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| JILL MARSHALL-WORK, lyricist • BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Worrshop, alum, composer-lyricist
• Dramatists Guild, composer-lyricist member
• ASCAP, songwriter member
• Musical Makers, website designer/editor/webmaster; e-list co-moderator
• Musical Writers Playground, alum, composer-lyricist
• New Tuners Musical Theatre Development Workshop, alum, composer-lyricist
• ShowTunesmith
—musical theatre lyricist (see SHOWTUNE/CABARET LYRICS)
—musical theatre composer (see SHOWTUNE MP3s)
—musical theatre composer/lyricist (see MEDIA QUOTES and CATALOG)
—pop composer (see SONG CREDITS)
—website design (see URL)
—graphic designs for show logos/printed programs/season brochures, etc. (see PORTFOLIO) |
for Belles of the Mill showcase production (off-off Broadway as part of the 2002 Midtown International Theatre Festival)
“Melodically exciting”…“Music is lovely and emotionally evocative”…“It is the score that provides the strongest reason for attending.”
“Strong, effective opening”…“A dynamic opening number”…“The opening number—as the mill workers resolve to strike—segues between passionate solos, lively choral harmonics, and beautiful rounds”
“All of the strike numbers are particularly strong and explosive, finding their dramatic arcs quickly and effectively”
“‘Negotiation Rag’ adds a sprightly comic touch to the proceedings”…“‘Negotiation Rag’ [is a] riotous showstopper”
“The finale, ‘One Day,’ ends the action on a harmonious note in anticipation of a better tomorrow”
of musicals denotes show still being written; * denotes show currently unavailable for production]
Angel on My Shoulder • ; adapted from screenplay by George Kirgo
In this 40s-era musical fantasy (somewhat reminiscent of Guy & Dolls), a murdered gangster’s return to life in search of revenge gives him an unexpected opportunity for redemption. Full-lenth classic song-and-dance musical.
Concert readings: Wilmington College Theatre Department, Wilmington, OH, spring 1999
Belles of the Mill • music/lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work, Book by Rachel Rubin Ladutke; adapted from play by Rachel Rubin Ladutke
Belles of the Mill is set during the bitter winter of 1912 and the even more bitter “Bread and Roses” strike that mobilized the workers and immobilized the town of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Amidst these turbulent events, an unlikely friendship develops between Bridget Gallagher, a young Irish mill worker, and Sarah Weissmann, a local Jewish midwife, as their livelihoods, their moral convictions, and even their lives are threatened. Together, the two women face life-changing decisions with courage, humor and hope. With a strongly written book, multi-level characters and a beautifully complex and exciting score, Belles of the Mill is an exciting new musical drama.
Equity Showcase Production: Directed by Arlene Schulman, Music-directed by Brian Allan Hobbs, New York, NY, July-August 2002
(as part of the off-off-Broadway 2002 Midtown International Theatre Festival at Raw Space)
Private concert reading/workshop: Directed by Arlene Schulman, Music-directed by Jill Marshall-Work, Freehold, NJ, Dec. 2001
Private concert reading: Directed by Arlene Schulman, Music-directed by Jill Marshall-Work and Nicholas Cheng, New York, NY, February 2002
Full demo studio recording: Music-directed by Jill Marshall-Work and Nicholas Cheng, LRP Studios, New York, NY, March 2002
Bill & Meriweather’s Excellent Adventure: Travels with Lewis & Clark • Jill Marshall-Work •
A Vaudevillian take on the historic journey. Fast-paced musical presents history and historical trivia in a fun way. (FAMILY AUDIENCES)
Production: World Premiere, as part of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Celebration, summer 2004 in Williston, ND
Jill Marshall-WorkOff-beat one-act Christmas comedy in which Santa disappears during his rounds on Christmas Eve. It takes a unlikely duo of a child who believes in Santa and a cynical TV sleaze journalist to find out what happened and bring Santa back to a world that needs him. [IN PROGRESS]
Jill Marshall-WorkContemporary full-length musical comedy romance in which a group of delightfully eccentric residents and Board members of a New York City co-op operate like a dysfunctional family. The show features a flambuoyant interior decorator, a beautiful but uptight corporate exec, a retired Army reserve colonel/businessman, a civil servant/resident curmudgeon, a wanna-be actor/handyman and a starry-eyed co-op applicant and her less-than-starry-eyed husband. But appearance can be deceiving….
Freddy the Flat-Faced School Bus • Jill Marshall-Work
Freddy the Flat-Faced School Bus has a hard time gaining acceptance by the other “standard” school busses, but then a city-wide crisis helps the buses realize that every bus counts when they need to pull together. Upbeat one-act on themes of tolerance and acceptance of those who are “different.” (YOUNG AUDIENCES)
I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Go to Boise • Jill Marshall-Work; inspired by the book by Erma Bombeck
A surprising upbeat look at children surviving cancer.10+-minute musical.
Concert Showcase Reading: BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop 10-minute musicals, 2003, New York City
Izzy & Moe • Jill Marshall-Work
In this (mostly) true story, follow the exploits of a comical and unlikely duo of prohibition agents. Their wildly creative and smashingly successful approach to nabbing bootleggers and bartenders made them media darlings while incurring the wrath and professional jealousy of those who hired them. Full-length musical comedy. [IN CONCEPTUAL STAGE]
Musical drama in which a Japanese-American teen joins five soujourners of Japanese heritage as they attend the ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. In telling their unique but related stories, they find common threads in their lives and together they learn to make peace with their pasts as the teenager learns to make peace with the Japanese half of her own heritage. Will be offered as full-length and assembly length musical dramas. [IN CONCEPTUAL STAGE]
Monkey Business • book, music and lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work; inspired by a script by Jim Hughes
Off-beat micro-musical about the mysterious rash of chimpanzee pregnancies at the L.A. Zoo, even though all the male chimps were too old, too young, disinterested or sterilized.
Staged reading: New Tuners, Chicago, IL. spring 2000
Monotone Angel •Jill Marshall-Work; based on song by Don McAfee
In this heart-warming story of belief and acceptance, a young angel wishes above all to sing in the Christmas choir, while a young girl dreams of hearing an angel sing. Together, they help each other fulfill their Christmas wishes.One-act musical fantasy. (YOUNG AUDIENCES)
Staged reading: Arizona State University Lutheran Campus Ministry, Tempe, AZ 1982
Performance: Peterson Middle School, Kerrvile, TX December 1985
Sleepless Beauty •
A zany fractured fairy tale that does for the story of Sleeping Beauty what Once Upon a Mattress does for The Princess and the Pea. In this case, Briar-Rose is a brat who gets what she deserves, but everyone still finds their way to a hapy ending. Full-length musical comedy for family audiences.
Too Many Cooks • book by Marie Yuen, lyrics by Julie Pederson, music by Jill Marshall-Work
In this short one-act comedy, three inept chefs vie for the top honors in a televion cooking contest/show, while also competing for notice by a network talent scout rumored to be in the studio audience. In this murder mystery musical, nothing is what it seems. Not even the murder!
Skeletal production: The Theatre Building, Chicago, IL, spring 2000
Christmas for the First Time Again music and lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work
Second place award-winner in Molly Lykins’ national songwriting contest
Half a World Away music and lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work
performed at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington; published in numerous adoption-related magazines, newsletters and websites.
If I Could Make a Wish music by Robert Pellacani, lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work
performed at NY’s Don't Tell Mama cabaret club
Graveyard Shuffle music by Jill Marshall-Work, lyrics by Curtis Cameron
recognized for “exceptional merit” in Goodnight Kiss Halloween songwriting contest
I’m Ready for This World music and lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work
written for 2002 graduating class of the Mercer County School for the Performing Arts, NJ
The Color of Jesus music and lyrics by Jill Marshall-Work
performed at The World Friendship Center, Hiroshima, Japan; published in numerous magazines, newsletters and websites.
EXCERPTS OF SONGS SEEKING PLACEMENT IN CABARET ACTS/RECORDINGS (contact Jill Marshall-Work)
Christmas for the First Time Again waltz ballad; celebrating Christmas through your child’s eyes ©1999
“You wander in wonder, your eyes open wide
you cherish the magic adults take in stride
in your fresh exuberance I realize
I see Christmas for the first time again through your eyes…”
(Bring Me) A Santa Claus Kind of a Man humorous up-tempo bluesy/honky-tonk type number ©2001
“All I want for Christmas is a jolly old elf,
who can make me feel I’m young again in spite of myself…
a milk-and-cookies kind of guy, with love just for me
so Santa, when you find him, put him under my tree…
Santa, you can help me out if anyone can,
just bnng me Santa Claud kind of a man”
Your Mistress is a Mutt comic/theatrical up-tempo song by a wife who is taking a back seat to the new dog © 2000
“…my darling, I hate to be breaking the news: your mistress is a mutt!
and she tends to chew, and she pees in your shoe, and she likes to sniff your “you-know-what!…”
I Want My Prince humorous up-tempo Andrews Sisters-type song for solo or trio ©2000
“I want my prince, someone who’s charming
the lack of suitable suitors is simply alarming
someday my prince will come to me…”
I’m Ready for This World theatrical pop-tune (á la Whitney Houston) ©2002
Written as a graduation song for a performing arts high school, and is appropriate as an anthem for a theatrical “triple threat”
“I’m ready for this world, I have a song to sing.
There’s someting this world needs that only I can bring...
I’m ready for this world I have a role to play,
So I will take the stage and seize the day…”
There is also a generic (non-arts) graduation version:
“I’m ready for this world. There is so much to see.
There’s someone this world needs that only I can be.
I’m ready for this world. There is so much to do.
I’ll make my contribution as I make my dreams come true...”
Give Me the Sky pop tune that serves as an anthem for a private pilot ©2001
“ …Skimming the trees, and playing tag with the breeze, as I go roaming, rambling.
Give me this world, a eagle’s view of the earth as seen two miles high.
Breathtaking days, a midday sun that’s ablaze as I go sailing, soaring.
I savor the scent of freedom whan I fly.
Give me the sky.
I was born with the need to seek beyond the horizon for the thrill the journey brings.
I was born with a dream of setting sail on a rainbow. All I need is wings.…”
The Color of Jesus pop/contemporary Christian ballad; a lesson on love and tolerance taught by a four-year-old ©2001
“She was given a picture of Jesus to color in her Sunday school classroom that day
If she would have asked me the color of His face, I wouldn’t have known what to say
Pale brown like her brother’s, or peach like her parents, or tan like her own golden hue,
But she never asked me the color of His face; she colored it blue…”
Finding My Place lilting theatrical waltz about finding your place in the world ©2001
“ …Finding my path, where I want to go.
Following my instincts, testing what I know.
Finding my place, who I want to be; asking what’s important to me.
I’m finding my place in the world.”
A Time for Action theatrical power ballad about making the tough choices and following your heart ©2001
“This is a time for action,
this is a time to pay my dues.
Now is not the time to take the easy road or second-guess myself.
There is no time to lose.
This is the time, and I must choose.…”
It Could Have Been Me pop/theatrical dramatic ballad; a young striker testifies to Congress about dire conditions in a textile mill in 1912 ©2001
“How can I tell you what it’s like to work in the mill
images of each day I spent there haunt me still.
The clammy cold sweat, the deafening clatter
No moment’s rest. No idle chatter.
Living a life where life doesn’t matter…
Life in the mill, day to day
Bellies to fill, debts to pay.
Death in the mill…it’s a threat I can’t forget.
It could have been me…”
of sample website design
• Musical Makers: all layout design, custom graphics, logo design, and editorial/site/structure design. ©2001
Check out a pdf file of arts-related graphic design work.
(NOTE: all designs are protected under copyright laws)