Love, death and hope: ‘Venice’ cast recording debuts online
The cast recording of “Venice,” the musical that received its world premiere at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and later was staged at the Public Theatre in New York, is now available on iTunes and other online music outlets.
A CD is expected Dec. 2 on Ghostlight Records. The recording includes 17 tracks.
“Venice” was written by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, artistic director of KC Rep, where the show was first staged in 2010. Sax’s music is an inventive, unorthodox blend of delicate, romantic melodies, anthems and visceral hip-hop arias. Composer Curtis Moore also contributed to the score.
In 2013, Rosen restaged the show at the prestigious Public Theatre in New York, where the run was extended a week due to public demand. A hoped-for Broadway production has yet to happen.
The dystopian narrative Rosen and Sax fashioned tells the story of two half brothers in a mythical city of the future where youthful idealism clashes with cynical power politics.
The cast recording includes that talents of Sax and an impressive lineup of New York and L.A. artists, including Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Damiano, Jonathan-David, Emilee Dupré, Claybourne Elder, Semhar Ghebremichael, Leslie Odom, Jr., Victoria Platt, Angela Polk, Devin Roberts, Haaz Sleiman and Manuel Stark.
Polk, now based in L.A., is a native of Kansas City, Kan. Aduba won the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for her work on “Orange Is the New Black.”
To reach Robert Trussell, call 816-234-4765 or send email to rtrussell@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published September 26, 2014 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Love, death and hope: ‘Venice’ cast recording debuts online."