Composer and Lyricist
Toronto Fringe
July 2008
This musical chronicles the 50-year true story from my own ancestry. It was inspired by a series of letters, spanning 40 years, between Ike Ferguson and Pearl Gray. These letters were passed down to me, a descendent of the Ferguson family, and I collaborated with writer Vikki VanSickle to create a haunting musical drama. It is first and foremost a love story, but it is also a story about family, sacrifice, and rural hardship. This is a tale that is at its heart Canadian; exploring the longings of the people who shaped our agricultural heritage at a time when the world was changing and everyone did their best to keep up. Set to a contemporary score with folk, Celtic and hymnal influences, Ike & Pearl is musical about love, loss and family. This piece is available for production.
Music and Lyrics by Rob Kempson
Book by Vikki VanSickle
Orchestrations by James Smith
Directed by Rachel Slaven
Musical Direction by Shari Porter
Performed by Michael Strathmore, Sarah Angus, Kara Wilkinson, Anne Bisch, and Doug MacLeod
Book by Vikki VanSickle
Orchestrations by James Smith
Directed by Rachel Slaven
Musical Direction by Shari Porter
Performed by Michael Strathmore, Sarah Angus, Kara Wilkinson, Anne Bisch, and Doug MacLeod