Today, December 14, "White Noise" received 2 very private industry readings at S.I.R. Studios in Manhattan. As previously speculated, "White Noise" is preparing for a spring move (no theatre mentioned). According to an official reading invite, Whoopi Goldberg will be joining producers Holly Way, Roy Miller ("The Drowsy Chaperone," "West Side Story," "Ragtime"), Jay Strommen, and Tom Leonardis. No official announcement has been made.
Goldberg, who reportedly addressed both standing-room only presentations this afternoon told the audience "You will never see anything like this. There is nothing like this."
"White Noise," which was picked up from the 2006 New York Musical Theater Festival has been entirely reworked by a new creative team, including book writer Matte O'Brien ("The Meaning of Life...and Other Useless Pieces of Information") and music trio Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane ("Once Around the Sun"). Additional material is by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The reading was staged by Tony-nominee Donald Byrd ("The Color Purple") and Holly-Anne Ruggiero ("Jersey Boys"). "White Noise" most recently had a sold out, limited engagement run at Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans' French Quarter from July 9 - July 26, 2009.
Set to the beat of modern rock, pop and hip hop music, "White Noise," according to early press notes, is a cautionary musical loosely based on real life. The musical follows a teenage singing group - sisters Eva and Eden Siller, who promote their messages of white power through coded lyrics and irresistible melodies to penetrate the mainstream. Indeed, anything marketed, polished, and packaged correctly can sell. White Noise fuses today's blog and headline stories into a cautionary tale that challenges conventional notions about freedom of speech, entertainment, and the dramatic effects pop culture can have on a nation so preoccupied with "living" that it neglects to pay attention to "life."
The reading featured most of the New Orleans cast, including Nancy Anderson (Wonderful Town, Kiss Me Kate), Jacob ben Widmar (Xanadu), Sarah Jayne Blackmore, Rodney Hicks (Rent), Antwayn Hopper (R-E-S-P-E-C-T), Laura Lim Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry (Finian's Rainbow), Erin Kukla, Mackenzie Mauzy (Tale of Two Cities), Andrew McGinn (Coast of Utopia), Patrick Murney, David Nathan Perlow, John Preston, Brandon Williams, and Libby Winters (American Idiot). The New Orleans production additionally starred Patti Murin Holbrook (Xanadu), Heather Hamilton, Stacey Harris (Bells are Ringing) and Krisha Marcano (The Color Purple).
The New Orleans production featured Direction by Donald Byrd, associate direction by Holly-Anne Ruggiero, associate choreography by Stephanie Guiland Brown, costume design by David Woolard, lighting design by Jason Lyons, hair and wig design by Mark Adam Rampmayer, production stage management by Bernita Robinson and casting by Michael Cassara, CSA.
White Noise is based on an original book and score by Joe Drymala and a conceit by Ryan J. Davis.
