The new musical “Roam” will offer a private industry reading on April 29 in New York City. Produced by Bandits Roots and Tony Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, “Roam” features a book by Michael Dovid and a score by Alexander Sage Oyen. Rupert Hands is slated to direct.
Featuring a rock-pop-Romani-fusion score, “Roam” is a contemporary “fortune tale” set in the Romani community. The musical explores what happens when a culture based on movement is forced to stop in hostile territory while attempting to perform at a festival.
The company of “Roam” will include current “Pirates! The Penzance Musical” star Karimloo, as well as Tony nominees Tovah Feldshuh and Lorna Courtney, in addition to John Cardoza, Maria Wirries, Tim Rogan and current “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends” featured player Kyle Selig. Rounding out the cast will be Luke Chaviano, Laura Dadap, Sarah Daniels, Brandon Ellis, JT Kaufman and Lenka Z, the latter of whom will also serve as the musical’s Romani consultant.
The band for the reading will comprise Matt Brown, Adrianna Mateo, Jakob Reinhardt, Derek Stoltenberg and Yuka Tadano, under the music direction of Steven Cuevas. The music team will also include orchestrator and arranger Lloyd Kikoler and vocal arranger Cynthia Meng. “Roam” features additional book contributions by Romana Isabella.
“‘Roam’ is a universal story that explores our past, present, and future through the lens of a dynamic family and vibrant community,” noted Dovid in a statement. “It’s extremely timely to embark on a journey exploring how to overcome hate, spread light, and pass the torch forward.”
“Crafting the score for ‘Roam’ has been an absolute dream come true,” Oyen said. “In setting out to write it, we were afforded the amazing opportunity to go work with Roma musicians and actors in Bucharest, Romania, helping to shape the show’s musical vocabulary immensely.”
Prior to landing in New York, “Roam” had a workshop and staged reading with the Giuvlipen Theater Company, a Romani theater company in Romania and at the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest.
“We are thrilled to be presenting this incredible new musical with stunning songs by Alexander Sage Oyen and a funny, rich, powerful book by Michael Dovid exploring the Roma culture in one of their most historic moments,” said Hands.
“It’s a pleasure to present this incredible original work,” added Karimloo, “The story is very personal, timely and engaging, and I can’t wait for the New York community to experience it.”
ShowTown Theatricals will serve as general manager for the reading. Johnny Milani is the presentation’s stage manager, while Brandon Allman-Jackson will serve as assistant stage manager.
“Roam” is being co-produced by Wojta Productions Ltd.
