Mija
Inspired by a true story, Mija is a new bilingual musical about survival, identity and the complexity of family, following characters between continents, decades, and across generations. When Luisa leaves behind her sheltered life in the U.S. for Guatemala, she’s blindsided by a life-threatening pregnancy. In Oregon, Gabriela aches for grown-up life to start, but first she seeks to uncover secrets the adults around her deny.
The Writers
Anna Gilbert (Music & Lyrics), a singer-songwriter living in Portland, Oregon, composes songs about life, love and loss. She has made music with Grammy Award-winning producer Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow), Jeremy Larson (Sucré, Violents), Peter Hollens (Legendary Vocals), Troy Welstad (Pink!, Selena Gomez, A Fine Frenzy) and Grammy and Golden Globe- nominee Sam Ashworth (H.E.R., Leslie Odom). Gilbert’s current projects include working on her pop project, Shy Honey Äî an up-and-coming synth pop band in Portland Äî and writing the music for Mija. Gilbert also releases music monthly on Patreon as a creator (Patreon.com/annagilbert).
Gaby Moreno (Music & Lyrics): Born in Guatemala, singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released seven albums, earning two Grammy nominations (Alegoría, 2023 and Illusion, 2017), an Emmy nomination (co-writer, “Parks & Recreation” theme song), and won a Latin Grammy (Best New Artist, 2013). She won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the first contestant in the Latin category to win Song of the Year. She sings the theme song and voices “Marlena” in the Disney series Elena of Avalor. Moreno has shared the international stage with Bono, Andrea Boccelli, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, Punch Brothers, Hugh Laurie, Calexico, David Gray, Oscar Isaac and many more. She was recently named the first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from Guatemala and works closely with various organizations that support those on the margins.
Evynne Hollens (Book) is a writer, singer and Artistic Director of One Voice Productions, a digital media company. She co-created Voices, a virtual and live a cappella show running on the largest theatrical venue at sea. Hollens co-founded Divisi, University of Oregon’s female-identifying a cappella group (inspiration for Pitch Perfect). She won a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for “Best Arrangement” of Divisi’s cover of Usher’s “YEAH!,” featured on Glee. Hollens made her Broadway debut at The August Wilson Theatre and performs at the Hult Center with the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Contemporary Theatre and the Shedd Institute
Rebecca Tourino Collinsworth (Book) is a Seattle-based playwright, dramaturg and director. As a teaching artist, she’s worked with Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Alliance Theatre, NYFA, Seattle University and SMU; she also spent several years working with prisoners at the Washington Correctional Center for Women as part of the Engaged Theatre Residency. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Parley, a robust new work developmental program in the Pacific Northwest providing unprecedented support to its associate artists. Through Parley, Tourino Collinsworth has developed, directed and produced more than 80 world premieres by underrepresented writers in the last decade.
Development History
Since 2017, Mija has had eight developmental readings in Oregon, LA and New York. Most recently Mija was selected for a table reading with the Latiné Musical Theater Lab, and was a semifinalist for Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center’s (NMTC) 2023. In 2021, Mija, then titled Milagro, was presented in a concert format twice before live audiences at The Shedd Institute in Eugene, OR. In July 2022, the show had its first staged reading at Oregon Contemporary Theatre with a cast of 19 before an invite-only audience. In early 2023, Mija had a developmental reading in Los Angeles, at Studio (Teatro) Luna with a primarily Guatemalan cast.
Connect
For more info contact: mijamusical@gmail.com