The new season at Second Stage Theatre will begin with Invisible Thread. In this musical, a young man from New York City volunteers for a project in Uganda, and finds himself on a journey that will change his life forever. Invisible T
hread is inspired by a true story and explores the challenges confronted by American aid workers and the complex realities of trying to change the world. Does this story sound familiar? If so, that’s because the production has been reworked from its original form as Witness Uganda, which had its world premiere at the American Repertory Theatre in 2014. The Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical featured Griffin Matthews, Emma Hunton, Kristolyn Lloyd and Tyrone Davis, Jr.
Second Stage Artistic Director Carole Rothman said:
“The writers…embrace a unique and refreshing perspective on the American experience. I am so impressed by Matt and Griffin’s exceptional new musical and am very much looking forward to introducing these important writers and their uplifting new work to New York.”
Tony Winner Diane Paulus has been attached to the project’s development for several years and oversaw staged readings in New York late last year. Ms. Paulus won a Tony in 2013 for her direction of Pippin and was nominated for Tonys for directing The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess in 2012 and Hair in 2009.
Earlier this year, Andrew Keenan-Bolger released a new music video by Witness Uganda composers Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews as part of an effort to raise funding for the educational organization, UgandaProject. According to the the organization’s website, “We shot a music video of our song, Invisible Thread, and use it as a way to celebrate people all over the world who are fighting for their right to love whom they choose.”
The musical will open this fall.
Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, the award winning team behind the Broadway bound musical WITNESS UGANDA, blur the boundaries of real life and theater with the release of the single, “Invisible Thread.” The song was written for their show, which tells the true story of their experiences as aid workers in Africa. But here, the song takes on a more personal twist as the couple struggles to balance their careers and their life together. At the core, Griffin and Gould’s work grapples with questions central to a generation straddling their responsibilities as citizens of the world and citizens of our own communities.
Griffin and Gould dedicate this song to people across the world who are fighting for their right to love who they choose. Despite our distances and political and cultural differences, we are all bound together by our struggle to love and be loved.
Download song on itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/inv…
All proceeds from the sale of “Invisible Thread” on itunes will benefit the education of Ugandan students in the hopes that an educated population is the best remedy for intolerance and hatred.
To help bring education and tolerance training to more students across Uganda, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/invisibleth…
Song by: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews
Performed by: Matt Gould and Griffin MatthewsDirected by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Assistant Director: Kyle Beckley
Edited by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
