Press
MoM, A Rock Concert Musical
at The Barrow Group Theatre
New York Times : Ingrid is the interesting one. She begins as a trophy-wife type with a French twist, goes through an entertaining Patsy Stone of “Ab Fab” phase and ends up as Janis Joplin. There are five heroines in Richard Caliban’s “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical,” a somewhat inspired fantasy. It’s about women over 40 who become international rock stars as the band MoM. This show started at the New York International Fringe Festival, which exists to be daring. The actresses are real musicians. They play guitars, drums, keyboard, saxophone, harmonica, accordion, flute and more. It’s enjoyable to watch Dana McCoy as the self-destructive Ingrid.
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at Cotuit Center for the Arts
The 80-minute one-act “A Woman’s Heart” that opened Thursday benefits from some touching new musical compositions written and sung by McCoy.
Partelow’s memoir about three Baby Boomers reconnecting and sharing stories of their lives is told in poetry, music and body language — with little dialogue beyond the poetry.
The poems’ varied rhythm and meter help to move the story, often matching the action that silently unfolds on stage. “A Woman’s Heart” has three actors — Partelow, McCoy and Rod Owens — who, in various short scenes, play the three school friends at different ages plus a score of other characters that come into their lives.
When the cold and unfaithful husband (played by Owens) of McCoy’s character announces he wants a divorce, the tears on her cheeks are real. New York-based actor McCoy is just as accomplished in happier scenes. Particularly moving is one when her character balances the strain of poverty and a depressed, abusive husband with raising their young daughter. Watching how she pulls off a lightness of being for her child is like seeing a Disney princess cast in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Owens, a retired English teacher and veteran community-theater actor, is wonderful in the demanding job of playing all the male characters. Particularly impressive is his ability to transform from besotted lover to angry, chain-smoking stroke victim, depending on the scene. His face is so malleable it could be made of wet clay, remade with each new emotion.
Partelow, a member of Actors’ Equity, has a fair number of roles on her resume. But “A Woman’s Heart” is the one she lived. Watching from 10 feet away in Cotuit Center for the Arts’ Black Box theater, it feels voyeuristic — like reading her diary over her shoulder.
What: “A Woman’s Heart”
See it or not? Yes, the power of the play is that the poetry is generic enough that it could be telling the story of anyone’s life.
Worth the price of admission:New York-based actress Dana McCoy gives an accomplished performance, whether she’s playing heartbreak or happier scenes.
In one piece, the refrain mentions how she wants the poem to be generic enough to be the story of anyone’s life. Therein lies the power of “A Woman’s Heart.”
♦
“Wrinkles, the Musical”
L ro R: Karen Santos, Sherrie Scudder, Dana McCoy, Celeste Howe, Deb Stringham
The hit show “Wrinkles, the Musical” is returning for an encore performance at the Cape Cod Theatre Company (CCTC) with two new cast members, a new song, and a tweaked script.
“Wrinkles” was co-written by Naomi Turner of Chatham and Wilderness Sarchild of Brewster. Ten years ago, when the two friends were turning 60, they set out to interview over 100 women in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s; those interviews formed the basis of “Wrinkles,” which premiered in May 2017.
The story takes place in a large, active senior living community in central Florida called “LivingLegends Elder Alternative Project” (LLEAP). Two new residents place an ad in the “Living Legends Ledger” calling for actors, singers, and dancers interested in creating and performing a musical entertainment for the annual meeting of the LLEAP association.
“Wrinkles” original music is provided by Grammy-Award winning composer Jason Howland, Cape composer and musical director Malcolm Granger, local recording artist Sarah Burrill and Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter Dana McCoy, the second new cast member.
McCoy, who lives in New York, wrote the new musical piece “Lucky Day,” “which I think the audience will love,” Schuessler says. McCoy is a performer, composer, director, playwright, producer and voice teacher. She composed, produced and performed a solo CD called “Taking Shape” which was selected by Billboard as one of the year’s best albums. And in “Wrinkles” she plays the role of Sal, who is a former rock singer.
Last spring “Wrinkles” proved to be a huge hit for the CCTC. “We had to turn a lot of people away,” Schuessler says. “The energy in the show is really great. Lots of laughs, poignancy. Many came twice last year. It’s a real night out.”
And by the way, men are enjoying the show, too. One man told Schuessler that “Wrinkles” is his favorite show and is “better than Broadway.”
DETAILS
“Wrinkles, the Musical”
At the Cape Cod Theatre Company, 105 Division St., Harwich
May 24 to June 17, Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.
Information and reservations: 508-432-2002, www.capecodtheatrecompany.org, www.wrinklesthemusical.com.
BroadwayWorld.com: Five suburban moms, played expertly by five multi-talented actresses, under the stellar direction of Richard Caliban.
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Backstage: As the opening number in Richard Caliban’s “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical” puts it, “Let rock ’n’ roll/Save your sorry-ass soul.” The good will engendered by the breaking-free premise and some enjoyable rock ’n’ roll is exhilarating.
It’s a versatile bunch, with the women singing in a wide variety of genres and playing everything from guitar to sax to flute to accordion. Nancy (Jane Keitel), Ingrid (Dana McCoy), Catalina (Stefanie Seskin), Melissa (Bekka Lindström), and Karen (Donna Jean Fogel). Caliban’s score, delving into classic rock, reggae, calypso, and rap, has its moments, notably Catalina’s “Cowboy in the Sky” and the a cappella “Life Is Sweet.” Much of the show is about female empowerment.
McCoy, whose character goes through some Janis Joplin self-abuse. They’re all able musicians, and the energy level approaches that of a big-name group at Madison Square Garden. Ultimately, “MoM” makes one hungry for more.
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Woman Around Town– Full Article
Long Way from Home: MoM—A Rock Concert Musical
Friday, April 27th, 2012
by Patricia Norris on Playing Around
Chuck Berry singing Hail, hail, rock and roll, deliver me from the days of old in the ‘60s heyday of Rock ‘n Roll could be the theme song for the MoMs, five women who completely change their lives. They form a band and become rock stars.
For each of them the band is an escape, whether from boredom, frustration, or perhaps simply the awareness that something is missing from life. It is rebellion, accomplishment, and ultimately both freedom and bondage.
We are held completely captive by the amazing transformations. Perhaps the most striking are Ingrid and Catalina.
Ingrid (Dana McCoy) is the wife of a wealthy and successful man and living the life of the “ladies who lunch.” She segues in song from “nothing else to do all day” to Take Me to Funky Town. With a legit voice as well as a belt, there is a Janis Joplin quality about her. The disintegration is clearly portrayed. From social drinking, martini in hand, to drugs and beer from the bottle.
All five more than hold their own as singers and musicians and the brief spoken scenes are effective. It is apparent that they are vocally extremely well trained. Two hours of hard core belting is nothing less than a major feat. The entire cast is very talented and superbly balanced.
It’s an exciting and disturbing story. The energy never lapses and the pace carries us through the entire experience.
A program note reads “Our small musical may not sizzle with special effects but we believe it has heart and soul and we hope you’ll have as much fun experiencing it as we do bringing it to you.”
It does, and you will.
At: TBG Theatre
312 West 36th Street,
Tickets at SmartTix
Tags: Bekka Lindstrom, Chuck Berry, Dana McCoy, Haejin Han, Jane Keitel, Jeff Knapp, Jonathan Cottle, MoMs, Patricia Norris, Richard Caliban, rock ‘n roll, Stefanie Seskin, TBG Theatre
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Theatre Speak – Interview with Director/Writer – Richard Caliban
Time Out New York – Recommendation
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Cube Rat – Edinburgh Fringe
August 4th 22:28
“Cube-Rat has brought back concept albums from the murky waters and putting it on stage. It fascinates, thrills and the songs are rhythmic, original and catchy. Beautiful sounds and ideas from a beautiful person. Anyone who considers themselves an audiophile would’ve had of seen Dana first!”
3 Weeks – Sunday August 14th 19:21
ED Comedy Review: Dana McCoy – Cube Rat
Minnie Cooper is a wannabe musician, stuck working nine-to-five in an office job and dreaming of the stage. It’s undoubtedly a familiar story for many of this year’s Fringe performers, and given all the more pathos by Dana McCoy, whose heartfelt portrayal is well supported by the songs, which are well-constructed and very witty. It’s well worth a look, and will strike a chord for any real life “cube rats”. Expect to come away thinking.
Rabbie Burns Cafe and Bar, 6 – 27 Aug (not 16), 6.30pm (7.30pm), free, fpp62.
tw rating 4/5
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Sections: by Ellie Blow – ED2011 Comedy Reviews – Tags: Dana McCoy, PBH’s Free Fringe
Ukulele Cabaret
New York Daily News – Interview
“I was completely shocked to find there was a whole community of ukulele-ists,” says Dana McCoy, a singer-songwriter and ukulele player based in Manhattan. “I thought I was alone out there.”
McCoy, who was one of 26 performers at this past month’s six-hour ukulele cabaret at Banjo Jim’s in the East Village, also notes the happy-making effect of the instrument.
“There’s very little music by the ukulele that isn’t joyful and playful,” says McCoy. “I think that is part of the attraction.”
Jason Tagg, 35, and Ted Gottfried, 56, who make up the punk-rock ukulele band Sonic Uke, founded and co-host the ukulele cabaret.
ZALCMAN FOR NEWSJason Tagg and Ted Gottfried of the band Sonic Uke strum matching instruments during Ukulele Cabaret Night at Banjo Jim’s on E. Ninth St.
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MoM, A Rock Concert Musical
at the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey
TalkinBroadway.com – MoM, A Rock Concert Musical
–The cast is extremely talented. Dana Loren McCoy (keyboards, bass, percussion) captures the charisma of Ingrid, the most vivid of the women. The entire cast is on the mark. The very talented quintet of actor/singer/musicians provides some lively musical entertainment. There would appear to be commercial potential in this small musical, MoM won the best musical award at 2009’s FringeNYC.
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88Butterfly/Crave
Taking Shape CD
Manhattan Magazine – Feature Article entitled Musical Contender.
“With her hypnotic music and lyrics, plus her label, Featherweight Records, Dana McCoy has become a (Tribeca) artist-entrepreneur to be reckoned with.” “surprisingly unique thoroughly captivating marriage of torch, blues and pop.” “Clearly she’s on her way.” —Rick Bard
Cover – The Underground National for – Fashion, Art, Online, Film, Rock “Dana has a lovely presence. Beautiful, shy and willowy, she is a natural.” –Timothy Greenfield Sanders
