A Trip to the Moon

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Book, Music, and Lyrics by Adam J. Rineer

Run Time: 90 minutes

Cast of 12+

Orchestra/Band Size: 7 (keyboard 1/conductor, violin, cello, guitar 1, guitar 2/keyboard2, bass guitar, drums/percussion)

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Do we all have a place in the universe? If so, where is it? And what happens when the lives of a queer Victorian-era astronomer, a Lunar Goddess, and a skeptical young alien collide during one pivotal journey to the moon? Through an eclectic score that combines punk, prog rock, and 19th-century operetta, this piece loosely inspired by George Méliès's film explores man's desire to conquer, the fascination of space, and the breaking binaries.

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History:

• Semi-Finalist, 2021 Polyphone Festival, University of the Arts, PHL

• Concert Reading, 2020 The Maas Building, PHL

• Staged Reading, 2019 Temple University, PHL

• Table Reading, 2019 Simple Studios, NYC

• Workshop, 2019 Temple University, PHL

• Developed in part at the George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater at Temple University, PHL

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"Orbit"

January 3, 2021

Virtual Release

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demo recording

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Personel

Zofia Weretka — Vocals (Selene)

Adam J. Rineer — Keys

Meghan Todt Williams — Violin

Giovanna Moraga Clayton — Cello

Juan Arango — Guitars

Thomas E. Carley — Bass

Joshua Roberts — Drums

The Maas Building

January 10, 2020

Philadelphia, PA

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concert reading

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Creative Team

Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Katie Siegmund
Assistant Directed by Megan Krause
Dramaturgy by Rachel Graf Evans

 

Cast

Zofia Weretka (Oscar at the Crown) — Selene

Andy Patterson — Professor Barbicane

Matthew Levy — Captian Nicholl

Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan

Alexa Joseph — Pandia

Caitlin Navarrete — Theia/Ensemble

Maddie Shea — Mailman/Horae/Ensemble

Nick Erholm — Astronomer #1/Ensemble

Collin Haber — Astronomer #2/Ensemble

Arielle Beane — Hesiod/Ensemble

Avery Infranco — Ersa/Ensemble

Richard Magyan — Nemea/Ensemble

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Band

Adam J. Rineer — Piano

Lonnie Davis — Drums/Percussion

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This project was funded by a Vice Provost for the Arts Student Grant from Temple University.

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EVENT LINK

Temple University

August 23, 2019

Philadelphia, PA

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concert reading

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Creative Team

Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll
Assistant Directed by Adi Mullen

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Cast

Alexa Joseph — Pandia

Imani Moss — Selene

Andy Patterson — Professor Barbicane

Richard Magyan — Captain Nicholl

Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan

Emily Carone — Ensemble

Xhenet Capani — Ensemble

Nicholas Erholm — Ensemble

Zoë Fox — Ensemble

Collin Haber — Ensemble

Avery Infranco — Ensemble

Marcella Smith — Ensemble

Simple Studios

June 16, 2019

New York, NY

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table reading

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Creative Team

Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll
Assistant Directed by Alexa Joseph

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Cast

Sushma Saha (Interstate) — Pandia

Zofia Weretka (Oscar at the Crown) — Selene

Ethan Crystal (Golem Owned...Smoothie, For The Record: The Brat Pack) — Professor Barbicane

Jace 'n Ziev — Michel Ardan

Brian C. Veith — Captain Nicholl

Imani Moss — Ensemble

Emily Riedel — Ensemble

Andy Patterson — Ensemble

Adi Mullen — Ensemble

Temple University

April 17, 2019

Philadelphia, PA

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workshop

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Creative Team

Directed by Rose Freeman
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll

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Cast

Joshua Battisti — Professor Barbicane

William Hornby (TikTok: @williamcarvedpumpkins)— Captain Nicholl

Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan

Nichole Mottershead — Selene

Alexa Joseph — Pandia

Samantha Rose Roberts — Selenite

Jessica Money — Selenite

Federica Andino-Vega — Pit Singer

Joy Lynn Pringle — Pit Singer

Julia Hameed — Pit Singer

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Band

Patrick Tice-Carroll — Keyboard 1/Music Director

Olivia Backal-Balik — Keyboard 2

Steve Katona — Drums