Industry NewsBio-Musical About ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ Singer Harry Chapin in the WorksPatriot Productions is preparing the show to be presented at an industry reading in spring 2020.
By
Dan Meyer
December 06, 2019
A bio-musical about singer Harry Chapin, of “Cat’s in the Cradle” and “Taxi” fame, is in the works. An industry reading is expected to take place in spring 2020.
Deadline reports the musical, from Patriot Productions’ Jerry Goehring and Michael F. Mitri (Be More Chill, A Christmas Story), will feature a score entirely from the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter’s catalog with a book by Mitri. The piece already has the blessing of Chapin’s wife Sandy and brothers Tom and Steve, who will serve as consultants.
The story will follow Chapin’s career and explore his humanitarian efforts dedicated to ending world hunger. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter died in 1981 at 38 following a car accident.
Goehring and Mitri said in their announcement that they hope the musical will bringing the Chapin’s music to a new audience, in addition to raising funds and awareness for causes dear to the late singer’s heart.
This is the latest bio-musical to make headlines—Tina: The Tina Turner Musical opened last month to massive box office receipts, and Ephraim Sykes—hot on the heels of the Temptations musical Ain't Too Proud—was tapped to portrayed Michael Jackson in MJ next summer at the Neil Simon Theatre.
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Consisting of four distinct programs dedicated to supporting early career playwrights, the festival has formalized Second Stage Theater’s artistic pipeline.
The program awards three early-career playwrights with professional mentorship, a $7,500 stipend, a public reading, and additional networking opportunities.
The works—by artists like Ty Defoe, Jeanette Harrison, Angélica Negrón, Javaad Alipoor, and more—are the first in a planned multi-year series of multi-disciplinary works about our government.