A Girl in Persia
A Girl in Persia is an epic sung-through full-length musical set in the royal palace of Shushan during the Achaemenid Empire—the First Persian Empire. In a kingdom ruled by powerful men, an ordinary orphan girl somehow or other gets involved in drama and danger of imperial proportions. Surrounded by expectations, prejudice, and uncertainty, she must rise above it all. What shall become of her? What will she do to shine?
Cast Recording Album – Act 1
currently in production
Music, lyrics, mixing, mastering, male demo voices, and classical guitar by BIBLE THE MUSICAL
Latest song completed
- 11. Shining like the Sun (5:05) – 90% complete – Listen access by request only
featuring teresa as Esther, co-produced by PAUL HYDE, JUSTIN RAYNA, BERNADETTE GOH, LIS SNIDERMAN, PALOMA MARTIN, and EDINA MATSUO
Currently raising funds for
- 7. Do with Me (2:36) – 35% complete – Listen here and back the project
featuring teresa as Esther
Full list of songs
- 1. Feast of Persia [Act 1 Opener] (6:37) – 70% complete
with ethnic percussion by MACIEJ GIZEJEWSKI, trumpet solos by NEBOJSA PAVLOVIĆ
- 2. The Queen’s Arrival (3:21) – 70% complete
with metal instrumental section demo by ALEXANDER THINMAN, ethnic percussion by MACIEJ GIZEJEWSKI, trumpet solos by NEBOJSA PAVLOVIĆ
- 3. Sage Advice (5:36) – 90% complete
with qanun by MADIHA NECHI
- 4. Sage Decree (1:25) – 65% complete
- 5. Someone that You Will Love (4:01) – 25% complete
with flamenco guitar by MARCYO BONEFON
6. What a Time to Be Alive (5:15) – 15% complete
- 7. Do with Me (2:36) – 35% complete – Listen here and back the project
featuring teresa as Esther
8. Sun After Sun (12:14) – 20% complete
9. What You Wish to Bring (3:53) – 30% complete
10. Put on Me (5:48) – 25% complete
- 11. Shining like the Sun (5:05) – 90% complete – Listen access by request only
featuring teresa as Esther, co-produced by PAUL HYDE, JUSTIN RAYNA, BERNADETTE GOH, LIS SNIDERMAN, PALOMA MARTIN, and EDINA MATSUO
12. Who is She? (2:15) – 25% complete
13. New Queen of Persia (2:30) – 25% complete
14. The End of the King (1:53) – 25% complete
15. Write It Down in History (2:30) – 30% complete
16. Haman (3:30) – 35% complete
17. Pur (1:04) – 35% complete
18. A Peculiar People (5:28) – 30% complete
19. The End is Real (4:30) – 20% complete
20. Sold to Bloodshed (3:26) – 20% complete
21. Am I a Lie? (3:25) – 30% complete
- 22. Fast for Me [Act 1 Finale] (7:16) – 85% complete – Listen here
featuring teresa as Esther and choir members ANASTASIA PATSAKIDOU, VICTORIA K, TATIANA PIERFEDERICI, SOPHIE BOUEY, ANNA BAXE, DENISE PAHANG, LEAH SCHULT, JAKE SHEFFER, IAN PHILLIPS, DANIEL EMMY, JOAN RICHARDS, VLAD KIM, MELISSA CHRISTINE, ANA NICOLE, IFEANYI EZE, AHAJI ANNA, ODUCHE KOSY, ONUOHA JOHANA, EZEMADU CHISOM EDMUND, MBAH HENRY, DON VAL , EZEH PATRICK, EZEOKE STANLEY, NWITE JOHNBOSCO OGONNA, OBINNA COLLINS, OKORO FRANKLIN KELECHUKWU, CHINECHEREM, ELIAS AJIR, and more!
Act 2 is being written… Coming soon!
The Music
Instead of the usual pop or Broadway-style music, the genre of the musical can be described as "world music meets Broadway". The melodies, chord progressions, and scales have Middle-Eastern influence. Instruments like qanun, bendir, darbuka, dohol, dohola, riq, and tombak have already been recorded, and in progress are Plucked Strings: Oud, tar, rubab, divan—Bowed Strings: Kamancheh and qeychak—Percussion: udu, dayereh, daf—Reed: Qoshmeh, ney, sorna, karnay. As Justin Rayna (award-winning producer and composer) puts it, “You're really capturing the environment! and sense of the culture in the music!”
p.s. A stripped-down version of the score featuring only a guitar, a violin, and a cajon (with some cymbals) will be available too, capturing its essence and spirit, in the case of non-availability of world music musicians.
History
A Girl in Persia is a project by the band Bible the Musical. It has its roots in 2020 when Benjamin Yong—a poet, film composer, and musical theatre lover—decided to let go of his career in digital marketing and video production to combine his three passions and expertise to make a full-length musical that he wished existed. A Girl in Persia was born. With a lot of love for Middle-Eastern-inspired music since his youth, he started his years-long journey to bring this huge musical to life.
What's Next?
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media in order to keep up with the latest developments! Right now, we're working on producing demos for Act 1 and completing the libretto for Act 2. We welcome opportunities for collaboration, so if you'd like to be one of our singers, musicians, critics, sponsors, or collaborators, feel free to reach out!
More Reviews
Cast & Creatives
Taina Hernandez
Esther (On-screen)
CREDITS: Recent appearance and vocal performances include Long Live The Texas Queen: a Selena tribute concert at Marietta's Theatre on the Square, The role of Erzulie on Once on This Island also at Marietta’s Theatre on the Square. And Nine: In Concert by The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Atlanta. T… Read more
Benjamin Yong
Composer, Producer
Benjamin is the man leading the project. A poet, film composer, and musical theatre lover, he left the corporate world to pursue his artistic roots. Right now he lends his voice to all the demos until they are replaced with a proper cast, making as much progress as he can and getting all the help th… Read more
Julienne Magbanua (teresa)
Co-composer, Esther (Streaming/Demos)
Julienne Magbanua (teresa) is a singer-songwriter and composer hailing from the Philippines. Her interest in musical theater started when she joined a theater club in grade school. This love for theater music grew even more in high school, and in 2018, she started composing an unfinished musical wit… Read more
Musicians
Maciej Gizejewski
Percussionist
A seasoned percussionist, recording artist, and producer with two decades of experience in performance and 15 years in recording and sound engineering. Worked with notable artists including Vibraslap & Trilok Gurtu, Panagiotis Andreou, Jose Torres, Skalpel Big Band, Stanisława Celińska, Stanisła… Read more
Madiha Nechi
Qanunist
Madiha contributed the qanun accompaniment in our number "Sage Advice". Based in UAE, she has played qanun at many events and festivals in the UAE, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. She is also the head teacher of music at an international school. With many years teaching and performing, Madiha is amon… Read more
Marcyo Bonefon
Guitarist (Flamenco)
Marcyo Bonefon contributed flamenco guitar on our number "Someone that You Will Love" and some of our other demos. Born in 1973 in Montevideo, Uruguay, he began his musical studies at home with his mother, a singer and guitarist. He also studied guitar, harmony, and jazz improvisation with his cousi… Read more
Nebojsa Pavlović
Trumpeter
Nebojsa Pavlović is a trumpet player from Belgrade with a background in both classical and jazz music. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade and trained with renowned mentors across Europe. Since 2012, he’s been a dedicated educator, with his students winning awards at competitions in S… Read more
Choir
Ifeanyi Eze
Choir Co-organizer, Bass
ABOUT: Ifeanyi coordinated a big part of the virtual choir that will appear in future demos of "Fast for Me". A go-getter from Nigeria, he wears many hats as well: Public speaker, tutor, social critic, political activist, and medical professional. Read more
Ineska Dabrowski
Soprano
Ineska Dabrowski is a dynamic and multilingual performer, educator, and cultural facilitator whose artistic journey spans several disciplines. Born in London and raised in Spain, she has cultivated a rich background in music, theatre, and education. She holds ABRSM Grade 8 in flute, Grade 6 in voice… Read more
Daniel Emmanuel
Tenor
Daniel Emmanuel is a passionate tenor singer, pianist-in-training, and final-year Biotechnology student at Kaduna State University. Based in Kaduna, Nigeria, he began his music journey in 2018 and has since grown in skill and purpose. With a deep love for God’s work, Daniel is committed to using his… Read more
Denise Pahang
Alto
Denise is a passionate vocalist, songwriter, violinist, and PhD Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Virginia. In her free time, she performs in her university's orchestra and livestreams gaming content. She regularly hosts fundraising events for non-profit organizations and hopes tha… Read more
Anastasia Patsakidou
Soprano
Greek soprano Anastasia Patsakidou began her professional career at the age of 19 and has since been a part of various opera and musical theater productions, concerts, oratorios and original works. She is currently based in Aachen, Germany where she recently played the title role in X. Montsalvatge'… Read more
Vlad Kim
Tenor
Vlad Kim is a dedicated full-time freelance voice-over artist and session vocalist who specializes in pop, jazz, and R&B production. Operating from his professional studio, Vlad brings expertise and versatility to projects across multiple genres. His comprehensive service offerings are designed… Read more
Kelly Even
Soprano
Kelly contributed soprano vocals for our Act 1 Closer "Fast for Me". Training: Northern Kentucky University (Acting 1, with Charlie Roetting), Madcap Education Center (Ballet 1 with Anna Rae Brown; Musical Theatre Dance level 1 with Genevieve Perrino), Building Confidence (Musical Theatre Dancing an… Read more
Joan Richards
Alto, Soprano
Joan Richards is a Legal Practitioner, vocalist, song writer and fashion designer with over a decade of experience in rendering vocal services. Read more
Victoria K
Soprano
Victoria contributed soprano vocals for our Act 1 number “Fast for Me.” Training: Extensive vocal training with Olivia Whelan; masterclasses in Hamilton, Newsies, The Prom, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie with Lauryn Ciardullo; workshops in Dear Evan Hansen and Aladdin at Emil Dale Academy. Addi… Read more
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