Zinzi the Musical

About Video Credits Contact

PHYLLIS MacBRYDE (Book) has rendered the Zinzi story as a novel, screenplay, and musical. The novel manuscript was a 2008 William Faulkner – William Wisdom Award Finalist and is to be published in 2010; the Zinzi screenplay was a a finalist for the Academy of Motion Pictures’ Nicholl Fellowship and was selected for Montage Entertainment’s Diversity in Screenwriting Award and developmental workshop sponsored by HBO. Among her other writing awards is the North Carolina Playwright’s Fellowship. The Zinzi musical began development at New River Dramatists, a playwriting residency in NC, and continued development in readings and workshops at the American Renaissance Theater in New York. It is the playwright’s third musical collaboration with musician and composer, Roger Bartlett. EXTRAS, book by MacBryde, music by Roger Bartlett, was produced by A Renaissance Theater in Pittsburgh, PA. COWBOY CAFE, book by Phyllis MacBryde, music and lyrics by Roger Bartlett, Phyllis MacBryde and Leslie Ellis, has enjoyed Equity theater productions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Having begun her career as an actor, Ms. MacBryde learned the fundamentals of playwriting by performing in plays and musicals – from New York’s Circle in the Square, to Arena Stage, to national tours and regional stops in between. She has also written and produced a number of short films and is the writer/producer of BRANFORD MARSALIS – STEEP, a film on the jazz artist that has been broadcast globally.

ROGER BARTLETT (Music & Lyrics) began his musical career in the roadhouses of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, touring with The Black White and Blues Band, a jazz-rock ensemble and quickly earned a reputation as a gifted sideman (guitar, bass, mandolin, trumpet, and keyboards). He toured with recording artist Jimmy Buffett as a duo, then helped assemble Buffett’s original Coral Reefer Band to make the jump to large arenas. Earning an early reputation for his compositional ability, he contributed songs and scores to independently produced films, including the original cult film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” His expertise led to work on the soundtracks of major motion pictures like “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Pet Cemetery,” “Urban Cowboy,” and “Rancho Deluxe,” among others. Moving to New York City, Bartlett immersed himself in the music scene and played with up and coming jazz, rock, and pop musicians all around the City. Expanding into writing for musical theater, he studied the craft of writing for the musical theater with Aaron Frankel at The New School. He teamed with Phyllis MacBryde to compose for three original musical theater works: EXTRAS, COWBOY CAFE, and ZINZI. His songs and his playing grace the albums of major recording artists and have earned him gold and platinum records.


		About Video Credits Contact PHYLLIS MacBRYDE (Book) has rendered the Zinzi story as a novel, screenplay, and musical. The novel manuscript was a 2008 William Faulkner – William Wisdom Award Finalist and is to be published in 2010; the Zinzi screenplay was a a finalist for the Academy of Motion Pictures’ Nicholl Fellowship and was selected for Montage Entertainment’s Diversity in Screenwriting Award and developmental workshop sponsored by HBO. Among her other writing awards is the North Carolina Playwright’s Fellowship. The Zinzi musical began development at New River Dramatists, a playwriting residency in NC, and continued development in readings and workshops at the American Renaissance Theater in New York. It is the playwright’s third musical collaboration with musician and composer, Roger Bartlett. EXTRAS, book by MacBryde, music by Roger Bartlett, was produced by A Renaissance Theater in Pittsburgh, PA. COWBOY CAFE, book by Phyllis MacBryde, music and lyrics by Roger Bartlett, Phyllis MacBryde and Leslie Ellis, has enjoyed Equity theater productions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Having begun her career as an actor, Ms. MacBryde learned the fundamentals of playwriting by performing in plays and musicals – from New York’s Circle in the Square, to Arena Stage, to national tours and regional stops in between. She has also written and produced a number of short films and is the writer/producer of BRANFORD MARSALIS – STEEP, a film on the jazz artist that has been broadcast globally. ROGER BARTLETT (Music & Lyrics) began his musical career in the roadhouses of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, touring with The Black White and Blues Band, a jazz-rock ensemble and quickly earned a reputation as a gifted sideman (guitar, bass, mandolin, trumpet, and keyboards). He toured with recording artist Jimmy Buffett as a duo, then helped assemble Buffett’s original Coral Reefer Band to make the jump to large arenas. Earning an early reputation for his compositional ability, he contributed songs and scores to independently produced films, including the original cult film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” His expertise led to work on the soundtracks of major motion pictures like “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Pet Cemetery,” “Urban Cowboy,” and “Rancho Deluxe,” among others. Moving to New York City, Bartlett immersed himself in the music scene and played with up and coming jazz, rock, and pop musicians all around the City. Expanding into writing for musical theater, he studied the craft of writing for the musical theater with Aaron Frankel at The New School. He teamed with Phyllis MacBryde to compose for three original musical theater works: EXTRAS, COWBOY CAFE, and ZINZI. His songs and his playing grace the albums of major recording artists and have earned him gold and platinum records.