A SYMPHONY FOR PORTLAND begins its return to NYC

In Depth with Jay Michaels

Writer/Composer/Producer CHRISTINA HEMPHILL, recently presented a portion of her acclaimed,
award-winning musical, A Symphony for Portland to Cate Cammarata CreateTheater’s Workshop,
SMASH IT – Part 3.

PORTLAND @ SMASH IT

Hemphill’s company, Plated Rose Musical Productions, LLC, presented the new musical for a Player’s Theatre Residency in 2022. A SYMPHONY FOR PORTLAND, with arrangements by Cameron Jones, found its inspiration when Mrs. Hemphill met a young homeless man near the waterfront park of Portland, Oregon.

This dark but hopeful tale, reminiscent of ThreePenny Opera and Cradle Will Rock, tells the story of a group of homeless men and women and the sex workers of a particularly rundown section of Portland, Oregon. This powerhouse musical explores themes of LGBTQ intolerance, domestic violence, sex trafficking and the mental and physical effects of unresolved grief. In the end it is truly good vs evil.

A more elaborate production is being developed for a run in Utah prior to coming to New York under a professional contract.

Christina Hemphill is the writer and composer for  A Symphony for Portland.  This multi-instrumentalist and singer marched her way through high school with a trumpet in hand. The key to her success has literally been the keys. For the past decade she has added composing to all her other musical talents. “I am primarily a musician, a pianist and classically trained organist. I played trumpet in high school marching band. I sang in a symphonic choir, and managed large church music programs. In the past ten years I’ve been composing.”

CreateTheater’s SMASH It! Musical Workshops are held in front of a live industry audience in NYC. The workshops include 6-8 10 minute integrated scene/song presentations from new musicals currently in development, featuring feedback from a NYC Theater Industry panel then streamed on Streaming Musicals & CreateTheater YouTube channel platforms. CreateTheater is now open for new members; current members can attest to the excellent educational programming as well as for the many producing and networking opportunities.

Panelists for SMASH It! Part 3, include Composer BMI-Lehman Engel faculty teacher Skip Kennon; Artistic Director James Rocco; Broadway veteran Stephanie Pope; and Tony-nominated producer Neal Rubinstein. The workshop is moderated by the Artistic Director of CreateTheater, Cate Cammarata.

PHOTO CREDIT: JMGC llc — from the original off-Broadway production