Mandy Gonzalez to Lead 1/26 Reading of SING ME HOME in L.A.

Members of the Los Angeles theater community are invited to a staged reading of Sing Me Home on January 26 at 8 pm (cocktails at 7 pm). This brand new, contemporary musical, with book by Amber Romina Cassell and music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Kristy Hanson features fourteen original songs in the pop-rock genre, with influences ranging from rhythm and blues to country.

Sing Me Home debuted in concert form at the prestigious New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) with a preview concert in Los Angeles, where its creative team is based. Broadway World called it a "a musical for the new generation of musical theater" with "catchy and beautiful pop/rock songs."

Mandy Gonzalez (Wicked, In the Heights, Aida), Bud Weber (Aladdin, Book of Mormon), and Kathryn Gallagher star in the reading, with a supporting cast that also features Curt Mega. Music director and singer-songwriter Angela Parrish leads a five-piece band from the piano.

The reading is complimentary, but please write singmehome.musical@gmail.com to request an invitation.

Sometimes healing a broken heart means finding your voice. Years ago, music superstar Lexi Angel mysteriously vanished from the spotlight. On the eve of her auspicious comeback, a familiar face appears in her dressing room in need of help. As Lexi embarks on this new phase of her career, the demands of her future and shadows of her past collide, taking Lexi on a hilarious and heartfelt journey to a place she's never been before... home.

Mandy Gonzalez (Lexi) Mandy possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. She is best known for her emotional portrayal of Nina Rosario in the Tony Award winning Broadway musical "In the Heights", a role she originally created Off Broadway at 37 Arts and which received a Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble. Most recently, she starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of "Wicked", blowing the roof off of New York's Gershwin Theatre each night as she belted out signature song "Defying Gravity" and for which she was rewarded with a Broadway.com Award for Best Replacement. Other Broadway roles include Princess Amneris in the Elton John and Tim Rice musical "Aida" and the Broadway show "Lennon" where she portrayed multiple roles including that of Beatles' icon John Lennon. Mandy made her Broadway debut in Jim Steinman's "Dance of the Vampires" starring opposite Michael Crawford. Mandy received an OBIE Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the Off-Broadway production of Eli's Comin', directed by Diane Paulus and based on the music and lyrics of singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. Equally at home on the big and small screen, she has appeared in "Across the Universe" directed by Julie Taymor, "After" starring opposite Pablo Schreiber and "Man on a Ledge" with Sam Worthington. Television viewers had the pleasure of seeing Mandy guest starring in "White Collar", "The Good Wife", "666 Park Avenue", "One Life to Live" and "Third Watch". Many can be heard as the voice of Mei in Disney's "Mulan 2", on recordings of the original Broadway cast album of "In the Heights", "Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live" and "The Man Who Would Be King". She performs concerts in prestigious venues across the U.S. and around the world and has started working on her first solo album with plans for a 2015 release. For more information, please visit her website at www.mandygonzalez.com and follow her on Twitter @thebeast_mandy.

Bud Weber (Charlie) Bud is currently based in New York City and performing in "Aladdin the Musical" on Broadway. His previous credits include the national tours of "Wicked" and "Book of Mormon," and he is thrilled to be joining the cast of "Sing Me Home."

Kathryn Gallagher (Kaelin) Kathryn is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from New York City. Kathryn has placed songs in feature films including Stu Blumberg's "Thanks for Sharing" and Roberto Faenza's coming of age movie "Someday This Pain Will Be Useful," and wrote and performed the trance hit, "Mess of a Machine" on Armada Records, with John O'Callaghan. Regularly playing around Los Angeles and New York, Kathryn's recent performance highlights include opening for Robbie Kreiger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors at the Sunset Strip Music Festival and Deaf West's "Spring Awakening" at Inner City Arts in Los Angeles. Kathryn has just released her EP, "I'm Fine", produced by Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, onerepublic).

Kristy Hanson (Music and Lyrics) is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She recently won West Hollywood's Summer of Music song contest, making her original "Welcome Me Home" the city's theme song. She has toured colleges across the country and within Los Angeles, at the Hotel Cafe, Genghis Cohen, Room 5, and Witzend, to name some, and has showcased at industry events including NACA conferences, the 2012 AIMP showcase at the Billboard Film & TV Music Conference, and at NAMM 2013 as part of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In 2013, Kristy's songs and voice were featured in two independent films and the web series Unicorn Plan-It. Kristy's new EP Piece of Your Heart, was just released, and she recently licensed the title track to the Bravo show Newlyweds: The First Year. She'll be back in the studio shortly recording songs she co-wrote with her husband Mike Chiaburu for their indie rock band East Paris. She and Mike also composed the theme song to the Funny or Die animated short "Late Night Baby." For more information, please visit her website www.kristyhanson.com and follow her on Twitter @kristyhanson.

Amber Romina Cassell (Book) A Los Angeles native and graduate of the University of Southern California School of Film & Television, Amber Cassell has served as a staff writer for the L.A. County Arts Commission's "LA Stage Times", Broadwayworld LA, and World of Stage. A devoted advocate of the Los Angeles theater community and concert producer, she has held the title of Executive Producer of The Coterie, a cabaret supper club at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, and associate producer of Show At Barre (now known as Rockwell Table & Stage). She is currently attending Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, with a concentration in Entertainment Law.

Angela Parrish (Musical Director) Award-winning songwriter Angela Parrish takes the stage with the belief that a fantastic song should tell a compelling story and touch the heart in every listener. She is a vintage modern artist and a writer for the current age who proudly creates her own blend of American Roots music. The richest of influences can be heard in Angela's music and lyrics, including Ray Charles, Carole King, Eva Cassidy, and Alison Krauss. But Angela's story is all her own. A born-and-raised Kansan, she wins audiences with her sweet, soothing voice and distinctive piano playing and engages them with lyrics of wit, wisdom and Midwestern warmth. Angela Parrish has garnered praise for her songwriting from across the country; among other accolades, her song "Higher" was selected as a Finalist in the prestigious 2013 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She has headlined at Typhoon, Room 5, and the legendary Vitello's Jazz and Supper Club. Called "a performer on the verge of greatness," Angela is currently recording her debut album. She lives, writes, and performs in Los Angeles.

The performance takes place on January 26, 2015 at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Cocktails at 7 pm, performance at 8 pm. Tickets are complimentary. If interested in attending, write singmehome.musical@gmail.com to request an invitation.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos