Indie Rock Concept Album Turned Musical RAZIA'S SHADOW Plays Joe's Pub, 11/28 & 29

After years as a cult sensation, the concept album RAZIA'S SHADOW by Forgive Durden will make its New York stage debut in a concert presentation at Joe's Pub featuring a score by Thomas Dutton and Paul Dutton, book by Lonnie Angle, and direction by Brandon Ivie (assistant director, A Christmas Story). After quickly selling-out Wednesday, November 28th at 9:30pm, a second concert has been added on Thursday, November 29th at 7:30pm.

RAZIA'S SHADOW was originally a conceptual rock musical album released by the indie-rock band Forgive Durden in 2008 on Atlantic Records. Drawing on a love for Broadway musicals and a childhood filled with Disney VHS tapes, writers (and brothers) Thomas & Paul Dutton brought to life a story of star-crossed lovers fighting for their love in a divided world, featuring a plethora of guest singers and soaring orchestrations backed by thundering rock drums. After a year of touring and performing RAZIA'S SHADOW, Thomas wanted to bring the album to its next level--the stage.

With librettist Lonnie Angle on board, the trio has continued developing the piece with The Public Theater in New York. Exploring themes of tolerance, redemption, and the strength of the human spirit, RAZIA'S SHADOW tells a tale of parallel forbidden love stories set in an alternate universe before murder exists. With a massive mountain range splitting the world in two, only true love's sacrifice can reunite the two halves. The show was a finalist for this year's Yale Institute for Music Theatre as well as NAMT's New Works Festival.

Casting will be announced shortly.

Director Brandon Ivie is currently assistant directing Broadway's A Christmas Story and has also worked on the Broadway productions of next to normal and Catch Me If You Can. Ivie is artistic director of Contemporary Classics, where RAZIA'S SHADOW had its initial development as a stage musical.

RAZIA'S SHADOW was originally released on Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records in 2008 and featured guest performances from bands such as Panic At The Disco, Say Anything, Portugal. The Man, Saves The Day, mewithoutYou, The Hush Sound, The Dear Hunter, and others.

RAZIA'S SHADOW plays Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on Wednesday, November 28 at 9:30pm and Thursday, November 29 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 plus a two drink minimum and can be purchased at www.joespub.com.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street, NY, NY. 

For more about the show, visit www.raziasshadow.com.

Photo Credit: Thomas Dutton