Overview of UNBEATABLE : A Musical Journey

UNBEATABLE : A Musical Journey is a bold, fresh exploration of the cancer patient’s experiences – through musical theatre. The story, based on actual events, uses a theatrical trial setting to share one woman’s perspective on her journey with breast cancer and how that journey came to change every aspect of her life. The script weaves a sly and hearty humor through the drama, keeping a light touch in a potentially devastating story.

Tracy, our heroine, begins the play as she has always lived her life – busy and efficient. She’s the can-do woman to her boss, her mother, her friends, and her husband, Brad. Then she gets the report from her breast exam. Only her humor, guts, and faith will get her through the coming trials and tribulations. And no matter what the outcome, neither she nor any of her circle of support will ever be the same.

The script follows what Tracy’s diagnosis does to her relationships as much as what it does to her medically. She is forced to re-examine her priorities and what it means to care and be vulnerable, all in the face of an eye-opening, terrifying, poignant, and weirdly funny medical journey.

All new music mixes stylized pop with an emotional bed for the story; it is a show that lets the audience transcend logic with humor, emotion and theatricality (think Mamma Mia meets Menopause: the Musical with some added ballads to bring you to tears).

The cast size is 10 people with a band of 3-5 pieces. The show is fast paced and the simple unit set will allow the flow to transform seamlessly through locations and time.

Currently the creative team for UNBEATABLE : A Musical Journey consists of two co-creators (Laurie Frey, Michael Barnard), a book writer (Eric Coble) and two lyricist/composers (Todd Schroeder, Kevin Fisher). These indiviuals live in Cleveland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles so they are thankful for internet access and phones!

Goals and Objectives for the Musical

UNBEATABLE : A Musical Journey is a show that will be launched to the masses across America and eventually worldwide in English speaking countries. After a summer workshop in NYC we plan to open in an Off-Broadway theatre in New York. The New York engagement will be followed by a national touring production that will head to the top 50-60 cities in America as part of the local Broadway Series.

This musical has the ability to inspire and empower people by seeing the live performance where they can laugh, cry and understand a cancer journey or any life threatening or devastating event which reveals the human instincts and responses of our relationships. As part of survivorship education, the show will encourage people to survive the process with strength, humor and dignity while at the same time encouraging friends and family members to re-evaluate their relational commitments when others experience a difficult journey.

The presence of this show all across America and abroad will heighten awareness regarding cancer and many facets involved with one particular cancer journey. Another goal is to raise funds for cancer research in the continued search for a cure.

Although the show follows Tracy and her cancer journey, it transcends into everyday people dealing with tough situations. The lead character faces what many people encounter when their life suddenly has an unwelcomed change (divorce, illness, injustice, ....) and the overall question of "how do you spend your time?" is what everyone will ask themselves periodically throughout their life.

New Works Festival & Upcoming Workshops

UNBEATABLE : A Musical Journey premiered in Phoenix, AZ at the Phoenix Theatre as part of their NewWorks Festival on August 4-5, 2006. (www.phoenixtheatre.com). This was a staged reading that had a minimal set, 10 actors and 3 musicians. This allowed the first audiences to share their praises and critisms to help our creative team continue to work to the finished product.

The next process will be working all necessary changes in another cost efficient staged reading in Cleveland, followed by a full workshop in NYC in the summer of 2007. Then, if the creators believe the show is ready, it will open Off Broadway int he Fall of 2007.