Hidden | MusicalTheatreResourceCenter

YOUR LOGO: (to change your logo image, use the X to remove the current image)

https://www.musicaltheatreresourcecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hidden-only.png

TITLE OF YOUR MUSICAL:

CREDITS: (i.e. Book by Jane Writer, Music by Joe Piano, Lyrics by Amy Poet):

YOUR WEBSITE: (if you or your musical already have a website, include the full web address here, starting with https://)

CONTACT EMAIL: (the email a producer should use to contact you about your musical

PITCH PARAGRAPH: (a paragraph that gives a summary of your musical - to whet the producers' appetites!)

HISTORY/NOTES: (a spot to talk about what level of development you have reached, and/or what you are looking for next)

We have been working on Hidden since 2019. After learning about the story of Ruth Kapp Hartz, we met Ruth through David’s mother and got her enthusiastic support for writing a musical based on her story as a hidden child in Southern France during World War II. She suggested that we go to France with her, so in August 2019 we met up with her in the small town of Arthès to meet the family of some of her rescuers.

This visit to France was instrumental in the development of the musical. We interviewed members of the Fedou family, including Lucette who was a young adult when Ruth was hiding there. We saw where she lived and visited the Abbey in Sorèze where Ruth was sent, taking many photos and videos. It grounded us in the sense of place and gave us ideas for songs.

We began writing during the pandemic, consulting Ruth frequently. We workshopped our songs at songwriting critique sessions, and took two week-long writing retreats. We had two table readings with actors and received feedback on the show. We also got feedback from several playwrights.

Last winter we completed a video of Ruth telling her story as well as excerpts of our interviews with the family of rescuers. We did a screening of the video we produced, and gave several concerts of songs and scenes from the show with additional musicians. In May 2023 we self-produced a “no frills” staged reading of Hidden at Abington Friends School. We raised $30,000 to cover the costs of a director, two music directors, 10 actors, 3 musicians, publicity and all the other expenses. Through this process we reworked the book and music. The full staged reading in a sold-out 400-seat auditorium was live-streamed and recorded.

Based on the positive reaction and learnings from the staged reading, we decided to continue to develop and improve the script.  We began this process by working with dramaturg Rick Sperling, David’s high school collaborator and David & Jenny’s college friend. Founder of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Rick has a long history of working with playwrights to develop original scripts. Rick has helped us with character  development, character voice and looking at the arc of the show. We have professionally recorded some of the songs using actors from our production.

We feel this story is timely and significant. In Ruth Kapp Hartz words “I am very excited about the musical Hidden because I hope that it will provide a new way of increasing the depth and understanding of the experiences of being a hidden child during the Holocaust. David and Jenny have come up with the opportunity to expand my story by expressing the loneliness, the fear, and the loss, as well as the goodness of the Rescuers.” Recent events make it even more imperative that people hear Ruth’s story and that we realize the words “Never Again.”

BIOS: (biographies for the members of your team)

Jenny Heitler-Klevans, with a career spanning three decades, has worked as a songwriter, performer, recording artist, playwright, and theater artist. In high school and college she performed in classics like "My Fair Lady" and choreographed original dances. Jenny has displayed a deep commitment to storytelling through various mediums.

In 1989, Jenny and David combined their talents to create the musical duo Two of a Kind, gaining acclaim for their interactive music for children and families, earning 21 national awards. Beyond their musical success, they empower students as teaching artists in songwriting residencies and creating musical theater pieces based on beloved tales.

Their dedication extends to fostering a love for literature, evident in their children’s shows and environmentally themed projects like "The World is Not Your Garbage Can." Their latest venture, the musical Hidden, showcases Jenny's ongoing commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and inspiring audiences of all ages.

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David Heitler-Klevans has transformed his lifelong passions for music and social justice into a 30+ year career as a full-time performer, songwriter, and recording artist. He began performing, writing and teaching as a teenager, co-creating and directing a student-written show in high school. At Oberlin Conservatory, he majored in composition, exploring experimental pieces with dramatic and political elements. Upon graduating, he moved to Philadelphia with Jenny, where he became a music teacher and director.

In 1989, they founded the musical duo Two of a Kind, creating interactive music for children, folk/singer-songwriter material for adults, and winning 21 national awards. As teaching artists, they conducted songwriting residencies in schools, including student-written musicals. David & Jenny have created short children's musicals for libraries and an environmental musical, "The World is Not Your Garbage Can." Currently, they are immersed in their latest musical, Hidden, a project initiated in 2019.

AUDIO DEMO 1: (you can include up to three audio demos but please make sure they are MP3 and NOT .wav or .aiff)

01-17.-I-Do-It-Out-Of-Love.mp3

AUDIO DEMO 2:

01-12.-Im-Not-A-Hero.mp3

AUDIO DEMO 3:

16.-Why-Am-I-Here_.mp3

VIDEO DEMO: (if you have a video demo/trailer/pitch, include the full LINK here)