2021 - Gordon Leary

Live!

It had been 17 months and 1 day since the last time we had our work performed in person for an audience, but being back onstage at Don’t Tell Mama on July 23 felt like no time had passed at all!

It had all the elements of live performances that I’d been missing (and some that I’d happily forgotten) – the joy of the rehearsal process, the thrill of hearing new material, the stress of a time crunch, the warmth of a great audience, and the bonds of collaboration. We became a momentarily magnificent six as Jeanna wasn’t able to perform with us, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Thanks to the crew of our favorites – Alex, Allison, Ally, Amy, Ellen, Jeanna, Lynne, MinJi, Roslyn, Sam & Tori – for donning the warmup jackets and bringing it all back to life.

Thanks to all who watched – both in person and online (especially those that braved the technical difficulties!) If you didn’t get to see it, or if you want to watch it again, check out the video below. (And read a nice little write up about the concert on BroadwayWorld here!)

A Magnificent Anniversary

In Concert The Magnificent Seven

As New York City continues to open back up, we are beyond thrilled to have the chance to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team’s gold medal win with a concert of songs from The Magnificent Seven!

On Friday, July 23, we’ll get together with some familiar faces and some brand new faces to share selections from the musical, including two brand new songs! If you’re in NYC and want to see it in person at Don’t Tell Mama, make a reservation at donttellmamanyc.com. If you’re not in NYC, be on the lookout for more information about a livestream of the show.

We can’t wait to have a joyous celebration of both our love for those seven women and our first live performance in over a year!

A Little New Music Spotlight Series

In Concert

Julia and I were thrilled to be featured in A Little New Music‘s Spotlight Series! We’ve been fans of the Los Angeles-based A Little New Music concert series for years, which have featured our songs and songs by some of our favorite writer-friends. It was a joy to get to chat with them about our work, look back on their performances of our work (featuring Lisa Musser, Laura Nicole Harrison & Kim Dalton), and share a brand new song from a brand new project we’ve been working on for the last year or so.

Thanks to the wonderful Tatiana Wechsler, Ally Bonino & Hana Slevin for their amazing video performance, and thanks to amy francis schott, Luke Klipp, Kila Packett, and everyone at A Little New Music for having us!

Check out the performance of the new song (“Scar” from These Familiar Spirits) in the recording of the livestream interview below!

Twenty twenty.

Updates

This certainly wasn’t the year that I was planning! But it was still a year of returns (Pregnancy Pact! Diversionary Theatre! Weston Playhouse!) and new beginnings (Havisham! Lots of video and animation! These Familiar Spirits! Zoom…) In the midst of all of the anxiety and loss and upheaval and stasis, I count myself as incredibly lucky.

And I am especially lucky to have spent the year working with so many of my forever favorite people and brand new favorite people: Bryan Banville, Ally Bonino, Nancy Renée Braun, Aidan Cole, Michael Cusamano, Jennifer Daly, Catie Davis, Sarah DeMarino, Amanda Drewes, Maddie Dyer, Mark Evans, Hannah Ford, Jasmine Forsberg, Josie Gerk, Natasha Harris, Elexa Hanner, Sam Heldt, Victoria Huston-Elem, Mary Jardine, Will Jewett, Tiana Monique Jung, MinJi Kim, Kylie Lavrenchik, Adam Lawrence, Patrick Marion, Ryan Mazer, David Merino, Chanel Morehead, Matt Morrow, Elexis Morton, Alannah O’Hagan, Jennifer Peacock, Jake Pedersen, Cuinlan Pedretti, Jeanna Phillips, Caroline Reinstadtler, Karl Saint Lucy, Scottie Schwefel, John Simpkins, Caitlin Stebelman, Gabrielle Stravelli, Becca Suskauer, Annie Tippe, Emily Walton, Tatiana Wechsler, Kate Wild, Ruby Zinner, and Andy Zinsmeister.

I’m looking forward to the moment in 2021 when I can finally sit in a room with other people. I can’t wait to hear live voices. I can’t wait to laugh with my collaborators. I can’t wait to have a moment of realization or inspiration or catharsis in a room with those who inspire it. Here’s to hope!