‘Georgia O’Keeffe Paints Paradise, the original New Hampshire musical produced by Alchemists’ Workshop was invited last month to the internationally acclaimed Winterfest New Play Festival at the off-Broadway Hudson Guild Theatre in New York City where some 100 new musicals and plays were presented. At the end of the Festival composer/lyricist William Ogmundson of New London won the award for best musical score. Previously Will had won the award for best lyrics at the prestigious off-off Broadway Midtown International Theatre Festival at the Jewell Theatre. Will is the composer-in-residence of The Alchemists’ Workshop and this is the eighth musical he has collaborated on with librettist Tom Dunn of Henniker.
Georgia O’Keeffe Paints Paradise is based on a true event in famed painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s life. In 1938 she was commissioned by the Dole Pineapple marketing department to do for the pineapple what she had done so wonderfully for the Iris and other flowers. Once O’Keeffe arrived in Hawaii she discovered that she hated pineapples as much as she hated the upper class Hawaiians who were hosting her. O’Keeffe’s trip was saved by the 12 year old daughter of a Dole manager who became her tour guide and confidant. Patricia and O’Keeffe continued their friendship through letter writing for the next 56 years and it is that correspondence that inspired the world premiere Alchemists’ work.
Alchemists’ Workshop is based in Henniker and in its 19th year of touring professional plays and musicals throughout Northern New England. Besides touring Georgia O’Keeffe Will and Tom are working on a new musical, The Story of a Ghost – about Huntress Hall at Keene State College and they are rewriting their Lending Doll and Square Pegs musicals for summer camps in Weare and New London. For information on booking a performance or signing up for a camp call 568-5102, email dunn.t@comcast.net or go to alchemistsworkshop.org.