CARMEL DEAN AND MINDI DICKSTEIN’S NEW MUSICAL
MAIDEN VOYAGE TO HAVE WORLD PREMIÈRE
AT SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE ELEPHANT
Mark Cortale, Dale Franzen, Jonathan Murray and Harvey Reese today announce the world première of Maiden Voyage in association with Shared Experience. This new musical, with book and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Carmel Dean, tells the story of Tracy Edwards and the first all women racing crew of Maiden who made history competing in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race in 1989/90.
Directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson, the productionopens at Southwark Playhouse Elephant on 26 July, with previews from 19 July- 25 July, and runs until 23 August.
Carmel Dean and Mindi Dickstein said today, “We wanted to write about women facing challenges head-on – Tracy’s inspirational story ticked all the boxes for us. And we heard music at every turn. Courage sings. Pushing yourself to the limits of your abilities and beyond sings. The ocean, sings. Tracy and her crew are the definition of doing the hard things even when no one thinks you can.”
Director Tara Overfield Wilkinson said, “As a director who has worked in the musical theatre industry for over thirty-five years, it means a lot to me to tell the story of these strong amazing women who defied the critics and naysayers to achieve such phenomenal success in the challenges they faced.”
Producers Mark Cortale and Dale Franzen added, “As producers, we are drawn to stories of unexpected heroes like Tracy Edwards who are compelled to risk everything for a dream that almost everyone thinks is impossible. We hope this story will inspire others to fearlessly take the helm and follow their dreams.”
Mark Cortale, Dale Franzen, Jonathan Murray & Harvey Reese
in association with Shared Experience present
MAIDEN VOYAGE
Book and Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Music by Carmel Dean
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson
Casting Director: Harry Blumenau
19 July – 23 August
It’s 1990, and Tracy Edwards makes history by leading the first all-female sailing crew around the globe in the Whitbread Round the World Race.
But how did a 20-something high-school dropout and galley cook end up being the skipper and navigator on such a ground-breaking race?
Was it a chance meeting with King Hussein of Jordan, who encouraged her to dare to try? Was it something that she needed to prove to herself or to her mother?
Or is there something else that makes a person do the unexpected and extraordinary?
Charting a thrilling and unforgettable journey across oceans and horizons, Tracy and her crew’s epic true story comes to life in a sweeping, extraordinary new musical.
Maiden Voyage makes its world premiere in a strictly limited run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, with book and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, music by Carmel Dean, orchestrations are by Michael Starobin (Next To Normal, Suffs) and directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson. The work was originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown. The show is produced by Mark Cortale (Floyd Collins at Lincoln Center, Days of Wine and Roses), Dale Franzen (Hadestown, Gypsy) and Jonathan Murray & Harvey Reese (Table 17 and Here We Are) in association with Shared Experience.
Mindi Dickstein’s theatre credits include Little Women: The Musical (August Wilson Theatre, US tour, Seymour Centre, Hope Mill Theatre, Park Theatre – licensed by MTI, Original Broadway Cast album released by Ghostlight/Sh-k-boom Records), Saint Ex and the Little Prince (Katowice City of Gardens Concert Hall, Poland), Witnesses (California Center for the Arts, 2022 San Diego Critics award for Best Production), Benny & Joon, based on the MGM film (The Old Globe, California, 2017 San Diego Critics nominee for Best Musical).
Carmel Dean is an award-winning composer/lyricist and Broadway music supervisor, musical director and arranger. As composer, her theatre credits include Renascence (Abrons Arts Centre), Well Behaved Women (New York’s Town Hall, Joe’s Pub), and On Cedar Street (Berkshire Theater Group, The Unicorn Theater). As musical director and/or arranger her credits include The Notebook, Funny Girl, If/Then, Hands on a Hardbody, American Idiot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (all Broadway),and Clueless (West End).Off-Broadway credits include Really Rosie, Everyday Rapture, Vanities and Elegies. Other international credits include Fun Home (Chicago); and 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremonies.
Tara Overfield Wilkinson directs. Her theatre credits include Allegiance (Charing Cross Theatre), Falsettos (The Other Palace – winner of WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off West End Show), The Producers (international tour, China), Little Shop of Horrors (UK tour), CATS (international tour), and Miss Saigon, Tommy and Sister Act (Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man). As associate or resident director, her credits include Motown, Memphis, Hair, Sunday in the Park with George; Tick, Tick… Boom!; High School Musical (West End), Motown, 9 to 5, Sister Act, High School Musical, The Full Monty, and Oh! What a Night (UK tours).
MAIDEN VOYAGE
LISTINGS
Southwark Playhouse, Elephant
1 Dante Place, London, SE11 4RX
Box Office: 020 7407 0234
How to Get to Elephant Venue: The nearest stations are Elephant & Castle and Kennington
Performance Times: Mon-Sat, 7pm evening performances. Thu & Sat, 2:30pm matinees
19 July – 23 August
Ticket prices: Standard from £20 / Concessions from £16 / Previews £16 / Pioneers’ Preview (19 July) £10
Tickets are available from: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/maiden-voyage
SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE
Southwark Playhouse is a registered charity that delivers a year-round programme of entertaining and enriching work. Southwark Playhouse operates two separate venues ‘Southwark Playhouse Borough’ and its newest theatre ‘Southwark Playhouse Elephant’ which opened in January 2023. Southwark Playhouse has always prided itself in telling stories and inspiring the next generation of storytellers and theatre makers, where support for the community has been rooted at the core of the organisation.
Website: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
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