CANCER SURVIVORS: EVER DREAM OF WRITING A BROADWAY MUSICAL?
If you’re a survivor like I am, you already know how essential “dreaming big” is to our health and healing.
The first ever “Open Source” Male Breast Cancer Broadway Musical is being written with an invitation for help from cancer survivors around the world. Music composer and playwright Khevin Barnes is a Male Breast Cancer Survivor and writer. His new musical comedy, called “SONS OF SAINT AGATHA” is being created in the coming months for an anticipated national tour in 2018 with a uniquely creative approach. The author is inviting all cancer survivors (men and women) to share in the creation of the show by adding to the story line with anecdotes, character dialogue and comedic moments from their own experiences. Participants are being asked to contribute just 60 seconds of spoken dialogue, a comedic conversation (perhaps with your doctor?) a punchline, a story, a quip or one-liner. These are universal stories, experienced by both men and women and all are invited to share in the production. The plays title stems from the story of Saint Agatha of Spain, the patron saint of breast cancer who lived a tumultuous and tragic life in the 1500’s.
Not just for men, “Sons of Saint Agatha” has a positive and inspirational message for anyone enduring a life-threatening disease. The musical is slated to have 6 actors; four male and two female, but the nature of “open source” contributions means this could change at any time.
“Open Sourcing” is a term used for programs on the Internet whereby contributors from around the world add their own ideas and improvements to specific online applications—constantly improving the quality of the product.
Some well-known open source projects include Firefox, Linux, Open office and WordPress. Funding for the show is expected to come from a variety of national Breast Cancer Organizations, and private donors. A team of professional artists will produce, direct and choreograph the production as Barnes creates the twelve songs that support the story line while working alongside cancer survivors to compile and create the script. Auditions for the 6 leading roles are expected to take place in October of 2017.
For their contributions, cancer survivors will receive writer’s credits in the program for any ideas that are used in the show along with the satisfaction of knowing they’ve spread cancer awareness and a dose of good humor to fellow cancer survivors around the globe.
Cancer is no laughing matter, but those of us with the disease know how important a sense of humor is in our continued recovery. You are invited to help us spread awareness about Male Breast Cancer through an entertaining, positive and uplifting presentation—the first ever “open-source” Male Breast Cancer Broadway Musical!
About the playwright/composer
Khevin Barnes, a certified Laughter Yoga teacher and Male Breast Cancer survivor, has long advocated the practice of regular laughter and humor for health and healing. The musical will center around twelve original songs written by Barnes. This is his second full-length musical play. He regularly writes for a number of national cancer magazines and blogs including Cure, Cancer Survivors Thrive, Coping with Cancer, Huffington Post, Cancer Knowledge Network, and The Anti-Cancer Club.
Male Breast Cancer is an extremely rare disease, affecting less than 1% of all breast cancer survivors. “Sons of Saint Agatha” is a mischievous dark comedy, filled with revealing and intimate glimpses into the psychology of living with an “orphan disease”. There are as many laughs as there are tears, as the cast grapples with the day to day task of living with the absurdity of a life that hinges on the unknown. Struggles and giggles intermingle in this journey of a lifetime—bringing five strangers together in an alliance that transcends the anguish of their uncertain future.
It’s a breast-lift for the soul!
SEND YOUR SCRIPT CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
KHEVIN@KHEVINBARNES.COM
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS--MEN AT WORK
Male Breast Cancer is a rare and understudied disease affecting just 1 in 1000 men.
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