Start From Hello
Donation protected
When I entered this musical into festivals I had no idea where I would be now!
"Start From Hello" will be performed at the Hudson Guild Theater as a part of the New York Theater Festival's Summerfest on July 23rd at 6:15, July 27th at 9:00, and July 29th at 3:30.
But, we need your help! Your funds will help make this dream a reality! Your donation will help us pay for the theater space, costumes, marketing photos, playbills and advertisements to keep the show moving forward to even bigger things!
I could never thank you enough for supporting this story and my dream. But, I'm going to try with some great rewards! So let's Start From Hello, and go on from there!
HOW THIS STORY STARTED
My name is Michaela Vivona. I'm a Junior Musical Theater Major at Syracuse University. I have been writing music since my first guitar lesson when I was 13, but I found my real love for writing music when I wrote my first musical.
When I was in the 8th grade my friends and I decided to turn "The Hunger Games" into a jukebox musical, we ended up raising $500 for No Kid Hungry with our performance. I decided to once again write a jukebox musical, this time of "The Fault In Our Stars", and raised over $1,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation. I then wanted to try writing my own music for a musical. I adapted the American Girl Stories into a children's musical and used my own music to tell the story.
"Start From Hello" is my first fully original musical where I have written the book, music and lyrics, and I am extremely excited about it.
This show was written out of necessity. I realized there was a problem. I was talking to a friend trying to think of a musical we could do in our black box theater in school if we weren't cast but all of the boys were, a common problem in drama programs. Our list was extremely short. I realized a new musical needed to be written.
This show is about gay women, but is not about being gay. I find that so many musicals and stories that center around LGBT+ characters are mainly about being gay. While I think these stories are important, I feel it is also important to tell stories that show these characters as people with problems other than their sexuality. Especially since the LGBT+ community and theater community are so intertwined I am still astounded with how few LGBT+ characters there are in Musicals, and I think that’s something that should be changed. I believe with representation comes acceptance.
I have been working on this musical for over a year and this story would be nowhere without my friends and family who have listened to me talk about the story, helped me when I was stuck, have recorded scenes and done read-throughs with me and given their feedback.
The story really would not be the same without the people who have helped me write it. Katherine Simmons, who wrote one of the songs for the Musical and helped me when I had nothing but an idea for the opening. Christopher Paolucci, who is writing the music with me for this show and has pushed me to be better than I thought I could be and brings so much talent and intelligence to the music.
I am so lucky to be working with such incredible people for this production. My Dad who is helping me put it all together; the production team and cast are fantastic.
Our Writing Team, Production Team and Cast
Book and Lyrics by Michaela Vivona
Music by Michaela Vivona and Christopher Paolucci
Select Songs by Katherine Simmons
Directed by Ellie Winkelmann
Produced by Jerome Vivona
Music Directed by Christopher Paolucci
Featuring:
Jenny: Michaela Vivona
Alex: Emily Iocovozzi
Diane: Maria Bufalini*
Mother: Michelle Mallardi*
*These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. Equity Approved Showcase.
WHAT’S THE SHOW ABOUT?
On a summers night at a carnival Alex asks Jenny, her girlfriend of a year, to marry her. After a falling out with Jenny’s not-so-supportive mother, Jenny gets into a car accident, resulting in the loss of her memory of the past year. Her mother takes this opportunity to rewrite Alex out of her past. Diane, Jenny’s femme fatale ex, drags her back into their passionate and manipulative relationship. For Jenny this is the last thing she remembers and holds a sense of comfort. Despite her efforts, it is two months until Alex sees Jenny again. They run into each other at the carnival. Alex learns of Jenny's amnesia and the lies she was fed. Alex realizes that Jenny is not mad at her, she doesn't remember her at all. But, is it worth it to fight for a future when Jenny doesn’t even remember their past?
MORE INFORMARTION
Check out our website!
https://www.startfromhello.com
"Start From Hello" will be performed at the Hudson Guild Theater as a part of the New York Theater Festival's Summerfest on July 23rd at 6:15, July 27th at 9:00, and July 29th at 3:30.
But, we need your help! Your funds will help make this dream a reality! Your donation will help us pay for the theater space, costumes, marketing photos, playbills and advertisements to keep the show moving forward to even bigger things!
I could never thank you enough for supporting this story and my dream. But, I'm going to try with some great rewards! So let's Start From Hello, and go on from there!
HOW THIS STORY STARTED
My name is Michaela Vivona. I'm a Junior Musical Theater Major at Syracuse University. I have been writing music since my first guitar lesson when I was 13, but I found my real love for writing music when I wrote my first musical.
When I was in the 8th grade my friends and I decided to turn "The Hunger Games" into a jukebox musical, we ended up raising $500 for No Kid Hungry with our performance. I decided to once again write a jukebox musical, this time of "The Fault In Our Stars", and raised over $1,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation. I then wanted to try writing my own music for a musical. I adapted the American Girl Stories into a children's musical and used my own music to tell the story.
"Start From Hello" is my first fully original musical where I have written the book, music and lyrics, and I am extremely excited about it.
This show was written out of necessity. I realized there was a problem. I was talking to a friend trying to think of a musical we could do in our black box theater in school if we weren't cast but all of the boys were, a common problem in drama programs. Our list was extremely short. I realized a new musical needed to be written.
This show is about gay women, but is not about being gay. I find that so many musicals and stories that center around LGBT+ characters are mainly about being gay. While I think these stories are important, I feel it is also important to tell stories that show these characters as people with problems other than their sexuality. Especially since the LGBT+ community and theater community are so intertwined I am still astounded with how few LGBT+ characters there are in Musicals, and I think that’s something that should be changed. I believe with representation comes acceptance.
I have been working on this musical for over a year and this story would be nowhere without my friends and family who have listened to me talk about the story, helped me when I was stuck, have recorded scenes and done read-throughs with me and given their feedback.
The story really would not be the same without the people who have helped me write it. Katherine Simmons, who wrote one of the songs for the Musical and helped me when I had nothing but an idea for the opening. Christopher Paolucci, who is writing the music with me for this show and has pushed me to be better than I thought I could be and brings so much talent and intelligence to the music.
I am so lucky to be working with such incredible people for this production. My Dad who is helping me put it all together; the production team and cast are fantastic.
Our Writing Team, Production Team and Cast
Book and Lyrics by Michaela Vivona
Music by Michaela Vivona and Christopher Paolucci
Select Songs by Katherine Simmons
Directed by Ellie Winkelmann
Produced by Jerome Vivona
Music Directed by Christopher Paolucci
Featuring:
Jenny: Michaela Vivona
Alex: Emily Iocovozzi
Diane: Maria Bufalini*
Mother: Michelle Mallardi*
*These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. Equity Approved Showcase.
WHAT’S THE SHOW ABOUT?
On a summers night at a carnival Alex asks Jenny, her girlfriend of a year, to marry her. After a falling out with Jenny’s not-so-supportive mother, Jenny gets into a car accident, resulting in the loss of her memory of the past year. Her mother takes this opportunity to rewrite Alex out of her past. Diane, Jenny’s femme fatale ex, drags her back into their passionate and manipulative relationship. For Jenny this is the last thing she remembers and holds a sense of comfort. Despite her efforts, it is two months until Alex sees Jenny again. They run into each other at the carnival. Alex learns of Jenny's amnesia and the lies she was fed. Alex realizes that Jenny is not mad at her, she doesn't remember her at all. But, is it worth it to fight for a future when Jenny doesn’t even remember their past?
MORE INFORMARTION
Check out our website!
https://www.startfromhello.com
Organizer
Michaela Vivona
Organizer
Westbury, NY