This blog post is being written whilst curled up in bed, recovering from recent action-packed events.

Last weekend we headed to New York for the second time this summer. We had a lovely time visiting our friends, attending musicals, shopping, eating, drinking and participating in the many other typical activities of a NYC tourist. The main purpose of our visit, however, was to make our New York songwriting debut. As previously mentioned, our song “It’s Been a While” was being included in the Cutting Edge Composers III concert, an amazing showcase for emerging writers to have their work performed by bonafide Broadway stars.

Our song was performed by the amazing Emma Hunton (Next to Normal, Spring Awakening, currently Maureen in Rent) and Derek Klena (Dogfight, Carrie), along with a brilliant band (with strings!), led by musical director Ginny Pike. Not only did we get to hear our song executed beautifully, but we got to familiarize ourselves first-hand with the work of so many talented young writers and performers. There are several ditties we can’t stop humming all these days later. The two concerts themselves went splendidly, as did the after party, where we got to hang out with our supportive friends and party with some amazing actors, directors, musicians, writers and producers. We even had the chance to entertain role models like Tom Kitt and Charles Strouse, and our photos made it onto Broadwayworld.com! We want to thank the CEC team, particularly Laura Pietropinto, Jillian Robbins and Ginny Pike, for letting us be a part of this wonderful initiative and for all their support.

Emma Hunton and Derek Klena performing our song “It’s Been a While”

As if that wasn’t enough action for one week, almost immediately upon our return to Toronto we held a private reading of a children’s rock musical we are writing. Our multi-talented librettist Sara Farb is skipping town for a few months to do next to normal all over Western Canada, so we wanted to get a sense of how Act I sounded in the hands of some great performers before her bon voyage. Lucky we have a bevy of gifted pals who volunteered their time and talents and did a cracking job of learning the music and embodying their parts…not to mention giving amazing feedback on the piece. We want to thank those beautiful faces in the photograph below which include (L-R): Matt Eger, Sarite Harris, Clara Scott, Mikaela MacGillivray, Justin Bott, Andrés Sierra, Jake Epstein and Rielle Braid.

Our generous and genius friends!

We are energized by all our amazing adventures in July, and ready to get to work writing some new material in August. But first…a nap.

Colleen & Akiva