- November 22, 2024
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A new, locally written and produced stage musical will open on June 14 at the theater at Seabreeze High School, marking the culmination of a five-year production journey.
Gary Broughman, producer at Positively Florida Theater Company, used a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for "Riding Time with No Hands," written by Mary Beth and Ed Koplin, of Edgewater. Inspired by a true story, the show tells the story of Ellie Turner, a young songwriter yearning to escape her blue-collar surroundings. The musical explores themes of workplace injury, family dynamics, cultural identity, and the power of love and friendship, according to a press release.
“Riding Time is an old fashioned musical with themes of hope and restoration," Broughman said. The characters make mistakes, but are essentially good people doing the best they can. It deliberately rejects the gloom, angst, and politics that pervade so much of modern theater.”
Broughman's crowdfunding goal was raised in less than 48 hours.
"Crowdfunding helps democratize the funding of original theater and creates opportunities for new shows that otherwise might never find an audience," the press release stated. "Part of Positively Florida’s nonprofit mission is to bring plays to the stage which are outside the canon for local community theater."
This will be Positively Florida's third musical released via crowdfunding.
“It was so exciting for the cast and crew to see the popularity of our crowdfunding campaign," Director Harriet Winokur said. "Yes, the money is important but it also breathed new life into a cast that has been rehearsing for many weeks.”
The premiere runs Friday to Sunday, June 14 to 16, and 21 to 23, at the Seabreeze High School theater, located at 2700 N. Oleander Ave. in Daytona Beach. The June 14, 15, 21, and 22 shows begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday shows are 2 p.m. matinees. Tickets and music clips are available at https://ridingtimewithnohands.com.
