Invisible Thread (musical)

Witness Uganda (previously titled Invisible Thread) is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews. It was based on the true story of Matthews' humanitarian trips to Uganda, and his work to fund his nonprofit organization, Uganda Project.[1] The musical premiered under the title Witness Uganda on February 4, 2014 at Cambridge's American Repertory Theater, and ran through March 16, 2014. Under the title Invisible Thread, the show transferred to off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre in a production which ran during December 2015.

Witness Uganda
(previously titled Invisible Thread)
Music
Lyrics
  • Matt Gould
  • Griffin Matthews
Book
  • Matt Gould
  • Griffin Matthews
Productions

The show returned to its original title of Witness Uganda for a February 2019 run at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.[2]

Synopsis

The American Repertory Theatre wrote:

When Griffin, a young man from New York City, volunteers for a project in Uganda, he finds himself on a journey that will change his life forever. Inspired by a true story, this rousing new musical, staged by Tony Award-winning director and A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, exposes the challenges confronted by American aid workers and the complex realities of trying to change the world.[3]

The story was based on Matthews' experience in Uganda, as well as Gould's Peace Corps experience in Mauritania and other similar experiences.

Production history

The idea and creation for the musical began in 2008 when Gould and Matthews needed money for their non-profit organisation The Uganda Project.[4] Gould recorded Matthews ranting about his frustrations and how they could not raise money for the non-profit.[4] Gould composed music and incorporated it with the recording, beginning their project.[4]

Gould and Matthews initially performed the show by themselves to raise funds for The Uganda Project.[4] They were invited to perform at TEDx and Disney ASCAP.[4] During their Disney ASCAP performance, they were able to impress the composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who composed notable musicals such as Wicked. Gould said of the experience, "The show was a mess at that time, but we knew what the heart of it was."[5]

Gould and Matthews brought in additional members of the creative team, who also had foreign aid experience. Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie previously taught dance in South Africa and the interns hired, mostly from Harvard University, had volunteering experience in Indonesia, Tanzania, and Uganda.[6]

Original production

The show premiered under the title Witness Uganda on February 4, 2014 at the American Repertory Theater. The show was directed by Diane Paulus, with Shira Milikowsky as the associate director.

Production Team
Production Member
Choreography Darrell Grand Moultrie
Set design Tom Pye
Costume design Esosa
Lighting design Maruti Evans
Sound design Jonathan Deans
Projection design Peter Nigrini
Music supervision, orchestrations, and vocal arrangements Matt Gould
Music direction Remy Kurs
Electronic music design Jeff Marder, Brian Li[7]
Band
Instrument Member
Conductor/Keyboard 1 Matt Gould
Keyboard 2 Brian Li
Viola Andrew Griffin
Drums Nathan V. Terry
Guitar Charlie Chronopoulos
Bass Jonny Morrow
Percussion Senfuab Stoney


The show starred Griffin Matthews as Griffin, Michael Luwoye as Jacob, Adeola Role as Joy, Emma Hunton as Ryan, Nicolette Robinson as Eden, Kristolyn Lloyd as Grace, Jamar Williams as Ibrahim, Tyrone Davis, Jr. as Ronny, and the ensemble of Melody Betts, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis, LaTrisa Harper, Aisha Jackson, and Jamard Richardson.[3]

Later productions

The musical came to Diane Paulus' attention after it won the 2012 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater.[8][9] She was impressed and noted it was like nothing she ever heard or read before. While she was working on Pippin at the American Repertory Theater, Schwartz mentioned there was a musical about Uganda that would interest her. The musical later won the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater again in 2014.[10]

Under the direction of Diane Paulus, the show had a staged reading on October 23 and 24, 2014.[11] The cast included Julius Thomas III, Adeola Role, Adam Kantor, Michael Luwoye, Kristolyn Lloyd, Nicolette Robinson, Jamar Williams, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Amber Iman, Aisha Jackson, LaTrisa Harper, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis and Jamard Richardson.[11]

The title was changed to Invisible Thread in 2015,[12] for a production at the Second Stage Theatre. Previews began on October 31, 2015 and it officially opened on December 2, 2015.[13] It closed in late December 2015.

Musical numbers

2015 off-Broadway (Second Stage Theatre)

Casts
Role Original A.R.T. Cast Original Off-Broadway Cast Original Studio Recording Cast[14]
Griffin Griffin Matthews Griffin Matthews / Jeremy Pope* Griffin Matthews
Ryan Emma Hunton Corey Mach Emma Hunton
Ronny Tyrone Davis Jr.
Grace Kristolyn Lloyd
Jacob Michael Luwoye Kameron Richardson
Eden Nicolette Robinson
Joy Adeola Role Cynthia Erivo
Ibrahim Jamar Williams
Rain Lady (did not exist) Melody Betts Ledisi
Ensemble Melody Betts, Aisha Jackson, Latrisa Harper, Kevin Curtis, Jamard Richardson, Rodrick Covington Jason Herbert, Aisha Jackson, Latrisa Harper, Kevin Curtis, Jamard Richardson, Rodrick Covington

* Jeremy Pope played the role of Griffin at certain performances

References
  1. "ugandaproject". Uganda Project. 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  2. McPhee, Ryan (January 7, 2019). "Ledisi, Hamilton Alum Amber Iman, More Set for Witness Uganda's Los Angeles Bow". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2019-02-18.
  3. "Witness Uganda". American Repertory Theater. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  4. Carly Schwartz (2014-03-09). "'Witness Uganda' Is Destined To Be A Broadway Hit (And It's Also Making The World A Better Place)". Huffingtonpost.com. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  5. Friedman. pp. 3-4
  6. Paulus, Diane (2014-02-25). "Welcome to the A.R.T.!". Witness Uganda, A New Musical (program). Boston, MA: Dig Publishing LLC: 1.
  7. "Brian Li - Witness Uganda". BrianLi.com. January 2012.
  8. "American Academy of Arts and Letters - Award Winners". Archived from the original on 2010-09-12. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  9. "Witness Uganda | TheaterMania". 18 February 2014.
  10. "2014 RICHARD RODGERS AWARD IN MUSICAL THEATER IS GIVEN TO WITNESS UGANDA". American Academy of Arts and Letters. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  11. Hetrick, Adam (23 October 2014). "Staged Reading of Witness Uganda Musical, with Adam Kantor and Amber Iman, Held in NYC". Playbill. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. Ronald, Christian (February–April 2014). "A Catalyst for Discourse". A.R.T. Guide. Boston, MA: Dig Publishing LLC. p. 7
  13. http://2st.com/shows/current-production/Invisible Thread #calendar
  14. Cristi, A. A. "Cynthia Erivo, Nicolette Robinson, and More Featured On WITNESS UGANDA Cast Album Out Today". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
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