Dark Heart: A New Musical

Overview

I’ve been passionately dedicated to DARK HEART since I was sixteen. I composed the music and collaborated with my sister, Lindsay, on the book and lyrics. In 2016, the first draft workshop of DARK HEART was performed by a non-profit youth theater company, showcasing at the East to Edinburgh Festival in NYC at 59E59 Theaters and later at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

While at Elon University, I began revising the score extensively with guidance from Dr. Todd Coleman for my senior capstone project. Alongside Lindsay, we refined the script and lyrics, enhancing the show’s depth and emotional impact. In 2020, we were gearing up for a live performance, but the pandemic forced us to pivot. Instead, we recorded a remote cast album, where I took on the roles of producer and audio engineer. Despite these challenges, DARK HEART's journey continues, and I’m currently working towards another workshop of the show.

Synopsis

DARK HEART takes place in the broken psyche of Emma, a 16 year old girl who’s unable to cope with the tragic loss of her sister. She awakens in a hospital after a suicide attempt, surrounded by friends and her sister’s ghost. Riddled with guilt and depression, her journey of guilt and loss comes to a halt when she finally reveals that her sister drowned to save her life. Emma almost attempts suicide again after finally reliving the tragedy, but her sister's ghost releases her from the guilt. She then learns that her "friends" are pieces of her imagination trying to help her cope, and that there must be dark for there to be light. 

My Role

As the composer and co-writer of DARK HEART, I play a crucial role in shaping the music, story, and overall vision of the musical. Here’s how I contribute:

• Composing and Writing: I composed the music and collaborated with Lindsay on writing the book and lyrics. Together, we ensured that each song and scene aligned with the emotions and themes we wanted to convey in the show.

  Music Production: I handled producing the demos, and overseeing the arrangements and instrumentation to bring our score to life. I also mixed and mastered the demos to ensure the sound was polished and accurately reflected our vision for the musical.

• Future Development: I’m currently working on setting up workshops in Brooklyn to further develop DARK HEART and bring the show to new audiences, continuing to refine the material in a live setting.