Maine producer and John Bapst graduate Kristyn Murphy ’08 presents new cabaret/musical theatre mash-up for Orrington’s Old Home Week, Friday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m
“We wanted to create something for audiences that was a bit different,” explains Maine producer and singer Kristyn Murphy, “what we ended up with was not quite a traditional cabaret and not quite a traditional musical; Lovers & Monsters is a mash-up of the two.” For the past year Murphy has been working alongside Allentown, PA based co-star and business partner Abbie Stands to create a new show called Lovers & Monsters. The show has since debuted in a world-renowned cabaret venue New York City and has recently completed an East Coast and Midwest spring tour, with a show at the Camden Opera House.
The presentation at Center Drive School on Friday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. is a homecoming for Ms. Murphy, as she is a former Orrington resident and a graduate of Center Drive School and John Bapst Memorial High School. Admission to the Orrington performance is $8, with proceeds benefitting the music and drama programs of Center Drive School.
“We are neither rich, nor famous,” Murphy laughs, “but we both love to entertain. We hope for a full house, and we need your help to do that. Bring friends, and bring family! We promise it will be fun. Come early, and celebrate what the town of Orrington has to offer.”
Lovers & Monsters may still be in its early stages of existence, but it has already been met with rave reviews from people of all ages. “It was better than I could have even imagined,” says Karyn S., an audience member. “It was so cool. I loved the video projection,” another younger attendee added. While yet another said: “I loved the variety of music. I was never bored, and I loved what you did with RadioHead’s song Creep.” BroadwayWorld states that Lovers & Monsters is a “magical and gripping experience,” while the Camden Opera House is endorsing the show as “fresh and fun” and featuring “two world-class singers.”
Lovers & Monsters is neither a pretentious nor stuffy show. “It is very real,” Ohio resident and audience member Julienne Parker explains, “I think that is why I liked it so much. The characters onstage are dealing with real-life; it just happens that their life is a circus. It is funny, sad, ridiculous and I can relate.”
Lovers & Monsters features music from a variety of genres including: musical theatre, pop, Celtic, as well as original songs, and follows the story of two singers thrown unexpectedly together for a circus production. Murphy and Stands share stories of life, love and self-discovery, inviting audiences to laugh and cry as they experience tragedy, passion, and joy in a style that hints back to vaudeville. Mixed into the equation are cleverly edited videos that are projected, which help to progress the story.
Neither Murphy nor Stands are strangers to the stage or music industry. Murphy began her foray in the music world as a talented eight year old, turning heads with a big voice. Since then, she has recorded a handful of albums, performed several concerts, sung for United State dignitaries, and was featured this past year in Celtic Life International Magazine and Celtic Guide Magazine being called a singer who “breaks down boarders, crossing genres seamlessly” and as the “newest face of Celtic music.” Her newest album, A Time to Remember, which is a mixture of Celtic and Broadway music, has been met with positive reviews, entering the iTunes top 25 world music charts in Canada. Murphy’s musical lilt and humorous personality are winning her fans from around the world. Murphy studied music at the Hartt School and Crane School of Music.
Stands has released two full-length albums, and two EPs. She worked in Nashville to record her debut album Hope Comes Running and released her sophomore album, titled Journey, last year. The Columbus Dispatch calls Stands the “best bet” while the Columbus Songwriters Associations states: “Stands has a voice that is just as big, powerful, and beautiful as her personality. Seriously, wow! If you want to time travel, look no further. Abbie will take you back to the soul of a small club in a big city with her modern spin on a reminiscent, jazzy vibe.” Stands wrote many of the songs featured in Lovers & Monsters. She majored in music at Capital University Conservatory of Music.
Lovers & Monsters is a highly entertaining work, featuring a little bit of something for everybody. Physical humor and traditional music tend to amuse older generations, as Murphy and Stands somehow channel great entertainers of the past. Witty, quick humor and popular music tend to capture the fancy of younger audiences. Come and be entertained on a summer evening in Orrington, Maine. To learn more, visitwww.loversandmonsters.com.