News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Liz Callaway, Debbie Gravitte, Jon Secada and More Set for LOVING THE SILENT TEARS in LA, 10/27

By: Aug. 08, 2012
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

The red carpet premiere of Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical will be held on October 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The first of its kind in theatre history, Loving the Silent Tears will take the audience on an elevating journey across six continents and 16 countries, to tell a compelling story about humanity's search for inner peace and happiness.

The musical will star 2-time Grammy-winning artist Jon Secada, Grammy-winning icon Jody Watley, and Broadway stars: Tony winner Debbie Gravitte, Tony winner Kiril Kulish, Emmy winner and Tony nominee Liz Callaway, and Tony nominee Patti Cohenour.

They will be joined by Grammy-winning reggae legends Black Uhuru, Arab singer Camellia Abou-Odah, Italian tenor Mark Janicello, Flo Ankah, Korean pop star Brian Joo, award-winning Israeli singer Liel Kolet, Irish soprano Katie McMahon, Korean singer Heather Park, award-winning Brazilian singer Fabiana Passoni, and Persian superstar Siavash Shams.

"It is very special to be a part of something of this magnitude," said Jody Watley. "What a great cast and collection of musicians, composers, artists, the global message, the magnificence!"

Loving the Silent Tears promises the ingenious direction of Tony nominee Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson's Bad and Madonna's Blond Ambition tours), lively dances choreographed by Emmy-winning Bonnie Story (High School Musical), the imaginative stagecraft of Emmy- winning set designer John Iacovelli (Peter Pan), and a vibrant display of costumes by award- winning designer Sharell Martin (Chicago).

Vincent Paterson stated, "It will be a wonderful evening of theatre - beautiful costumes, great sets to look at. They're going to hear great music. They're going to see great dancing. There are some beautiful messages here about enlightenment and self-realization, and that's always a nice reminder to have throughout life."

With all elements in place to make for absolutely thrilling musical theatre, the show was inspired by a poetry anthology titled Silent Tears, written years ago by world-renowned spiritual teacher, humanitarian and artist Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Award-winning playwright Cynthia Ferrell noted, "What interested me most in Loving the Silent Tears honestly was the poetry. The poetry is so beautiful and the message of the poetry, it's so consistent throughout the piece, and the nuances of it are gorgeous and it's just so inspiring. It just makes you come to the project with a happy heart."

Taking a unique approach, multiple eminent composers have come together to set Supreme Master Ching Hai's soulful verses to soaring melodies: 6-time Grammy winner and 2-time Oscar nominee Jorge Calandrelli (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha (The Poseidon Adventure), Emmy winner Doug Katsaros (Footloose), 2-time Grammy winner ?and Oscar nominee Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Tony and Emmy winner Don Pippin (Oliver!), Grammy winner Nan Schwartz (Harry Potter), and Oscar and 2-time Grammy winner David Shire (Saturday Night Fever). With the sheer volume of brilliant musical minds so generously pouring their creativity into the score, it's evident that music lovers are in for a treat.

Jon Secada will also be debuting a song that he composed for the musical, based on Supreme Master Ching Hai's poetry. He said, "I think the audience will find listening to the lyrics of the songs, which are from Supreme Master Ching Hai's poems, a transformative and enlightening experience."

Composer Al Kasha stated, "All these composers who are the best in the world and all of these singers who won Grammys and Tonys from Broadway worked on this piece because they saw the spiritual nature of it. I think it will lift the audience up inspirationally, I really do."

With a superb cast and creative team, beautiful poetry as lyrics, and accompaniment by a 30-plus member dancing ensemble and a live orchestra, Loving the Silent Tears will be an unprecedented show of grand proportions and five-star production value.

The evening will commemorate the 19th anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day honoring the values of philanthropy and peace. A pre-show art exhibition at the venue will feature Supreme Master Ching Hai's uplifting creative works, with free admittance for all attendees.

"This is the coming together of music in the name of a good purpose, a higher purpose, a spiritual purpose, that brings out the best in people," stated composer Nan Schwartz. "I think the show sounds like an incredible event for all people to attend."

There will also be a celebrity red carpet.

Loving the Silent Tears on October 27 will be a one-time extraordinary event that will inspire audiences of all backgrounds. So don't miss it - and share the meaningful experience by bringing family and friends.

For more information, visit: SilentTearsMusical.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SilentTearsMusical
Twitter: twitter.com/LoveSilentTears

Plus, watch a two-part interview with Tony-nominated director Vincent Paterson below!





Videos