There is no denying that COVID-19 has changed the entire world. I am fortunate to be safe, healthy, and employed; but the world of music and theatre has been particularly devastated by this virus. How can theatre bring people together when this virus requires us all to stay physically apart?
For James Salem and Jessie Field (my sister), that answer has been to create a musical webseries. In under a month, they have created two full seasons, fourteen episodes total, telling the story of James and Jessie (no relation), two friends trying to create a musial webseries while under quarantine. I am honored to be among the incredible group of composers writing songs for this project - and it's also been a fun treat to get to work as an actor (playing a crazy version of myself is enough of a stretch for my acting abilities!)
A third season is already in the works, and we plan to continue this project for as long as this quarantine lasts. Does this webseries solve all the problems the theatre industry is facing? No. But has it been a rewarding way to maintain creativity, build community, and keep so many artists together, even if it's over Zoom? It most certainly has.
For James Salem and Jessie Field (my sister), that answer has been to create a musical webseries. In under a month, they have created two full seasons, fourteen episodes total, telling the story of James and Jessie (no relation), two friends trying to create a musial webseries while under quarantine. I am honored to be among the incredible group of composers writing songs for this project - and it's also been a fun treat to get to work as an actor (playing a crazy version of myself is enough of a stretch for my acting abilities!)
A third season is already in the works, and we plan to continue this project for as long as this quarantine lasts. Does this webseries solve all the problems the theatre industry is facing? No. But has it been a rewarding way to maintain creativity, build community, and keep so many artists together, even if it's over Zoom? It most certainly has.
Watch the first episode here!
Episode List
Season One
Sunday: Let's Go! - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Monday: Is This What Art Is Now?! - music by Erin Hoerchler, lyrics by Jessie Field
Tuesday: The Quiet - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field
Wednesday: Humans are the Disease - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by James Salem
Thursday: Working from Home (With My Family) - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Friday: Attention - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Saturday: Way Too Hard - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Season Two
Sunday: This is Still Happening - music by Jared Field, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Monday: Baking Bread - music by Erin Hoerchler, lyrics by James Salem
Tuesday: Restart - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by Jessie Field
Wednesday: Take Some Space - music by Lydia Breckon, lyrics by James Salem
Thursday: Different - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Friday: Six Feet Away - music and lyrics by James Salem
Saturday: Connect! - music by Enzo Veiga, lyrics by Jessie Field
Season Three
Sunday: Graduation - music by Elspeth Collard, lyrics by Jessie Field
Monday: Totally! - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by James Salem
Tuesday: Teaching on the Zoom - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Wednesday: Make It! - music by Joseph Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field
Thursday: Imagine That - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Friday: Maybe - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Saturday: Dear Class of 2020 - featuring music by James Salem and Lydia Pugh, and lyrics by James Salem and Jessie Field
A Very Special Episode
The V.O.T.E Song Cycle Festival - featuring music by Elspeth Collard, Jared Field, and James Salem; and lyrics by James Salem and Jessie Field
Sunday: Let's Go! - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Monday: Is This What Art Is Now?! - music by Erin Hoerchler, lyrics by Jessie Field
Tuesday: The Quiet - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field
Wednesday: Humans are the Disease - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by James Salem
Thursday: Working from Home (With My Family) - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Friday: Attention - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Saturday: Way Too Hard - music by James Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Season Two
Sunday: This is Still Happening - music by Jared Field, lyrics by Jessie Field and James Salem
Monday: Baking Bread - music by Erin Hoerchler, lyrics by James Salem
Tuesday: Restart - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by Jessie Field
Wednesday: Take Some Space - music by Lydia Breckon, lyrics by James Salem
Thursday: Different - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Friday: Six Feet Away - music and lyrics by James Salem
Saturday: Connect! - music by Enzo Veiga, lyrics by Jessie Field
Season Three
Sunday: Graduation - music by Elspeth Collard, lyrics by Jessie Field
Monday: Totally! - music by Sean Eads, lyrics by James Salem
Tuesday: Teaching on the Zoom - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Wednesday: Make It! - music by Joseph Salem, lyrics by Jessie Field
Thursday: Imagine That - music by Josh Ben-Ami, lyrics by Jessie Field
Friday: Maybe - music by Jared Field, lyrics by James Salem
Saturday: Dear Class of 2020 - featuring music by James Salem and Lydia Pugh, and lyrics by James Salem and Jessie Field
A Very Special Episode
The V.O.T.E Song Cycle Festival - featuring music by Elspeth Collard, Jared Field, and James Salem; and lyrics by James Salem and Jessie Field