In the original new musical, Rhymes-n-Reasons, Lance’s deceased wife, Angel, who owned a slam poetry bar, tries to reveal a secret to Lance before their daughter, Lola, does. Meanwhile, Lance and Lola are overwhelmed by society’s oppressive mores that exacerbate their grief; so each, in their own way, takes a stand.

Rhymes-n-Reason’s libretto is written by Elisa Cornish and passionately infused with slam poetry by Elisa Cornish, Paul Freeman, and Shaheed Abdul-Azeez, and spoken word, jazz, R&B, blues, and gospel music composed by Paul Freeman, Shaheed Abdul-Azeez, Darin Johnson, and Timothy Thompson. 

REVIEWS:

”A beautiful musical about the pain of loss and the comfort of community.”

Jordan Elizabeth Henry – NPX New Play Network New Play Exchange

”I like this work a lot. It has a most unusual vibe – like nothing I’ve ever seen on the stage.

I really like the sad, sad, sad love story. The grieving was visceral. The music…so moody. Most of the time I felt like I was in a club…one of those really great clubs where you just want to relax and drink and listen to the music all night.

I wouldn’t know how to begin staging something like this, but it appealed to me as a director. I’d want the staging to be as lyrical as the music and lyrics – almost mystical.”

Good work!

Patrick Cuccaro – Working Title Playwrights Board of Directors