The Color of Things
Music by Grace Oberhofer
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Mongillo
Based on the children’s book by Vivienne Shalom
THE COLOR OF THINGS is a new coming-of-age musical comedy about an 11-year-old girl named Jill whose town is drained of its colors and overtaken by a depressing grey abyss. While the adults and some of her classmates soon forget how vibrant the world used to be, Jill holds onto her memories of each and every vivid shade. And so, she sets out on a strange, challenging, and ultimately magical journey to bring color and hope back into her world.
It’s a story that blends humor and heart, absurdity and sincerity, and small moments with big themes. Themes of mental health and subject matter in both art and science are woven in. The show will be best enjoyed by families and audiences aged 6–12.
THE COLOR OF THINGS is a 60 minute show written for a cast of 4W/3M with an optional ensemble. It is intended for adult or teen performers, with potential to be developed for younger actors as well.
demos
The Writers
Grace Oberhofer (Music) - Grace is a bi-coastal artist who tells stories about women--either real or imagined--who are not perfect, but rather, amazing. A Tacoma, WA native and a Tufts graduate, Grace works as a composer, performer, sound designer, and educator. Grace’s compositional works include the ICONS/IDOLS choral play series with playwright/lyricist Helen Banner (OPERA America Discovery Grant, New Ohio/IRT Archive Residency), HOT CROSS BUNS with playwright/co-lyricist Julia Izumi (Corkscrew Festival, Seattle Rep), A DOLL’S HOUSE: A NEW OPERA with director/co-writer Allison Benko (The Tank, Central Square, Corkscrew), DEAR RUTH also with Allison Benko (Puffin Foundation), and THE COLOR OF THINGS with book writer/lyricist Lisa Mongillo, among others. Grace has worked in various capacities at theaters like Playwrights Horizons, Adirondack Theater Festival, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Ars Nova, and HERE. She has performed with theater-makers at spots like Cherry Lane, The Brick, Green Room 42, and 54 Below. Recently, she was seen singing backup on tour with her pals Geese, opening for Jack White. Grace is an alumna of the Broadcast Music, Inc. Musical Theater workshop and the New Dramatists Composer-Librettist Studio.
Lisa Mongillo (Lyrics/Book) - Lisa is a member of the BMI Musical Theater Writers’ Advanced Workshop, an alumna of William & Mary, and a humor writer for Reductress. Selected credits: lyrics/book for THE RADIUM GIRLS (directed by Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, produced by High Octave, NAMT Finalist); script for PARTY PEOPLE (Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Festival); lyrics for A NEVER-ENDING LINE (Off-Broadway, album released by Broadway Records); lyrics/book for WE ARE THE…HORSE GIRLS! (Out of the Box Theatrics’ New Works). Her shows were selected for incubator programs with Western Connecticut State University, Pendragon Theater, The Phoenix Theater, and the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Her work has been performed on stages from Los Angeles to Paris – including Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Lincoln Center; produced in various festivals; and showcased in Playbill’s Songwriter Series. She studied comedy at The Second City and The Annoyance, and worked on Comedy Central’s THE PRESIDENT SHOW. She is a member of Ring of Keys, Dramatists Guild, and Maestra.