FREEDOM RIDERS Creators Release First Listen of New Musical, BAYARD

Richard Allen and Taran Gray have released a song from their new musical, BAYARD, based on the life of Bayard Rustin, the activist and Civil Rights leader credited with organizing and conceiving the iconic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. The musical will follow Bayard during his organization of the March for Jobs and Freedom and the obstacles he personally encountered being an openly gay black man.

The song release, " Wizard Behind The Wall ", was recorded as a demo by Richard Allen and Taran Gray, both of whom also handled all the song's vocals. In this song Bayard reflects on feeling torn between the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement that wants him to ignore his rights as a gay man to remain in leadership and his own personal identity. The song was released on the Facebook page for FREEDOM RIDERS : The Civil Rights Musical as a music video featuring photos of Bayard Rustin, as well as, historic footage of the March for Jobs and Freedom.

The video ends with news from Richard Allen and Taran Gray of an upcoming " limited time streaming " album release titled " The John Lewis Chronicles " which will highlight the songs that the character John Lewis sings in FREEDOM RIDERS : The Civil Rights Musical. That video of the song " Wizard Behind The Wall " from BAYARD can be viewed here - https://www.facebook.com/FreedomRidersM/videos/1520814221380207/.

BAYARD is a second musical, following their award winning show FREEDOM RIDERS : The Civil Rights Musical, of their announced " Freedom Trilogy ". The " Freedom Trilogy " will be rounded out by a third show, SWEET LORRAINE, a play by Richard Allen with music by Taran Gray about Martin Luther King Jr. ' s multiple visits to the Sweet Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Richard Allen and Taran Gray are making a name for themselves as musical theatre writers for their socially conscious musicals and were the recipients of the Social Relevance and Impact award from the New York Musical Festival in 2017.

Richard Allen is a film / tv writer / director and producer. He has worked in the film and television industry for over ten years. Mr. Allen is currently working on a new tv show, K - POP, and a new feature film based on the life of Frederick Douglass. He has worked with Universal, Warner Brothers, and Disney / Maker Studios as a SPARK Fellow.

Taran Gray is a Songwriter / Music Producer from San Diego. The son of two long - time Lambs Players Theater professionals, Taran is honored to give back a piece of what the theater community instilled in him. As co - writer of FREEDOM RIDERS : The Civil Rights Musical and BAYARD, the privilege to create a show that is not only entertaining but also socially necessary is a wonderful responsibility. Taran Gray is currently producing and working on his debut solo album.