Who is Esther?

Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company

David...

It was a pleasure meeting you at the JCC Kultura Collective Salon in Toronto on Nov 26th. And it was exciting doing “the pitch” for Who Is Esther (my first pitch ever, actually), during the afternoon.

You had asked for a copy of the manuscript (which I gave you), and asked me to follow-up with you at the beginning of 2024.

A lot has happened since then:

- we’ve completed studio work, and now have the entire soundtrack (21 songs) recorded.

- we've completed the post-production work, and also now have a video of the entire musical.

- we've embedded all of the feedback from the artists into the manuscript and the score.

Scroll down to find...

- Latest version of the manuscript

- 15 song sampler (6 minutes)

- Complete video of all songs (59 minutes)

- The unique backstory (Leukemia - yikes!)

I'd love to describe the development of the project to date, answer any questions, and gauge potential interest. (And of course, welcome any feedback...) Would LOVE to have Who Is Esther presented by the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company.

I can be reached at 416-918-5384, or via email at [email protected]. And as I live literally "down the street", I'd be more than happy to meet in person.

– Randall

PS: Avery, it was a pleasure meeting you at Trayf!

Latest Manuscript

Click the image below to download the latest version of the manuscript; now includes optional alternative lyrics for the song "The Event" that would be more suitable for younger audiences. (Updated.)

15 Song Sampler in 6 Minutes

Quick excerpts from 15 of the 21 songs.

Entire Musical

Music only: 59 minutes. On a stage with scene transitions and intermission: 1h 45 minutes.
Note: The video of the entire musical is not available "publicly".

Who Is Esther: A Unique Backstory

In 2017 I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Shortly thereafter my doctors stopped the chemo, began looking for a bone marrow transplant donor, and told me there was only a slim chance of my survival. Not my best day, but it was also the day when Who is Esther was born. It was my “Aha” moment – I felt compelled to write it with the time I had left. Friends moved a piano into my hospital room, and I started to write the songs immediately. I was in the hospital for seven months.

As a teenager, I self-taught myself piano by playing several hours every day. I never had the opportunity to study musical theater, and I’m not connected into the musical theater community, except from my seat in the audience. (I am a management consultant and Hall-of-Fame professional speaker.) So when I wrote Who is Esther, I was not following the “usual” routes of development as I didn’t know what they were. And as an outsider, there was no one I could turn to for mentorship. These are the unique beginnings of the play... and what distinguishes it from any other.

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Intrigued? I'd love to answer any questions, describe the development of the project to date, and listen to any thoughts you may have.

- Randall

PS: I can be reached at 416-918-5384, or via email at [email protected]...