“A compelling musical journey...”
ORIGINAL CONCEPT – The idea of Martha Bushore-Fallis, MD (US Pediatric Emergency Physician), “FREEDOM FOUND was conceived in the summer of 2003 with the love and guidance of her husband, Jim Fallis, MD (Toronto Pediatric Surgeon). Martha was referred to Francis “Sonny” Annis as a musician specializing and renowned in music preparation with great knowledge and experience and then to Dean Fernald as “the only musician in Tampa Bay” who could arrange & orchestrate this story without a large corporate structure. Once introduced to Dean & Francis, they became dear friends of Martha & committed their extraordinary professional musical ability and experience to making the dream now entitled FREEDOM FOUND, THE MUSICAL DRAMA, come true over seven years of steady work. It was first copyrighted in 2006.
READING - The Official Reading took place on March 22, 2008 WITH VOLUNTEERS FOR EVERY CAST POSITION... singers, dancers, orchestra! It was performed by 30 Volunteers with an audience of about 200. It was held at the Historic Capital/Royalty Theater, Clearwater, Florida.
WORLD PREMIERE - The World Premiere took place at The Palladium Theater in St Pete, Florida on September 25 and 26, 2010, to an audience of ~#600 over the two shows and was extremely well received. The next shows will reflect changes resulting from audience feedback. Most quotations on this site, program notes, and clips and photos reflect that thrilling occasion.
Since the World Premiere, show revisions have been completed, venue and production cast selected, for the 2012 shows. Casting has begun, with many of the same performers loved by the audience for the 2010 World Premiere.
RUN OF SHOWS - Catherine A. Hickman Theater in Gulfport March 30 to Apr 8, 2012. See Cast and Credits for these recent shows. Click on Catherine Hickman Shows Program to download the program.
FREEDOM FOUND, THE MUSICAL DRAMA
The show is imaginative fiction, a make believe story of a brother and a sister who immigrate to freedom (past the Statue of Liberty on a ship) from a situation of victimization to having moral integrity and strong identity, through a series of wise and powerful choices when confronted by a series of staged real life challenges having dramatic consequences. It is told in music to children and youth by children and youth with dramatic twists and turns but a happy ending. It is a story dramatizing the terrible consequences of victimization and violence but celebrating acceptance and love as the path to spiritual freedom.
Education, discussion, planning a response to bullying or violent challenges relieves anxiety and the fear of helplessness and having no choice for young people. Theater experiences with moral overtones, associated with conversations among family and friends, relieve anxiety. Although there are two theater deaths in the show, the actors do stand up and bow.This is make believe and clearly serves as a stimulus for family discussions of consequences of behavior and using intellect rather than impulse when challenges require choices.
FREEDOM FOUND, THE MUSICAL DRAMA, dramatizes the power of choice attached to freedom, so that the concept comes alive for children and youth through a stage experience rather than awaiting real life experiences.
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
FREEDOM FOUND PRODUCTIONS is a not for profit company that encourages use of theater, music, movement, and art to educate children and youth about 1) making wise identity choices using moral reasoning, 2) standing up with victims against bullies, 3) including responsible authority representatives, and 4) being true to intellectual decision making in conflict resolution, rather than acting impulsively. Educational goals of FREEDOM FOUND PRODUCTIONS are to reduce bullying, sexual intimidation, ridicule, cyberbullying, hate crimes, and violence, while encouraging compassion, empathy, mutual respect, and dignity. These educational goals are achieved through:
1) Marketing FREEDOM FOUND, THE MUSICAL DRAMA, show, songs, music (generally and for specific shows, public and parochial schools, camps, workshops),
2) Interacting with media contacts.
3) Serving as a conduit for financial grants or subsidies to interested, committed, and capable performance individuals and groups.
4) Building collaborations between like minded community donors and performing arts groups committed to teaching these educational goals to audiences.
Show original songs and book, musical arrangements and orchestration, as well as scene projections and casting experiences have been successful and well received by audiences. Future income from ticket and merchandise sales, as well as donor contributions, will be used to enhance and promote future productions.
Through this entity, we can foster the educational goal of needed social change using musical theater, enhancing effective intervention by collaboration of like minded community members.
FREEDOM FOUND, THE MUSICAL DRAMA, was endorsed with a unanimous vote of the PINELLAS COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS October 19, 2011.
CLICK HERE to view
interviews with the Cast & Freedom Found Team
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