Waterbury native Roy O’Neil has co-written a musical set in the Brass City that focuses on politics and the effort to restore the Palace Theater. The musical is called, “Eddie and Palaceades”, written with Stephen Feigenbaum, and has been selected for presentation at the First Act Feedback Fest in New York City, a new musical development workshop sponsored by Theater Resources Unlimited and Musicalwriterzine.com.
The one day workshop gives new musicals a chance to get professional feedback from experienced writers and producers on their opening number, “I want” song and their Act One closing song. Participating panelists represent experience as diverse as The Lion King, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Urinetown. Eddie and the Palaceades presentation at FAFF will focus on Eddie’s song, Meet Me At The Palace.
Eddie and the Palaceades is set in Brass City and is the story of a one hit wonder who runs for mayor to save the old Palace theater, where the band got it’s start. It is about family break-up when ambitions take divergent paths. And family reunion when love conquers all.
The musical is a rock and roll blend of uptempo tunes, ballads and production numbers. O’Neil is the book writer and lyricist. Stephen Feigenbaum is the music composer. Arrangements and demo production is by Michael Holland.
Mr. O’Neil is a Waterbury native and Woodbury resident. His past musical endeavors include American Brass, another Brass City story, which was presented at Broadway on the Green in Waterbury and included songs such as “We‘ve Got Brass“ and “Holy Land, USA“.
Mr. Feigenbaum holds a Masters degree in Music from Yale School of Music and in 2012 his show “Independents” was awarded “Best Production” at the New York Fringe Festival. Mr. Holland has numerous Broadway and cabaret credits and was the arranger for the 2012 off-Broadway revival of Godspell.
The creative team hopes that exposure and experience at FAFF will lead to other workshop opportunities and eventually a full production.