MEET THE CAST

 

Meet Garrett Metzler, who plays CHAD.

Garrett is very excited to be making his professional debut with "The Journey." He originates from Pensacola, Florida, having received his AA Degree in Theatre from Pensacola State College this past May.

 

Garrett Metzler

He is grateful and thankful to everyone who has helped him get this far, and to the team behind "The Journey" for giving him this incredible chance.

 



THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Favorite past roles include: Brad in "The Rocky Horror Show," Rolf in "The Sound of Music, " Emmett Forest in "Legally Blonde," Sir Galahad in "Spamalot," Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz," and Jeff in [Title of Show].
 


 

 

We are all blown away by Garrett's talent.  The Journey team is honored to be his professional debut and can't wait to see where his career leads!

 

Album art from Dew Pendleton's album.

THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Meet Dew Pendleton, who plays our starving artist, JACK.

Like the man himself, the music of Dew Pendleton cannot be easily defined or pigeonholed into any one genre. Born in Alabama and raised on the family farm, you might expect to find him as country as that all sounds, b...ut it is only a small part of the puzzle that creates his unique sound, a sound that is crafted by the honesty of country, the soul of gospel, and the sheer fun of rock.

The singer-songwriter released his first album The Spectrum: Part One Red, August 29th. It's available for digital download on his website www.dewpendleton.com and iTunes. This collection of songs showcases the range of emotions that plague us all: heartache, fear, joy, and, most powerfully... hope.

Dew Pendleton is also the founder of the non-profit foundation A Blessed Day which directs funds and human resources to those in need living in his home community of Southern Alabama and Northwest Florida. You can join his cause atwww.facebook.com/ABlessedDay

Dew is truly a one of a kind talent.  We're thrilled that he is a part of The Journey! 

Jerry Anderson performing at Shrimp Festival 2012
during Long Lost Friend's original presentation of their
concept for "THE JOURNEY"

Photography by Katrina Anderson (c)

Meet Jerry Anderson, *aka* Dominik.

Born and raised in Ada, Oklahoma, Jerry has been earning a living playing music since the age of 14. He has co-written songs with the likes of R&B singer, Al Wilson along with Mac Davis and Glen Campbell, and has lived to hear several of his songs receive airplay. In the 80’s, Jerry began performing and touring with the popular folk group, The New Christy Minstrels. He was blessed to travel and perform in the Bahamas and on several cruise ships as well as entertain audiences around the United States many times over with the Christy Minstrels and considers the years spent with them to be some of the greatest in his career. He met his lovely wife, who was also a member of the Christy Minstrels, and together with a third member of the group, broke off and formed the original trio, Columbia. The trio settled in the Gulf Shores area back in 1988 and fell in love with the white beaches and laid back lifestyle of the south. Jerry has continued to play music along the Gulf Coast year round, from The Grand Hotel in Fairhope, Alabama, to the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, and everywhere in between! He has created a comfortable life for himself, his wife, Katrina, and their two beautiful children, Glennellen and Paden, who are also featured in "The Journey." To say that he feels blessed to have been cast alongside his children in a musical that his daughter helped in creating, would be a huge understatement. It is what he believes life should be about. Making music, making people happy, spending time with family…and if you can do all 3 at the same time…well then, you are blessed, indeed.

 

THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Make sure you check out Jerry at Gambino's in Fairhope every Thursday evening! You won't be want to miss out on such a delightful, entertaining opportunity...

Savannah Litton

GET TO KNOW THE CAST

Meet 17-year-old Savannah Litton

Savannah Litton, a native of Gulf Shores, Alabama, sold her soul to the theater at the ripe old age of eight. She's now a Junior at Gulf Shores High School, and plans on pursuing a career in acting once she finishes there. She wants to go to college, but hasn't yet settled on a school.
 

Over the years, she's been in numerous productions in the Gulf Shores area, but "The Journey" will be her first show away from home, and she is very excited and blessed to be a part of it!

The creative team of "The Journey" could not be more stoked to have this bundle of talent on board.

THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Jordan Marks

GET TO KNOW THE CAST

Everyone, meet Jordan Marks *aka* Nicole!

Jordan Marks has been performing professionally for over ten years. Jordan began studying classical vocal technique at the age of twelve, moving into belt and contemporary at the age of sixteen. She began her private acting education at the age of seventeen. Currently studying musical theatre at the University of West Florida, Jordan’s training now spans over a variety of techniques including bel canto, Suzuki, masque work, Stanislavsky, and Meisner as well as voice/movement and dialect training. 

Mrs. Marks has been teaching voice privately to ages twelve and up as well as general music to ages four to eleven since graduating high school in 2010. She has assisted in coaching voice at the University of West Florida and has held several acting workshops at Trinitas Christian School in Pensacola, Florida. Jordan is currently teaching acting and theater at Labelle Performing Arts (also in Pensacola).
 

THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Professional and independent film credits include Conviction (Max Nadsady Productions) and Chatterbox: The Movie (CF2 Productions). Recent performance credits include "The Three Penny Opera" (Polly Peachum), "Bat Boy: The Musical" (Shelley Parker), "The Taming of the Shrew" (tailor, maidservant, dancer/ensemble), "The Mousetrap" (Miss Casewell), and "Singin’ in the Rain" (Kathy Seldon). 

Directing credits include "Dorothy Sayer’s A Busman’s Honeymoon" (Trinitas Christian School) and Neil Simon’s "Plaza Suite: Visitor from Hollywood" (J.M. Tate High School).

Jordan is such a true talent and we are so thrilled that she has become a part of The Journey!

Melissa Joiner performing at Shrimp Fest 2014

GET TO KNOW THE CAST

 

Meet Melissa Joiner, "The Dark Lady."

THE JOURNEY character sketches
by C. Stefan King (c)

Melissa Joiner is a performing singer/songwriter from the Gulf Coast.  Native of Baldwin County, Alabama, Melissa Joiner has been submersed in music since birth. Her diverse style and creative use of formal opera training, has created a unique sound that makes her a standout among gulf coast female vocalist. In her first summer of being a professional musician, she was selected to host the Gulf Coast Songwriter Shootout in the world famous Florabama, and has been invited and participated in many songwriting festivals.

In 2013 Melissa graduated from Delta State University with a teaching degree and a music endorsement that allows her to teach music to children from grades K-12. While in Mississippi she was introduced to the true Delta Blues which has been an instrumental role in the direction of her music. Since the discovery of her true passion for singing and songwriting, she has been inspired to pursue her music career on a professional level.

Growing up in the Florabama Music scene, she had a wide variety of musical influences and mentors that have paved the path she is now pursuing. Since the realization of her God given talent, Melissa has decided to give back to the local music community and church by becoming the first ever choir director of the Florabama Worship on the Water Church.

Constantly evolving with every performance, her soulful sound and unique style is creating a new standard for traditional female vocalists. Her live shows are quickly becoming a sought after commodity among other musicians and avid music fans.

Make sure you check out her music page and go see her tonight performing at the Frank Brown Songwriter's Festival on the Florabama Dome Stage.

This girl is truly a gem and not to be missed!

Casting by Kristen Long, C. Stefan King, and Glennellen Anderson.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!  We are proud to present to you our official New Orleans Fringe Festival 2014 cast of "The Journey."  Rehearsals will begin taking place next month, and we cannot wait to keep you posted on the process through pictures, videos, and blog posts.  Leading up to the show, we will be introducing you to all of the cast members with a personal post about each one separately.  It will be known as our "Get to know the cast..." feature on the blogsite.

Only one more role has yet to be cast and announced.  We will be making this decision, along with the actor's own special "congrats" post, later this week. 

Congratulations to the performers who will be participating in the show.  And to those of you who are planning to be shining in the audience watching...stay tuned for more exciting details!

Introduction

Official poster and artwork for "THE JOURNEY."
(c) LLF Productions

Dreamers.  Lovers.  Achievers.  Hopefuls.  Losers.

 

Framed by the eclectic sounds of New Orleans,

a mysterious bum takes you inside the lives

of 5 individuals held together by fate.

 

If you look closely, you just might see yourself.

 

We all have a story.  We all have a journey.

We all have a choice.  What's yours?

 

______________________________________

 

"The Journey" is a new indie musical written by Kristen Long and C. Stefan King, along with addition script consultant and co-creator Glennellen Anderson.  It is based on the music of the band Long Lost Friend, and began as an idea crafted together by all three of the creators for the band's performance that was a part of the 2012 Annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, AL.

 

 

Long had envisioned a show based on her band's music for several years.  When they came together to do this particular performance, King came to her afterwards and asked, "Have you ever considered turning this into a musical of some sort?"  In fact, yes.  She had.  Coffee shop meetings took place, along with a plethora of drafts for what would finally become the final script.  Over time, the creation of the story came together and it was time the script was read aloud. 

 

In 2013, the first official concert read took place in Gulf Shores.  Anderson, who'd been vocally trained by Long since she was 15, was selected to originate the leading role of Phanny Brown.  Her father, Jerry Anderson, also originated one of the roles and played with the band.  It was a workshop performance, and it was received more than well by the audience.  People who came to see the show were provided not only an opportunity to see the first showcase of the musical, but were also given the chance to voice their opinions and feedback during a "talk-back" session following the performance.  That being said, their compliments and critique were what helped format the next draft.

 

The following year in January, Outré Theatre Company in Miami, FL, produced what would soon be "The Journey's" second concert read.  Sabrina Gore, managing director of the company, directed its debut.  "The Journey has the potential to impact a generation," says Gore.  "Like Hair or RENT in the 90's."  With less than 2 weeks of rehearsal time and a 3-day-weekend run, the show was once again successful.  Not only were audiences passionate about it, but the cast was as well.  This showing featured Florida actors Sharyn Peoples ("Diana" in Slow Burn Theatre Company's production of Next to Normal) and Robert Johnston ("Andrew Jackson" in Outré Theatre Company's production of Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson), along with New York equity actor, Edwin Sutton, who brought the storyteller of the show to life.  Glennellen Anderson, who'd worked with Outré Theatre Company alongside Johnston in Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, also returned to portray her role.  More positive feedback and reviews were received after the musical made its premiere in Florida.

 

Over the course of the next several months, more edits were made to the script and the creative team continued to pitch, promote, and share the musical as they continued the search for where "The Journey" would next take place.  The show was eventually submitted to take part in the New Orleans Fringe Festival, a major showcase for all original plays and musicals.  As of this summer, it was selected to be a part of the BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) listing of shows featured in the festival.

 

A private table read was held in Pensacola, FL, prior to making this exciting announcement.  Several actors who participate in Pensacola Little Theatre were a part of this, including director/actor Stephen C. Lott.   

 

Soon following the read, along with the announcement regarding "The Journey" having been selected to be a featured in Fringe, the creative team held two casting calls.  One took place in Pensacola, while the other took place in New Orleans.  Actors from all over the U.S. also submitted auditions tapes via internet.  Performers from both cities listed above were discovered, and will be taking part in the show's New Orleans Fringe Festival cast.  The cast list will be announced soon.

 

The dates of the Fringe performances are Nov. 22 at 5:00pm and Nov. 23 at 3:00pm, at Café Istanbul located on St. Claude Ave in New Orleans, LA. Tickets will be $8 at the door.  For ticketing information and Fringe wristbands, please visit www.nofringe.org. 

 

To stay updated on further details, please like the official Facebook page for "The Journey" at www.facebook.com/TheJourneyMusical.  Weekly updates will also be made on this blog, and we would love for you to be a part of the journey by following this blogsite, along with the official Instagram account @thejourneymusical. 

 

Stay tuned for more details!  In the meantime, join us as we embark on "the journey..."

(c) Photography by Paden Anderson