Rina Tee Productions Presents
Happy If, Happy When: A Musical
Book, Lyrics, Music by Kimerer LaMothe
Music, Arrangements by Geoffrey Gee
The farm they bought had a mind of its own.
Happy If Happy When is a humorous, heart-warming, family-friendly musical about two artists and their five children who pursue a dream of moving to the country. Not only is this musical based on a true story, it was written and will be performed by the family who lived it.
The story begins in the family’s city home where everyone has a different reason for wanting to move to the country. Yet the family is stuck, until Mom has a back spasm that spurs daughter Sarah (16) to google for real estate. Although younger daughter Eliza (14) is reluctant, and the 96-acre farm Sarah finds is initially unavailable, the kids finally persuade the parents to buy it. Once there, the family discovers that the farm has its own ideas of what it wants them to be. Conflict erupts. Plans collapse. Dreams evolve. Eliza runs away, and the family must pull together to meet the challenges of living with a horse, cow, chickens, cats – and one another.
"formidable in its expressive scope and power” -- WBTNAM.ORG
“performed with style, verve, and success” -- Glens Falls Chronicle
Happy If Happy When is a humorous, heart-warming, family-friendly musical about two artists and their five children who pursue a dream of moving to the country. Not only is this musical based on a true story, it was written and will be performed by the family who lived it.
The story begins in the family’s city home where everyone has a different reason for wanting to move to the country. Yet the family is stuck, until Mom has a back spasm that spurs daughter Sarah (16) to google for real estate. Although younger daughter Eliza (14) is reluctant, and the 96-acre farm Sarah finds is initially unavailable, the kids finally persuade the parents to buy it. Once there, the family discovers that the farm has its own ideas of what it wants them to be. Conflict erupts. Plans collapse. Dreams evolve. Eliza runs away, and the family must pull together to meet the challenges of living with a horse, cow, chickens, cats – and one another.
"formidable in its expressive scope and power” -- WBTNAM.ORG
“performed with style, verve, and success” -- Glens Falls Chronicle
Performance Times
Thursday 12/27 @ 7 PM
Friday 12/28 @ 7PM
Saturday 12/29 @ 2 PM
Saturday 12/29 @ 7 PM
Sunday 12/30 @ 2PM
Tickets: $30 adult/ $25 student/ $10 age 13 and under.
Friday 12/28 @ 7PM
Saturday 12/29 @ 2 PM
Saturday 12/29 @ 7 PM
Sunday 12/30 @ 2PM
Tickets: $30 adult/ $25 student/ $10 age 13 and under.
Cast & Crew
Kimerer L LaMothe (Book, Lyrics, Music) is the award-winning author of six books, a play, numerous articles, and over a hundred blog posts for Psychology Today. In everything she does, Kimerer is an advocate for dance. www.kimererlamothe.com.
Geoffrey K Gee (Music, Arrangements), is a pianist and composer who premiered a solo piano concert of original music in Carnegie Hall/Weill Hall in December 2015. Geoffrey has published five CDs of original music, and has performed in 18 countries around the world. www.vitalartsmedia.com/play/html.
In addition to creating this musical, Kimerer and Geoffrey appear on stage as “Mom” and “Dad” alongside their five children, Jordan Geoffrey LaMothe (23) playing “Hank”; Jessica Kimerer Gee (21) as “Sarah”; Kyra Lewis Gee (17) as “Eliza”; Kai Evenson LaMothe (13) as “Joe,” and Leif LaMothe Gee (9) as “Ted.”
Geoffrey K Gee (Music, Arrangements), is a pianist and composer who premiered a solo piano concert of original music in Carnegie Hall/Weill Hall in December 2015. Geoffrey has published five CDs of original music, and has performed in 18 countries around the world. www.vitalartsmedia.com/play/html.
In addition to creating this musical, Kimerer and Geoffrey appear on stage as “Mom” and “Dad” alongside their five children, Jordan Geoffrey LaMothe (23) playing “Hank”; Jessica Kimerer Gee (21) as “Sarah”; Kyra Lewis Gee (17) as “Eliza”; Kai Evenson LaMothe (13) as “Joe,” and Leif LaMothe Gee (9) as “Ted.”
Happy If Happy When will be produced by RINA TEE PRODICTIONS, Ronald J. Meyers, President and CEO. Ron, a keen student and emeritus professor of drama, is an author, playwright and member of the Dramatists Guild. He studied with notable critics and scholars including John Gassner, Eric Bentley, Bernard Grebanier, Maurice Valency, and Northrop Frye. In this new venture as producer, he aims to discover and offer thrilling, wise, and engaging theater, like Happy If Happy When. RINA TEE (trans. “My Rina”) PRODUCTIONS is named for his late wife, life-partner and muse. This production is dedicated to Ron’s brother, DAVID G. MEYERS 1944-2012, PRODUCER EMERITUS.
Past Performances
Happy If Happy When had its premiere in July 2017 at the Fort Salem Theater in Salem, New York, produced by artistic director Jay Kerr. In July 2018, the musical opened in New York City as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, and was nominated for two awards: Outstanding Music and Lyrics, and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Kyra Lewis Gee as Eliza). In September 2018, an abbreviated version of the musical was presented to producers at the premier theatre in Theatre Row, as part of the New York New Works Theatre Festival, founded by Gene Fisch, Jr.. There Ron first saw the show, and decided to produce it at the Gene Frankel Theatre. Gene Fisch, Jr. will also serve as Executive Producer for the Frankel production.
Reviews
The whole idea of a family performing a musical together was really inspired and in the end, just brilliant. You can really see and feel the bond that they all have with each other. The singing was honest and fascinating. . . The whole concept of the play was something quite genuine and creative. One might think that this is a vanity play with mediocre talent … nope. The acting, transcendent; the voices, marvelous. Even the two really young youngsters were exceptional. It’s quite unique to see such young talent on anything but a Broadway show, studio film or network TV. I’m dubious of musicals, but this one definitely made me reconsider my views and bring myself back for more. – Mia Moreta, https://words4musicblog.wordpress.com
The entire family/cast were exemplary and worked well off of each other – as well [they] should… We were offered catchy tunes – a throwback to the good old days of the American musical – sung well with some stunning harmonies. Kimerer LaMothe also showed herself to be a fine dancer. Happy If Happy When took an age-old art form and innovated it: A family musical for the whole family done by the family about the family so bring the family to see it! – Alexa Garcia, Outer Stage, Journal of independent stage and film reviews
The entire family/cast were exemplary and worked well off of each other – as well [they] should… We were offered catchy tunes – a throwback to the good old days of the American musical – sung well with some stunning harmonies. Kimerer LaMothe also showed herself to be a fine dancer. Happy If Happy When took an age-old art form and innovated it: A family musical for the whole family done by the family about the family so bring the family to see it! – Alexa Garcia, Outer Stage, Journal of independent stage and film reviews