SONGS BY AN IMMIGRANT VOL. 2

YOU ARE THE REASON

Music by Jaime Lozano / Lyrics by Michael Cooper / Performed by Mauricio Martínez

Concord Theatricals Recordings recently released Songs By An Immigrant Vol. 2, the highly anticipated sophomore album by Jaime Lozano & The Familia, on streaming and digital platforms worldwide. The entire album is available to stream or download HERE.

With music by acclaimed musical theatre composer and 2022 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Jaime Lozano, and lyrics by Lozano, Georgie Castilla, Marina Pires, Neena Beber, Michael Cooper, Ella Bric & Fran Tapia, Nancy Nachama Cheser, and Tommy Newman, the new album features award-winning Latin artists and Broadway stars, including Melissa Barrera, Latin GRAMMY® winner Ella Bric, Florencia Cuenca, Eden Espinosa, Mandy Gonzalez, Robin de Jesús, Mauricio Martínez, and Ana Villafañe, among others.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND AT KENYON COLLEGE

Anton Dudley and Michael Cooper collaborate on a new adaptation of “Alice In Wonderland” this October.

michael cooper steps into new role as executive artistic director of the paradise theatre, paonia, colorado

Paonia, Colorado - After several months serving as Interim-Executive Director of the Paradise Theatre, a non-profit performing arts venue in the rural mountains of Colorado, Michael has accepted the position of Executive Artistic Director of this historic venue that builds community through educational events, film, theatre, and live music. Stay tuned for exciting programming announcements, submission opportunities, upcoming collaborations, and additional ways to connect and contribute.

the duchess carpathia bouffray, je suis l’art

book & lyrics by Anton Dudley, music by Michael Cooper

The Duchess wrecks havoc in an art gallery in her first live, in-person show! Jealous that the art gets all the attention, the Duchess is determined to become a work of art herself. Coming December, 2021 to the Gund Gallery, Kenyon College.

New song written with COMPOSER Jaime Lozano to debut at 54 Below, September 23, 2021

Jaime Lozano is making his FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW debut with a concert full of immigrant stories and songs celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month. Joining Lozano is his "Familia," an all-Latinx/Latino/Latine lineup of the best Broadway and Off-Broadway performers including Mauricio Martínez (On Your Feet!), Javier Ignacio (Company), Florencia Cuenca (A Never-Ending Line), and Marina Pires (On Your Feet!), among others.

Lozano addresses the meaningful theme of the immigrant experience in the United States in songs and stories about finding a new home, learning a new language, dealing with discrimination, trying to fit in, pursuing the American dream, being in love, growing older, and missing his native land. A show about diversity, inclusion, and building bridges instead walls.

"It is our responsibility to create shows that tell our stories and celebrate who we are. As immigrants building a new life in a new place, we have learned that coming together as a community is coming HOME," Lozano says.

The concert will feature collaborations with Latinx musical theatre writers Neena Beber, Georgie Castilla, Nancy Cheser, Michael Cooper, Florencia Cuenca, David Davila, Mark-Eugene Garcia, Jaime Lozano, Marina Pires, and Noemi de la Puente.

Joining Lozano on piano will be an also all Latinx band with some of the best musicians in the city: Joel Mateo on drums, Rubén Rodríguez on bass and Jholey Garay on guitar.

Jaime Lozano & The Familia in "Celebrando the Hispanic Heritage Month" plays Feinstein's/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) Thursday September 23, 9:45pm. Doors open 9:00pm. There is a $30-$65 cover charge and $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

She’ll Be Coming… Down the mountain.

The Duchess Carpathia Bouffray Aprés-Ski, the second film in “The Duchess” series, premieres online, Sunday 5/16 at 7:30pm EST. When a skiing lesson goes awry, the Duchess must find a way back to civilization... or maybe this is the out she’s been looking for?

ALBANY THEATRE PROGRAM PREMIERES DIGITAL MOVIE MUSICAL  

The Theatre Program of the University at Albany’s Department of Music and Theatre is pleased to premiere a digital movie musical titled Love & Other Destinations which explores the triumphs and tragedies of love in all its forms. Partnering with Broadway and New York talent and featuring theatre majors and musical theatre minors, Love & Other Destinations is written by composer Brad Ross and lyricist Michael Cooper. It can be viewed online on April 22 at 8pm, April 23 at 3pm, April 24 at 2pm & 8pm and April 25 at 2pm. Admission is free but virtual seats must be reserved in advance at: https://www.albany.edu/musicandtheatre/theatre-productions.

Michael Cooper’s writing credits include the Broadway musical “It Shoulda Been You” and the off-Broadway musical “Marguerite.”  Brad Ross was the recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award and was represented off-Broadway with his musical “Little By Little.” 

“The pandemic forced us to re-think how we can produce a musical. I am very grateful that Michael and Brad were eager to develop their new musical revue in this unconventional way,” says UAlbany Lecturer and Head of Performance Chad Larabee who directed and edited the film. He adds, “Most scenes were filmed by actors on their iPhones in their homes, dorms and within their communities. We carefully planned the various shots to create the illusion that actors were in the same room when, in reality, they were sometimes hundreds of miles away.”

The unique project features orchestrations by Robert Elhai who was Tony-nominated for his work on Disney’s “The Lion King.” The music was recorded by four Broadway musicians. The sixteen cast members recorded the vocals at home and then they were all mixed at Flux Studios in New York. Tampa-based music director Jenny Kim-Godfrey prepared the actors on Zoom to record their vocals. UAlbany Theatre’s resident lighting designer Andi Lyons and resident costume designer Reneé M. Bell collaborated online with actors regarding lighting and wardrobe choices. Senior Theatre major Liv Larson served as the choreographer and assistant director for the film.

“Our cast and creative team were undeterred by the challenges facing us. Everyone was focused on how best to bring Love & Other Destinations to life. I hope the film demonstrates the ingenuity and creativity of the UAlbany Theatre Program,” says Larabee.

Love & Other Destinations was made possible with support from The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment and Kevin Duda.

MARGUERITE ON BROADWAY RECORDS

Broadway Records has announced the release of MARGUERITE, a new musical starring Tony, Drama Desk & Outer Critics' Circle Award winner Cady Huffman. Pre-orders for the CD of MARGUERITE are available today on BroadwayRecords.com and other major music retailers including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com ahead of a March 5th release. The digital album is now available wherever digital music is sold and on BroadwayRecords.com.

MARGUERITE is written by Anton Dudley (book & lyrics) and Michael Cooper (music). The show received its New York premiere at Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) with direction by Dev Bondarin and music direction by Yan Li.

You've never met anyone like her. A death-defying journey of a fearless pioneer, MARGUERITE is a new musical based on the life of Canada’s first female saint, Marguerite Bourgeoys, and will inspire with a tale of love, inclusion, and living life without walls. Her ever-present faith combined with solid determination helped her bring liberated women to the New World and to build the city of Montreal.

The recording of MARGUERITE is produced by Dev Bondarin and Jeff Griffin, executive produced by Christina Goode and Martha Goode, engineered and mixed by Mike Pettry and mastered by Anthony Spinnato.

The Duchess Carpathia Bouffray ALTERNATIVE FAQs

Written & Performed by Anton Dudley

On January 29, 2021, you are cordially invited to meet… The Duchess.

In this hour-long musical cabaret adventure, The Duchess Carpathia Bouffray recounts her fall from royalty and circumstances of her current quarantine in the bathroom of a Las Vegas hotel, all while trying to answer FAQs about her immigrant, political, and sexual status, as she awaits the outcome of a coup in her home country of Kaftanada. Featuring original songs by Anton Dudley and Michael Cooper. NOTE: Albeit hilariously harmless, please be advised that this show contains mature language and concepts.

CABARET-19 at Kenyon College

CABARET-19: a collection of interconnected short pieces, commissioned from some of America's best loved writers, who will trace the last several months of our country's experience, through monologue, scene, song, and dance. CABARET 19 combines film, live theatre, dance, and music to create an immediate response to our times.

Featuring new pieces by: Anton Dudley, Kristoffer Diaz, Tina Howe, Rajiv Joseph, Lucas Hnath, Lauren Yee, Chisa Hutchinson, Nambi E. Kelly, David Greenspan, Kimber Lee, Dave C. Harris, Wendy MacLeod, Harrison Rivers, Jen Silverman, Khiyon Hursey, Charlie Sohne & Tim Rosser, Balinda Craig-Quijada & Phil Brooks, Kora Radella & Ross Feller, Julie Brodie, Maria Huey, Michael Cooper, and Faye Chiao

Cabaret-19 will be released on Friday, Oct. 30th at 8 pm at kenyon.edu/cabaret-19.

12 songs created during quarantine. Listen now.

Read the press release here.

Available to stream worldwide on Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud (remixes).

The Winter Park Playhouse announced Michael Cooper and Bill Connington’s new musical, “Love, Always,” as one the six winning selections for the 4th annual Florida Festival of New Musicals, now scheduled for June 24 - 27, 2021. The Festival, which showcases new musical theatre works, is one of very few in the nation and the only one of its kind in the Southeast region.

You’ve never met anyone like her.

The critically-acclaimed Astoria Performing Arts Center(APAC) announced that Tony Award-winner CADY HUFFMAN will star in the company’s first offering of their 2019-2020 Season, Marguerite, a new solo musical with book and lyrics by Anton Dudley and music by Michael Cooper which runs November 8-23, 2019 in Astoria, Queens. APAC Artistic Director Dev Bondarin directs.

UNFRAMED

A New Musical by Anton Dudley & Michael Cooper

"Unframed" is a series of five short musicals that illuminate objects in "Selections from the Gund Gallery Collection." Directed by Anton Dudley, associate professor of drama, and curated by Jodi Kovach, curator of academic programs, composers Ruth Chan, Faye Chiao, Michael Cooper and Khiyon Hursey create pieces to be performed by Kenyon students in response to artworks by Chitra Ganesh, Renee Stout, Leysis Quesada Vera, Arién Chang Castan and Kiki Smith.

Premieres Friday, November 15th, 2019.