SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT SERIES 2013-14

TEMPLE OF THE SOULS, a musical drama, book by Anita Velez-Mitchell, composed by Dean Landon and Anika Paris. This epic story of forbidden love explores the conflict between the Taínos (the indigenous people) and the Spaniards on the island of Puerto Rico in the 1500s.

Since the December 2011 showcase production in which we received HOLA’s Award for Outstanding Production (plus awards for Lighting, Choreography, and Music), we have continued to expand and hone the work. This summer, we recorded new music by Landon/ Paris featuring the brilliant David Amram on multiple native flutes and Joe Fee on percussion. We presented a small read/sing-thru of a new version of the piece, and are gearing up for the next step which includes fundraising, grant applications, and a production in 2014.

In Memoriam

We would like to announce that the artist Emelí Vando, whose beautiful artwork “Los Amantes de Sol y Luna” (Lovers of the Sun and the Moon) seen here graced all the publicity for Temple of the Souls has just passed away from an inoperable brain tumor. Emelí was in her early 60s, and was passionate about art and politics in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her work touched us all, and she will forever be part of MultiStages.

TEMPLE OF THE SOULS – MultiStages 2011 Script Development Production

In Winter 2011, MultiStages produced “Temple of the Souls,” a Musical Drama by Anita Velez-Mitchell, Music by Dean Landon and Anika Paris, Choreography by Milteri Tucker, Directed and Developed by Artistic Director Lorca Peress at The West End Theatre. This multilingual musical drama tells the story of Amada and Guario, two young lovers in a forbidden union during the cultural wars between the Spaniards and the nearly extinct Tainos of Puerto Rico. Composers Landon and Paris are Platinum Award-winning songwriters; Anita Velez-Mitchell is a multi-award winning Puerto Rican poet and author. The multicultural Cast and Artistic Company hail from South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the US.

Visit the website for more information and updates on future productions:  www.templeofthesouls.com

Take a look at the movie we created, and pass it around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVl_daW6wA

CAST: Jen Anaya* Kenneth Kyle Martinez, Robmariel Olea, Ricardo Puente* Joshua Torrez* with Theresa Burns, Victor Cervantes, Raquel Faria, Bradley D. Gale* Giselle Gastell, Randall Marquez, Laura Riveros, Laura Lebron-Rojas, Alexis Sweeney, Patrick Valley. COMPANY: Book and Libretto by Anita Velez-Mitchell, Music Composed by Dean Landon and Anika Paris, Orchestrations and Arrangements by Dean Landon. Additional Lyrics by Anika Paris, Music Director Bruce Baumer, Choreographer Milteri Tucker, Costume Design Mark Richard Caswell, Mask/Puppetry Design by Kyla McHale, Scenic Design Lorca Peress, Lighting Design Alex Moore, Production Stage Manager Jessica V. Urtecho* Postcard Artwork by Puerto Rican Artist Emilí Vando, Press Rep, Maya PR, Directed and Developed by Lorca Peress