Broadway Beat: Invisible Thread

Broadway Beat: Invisible Thread

As toys, electronics, and tickets to Star Wars: Episode VII fly off the shelf this holiday season, Invisible Thread, a new musical about a young New Yorker, who leaves his worldly possessions behind when he travels to Uganda as an aid worker will be making its New York debut off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre.

The musical is based on the real-life experiences of co-writer and star, Griffin Matthews, who traveled to Uganda in 2005 to teach a group of orphans.  When he returned, Matthews started Uganda Project, a non-profit that helps put his students through school.  The musical pits Matthews’ altruistic aspirations against the harsh reality of the real world.

Matthews’co-writer, Matt Gould, was a 2007 recipient of the American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grant, recognizing excellence in emerging artists.  Invisible Thread’s award-winning music mixes a world pop score with African beats.

This much buzzed about musical opened to rave reviews last year, then titled Witness Uganda, when it played at Boston’s American Reparatory Theater (A.R.T.).  Invisible Thread follows a line of extremely successful productions to have come to New York from A.R.T., including Tony Award winners Once (2012), Pippin (2013), and All the Way (2014).

Tony winner Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin, Finding Neverland), who directed the show at A.R.T., returns to direct the current production at Second Stage, which recently became the fourth non-profit to purchase a Broadway theatre.  Second Stage is best known for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Pulitzer Prize winner Next to Normal.

Invisible Thread will run for only eight weeks, starting on October 31st and playing through the holidays.  If you are in the New York area, be sure to check out the show.  After feasting on Thanksgiving, and spending on Black Friday, Invisible Thread will be a nice reminder of what we can do for those who are less fortunate.  Tickets are available at www.2st.com.