Photo Flash: Broadway Stars Belt It Out in RAZIA'S SHADOW Stage Debut at Joe's Pub

The cast includes Alysha Umphress (American Idiot, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Derek Klena (Carrie, Dogfight), Katrina Rose Diderickson (Hairspray, RENT, Things to Ruin), Ryah Nixon (9 to 5), Corey Mach (Godspell, Wicked, RENT), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Damon Daunno (Brief Encounter), Molly Hager (Fat Camp), Jason Collins (The Blue Flower), Andi Alhadeff, and Razia's Shadow composer Thomas Dutton (lead singer of Forgive Durden) with Iris Elton, Amy Linden, Patrick Shelton, and Jonathan Whitton.

 

After years as a cult sensation, the concept album RAZIA'S SHADOW by Forgive Durden made its New York stage debut in a concert presentation at Joe's Pub featuring a score by Thomas Dutton and Paul Dutton, book by Lonnie Angle, and direction by Brandon Ivie (assistant director, A Christmas Story).

 

RAZIA'S SHADOW was originally a conceptual rock musical album released by the indie-rock band Forgive Durden in 2008 on Atlantic Records. Drawing on a love for Broadway musicals and a childhood filled with Disney VHS tapes, writers (and brothers) Thomas & Paul Dutton brought to life a story of star-crossed lovers fighting for their love in a divided world, featuring a plethora of guest singers and soaring orchestrations backed by thundering rock drums. After a year of touring and performing RAZIA'S SHADOW, Thomas wanted to bring the album to its next level--the stage.

 

With librettist Lonnie Angle on board, the trio has continued developing the piece with The Public Theater in New York. Exploring themes of tolerance redemption, and the strength of the human spirit, RAZIA'S SHADOW tells a tale of parallel forbidden love stories set in an alternate universe before murder exists. With a massive mountain range splitting the world in two, only true love's sacrifice can reunite the two halves. The show was a finalist for this year's Yale Institute for Music Theatre as well as NAMT's New Works Festival.

Director Brandon Ivie is currently assistant directing Broadway's A Christmas Story and has also worked on the Broadway productions of next to normal and Catch Me If You Can. Ivie is artistic director of Contemporary Classics, where RAZIA'S SHADOW had its initial development as a stage musical.

 

RAZIA'S SHADOW was originally released on Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records in 2008 and featured guest performances from bands such as Panic At The Disco, Say Anything, Portugal. The Man, Saves The Day, mewithoutYou, The Hush Sound, The Dear Hunter, and others.

Posters
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Derek Klena
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Thomas Dutton
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Katrina Rose Dideriksen
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Alysha Umphress
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Corey Mach and Ryah Nixon
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Molly Hager
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Jason Collins
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Andi Alhadeff
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Ryah Nixon, Corey Mach and Thomas Dutton
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Eric Michael Krop
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Damon Daunno and Molly Hager
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Damon Daunno and Molly Hager
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

Andi Alhadeff and Company
Photo Credit: Amy Willard

Daniel Berryman
Photo Credit: James Sahanas

The Company of RAZIA'S SHADOW