Developed in part at the 5th Avenue Theatre (Radio Play, 2021/22 Digital Season and First Draft: Raise Your Voice Commission) Musical Theatre Factory, Theater Mu’s New Eyes Festival, Theater Latté Da’s NEXT Festival, the Weston Playhouse Theatre (with director Nana Dakin), Ghostlight Records, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat.
Half the Sky tells the story of an Asian American woman climbing Mount Everest — a contemporary American musical on a global scale, infused with the sounds of traditional Thai and Himalayan folk music.
Written by Tidtaya Sinutoke (music) and Isabella Dawis (book/lyrics), winners of the 2021 Fred Ebb Award and the 2020 Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award. Directed by Desdemona Chiang.
A year after her sister’s death, Aurelie sets out to fulfill her childhood dream of climbing Mount Everest — joining an international group of mountaineers from around the globe. As Aurelie embarks on her path to the top of the world, memories of her Thai American past and the unresolved rift between her and her sister begin to surface. Borders between countries and cultures, past and present, and waking and dreaming blur in this epic journey of ambition, survival and reconciliation.
Watch HALF THE SKY in concert at Joe’s Pub / Musical Theatre Factory (February 2022)
“Weaving together stories of burgeoning friendships, ambitious athleticism, and the magical spirituality of the mountain, this is a musical with a breathtaking score and richly lyrical storytelling.”
— Susanna Gellert, Executive Artistic Director, Weston Theater Company
“…pulls together the most intimate and epic human impulses into story and song.”
— Mei Ann Teo, Producing Artistic Director, Musical Theatre Factory
Contact:
Rachel Ellicott, Paradigm Talent Agency
212-897-6400 rellicott@paradigmagency.com
Sheet music for the songs “Outside” and “A591” are available for purchase on Musicnotes (courtesy of the Lotte Lenya Competition Songbook). Other sheet music available by request.