ONLINE: Comet Boy, the Musical

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Beth Kille

Jim Smith and Jenna Joanis performing during filming for "Comet Boy" at Hinckley Productions.

Just one year ago, a new musical debuted at the Brink Lounge to much fanfare. Comet Boy felt different, not just because of the high-profile team of musicians and actors behind it, but because it was a very personal project for playwright/songwriter Jackie Bradley, who wrote the show to honor a friend and mentor — a sound engineer who helped produce Bradley's albums — who died by suicide. Bradley planned a reprise in September 2020 during Suicide Prevention Week, but (as happened with so many other projects) the pandemic led to a new approach. In this case, Bradley collaborated with Hinckley Productions to create a film version of Comet Boy, as well as an album including all 14 songs. After the Friday premiere, the film will be available to view online through midnight Sunday.

Friday update from Jackie Bradley: Well, we planned to debut the movie tonight at 7pm but due to a small glitch with the upload, it's available RIGHT NOW! So, simply visit cometboythemusical.com, find the video and press the play button in the middle of the screen and you can now enjoy Comet Boy, the Musical MOVIE. It will be viewable on the website for FREE from today until Sunday 9/27 at midnight. Please feel free to share the film with family and friends you think might enjoy.

For those of you who ordered DVDs and CDs, THANK YOU!  Those go to print next week and we'll be mailing them out very soon.

Thanks for all the love and support to get us to this day!

Jackie

press release: “Comet Boy, the Musical," is a show featuring the writing and original music of Jackie Bradley, reflecting her journey with a loved one through depression, ending in suicide. The story is based on “Comet Boy,” Bradley's first album of original songs. It's not presented in a dark way, but rather, a sensitive one. The show ends on an uplifting note inviting the audience to be a light for those who have lost the will to shine.

In 2019 the debut of “Comet Boy the Musical” was a huge success, performed before a sellout audience in Madison. Because this project was met with overwhelming love, acceptance, and demand, Bradley planned to reprise it in September 2020 during Suicide Prevention Week. With the onset of the pandemic, this plan quickly changed and Bradley worked with a team to create a movie version of the musical, which will air FREE via social media on September 25, 2020, to help spread the word about prevention, destigmatization and awareness of mental health issues and suicide. Also, a new, live recording (CD) including the 14 tunes in the show was recorded and will be made available to fans after the September 25 broadcast.

Cast and Crew

Musicians: Beth Kille, Shawndell Marks, Dan Kennedy, Jenna Joanis, and Jim Smith

Actors: Sarah Whelan, Lucky Vita 

Director: Michael Bruno 

Musical Director: Shawndell Marks 

Stage manager: Gigi Vail

Production Company/Videography and Video Editing: Hinckley Productions/Natalie Hinckley

Additional Videographer: Ben Wydeven  

Playwright: Jackie Bradley

Always a music lover and writer, life's circumstances set her on a long journey to the place where she found her voice. A mom and grandma with a former medical career, her life changed in 2008 when she met a new friend, lovingly dubbed Comet Boy, who helped her realize her creative dreams. Musically talented and a sound engineer, this man helped her produce eight records of piano music. He took his life in 2012, an event that sent Bradley on a new path. When she was looking for answers to the tragedy, Beth Kille, another life-changer, stepped in and showed her the way through songwriting. Beth produced four more records of Bradley's original tunes, performed by some of Madison's best musicians.

After the release of all of these albums, Bradley's next ambition was to write a musical. She completed that project in 2019 with the assistance of musician Shawndell Marks and Director Michael Bruno. This musical shines a light on suicide, which continues to be more and more prevalent. The show is powerful for all....suicide survivors, those who have lost loved ones to suicide, those who contemplate suicide, and those who know nothing about suicide. Having produced 12 CDs, written a novel, and 100s of free lance articles, this musical was the frosting on the cake of Bradley's accomplishments.