Why do we look up at the Moon and the stars? Do we all have a place in the universe? And what does the Moon think of one queer Victorian astronomer’s travel into space for the first time? Through a rock score combining prog, punk, contemporary classical, electronica, and 19th-century operetta, A TRIP TO THE MOON explores our desire to discover, find connections, and claim something for our own.
History:
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2024/25 - Residency/Concert Series, The Parkside Lounge, NYC
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2024 - Concert, PRISM Festival - Judson Memorial Church, NYC
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2023 - Workshop, CAP21/Molloy College, NYC
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2022 - Semi-Finalist, Next Stage Residency, Drama League, NYC
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2021 - Semi-Finalist, Polyphone Festival, University of the Arts, PHL
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2020 - Excerpt Presentation, MusiCoLab, PHL
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2020 - Concert Reading, The Maas Building, PHL
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2020 - Recipient, Vice Provost Arts Grant, Temple University, PHL
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2019 - Staged Reading, Temple University, PHL
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2019 - Table Reading, Simple Studios, NYC
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2019 - Workshop, Temple University, PHL
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Developed in part at the George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater at Temple University, PHL
2024-2025 - Residency/Concert Series, The Parkside Lounge
A TRIP TO THE MOON and other songs in orbit...
"This fall, join Jason Aguirre and Adam J. Rineer for A TRIP TO THE MOON and Other Songs in Orbit, an interstellar four-part concert series at The Parkside Lounge. A TRIP TO THE MOON - a new rock opera, written by Adam J. Rineer, crafted like a classic double LP- the series unveils one "side" of the album in each monthly concert, alongside a cosmic cabaret of thematically curated songs and guest artist performances."
Cast
Danielle Troiano (B'way: Here Lies Love; Recording Artist "D'LOURDES") — Selene
Sushma Saha (B'way: 1776; Regional: Interstate) — Michele Ardan
Jade McLeod (Nat' Tour: Jagged Little Pill) — J.T. Maston
Jacey Ziev (Off-B'way: The Civility of Albert Cashier; Drummer: One Hour Photo) — Professor Impey "Barb" Barbicane
Adam J. Rineer — Captain Nicholl
Band
Adam J. Rineer — Keys/Electronics
Will Shish (Nat' Tour: Pride Anthems) — Guitar/Vocals
Caro Moore (B'way/Nat' Tour: Six) — Drums
SIDE 1: SPACE OPERA
Monday, November 4th, 2024
BroadwayWorld Article
"In Space Opera, songs from beloved and obscure rock operas join selections from Elsewhere by Wes Olivier / Klondyke, with performances by Danielle Troiano (aka D'LOURDES), Jacey Ziev, Sushma Saha, Will Shishmanian, Caro Moore, and Jade McLeod. The night is set to be a thrilling collision of musical worlds, characters, and personalities."
Guest Artist: Wes Olivier / Klondyke
"Space Opera" from A TRIP TO THE MOON (Side 1)
Featuring Daniella Troiano (a.k.a. D'LOURDES)
SIDE 2: DIVIDE AND CONQUER
Monday, December 9th, 2024
BroadwayWorld Article
"The collection of works that inspired this piece - George Méliès's 'La Voyage dans la Lune' (A Trip to the Moon), Jules Verne's novels 'De la Terre à la Lune, trajet direct en 97 heures 20 minutes' (From the Earth to the Moon: a direct route in 97 hours and 20 minutes) and 'Autour de la Lune' (Around the Moon), all paint an ironic French perspective of American Imperialism of the 19th century. A TRIP TO THE MOON continues this critique of American colonization into an existential conversation on gender and identity at large. At 'SIDE 2: Divide and Conquer' I'm inviting artists to share songs that use American music traditions for protest and queer liberation."
Guest Artist: Emily Johnson-Erday
SIDE 3: POTENTIAL ENERGY
Monday, January 6th, 2025
BroadwayWorld Article
Guest Artist: Violet Stanza
Photos by Angel V. Rivas
2024 - Concert Reading
PRISM Festival, The Makers' Ensemble/Judson Arts, NYC
Creative Team
Directed by Jason Aguirre
Dramaturgy by Jesse Cameron Alick
Music Directed by Sheela Ramesh
Projection Design by Zach Lobel
Stage Managed by Grace Alberti
Assistant Directed by Anya Hilpert
Casting by The Telsey Offic: Charlie Hano, CSA
Cast
Danielle Troiano (B'way: Here Lies Love; Recording Artist "D'LOURDES") — Selene
Jacey Ziev (Off-B'way: The Civility of Albert Cashier; Drummer: One Hour Photo) — Professor Impey "Barb" Barbicane
Cydney Kutcipal (Nat' Tour: Jagged Little Pill) — Pandia
Spencer R. Petro — Captain Nicholl
Bilaal Avaz (TV: American Idol, Girls5Eva; Recording Artist) — Michel Ardan
Bebe Browning (TV: Succession) — Ensemble
Stevie Allen — Ensemble
Talib Thompson — Ensemble
Zofia Weretka (Off-B'way: Oscar at the Crown) — Ensemble
Taylor Joseph Rivera — Ensemble
Band
Sheela Ramesh (Broadway Women's Fund's "Women to Watch on Broadway"; B'way: SIX, Moulin Rouge, Almost Famous, Once Upon a One More Time, Merrily We Roll Along, Hell’s Kitchen; Off-Way: Millennials Are Killing Musicals, White Rose: The Musical)— Piano
Mike Rosengarten (B'way: Be More Chill, The Lightning Thief)— Guitar
Kat Cartusciello — Bass
Sarah Franklin — Violin
Mindy Asher — Cello
Chris McWilliams (B'way: Beetlejuice; Off-B'way: Titanique, The Lonely Few, White Girl in Danger)— Drums
Photos by Maggie Loesch (@magsloesch)
2023 - Workshop
CAP21/Molloy College, NYC
Creative Team
Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by James Rushin
Stage Managed by Caden Cristiano
Cast
Stevie Allen — Selene
Luke Cimorelli — Professor Impey "Barb" Barbicane
Evan Gibley — Captain Nicholl
William Maus — Michele Ardan
Claire Kind — Pandia/Ensemble
Liv Leung-Brown — Ensemble
Sophie Vaughn — Ensemble
Declan Logan — Ensemble
Zelia Gourdan — Ensemble
Joelle Raske — Ensemble
Bodhi Chae — Ensemble
Jason Tobias — Ensemble
Sydney Carreon — Ensemble
Grace Pouliot — Ensemble
Band
James Rushin — Piano
Sean Murphy — Bass
2020 - Concert Reading
The Maas Building, Philadelphia
This project was funded by a Vice Provost for the Arts Student Grant from Temple University.
Creative Team
Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Katie Siegmund
Assistant Directed by Megan Krause
Dramaturgy by Rachel Graf Evans
Cast
Zofia Weretka (Off-B'way: Oscar at the Crown) — Selene
Andy Patterson — Professor Barbicane
Matthew Levy — Captian Nicholl
Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan
Alexa Joseph — Pandia
Caitlin Navarrete — Theia/Ensemble
Maddie Shea — Mailman/Horae/Ensemble
Nick Erholm — Astronomer #1/Ensemble
Collin Haber — Astronomer #2/Ensemble
Arielle Beane — Hesiod/Ensemble
Avery Infranco — Ersa/Ensemble
Richard Magyan — Nemea/Ensemble
Band
Adam J. Rineer — Piano
Lonnie Davis — Drums/Percussion
2019 - Staged Reading
Temple University, Philadelphia
Creative Team
Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll
Assistant Directed by Adi Mullen
Cast
Alexa Joseph — Pandia
Imani Moss — Selene
Andy Patterson — Professor Barbicane
Richard Magyan — Captain Nicholl
Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan
Emily Carone — Ensemble
Xhenet Capani — Ensemble
Nicholas Erholm — Ensemble
Zoë Fox — Ensemble
Collin Haber — Ensemble
Avery Infranco — Ensemble
Marcella Smith — Ensemble
2019 - Table Reading
Simple Studios, NYC
Creative Team
Directed by Jason Aguirre
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll
Assistant Directed by Alexa Joseph
Cast
Sushma Saha (B'way: 1776; Regional: Interstate) — Pandia
Zofia Weretka (Off-B'way: Oscar at the Crown) — Selene
Ethan Crystal (Off-B'way: Golem Owned...Smoothie; Cruise: For The Record: The Brat Pack) — Professor Barbicane
Jace 'n Ziev (Off-B'way: The Civility of Albert Cashier)— Michel Ardan
Brian C. Veith — Captain Nicholl
Imani Moss — Ensemble
Emily Riedel — Ensemble
Andy Patterson — Ensemble
Adi Mullen — Ensemble
2019 - Workshop
Temple University, Philadelphia
Creative Team
Directed by Rose Freeman
Music Directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll
Cast
Joshua Battisti — Professor Barbicane
William Hornby (TikTok: @williamcarvedpumpkins)— Captain Nicholl
Charlie Bensinger — Michel Ardan
Nichole Mottershead — Selene
Alexa Joseph — Pandia
Samantha Rose Roberts — Selenite
Jessica Money — Selenite
Federica Andino-Vega — Pit Singer
Joy Lynn Pringle — Pit Singer
Julia Hameed — Pit Singer
Band
Patrick Tice-Carroll — Keyboard 1/Music Director
Olivia Backal-Balik — Keyboard 2
Steve Katona — Drums