Elderland is an original piece of musical theatre inspired by life stories gathered from a group of elders living in a retirement community in South Florida.
During a two week residency in October 2022 we – composer Dan Martin & lyricist Michael Biello – immersed ourselves in the community, attended events, and interviewed 25 residents, collecting dozens of hours of video footage with the intention of transforming the stories of these elders, along with our impressions of this place, into an original piece of musical theatre.
Over the next 18 months we transcribed the video footage and wrote 13 monologues and 13 songs, merging together the stories of the residents we interviewed with our own observations and reflections as creative collaborators and life-partners for nearly 50 years. The result is a new concept musical we call Elderland.
Our work now entails readying Elderland for what we see as the next stage in the development of this piece – a two week rehearsal period in New York with our director, musical director and an ensemble of actor/singers plus a pianist, followed by a concert reading of the piece with the ensemble at music stands accompanied by piano. We plan to film the concert reading as a way to share the work with the elders who entrusted us with their stories.
Post-reading we'll work with our creative team to determine the next steps needed in the further development of the piece - which could include working toward a live production and/or a film – with a larger ensemble, orchestrations, staging, choreography, costumes, sets, lighting, and projections.
Elderland is a creative vehicle for celebrating the wisdom, humor, life lessons, and challenges of these inspiring lives - overflowing with tenderness, fragility, spiritual insights and strength. Elderland also honors the pivotal work of the nurses, housekeepers, therapists, hospice workers, chaplains, food providers, groundskeepers, and all the others who support us as we age. Through a theatrical lens, through music, lyrics, poetry, and movement we share their stories ... our stories.
With gratitude and humility we invite you to contribute to this project, and we thank you in advance for your generosity in supporting us and our creative work.
