MONOTONY THE MUSICAL Makes World Premiere On April 15

MONOTONY: The Musical, an inspiring original full-length musical intended to be experienced while at work, is set to be released on tax day, Wednesday, April 15, 2020 to podcast. The new musical features 25 original songs with book and lyrics by Sarah Luery and music by Jared Chance Taylor. Subscribe via your favorite podcatcher.

Miserable at the office, Herbert Handler III is a timid accountant who longs to be free of his day job but is terrified to quit for fear of disappointing his deceased father. Accounting was his dad's dream and he owes it to his dad to keep the dream alive -- even if it means being a little bit (ok, a lot) miserable for the rest of his life. Still, he can't help but admire the bravery of his boss's cute son, Theo, who lives life on his own terms. Could Herbert ever just -- stop caring what his dead dad thinks!?

The idea for MONOTONY initially came to Sarah while she was bogged down at her own desk job. "'This monotony will be the death of me', is something I jotted it down in a moment of frustration. I then went back to what I was doing, but I kept thinking about it, and chipping away at it, and then one day I realized I had a song. More than just a song, really. It felt like an opening number." Now, a decade later, MONOTONY is a full length musical and it will be making its debut April 15 as a podcast.

"I'm obsessed with live theater, but due to cost and logistics, I end up experiencing most theater at my desk, listening to cast albums throughout my workday. And with MONOTONY taking place in an office, and dealing with themes such as how to balance making a living and making art, Jared and I thought it seemed kind of fitting for MONOTONY to be a musical that people can experience while working away at their own day jobs and passion projects."

Sarah Luery (book, lyrics) is a writer, producer and academic. Her writing can be found in a number of journalistic, academic and scientific publications, including: People & Things magazine, Social Sciences, and The UCLA BEAT.

Jared Chance Taylor (music) is a composer, producer and music director. He recently composed new music for the remastered Baywatch TV series as well as China Global Television Network. Additionally, he has written branded content for Toyota, FOX News, Microsoft, Jaguar, and Kroger. His work has been showcased at a number of film festivals including DC Shorts Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Fest, Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival, Manifest Showcase, and Reel Stories Film Festival.

MONOTONY dramaturg Kathleen Coombs is a playwright, director, composer, and performer with an affinity for queer musical theatre and a mission to create even more of it. She is currently the Resident Director of the Chicago production of Drunk Shakespeare, where she curates debauchery nightly. Kathleen co-wrote 8, the Play with Dustin Lance Black, which has been seen in hundreds of cities nationally.

Featured art, logos and social media designs by Karen Sori. Karen is a Los Angeles-based graphic designer for film and television. Her work has been featured in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Circle, and Jason Bourne.

The MONOTONY podcast features the voices of Alden Bettencourt as Herbert Handler III, Jon Gibson as Theodore McGiver, Kelsey Ann Sutton as Marnee McDougal, Tod Macofsky as Mr. McGiver and The Bear, Alixandree Antoine as Ms. McDougal and Kyle, Ahamed Weinberg as Herbert Handler Sr. and Bode, David Castillo as Frank Collins and Trey, Pat Regan as Deacon, Evan Allgood as Thomas and Karen Trachtenberg as Lucinda.

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