Invisible Thread (musical)

The American Repertory Theatre wrote: {{quote|When Griffin, a young man from New York City, volunteers for a project in Uganda, he finds himself on a journey that will change his life forever. Inspired by a true story, this rousing new musical, staged by Tony Award-winning director and A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, exposes the challenges confronted by American aid workers and the complex realities of trying to change the world.{{cite web|url=http://americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/witness-uganda |title=Witness Uganda |publisher=American Repertory Theater |date=2014-02-04 |accessdate=2014-02-24}}}}

The story was based on Matthews' experience in Uganda, as well as Gould's Peace Corps experience in Mauritania and other similar experiences.

The idea and creation for the musical began in 2008 when Gould and Matthews needed money for their non-profit organisation The Uganda Project.{{cite web|author=Carly Schwartz|date=2014-03-09|title='Witness Uganda' Is Destined To Be A Broadway Hit (And It's Also Making The World A Better Place)|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/09/witness-uganda_n_4932275.html|accessdate=2014-03-14|work=Huffingtonpost.com|publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.}} Gould recorded Matthews ranting about his frustrations and how they could not raise money for the non-profit. Gould composed music and incorporated it with the recording, beginning their project.

Gould and Matthews initially performed the show by themselves to raise funds for The Uganda Project. They were invited to perform at TEDx and Disney ASCAP. During their Disney ASCAP performance, they were able to impress the composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who composed notable musicals such as Wicked. Gould said of the experience, "The show was a mess at that time, but we knew what the heart of it was."Friedman. pp. 3-4

Gould and Matthews brought in additional members of the creative team, who also had foreign aid experience. Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie previously taught dance in South Africa and the interns hired, mostly from Harvard University, had volunteering experience in Indonesia, Tanzania, and Uganda.{{cite journal|last=Paulus|first=Diane|date=2014-02-25|title=Welcome to the A.R.T.!|journal=Witness Uganda, A New Musical|type=program|location=Boston, MA|publisher=Dig Publishing LLC|page=1}}

The show premiered under the title Witness Uganda on February 4, 2014 at the American Repertory Theater. The show was directed by Diane Paulus, with Shira Milikowsky as the associate director.

The show starred Griffin Matthews as Griffin, Michael Luwoye as Jacob, Adeola Role as Joy, Emma Hunton as Ryan, Nicolette Robinson as Eden, Kristolyn Lloyd as Grace, Jamar Williams as Ibrahim, Tyrone Davis, Jr. as Ronny, and the ensemble of Melody Betts, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis, LaTrisa Harper, Aisha Jackson, and Jamard Richardson.

The musical came to Diane Paulus' attention after it won the 2012 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater.{{cite web |url=http://www.artsandletters.org/awards2_popup.php?abbrev=rodgers |title=American Academy of Arts and Letters - Award Winners |accessdate=2010-06-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912211155/http://www.artsandletters.org/awards2_popup.php?abbrev=Rodgers |archivedate=2010-09-12 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.theatermania.com/boston-theater/reviews/02-2014/witness-uganda_67557.html|title=Witness Uganda | TheaterMania|date=18 February 2014 }} She was impressed and noted it was like nothing she ever heard or read before. While she was working on Pippin at the American Repertory Theater, Schwartz mentioned there was a musical about Uganda that would interest her. The musical later won the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater again in 2014.{{Cite web|date=3 February 2014|title=2014 RICHARD RODGERS AWARD IN MUSICAL THEATER IS GIVEN TO WITNESS UGANDA|url=https://artsandletters.org/pressrelease/witness-uganda-wins-2014-competition/|access-date=30 March 2021|website=American Academy of Arts and Letters}}

Under the direction of Diane Paulus, the show had a staged reading on October 23 and 24, 2014. The cast included Julius Thomas III, Adeola Role, Adam Kantor, Michael Luwoye, Kristolyn Lloyd, Nicolette Robinson, Jamar Williams, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Amber Iman, Aisha Jackson, LaTrisa Harper, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis and Jamard Richardson.{{Cite news|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=23 October 2014|title=Staged Reading of Witness Uganda Musical, with Adam Kantor and Amber Iman, Held in NYC.|work=Playbill|url=https://www.playbill.com/news/article/staged-reading-of-witness-uganda-musical-with-adam-kantor-and-amber-iman-held-in-nyc-333834|access-date=30 March 2021}}

The title was changed to Invisible Thread in 2015,{{cite journal |last=Ronald |first= Christian |date= February–April 2014 |title=A Catalyst for Discourse|journal= A.R.T. Guide |publisher=Dig Publishing LLC |location=Boston, MA }} p. 7 for a production at the Second Stage Theatre. Previews began on October 31, 2015 and it officially opened on December 2, 2015.http://2st.com/shows/current-production/Invisible Thread #calendar It closed in late December 2015.

2015 off-Broadway (Second Stage Theatre)

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; Act I

• "All Are Welcome" – Company
• "Kyussa" – Company
• "To The Hill" – Company
• "Beautiful" - Griffin, Ibahim, Eden, Grace, Ronny, Ensemble
• "Invisible Thread" – Griffin & Ryan
• "I Have a Lover" – Griffin & Jacob
• "The Library" – Company
• "Put It All on the Line" – Company
• "Weeds" – Jacob & Ensemble
• "New World" – Company

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; Act II

• "Internet Song" – Griffin, Ryan, Ibrahim, Eden, Jacob, Grace, Ronny
• "Bricks" – Company
• "If I Could Turn Around" – Griffin, Ryan & Company
• "Phone Call Delay" – Griffin, Ryan, Ibrahim, Eden, Grace, Ronny
• "Bela Musana" – Company
• "I'd Cross the Blue" – Ensemble
• "Fragile" – Company
• "Njakuangula" – Company

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* Jeremy Pope played the role of Griffin at certain performances

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://ugandaproject.com Uganda Project]
• [http://www.witnessuganda.com/ Witness Uganda]

Category:2014 musicals

Category:Musicals inspired by real-life events

Category:Off-Broadway musicals

Category:Musicals set in Uganda