order to express the themes of human dependence, fear and loss." The musical score for piano and guitar reinforces these emotions. 10- You Are Perfect 11- Three (2015) From the play, You Are Perfect by Cyndy A. Marion You Are Perfect is a theatrical reimagining of the life of Susan Atkins, moving through time and space, at the time of “Woodstock”, questioning allegations of murder and deceit while having doubts about testifying against Charles Manson. The score of You Are Perfect shares several important elements with the play. Time reference is one of them. Complexity is another. There are primarily three main instruments used in the score, flute, piano and guitar. Various effects are used to transform the sound as LSD would transform the mind, as the world changes around us. There are many musical quotes as well. Some should be obvious and some are not. The score is intended to have a “retro” reference, sometimes, very “retro”. As Charles Manson was considered a mythical, god-like figure that was worshiped by his followers the score references ancient mythological figures and circumstances with a philosophical point of view. The other obvious time stamp is the late 60’s, 1969 to be exact. It was the time of Woodstock, which I attended, the Beatles, the Viet Nam War, “Flower Children”, rampant drug use, social unrest, hippies and a changing world. The score references many of the artists and songs of that time. Many of the music cues have titles that are relevant to the circumstances of the play. As did the ancient Minoan civilization of Thera vanish in fury, so was the dark side of the Charles Manson legacy. 12- Eyes of Consuela (2015) From the play, Eyes of Consuela by Sam Shepard Mitch Douglas on Tennessee Williams and music: “Perhaps because he was a poet by nature he realized how music - songs or background music - could enhance the already musicality of his words - dialogue that gave the impression of reality but but which was inherently musical and poetic in its approach and impact.” The play depicts the mid-life crisis of Henry, a lost American soul, as he wanders the dreamlike world of a remote Mexican jungle. Estranged from his wife, Henry escapes to Mexico to “find himself," instead encountering a Mexican bandit who wants to cut out his eyes. According to Amado, blue eyes are the only thing that will make his lover Consuela smile. Henry insists his eyes are brown. In a fierce battle of wills, Henry and Amado come eye to eye with their inner demons, the true nature of sacrifice, and what separates them from the women they love. Within a guitar oriented Mexican style score the choir functions as a group of townspeople like a classic “Greek Chorus”, innocently commenting from the outside, looking in. The illusive spirit of Consuela pervades. Eyes Of Consuela Lyrics Look Out! Into the eyes of Consuela Through the blue eyes of Consuela Only beware not to dare her. See the blue eyes of Consuela Through the dark eyes of Consuela Through the eyes of them all. Conducted by Joe Gianono, featuring The Original Uptown Sound singers: Jim Cornehlsen, John DiPinto, Paul Geidel, Larry Hurst, Noriko Kumada, Loretta Hunt Marion, Jacqueline G. Nieman, Nanette Gahn Pezzutti, David Plavin, Allen Reddick, Jack Rickly & Kirsten Skrinde–joined by: Ralph Alterbaum, Sandra Kilsby, Ginger Broderick, Clayton Bryant, Kayrique Chisom, Clyve, Esjae, Catherine Haala, Thalia Longchamp, David Nass, Brooke O’Hare, Molly Gallentine & Stephanie Sellars. Descant by Marieta Carrero. 13- Who Knows? 14- Brass Ear Ring 15- Hinky Dinky Parlez- vous 16- Leap Frog 17- Fun, Fun ,Fun (2017) From the play, A Perfect Analysis Given By A Parrot by Tennessee Williams Flora and Bessie are members of the Women's Auxiliary of the Jackson Haggerty Post of the Sons of Mars in Memphis and are in town for the National Convention. Having got separated from "the boys" they await them in the tavern, where they chat and gossip. Things get tearful but luckily "the boys" arrive and all ends in jubilation. The music suggests a melancholic tone. Copyright© 2016 Joe Gianono Music Publishing (ASCAP) Performed by Joe Gianono unless otherwise indicated. Produced by Joe Gianono