World Music Recording Artists Collaborate on THE MUSICAL PAUL GAUGUIN

An impressive line-up of World Music Recording Artists have united to collaborate on an original Musical in San Diego. The list of collaborators includes:

Juaquin "Quino" McWhinney- lead vocalist for reggae band Big Mountain (http://bigmountain.tv/),
Opetaia Foa'i- lead vocalist for New Zealand's Island fusion band Te Vaka (http://www.tevaka.com/),
Francisco Astudillo- lead instrumentalist for Latin folk band Tinku (http://www.tinkumusic.com),
Quintinn Holi-founder of Pi'ikane Hawaii Records, and Stu Shames -founder of the Philadelphia Songwriters' Project.

They are all brought together by San Diego based writer/Director Kent Lee Brisby who has authored and directed more than forty produced plays and musicals, including the A FEW HOURS IN HELL, THE WEAVERS SONG and numerous adaptations of classical and traditional folk tales for AST, for which he has served as Artistic Director for over 22 years!

The project in question is THE MUSICAL PAUL GAUGUIN, an original musical based on the life, journals, art and journeys of world-traveling artist and amateur musician, Paul Gauguin.

Gauguin's story is a modern tale of multiculturalism, reflected in the diverse world music score. The original workshop production uses music and multimedia to carry audiences through his youth in Peru, to the artist colonies of Celtic-descended Brittany in France, to living with freed slaves of Martinique in the Caribbean, and the paradise of Tahiti that inspired some of his most famous paintings and carvings. Incorporating text from Gauguin and other contemporaries to recount the artist's life, the book and lyrics are written by Brisby.

The cast includes an ensemble of multi-talented performers who bring to life many people throughout Gauguin's life, sing AND provide instrumentals for the unusual guitar based score; Kat Fitzpatrick (Peruvian and Caribbean Percussion), Connie Viado (Flute, Keyboard), Michael Nieto (Andean Charango, Mandolin, Bass, Percussion), Rhys Green (Caribbean, Polynesian, Peruvian Percussion), Albert Park (Electric Guitar, Concertina), Edie Heali'i Stanley (Ukelele, Polynesian Percussion, and choreography) and as Paul Gauguin-Byron LaDue (Guitar, Concertina, Keys).

They are led by Musical Director Patrick Wheyland who will also perform various traditional and modern stringed instruments. Rounding out the support team of community partners and production professionals are Projections Designer Marilia Maschion (26 Miles-MoOlelo, Dr. Horrible-Chinese Pirate Productions), Kathy Gore Stanley (Heali'i's Polynesian Revue), "Artivist" Mario Torero, Cheryl Lindley (Lindley-Lopez Circus), Andy Lowe (Chinese Pirate Productions), Lynn Dewart, and Stage Manager Deborah Climo.

In the spirit of Gauguin's nomadic life, and in an effort to reach out to the many cultures and communities that contribute to the story, the workshop production will hold performances in 5 different San Diego venues throughout November, including the Losina Art Center(off Sports Arena Blv), Centro Cultural de La Raza (in Balboa Park), Bali Hai Restaurant (Shelter Island), Heali'i's Polynesian Revue (Kearny Mesa) and the San Diego Maritime Museum (abourd the Berkeley ferry boat on the SD Harbor).

Sunday 11/6 - 6:00 pm   Losina Art Center, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd

Saturday 11/12- 8:00 pm   Centro Cultural de la Raza, 2125 Park Blvd.

Sunday 11/13-6:00 pm   Centro Cultural de la Raza, 2125 Park Blvd.

Friday 11/18-8:00 pm   Bali Hai Restaurant, 2230 Shelter Island Dr.

Saturday 11/19-7:30 pm   Healii's Polynesian Revue, 7499 Convoy Court

Sunday 11/20-6:00 pm   Bali Hai Restaurant, 2230 Shelter Island Dr.

Friday 11/25-8:00 pm   Maritime Museum, 1492 North Harbor Drive

Saturday 11/26-8:00 pm   Maritime Museum, 1492 North Harbor Drive

Saturday 11/27-6:00 pm   Maritime Museum, 1492 North Harbor Drive

Tickets:  $15 - $35, available online at www.asianstorytheater.org/