The show formerly known as Witness Uganda, is inspired by the true story and life of its creators Matt Gould & Griffin Matthews. The show follows the life of a New York City man, Griffin, who volunteers for an aid project in Uganda, the challenges he faced and how it changed his life. Matthews stars as himself in the new musical with Jeremy Pope (Choir Boy) as the alternate, playing the role of “Griffin” in some performances.

Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this rousing new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in an electrifying journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.

Co-creator Griffin Matthews will be joined by Melody Betts (“Chicago PD”); Rodrick Covington (Central Avenue Breakdown); Kevin Curtis (A Chorus Line National Tour); Tyrone Davis, Jr. (Shrek National Tour); Nkrumah Gatling (Hair); Latrisa Harper (The Color Purple); Jason Herbert (Fela!); Aisha Jackson (Beautiful); Kristolyn Lloyd (Heathers The Musical); Michael Lluwoye (Fable); Corey Mach (Hands on a Hardbody); Tiffany Mann (Lincoln Center’s Sweeney Todd); Jamard Richardson (The Book of Mormon); Nicolette Robinson (Brooklynite); Adeola Role (Lily’s Revenge); Conor Ryan (Cinderella) and Jamar Williams (Broken Window Theory)

We take you back to our Off Book series and into the world of Invisible Thread with this musical preview. This show begins previews Oct 31 at Second Stage Theatre. See what the creators & director have to say about the process and watch some vibrant musical numbers.

New York Premiere in association with American Repertory Theater

INVISIBLE THREAD

A New Musical

BY
MATT GOULD and GRIFFIN MATTHEWS

CO-CHOREOGRAPHED BY
DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE

CHOREOGRAPHED BY
SERGIO TRUJILLO

DIRECTED BY
DIANE PAULUS

The post Off Book: Sneak Peek of Invisible Thread at Second Stage Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

The cast includes co-creator Griffin Matthews, along with Melody Betts, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Nkrumah Gatling, Latrisa Harper, Jason Herbert, Aisha Jackson, Kristolyn Lloyd, Michael Lluwoye, Corey Mach, Tiffany Mann, Jeremy Pope, Jamard Richardson, Nicolette Robinson, Adeola Role, Conor Ryan, and Jamar Williams.

“Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in a journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.”

As Broadway Black already reported last month, the show was able to crowd-fund enough money to send the the cast, creators and a film crew to Uganda. In preparation for the New York premiere they met with the real-life Ugandan students the story is based on, participated in service projects, mentored orphans, and worked alongside local artists to take part in an exchange that will help to shape their performances and lives! Their main goal was to  connect with the people and places that have inspired the show and to come home and share an authentic theater experience with audiences in New York City!

Invisible Thread will be produced produced in association with the American Repertory Theater, where the musical held its world premiere in February 2014 under the title of Witness Uganda. Invisible Thread will begin previews at the Tony Kiser Theatre on October 31, with an official opening on  December 2, and a limited run through to December 27.

FIRST NYC REHEARSAL!! A million thank yous to every actor, director, production team, friend, family and supporter who has been a part of this journey. You are with us today. And we celebrate YOU!! There is a long invisible…

A photo posted by Witness Uganda (@witnessuganda) on Sep 14, 2015 at 9:08am PDT

The post Invisible Thread Cast Announced After Return From Uganda appeared first on Broadway Black.

Invisible Thread 

Second Stage Artistic Director Carole Rothman said:

“The writers…embrace a unique and refreshing perspective on the American experience. I am so impressed by Matt and Griffin’s exceptional new musical and am very much looking forward to introducing these important writers and their uplifting new work to New York.”

Tony Winner Diane Paulus has been attached to the project’s development for several years and oversaw staged readings in New York late last year.  Ms. Paulus won a Tony in 2013 for her direction of Pippin and was nominated for Tonys for directing The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess in 2012 and Hair in 2009.

Earlier this year, Andrew Keenan-Bolger released a new music video by Witness Uganda composers Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews as part of an effort to raise funding for the educational organization, UgandaProject. According to the the organization’s website, “We shot a music video of our song, Invisible Thread, and use it as a way to celebrate people all over the world who are fighting for their right to love whom they choose.”

The musical will open this fall.

Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, the award winning team behind the Broadway bound musical WITNESS UGANDA, blur the boundaries of real life and theater with the release of the single, “Invisible Thread.” The song was written for their show, which tells the true story of their experiences as aid workers in Africa. But here, the song takes on a more personal twist as the couple struggles to balance their careers and their life together. At the core, Griffin and Gould’s work grapples with questions central to a generation straddling their responsibilities as citizens of the world and citizens of our own communities.

Griffin and Gould dedicate this song to people across the world who are fighting for their right to love who they choose. Despite our distances and political and cultural differences, we are all bound together by our struggle to love and be loved.

Download song on itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/inv…

All proceeds from the sale of “Invisible Thread” on itunes will benefit the education of Ugandan students in the hopes that an educated population is the best remedy for intolerance and hatred.

To help bring education and tolerance training to more students across Uganda, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/invisibleth…

Song by: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews
Performed by: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews

Directed by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Assistant Director: Kyle Beckley
Edited by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger

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