WRITING
Living the Dream: Building a Sustainable Career in the Performing Arts
Co-written with famed mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chávez, Living the Dream is scheduled to be published in Spring 2024 by Routledge, a division of the Taylor & Francis Group. This is a go-to guide for aspiring artists of all genres on how to survive and thrive within the performing arts. Artists often struggle as they realize their dreams, not because they are lazy or irresponsible, but because they have never been taught the practical skills they need to navigate self-employment in a difficult industry. We believe it's possible to live your dream with the right information, a commitment to proactive engagement with the business of your career, and a willingness to be honest with yourself about who you are, what you want, and how you are going to get there. Living the Dream does exactly that by offering great information and tools in a practical, yet completely relatable style that makes the journey encouraging, inspiring, and enjoyable. It is an important resource for young artists on the path to a successful career and a rewarding life, as well as for any artist experiencing a new phase or turning point in their career. For more information visit: www.livingthedreamperformingarts.com
Carmen Inside Out
Kirstin Chávez, a renowned Carmen who has performed the role many times around the world, created Carmen Inside Out along with Johnathon as co-writer and director. This one-woman show approaches Carmen on her own terms, rather than through the male gaze or society's judgments. This allows us to see her as a passionate and complex woman who refuses to relinquish her agency and dares to live and love as she chooses. This yields a fuller, more interesting, and, we think, more accurate portrait of this woman that we all think we know. The 60-minute show uses Bizet's glorious music along with monologues to present this iconic character from "the inside out." The show premiered in the UK in 2017, and since then, Kirstin has performed Carmen Inside Out to great acclaim in France, Japan, Switzerland, and throughout the US. It is currently being developed into a film. To learn more, visit www.carmeninsideout.com
Writing Projects currently being developed
- WELCOME TO THE FAMILY is a full-length comic opera about what love and family mean in a rapidly changing world. The show takes place in Boston, where David, a young Jewish man, and Sami, his Muslim boyfriend, have decided to get married. When they tell their families, a flurry of feelings and hilarious complications arise. An ensemble piece for 7 women and 6 men, Welcome to the Family is extremely funny, surprisingly poignant, and definitely timely.
- COUSIN LUCY is a theatrical song cycle that explores the relationship between a loving, eccentric, and wise Southern woman and the little boy who lives next door. A life-long friendship develops that touches each of their lives in profound ways. Every heart has its own story, and Cousin Lucy explores our ability to nurture and develop our unique stories as we also provide a welcoming space for the stories of others.
