About |
Jake dreams to impact the world with his songs. But he struggles to believe in himself because his family doesn’t support his drive to be a musician. He feels all alone until he meets Kaleb, a Christian and fellow musician- finally someone that gets him. Together, they throw themselves into their music. Everything is going great until Kaleb finds out that Jake is gay..because Jake tries to kiss him. This misunderstanding ruins their friendship. Jake spirals, now that his guitar is a constant reminder of Kaleb’s rejection. He sells the guitar in exchange for alcohol..to soothe his pain. After a few hook ups, Jake comes to the end of himself because nothing is bringing the relief he’s in search of. He must then decide whether to end the pain by ending his life or allow the pain to produce something beautiful in and through him.
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I started writing this musical over 10 years ago but my personal life journey is what inspired this story. I am Jake; I am Kaleb. Yet I am neither. I live in the tension between what these two personify…on one side I’m not fully accepted by or given to the LGBTQ community. On the other, I have experienced rejection from religious communities as I’ve discovered the complexity of my sexuality.
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SHINE's concept was birthed in 2011. After many re-writes, in 2020, the script went through a 12-month Development Series with coach and dramaturg Cate Cammarata. After two read-throughs, the next step is a staged reading. Following this step, SHINE will be workshopped and performed.
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Bio |
This is KYLE HAMILTON BARR's first musical writing project, however, music is not foreign to him. His love for the Arts began at age 7 when he started playing piano. Kyle then went on to study voice and piano in college. In 2003, he graduated with a BA in Music from Anderson University. His love for acting and the theater began in high school with performing in "Let's Hang Him and Read the Will." This experience fueled his fire of creativity that led him to later also perform in "The Crucible", "My Fair Lady", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", "From Patmos", "As in the Days of Noah", and "Once on This Island." Kyle has always had a burning desire to write a musical and has finally succeeded to do just that!
Inspiration |
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson
