PSYCHE: A MUSICAL
A Brief But Somehow Historic History
1985
I read a Jungian psychologist’s interpretation of the Greek myth of Psyche and saw its potential as a musical.
1986
Unable to read or write music, I used the PC-based SCORE program—entering commands for every note—to compose and play back the work. Its glitch-filled debut at my Carnegie Hall studio was embarrassing, but studiomate Maria Cisyk, a concert pianist and composition teacher, encouraged me to continue.
1988
More musically fluent, I rewrote the score using an early copy of Finale (Serial #383). While doing some computer music publishing for Broadway copyist Chelsea Music, I secured a grant and, with owner Evan Morris—son of film composer John Morris—produced five orchestrated songs featuring The Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and legendary jingle singers Kacey Cisyk (Maria’s sister) and Kenny Karen in the leading roles.
1990
This demo led Anthony Stimac, the founder/director of Musical Theater Works, to present two staged readings at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre on 42 nd St. The company sought NEA funding, but no grant followed.
1992
National Musical Theatre Network next selected Psyche for its “Broadway Dozen…Monday Night Musicals”; director Gideon Schein was assigned but withdrew due to a conflict.
1993
Tim Jerome and Broadway USA were next and referred me to board member Sondra Lee to strengthen the book. While the production never materialized, Lee stayed with the project as dramaturge until her passing in 2026.
2026
Recently, AI technology (AceStudio’s) allowed me to produce a demo of the entire 75-minute show with AI singers (who are paid royalties for the use of their voices), an AI orchestra, and a narrator (Eleven Labs) who is similarly compensated.