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This page was updated
September 30, 2009

Songs from:

TRUTH - THE MUSICAL

Truth - the musical

Audio Samples & track list

Music by Peter Amidon * Lyrics by Peter Amidon & Stephen Stearns

Pub Date: mid-October 2009. Advance orders $15 - free shipping

“Truth” is the fourth original musical by Stephen Stearns and Peter Amidon. Their first three musicals (one of which was revived a few years later) were all for middle school age New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) actors. “Truth” is the first musical Stearns and Amidon have written for the senior (high school age) NEYT extraordinarily talented actors/singers. It was debuted last April at NEYT’s downtown Brattleboro theatre over two weekends to critical acclaim.

Peter Amidon’s music covers a wide range of styles: four-part a cappella chants, bawdy ballads, poignant love songs, a sweet lullaby, an a cappella grace, and quirky punchy musical exclamations. Pianist Alki Steriopoulos’s subtle and inventive piano playing adds even more spark and life to the songs. All songs were recorded by the original cast in Brattleboro’s Soundesign Studio with master recording engineer Al Stockwell.

CD: $15

Limited time offer - no shipping for orders placed before October 15CK

Original Cast Recording

Songs from

Truth

an original musical by Stephen Stearns and Peter Amidon

World premier in April 2009 by the Senior Cast of New England Youth Theatre

script by Stephen Stearns

music and piano score by Peter Amidon

lyrics by Peter Amidon and Stephen Stearns

extra music & piano accompaniment by Alki Steriopoulos

All songs © 2009 Amidon/Stearns

Recorded in Soundesign, Brattleboro, VT

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Al Stockwell

Produced by Peter Amidon

Photos by Laura Bliss

CD Graphics by Nicki Dumont

www.neyt.org

Audio Samples

Also on the CD→

 

Genesis of Truth

Stephen Stearns called me one day and said that some of the senior New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) actors (who had acted in some of our previous three musicals for middle school students) were hoping to do one more Amidon/Stearns musical before they went off to college. This time Stephen and I decided to create an original story rather than base the musical on a folktale. One morning, after weeks of “story” meetings, Stephen said, “How about this?” and proceeded to tell me a story that just about knocked me off my chair. That tale ended up being the core of the story for “Truth”. Stephen and I were thrilled when Alki Steriopoulos came on board as music director/pianist. Writing the music for “Truth” was one of the peak experiences of my life, and the collaboration with Stephen, with Alki, and with the gifted young NEYT actors, was a joy.

THE ENSEMBLE

Kingdom of Gruvich

Kingdom of Arle

At Acres Farm

The setting:

King Bosvick and Queen Esther, of Gruvitch, have agreed to marry their daughter, Princess Katherine, to Prince William, son of King Rhelmsford and Queen Esther of Arle, largely because Gruvitch has become impoverished after spending too much on their castle and wars, where Arle has been thriving under the more nuturing ruling of Rhelmsford and Esther. Before the wedding, which takes place in Bosvick's Castle Gruvitch, Bosvick and Rhelmsford sign a treaty that will result in a cessation of war and sharing of resources once the marriage is consummated. Princess Katherine and Prince William have been soulmates since they met when they were working together feeding the starving peasants of Gruvitch with the surplus bounty of Arle.

The Songs:

  1. Wedding/William’s Love Song
    At the wedding ceremony with King Bosvick and Queen Mavis’s daughter, the bride Princess Katherine, King Rhelmsford and Queen Esther’s son Prince William, the groom, sings a love song to Katherine.
  2. End of Wedding
    Music for when William tells Katherine he cannot marry her.
  3. William!
    The response of first William’s, then Katherine’s parents, along with the whole court.
  4. Katherine’s Lament
    With William, Katherine's beloved soulmate and fiance, having refused marriage and run off, abandoning Katherine at the altar, and William's family thrown into the dungeon by Katherine's enraged father King Bosvick, Princess Katherine, left alone for a moment, reflects.
  5. Whack Fol Lol
    Prince William, disguised as a troubador, stumbles into a village fair, and makes up an impromptu song.
  6. We Love You to Death
    The Gruvitch dungeon guards, Moll, Sadie and Roxie, taunt the prisoners.
  7. Off the Backs of the Poor
    Imprisoned singer Satine sings about how King Rhelmsford, just arrived in the dungeon, has aquired all his wealth.
  8. Acres Grace
    The Acres are a farming family who burst into song at any occasion. This is the grace they sing before every meal.
  9. Father, I Love Him
    Lizzie Acres falls in love with William and is convinced that William loves her. She confesses this to her father, Rufus Acres.
  10. You!
    Lizzie (falsely) accuses her sister Lori of betraying her after William’s refusal of Lizzie’s offer of love. Lori protests in vain.
  11. Breakfast Song
    Princess Katherine and her sister Constance help King Rhelmsford, Queen Esther and the other prisoners escape from the dungeon. They all end up on the Acres Farm. When King Bosvick and Queen Esther, along with General Kurtshield and Lord Chancelor Brinsley and soldiers, in hot pursuit, arrive at the farm, William, Katherine, Constance and the escapees disguise themselves as farmworkers and servants, and offer a sumptuous breakfast to King Bosvick.
  12. We’ll Rule Three
    King Bosvick, Queen Esther, General Kurtshield and Lord Brinsley, convinced they will now rule over both Gruvitch and Arle; fantasize about taking over yet more kingdoms.
  13. Serve You
    In order to plan their escape, Katherine, Constance, William’s family and the dungeon escapees, all in disguise, convince Bosvick that they must all go off to do their chores.
  14. Remember Our Days
    Queen Esther and King Rhelmsford, disguised as chambermaids and making up a bed, reminisce about their early days.
  15. Rufus’s Map Song
    Rufus Acres gives King Bosvick what he hopes will be confusing directions to Prince William’s castle.
  16. Looking Out for Number One
    music/lyrics by Stephen Stearns.
    Gar, the Acres farm hand who has been betraying his wife, abusing his daughter, and tormenting Lori and Lizzie, reflects on how he is not so different from anyone else.
  17. Deadly Nightshade
    Maisy, matron of the Acres family, cooks up a special potion for King Bosvick and his gang.
  18. Lullaby for Bosvick
    In hopes of helping Bosvick see how much he has changed, Vaska, Dirk, Abby and Eva act out a scene from Bosvick's early days when he was a kind young king and a loving father to his two young princess daughters. In their little play they sing a lullaby Bosvick used to sing to his daughters. Constance, Katherine, and finally King Bosvick himself, join in singing the familiar melody.
  19. Coronation
    King Bosvick sees the light and agrees with King Rhelmsford that they will both abdicate their thrones. Together they crown Katherine Queen of the combined kingdoms of Gruvitch and Arle.
  20. Lovely Dream
    A reflection on the genesis of New England Youth Theatre.