AboUT THE SHOW

What is the stronger bond - love or blood? 

In the autumn of 1880, there is no place more dangerous than the Tug Fork Valley separating Kentucky and West Virginia. Here, the Civil War has not yet ended, a grudge lasts a lifetime and blood loyalty runs deeper than the valley itself. 

Unlike previous accounts of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, Devil’s Kin takes the story of one of the most violent skirmishes in American history and focuses the tale on the mothers and daughters of these infamous families. These women were the hearts, minds and ultimately the masterminds beyond this great piece of history.

Roseanna McCoy, is a black sheep in this violent land. Awkward and inquisitive, she longs for a life of knowledge and peace, far from the inebriating violence that infects the world around her, but her fear of breaking away and the love she holds for her family restrict her. Her loving mother, Sarah, is her opposite – a content and loving woman who is deeply devoted to her husband, family and land. Her cousin Nancy - a woman who will use her femininity to get what she wants – is quite different than anyone she has ever met. After a chance meeting with Johnse Hatfield, the son of her father’s deeply hated adversary, Roseanna recognizes someone who might be more like her. He sees the same, but at what cost can they pursue each other? The passion for each other sparks war of violence, wills and questioned beliefs for all members of both families. 

Inspired by historical events, Devil’s Kin wonders if it is ever possible to be loyal to one without betraying the other. Roseanna betrays and is betrayed, gains and loses love, and eventually rediscovers what family (blood) means to her. With a score rooted in Americana folk, the show examines such modern themes as political and family divisiveness, gender roles and finding one’s self worth and power in the darkest of places. 

Devil's Kin has previously been developed at: 
· CAP21 New Works Writers Residency
· BMI Librettist Workshop
· BMI Advanced Musical Theatre Writing Workshop
· The Circle Songbook
· CCM Sophomore Workshop

MEDIA

Demo Recordings

   Live Performances

ABOUT THE WRITERS

Caleb Damschroder (composer/lyricist)

Caleb Damschroder is an NYC based composer/lyricist and actor. His musical Molly Sweeney (adapted from the Brian Friel play of the same name) headlined the 2015 New Works Series at The Human Race Theatre of Dayton, Ohio. He spent last year developing his americana-folk musical Devil's Kin at CAP21 in NYC. His musical The Commuters or A Cautionary Tale About The Port Authority was voted audience favorite of the Riant Theatre's 2016 Strawberry One Act Festival. His arrangement of Stille Nacht/Mi Zeh Hidlik was sung by the broadway cast of Cabaret on BCEFA's Carols for a Cure Vol. 16. Caleb has participated in creating new song for the charity MuseMatch for both it's first and eighth cycle. He is a member of the Tony honored BMI Musical Theatre Workshop and The Dramatist Guild. As an actor, Caleb has recently appeared in Broadway's Cabaret at the famed Studio 54, and Paint Your Wagon at City Center Encores. He is a graduate of Otterbein College.

Kevin Wanzor (book)

Kevin Wanzor is a Brooklyn-born playwright, lyricist and librettist. He has been writing rhymes since he was a child and stories even longer. (Source: Kevin’s mother) He is now written more than 120 songs. He is the recipient (along with Anna Dagmar) of the Gold (2015) and Silver (2014) Prize at the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Competition. He is the co-creator of The Worst People You Know, a satirical comedy revue about the worst people you encounter every day. His other projects include Kids These Days and My Imaginary Family (with music by Anna Dagmar), and the plays, The Good Son and The Beginning and the End. The latter was a finalist in the Davenport Short Play Festival and it’s musical was subsequently selected by Emerson College for their Developmental Lab Series. His song, Dream in Color, written with Natalie Tenenbaum for the Live Through Love organization is currently available on iTunes. Kevin holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University and is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Actor's Equity. He is a proud participant of the Lehman Engel BMI Musical Theatre Advanced Workshop as both a lyricist and librettist. For more, please visit www.kevinwanzor.com.

CONTACT

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