BLACK BEAUTY
A NEW MUSICAL
Book & Lyrics: Barry Harman
Music: Kathy Sommer
Based on the novel by Anna Sewell
Sam Middleton & Jeremy Kushnier perform the title song
from the new musical “Black Beauty” at Feinstein’s/54 Below
Musical Selections
What My Daughter Did (feat. Jeremy Kushnier)
My Best (feat. Taylor Van Cleave)
I Hear Your Song (feat. Debo Ray & Taylor Van Cleave)
Fade To Black (feat. Debo Ray & Jeremy Kushnier)
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORS
Novelist Anna Sewell published BLACK BEAUTY in 1877, hoping “to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses.” In 2021, the musical’s authors still share her concerns, though our larger theme is empathy – both for animals and our fellow humans. In this divided age, the eventually “radicalized” title character – who finally begins to question the entrenched hierarchy of humans – is a metaphor for every disenfranchised creature on this planet. Why are the ones in charge…in charge? When we have much in common, why is the world so divisive? Aren’t we all Mother Nature’s children?
In the novel, the horse named Black Beauty narrates his story at the end of his life; he already has a jaundiced view of humankind. In our musical we chart why and how his thoughts develop, as he comes aware of the foibles of those who employ him and his horse friends as beasts of burden.
We also utilize the characters of the author’s father, Isaac – whose horse the novel was reputedly based on – and the author Anna Sewell herself, who intrigues as an unlikely candidate to have written the most famous horse story of all time.
We’ve enjoyed creating and combining two different musical approaches to differentiate equine characters from people – echoes of pop and hip hop for horses, modern folk for humans. BLACK BEAUTY is a musical for today, and we believe it has a built-in audience. Ever a century and a half after its publication, Anna Sewell’s novel is reputed to be the sixth most popular book in the English language.
BARRY HARMAN is a multi-award winning book writer, lyricist and director for theater (2 Tony nominations, 4 Outer Critic Circle Awards, 3 Drama Desk nominations), and a writer for television (2 prime time Emmy Awards and writer of an Emmy Award-winning family special for HBO). He also has extensive background as a head writer and lyricist and producer for educational children’s programming. A graduate of Harvard, where he was an editor of The Lampoon and president and author of Hasty Pudding Theatricals, he is a member of The Dramatists Guild, SDC, Writers Guild of America, West and ASCAP.
Mr. Harman wrote and directed the 5 Tony-nominated Broadway musical Romance/Romance, which was also produced in London’s West End and around the world. Off-Broadway, he wrote and directed the Outer Critic Circle award-winning musical Olympus on My Mind, and Long Road Home, a country blues musical produced at the Hudson Guild. For the York Theater, he collaborated on a new version of Carmelina, working with Broadway legends Burton Lane, Joseph Stein and Alan Jay Lerner. He has several new musical theater projects in development.
His work in prime time TV includes writing for classic shows like The Carol Burnett Show, All in the Family, The Jeffersons and for PBS, Some Enchanted Evenings: A Salute to Oscar Hammerstein II. His work in children’s educational TV ranges from Sunbow’s The Great Space Coaster, Nick Jr.’s Allegra’s Window and Comedy Network’s Big Bag, to animated shows ranging from Cyberchase to My Little Pony, Jem and Salty’s Lighthouse.
Barry divides his time between New York and Florida.
(harmanbarry@gmail.com)
KATHY SOMMER is a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum songwriter, producer. Her songs have appeared on over 10 million records with artists ranging from American Idol’s top selling worldwide sensation, DAUGHTRY (#27 Billboard All Time 200), to Top 20 debuts on rock’s iconic HALESTORM and SHINEDOWN, and can be heard worldwide on radio, television, in feature films, video games and toys. She’s co-written with TRAIN, Latin Grammy winners JESSE & JOY, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, SKILLET, and co-written/co-produced for Madame Secretary’s ERICH BERGEN and K-pop star JAEJOONG among others.
Her Broadway credits as a conductor include “Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST”, “CITY OF ANGELS”, “CATS”, and the Tony Nominated “ROMANCE ROMANCE” (music director, conductor, vocal & dance arranger). She also co-orchestrated the Off-Broadway production which garnered two “Outer Critics Circle” awards for “Best Musical” and “Best Score”, and music directed the A&E television production of the show. Ms. Sommer has also conducted songs for JEWEL’s Christmas CD “Let It Snow” and VANESSA WILLIAMS’ Academy Award winning single “Colors of the Wind” and composed the music for the Off-Off Broadway show, “LONG ROAD HOME”.
A graduate of Yale University, Kathy is composing & developing several new musicals, writing with top Billboard artists, and producing several young breakout artists under her production team name ALCHEMY with partner Matt Anthony. A member of ASCAP, The Songwriters Guild, The Dramatists Guild, and Maestra, she has served as a NY Chapter Trustee, VP and Governor of The Recording Academy and currently co-chairs its Musical Theater Task Force. She is passionate about animal rights, advocating for music creators, and defending the value of intellectual property. In addition, Kathy mentors several young artists and has spent years dedicating herself to creating a strong sense of community among music makers across many genres.