SYNOPSIS:
Conceived over 20 years ago by Dame Productions, and developed during the pandemic, this original musical is a dark, ruckus rock fable about the villains we all are, and the heroes we pretend to be. “Rathskeller,” (the German word for Basement Bar) a mystical dive bar somewhere between heaven and hell, is the place our distinguished guest finds himself when he wakes up after a fatal accident. When the mysterious Bartender and her ruckus rock-n-roll bar staff explain the rules of their den of darkness, the man is left with a choice - to face the deadly sins that landed him on their stool or stay in Rathskeller for eternity.
In a time when nuance has become a dirty word, this new musical dives into the gray area, highlighting the complex circumstances, relationships, and choices that make up every human’s story. Tackling themes like addiction, ambition, grief, and mental health with a powerhouse punk rock score - "Rathskeller: A Musical Elixir" asks the audience to make a decision that could reveal something about themselves and the culture they find themselves in. How many rights justify a wrong? Can one mistake change everything? What does anyone deserve?
ABOUT:
RATHSKELLER was conceived & commissioned in February of 2021 by Dame Productions. Brianna Kothari Barnes (Book, Music & Lyrics) and Collin Kessler (first workshop script) worked together with support from Dame Productions to create the full-length musical first workshop script. in just 6 months. This first stage of development culminated in a Workshop Production that premiered with a weekend of sold-out shows at the New Ohio Theatre in New York City on September 24-26, 2021. RATHSKELLER won Best Musical and Best Choreography in BroadwayWorld's 2021 Off-Off Broadway Awards. In the spring of 2022.
Brianna Kothari Barnes was awarded an NYC Women's Fund Grant through The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and New York Foundation For The Arts to record a concept album of her original score. The album will be released in November 2022 on all streaming platforms. Brianna will continue work on the Book, Music, & Lyrics for RATHSKELLER, with the goals of a Workshop Lab, Industry Reading, and Festival Performance in the next phase of development. Goals for the next 12 months include a Workshop Lab to continue development and to record a Concept Album.
Brianna Kothari Barnes (Book, Music & Lyrics)
Brianna Kothari Barnes is a multi-dimensional artist who works professionally as an actor, singer-songwriter, and composer/lyricist. She is a 2022 NYC Women's Fund Grant Recipient (The NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and The New York Foundation For The Arts) and a 2021 Finalist for The American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grant. Her debut album, HIEROPHANIES: MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SACRED, made the first round on the 2021 GRAMMY Awards® ballot for consideration under Best Contemporary Christian Album. It features 8 original songs and was recorded with 4X GRAMMY® Winning Engineer, Denise Barbarita, at MONOLisa Studios in NYC. Brianna directed and produced her first original musical, LET THERE BE LIGHT (Book, Music, & Lyrics), which won Best Musical and Best Score at The New York Theatre Festival in 2018. In 2021 she was commissioned by Dame Productions as Composer/Lyricist for the new rock musical, RATHSKELLER, which premiered in NYC at The New Ohio Theater and won Best Musical in Broadway World’s Off-Off-Broadway Awards. Thanks to The NYC Women's Fund Grant, the Concept Album will be releasing in November 2022. Her musical, THE PRESENCE (Book, Music, and Lyrics) is currently in development. A graduate of the esteemed Musical Theater Program at The College Conservatory of Music - The University of Cincinnati (CCM), she has performed principal, ensemble, and understudy/swing roles professionally around the country at Florida Studio Theater, The Engeman Theater, The Wick Theater, Theatre Aspen, and Capital Repertory Theater and starred as Lucy in The National Tour of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS. Brianna is a member of The Dramatist Guild, BMI, and Maestra. Her literary work is represented by Amy Wagner of A3 Artists Agency (previously Abrams) and her performing work by Michael Rodroguez of The Roster Agency. www.Brianna-Barnes.com. @brianna_barnes_
Dame Productions
Dame Productions is a theatrical company dedicated to helping young women find their voice. Their New Works program seeks to work with female and BIPOC creators and teams to help bring their work to life and foster the development of original concepts in musical theatre. Founded by actor, choreographer, and songwriter, Grace Rudd, Dame Productions aims to share its passion for musical theatre and social justice with the world.