Body of Water (musical)

Body of Water is a musical conceived by Tony Kienitz and Tanna Herr with music by Jim Walker (JVA). It entails the life of fourteen teens left behind in a civil war crisis, awaiting further signals from their parents while hiding in a secluded mountain cabin. The show was the inaugural production of A Theatre Near U, a theatre and film academy for teenagers in the San Francisco Bay Area.^[1]

Cast

Character	Actor
Bosh	Aaron Slipper
Willa	Cara Parker
Buster	Jackson Wylder
Charlie	Ali Arian Molaei
Henry	Ido Gal
Shorty	Shayan Hooshmand
Vienna	Bella Wilcox
Jennifer	Sara Gray
CJ	Winston Wang
Cole	Elizabeth McCole
Alice	Alia Cuadros-Contreras
Emily	Audrey Forrester
Leven	Juan Santos
April	Jasmyn Donya Molaei

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Music and Cast Album

The show was adapted from music written by Jim Walker, and the cast album of the show was digitally released on October 12, 2014. The music for the show was nominated for Best Original Music by the San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Excellence in Theatre Awards. The album is available on iTunes here.

Mummy and Daddy (Instrumental) - Band We Know Who You Are - Company Human - CJ and Jennifer Liberace's Grave (Ring Ring Ring) - Buster and Company This Is the Life - Henry, Alice, and Emily One of My Dreams - Jennifer All Fall Down - Shorty and Company Jobs - Company

Rachel - Bosh All Up to You - Charlie and Company Alibis - Company Love Coming Through - Vienna and Company North Beach Tuesday - Cole and Company Steamline - Willa and Company Poor Baby - Company Mummy and Daddy - Bonus Track on Cast Album Performed by Jim Walker

^{[3] [4]}

Awards

Award	Category	Nominee	Result
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards Excellence in Theatre	Best Original Music	Jim Walker	Nominated

^[5]

Critical Reception

The overall reception of Body of Water was positive. Charles Jarrett of the Rossmoor News and 20 year member of the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle raved of "the brilliant and cacophonic mixture of words, music, and social madness" that evolved into an "absolutely captivating, terrifying sequence of events that keep you on the edge of your seat." He also praised the music by Jim Walker as "wonderfully raw, cryptic, and thought-evoking" as well as the "exciting dance choreography" by Kaylie Caires.

Richard Conema of Talkin' Broadway and member of the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle agreed with Jarrett on the music and choreography. "The music by Portland and Hollywood composer Jim Walker is rich and evocative and the dances by San Diego choreographer Kaylie Caires are tornado driven, sometimes reminiscent of the work of the Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor dance companies." He also said that the young actors of the show "are the adult performers of the future and some could very well be stars."

Harry Duke of For All Events and also member of the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle praised the young actors as well, saying that they each created a "distinctive character and their individual work is key to accepting the totality of their situation. These young people are doing serious work and many aspire to be professional actors." He also commended producing theatre company A Theatre Near U, saying that "A Theatre Near U may have just fired the first shot in a revolution to determine the future of Youth Theatre." ^{[6] [7] [8]}

References

1. "Coming Soon / A Theatre Near U". Atheatrenearu.org. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
2. "Body Of Water - A World Premiere Musical Presented by A Theatre Near U". Brownpapertickets.com. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
3. http://www.sfbatcc.org/13.html
4. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/body-water-original-cast-recording/id932664857?uo=4
5. http://www.sfbatcc.org/13.html
6. http://www.rossmoornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/RMN-6-18-14-REDUCED.pdf
7. http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/sanfran/s1300.html
8. http://forallevents.info/reviews/body-of-water-san-francisco/