Book by Abigail Carney
Music & Lyrics by Elliah Heifetz
Directed by Srda Vasiljevic
"TERRIFIC...VITALITY MARKS EVERY MUSICAL MOMENT"
- The New York Times
Drought, desperation, and a prophet's promise of Paradise set a ragtag group of wayward souls on a Dust Bowl journey into the desert. But when they arrive, their promised land is unlike anything they ever imagined or even desired.
With a cast of actor-musicians led by Tony nominee Elizabeth A. Davis (Once) and Kathryn Gallagher (Spring Awakening), and directed with an inspired vision by Srda Vasiljevic, this bold new folk musical asks what's worth fighting for when all you've got is dust.
Dust Can't Kill Me played a sold out run
at the New York Musical Festival in August 2016
Winner of FIVE Festival Awards including:
BEST MUSIC
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Elizabeth A. Davis
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE: Adrian Blake Enscoe
CAST
Kathryn Gallagher as Lily / Guitar
Elizabeth A. Davis as Angelina / Violin
Michael Castillejos as Birch / Bass
Adrian Blake Enscoe Abraham / Banjo and Mandolin
Richard Crandle as Everett / Percussion
Paul Hinkes as The Preacher / Guitar
CREATIVE TEAM
Scenic Design: Reid Thompson
Lighting Design: Oliver Wasson
Sound Design: Max Gordon
Costume Design: Stephanie Levin
Choreographer: Jennifer Jancuska
Production Stage Manager: Louisa Pough
Casting: Michael Cassara, CCA
Music Director: Max Gordon
Orchestrations: Max Gordon
Additional Musical Arramgements: DJ Stanfill
Assistant Stage Manager: Lizzy Emanuel
Associate Producer: Claire Glassford
General Manager: Evan Bernardin
Executive Producer: Ethan Karetsky
Praise for Dust Can't Kill Me
“Dust Can’t Kill Me, a folk musical by Elliah Heifetz (music and lyrics) and Abigail Carney (book), looked and sounded great on its rough-hewed set (by Reid Thompson)... the company couldn't have done better, filling the house with richly layered strings and gorgeous vocals. The six musicians, who also make up the cast, were terrific. Directed by Srda Vasiljevic, this is a Dust Bowl tale about sin, guilt and the futility of trying to flee them... vitality marks every musical moment." - The New York Times
“I can see Dust Can’t Kill Me playing downtown and all around the country.” – Times Square Chronicles
“Elliah Heifetz has given this historical fantasy an all-American sound with his rousing folk score... This stellar cast delivers every number with commitment and heart. Director Srda Vasiljevic employs them as actor-musicians in the style of John Doyle, making this not just the most talented cast of the festival, but also the best band...
This is a sound that should be heard in the theater more often.” – TheaterMania
“Heifetz’s music and lyrics are engaging and enchanting... Vasiljevic stages the musical with an inspired vision...
fresh and insightful...” –Theatre Reviews Limited
"one to keep your ears out for" - Broadway.com
"more relevant than ever" - Stage Buddy
The Team
Abigail Carney
Book
ABIGAIL CARNEY is a writer from rural Ohio. Her plays have been produced at the Young Playwrights Festival, The Secret Theatre, The Yale Playwrights Festival, The New York International Fringe Festival, The Kraine Theatre, and the Alaska Day Festival. Her and Elliah Heifetz's folk musical, Dust Can't Kill Me, ran at the 2016 New York Musical Festival, where it won five Awards for Excellence. Her play Sunday Morning will premiere at the Road Theatre in the fall of 2016. LA's Montserrat will produce another new play of hers this October. As a spoken word poet, Abigail has competed and performed at Rustbelt, the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, Brave New Voices, and opened for The Strivers Row. Her work was recently published in The Feminist Utopia Project.
Elliah Heifetz
Music & Lyrics
ELLIAH HEIFETZ is a composer, lyricist, and pop songwriter from Philadelphia whose works have appeared both on major label releases and New York stages. His first musical, Dust Can't Kill Me, won the NYMF Award for Best Music in 2016 and the Fringe NYC Award for Best Music & Lyrics in 2014. His pop writing is published by The Brain Music. A recent graduate of Yale, Elliah has studied with Jeanine Tesori and Michael Korie. Elliah also sang with the Yale Whiffenpoofs of 2015.
Srda Vasiljevic
Director
SRDA VASILJEVIC is a Bosnian-American theatre director recently named “Who’s Next” by NEXT Magazine and described as “theater wunderkind already making his mark on Broadway.” Recent credits include: When I Started Dating Men (Dixon Place), What’s the Deal with Olivia Lee (#serials@theflea), Deaf West’s Spring Awakening (AD/Brooks Atkinson), New York Spectacular (AD/Radio City Music Hall), and Frozen, A Musical Spectacular (Associate/Disney Creative Entertainment). Srda is a member of the ENCORES! Off-Center Artists’ Board and Lincoln Center Director’s Lab. www.sr-da.com