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.