UNEXPECTED!
A Story of Sex, Love
& OMG Birth
A New Musical
Description of the Musical
UNEXPECTED! A Story of Sex, Love and OMG Birth is a musical play that’s funny, charming, and deep as it reveals many of the social issues happening today around pregnancy and birth. Newlywed Amy (23) is unexpectantly pregnant. Husband, Michael (28), consumed with starting a software company, is not ready to be a dad. Michael and Amy’s mom expect Amy to end the pregnancy. But Amy, who was premature and never bonded with her mother, is unsure what to do. Concerned about Jewish generational trauma in her family and her own insecurity and loneliness, Amy, by chance, meets a midwife and a past neighbor, and through their support decides this baby is “meant to be”. Michael reluctantly agrees to her decision, but Amy’s real support comes from her wildly different pregnant girlfriends who give love, humor and advice, even as they must deal with their own circumstances. Soon after their baby’s birth, Amy must return to work. When her overwhelm reaches a breaking point, what is revealed changes everything.
UNEXPECTED! explores the miracle of life through the vulnerability of a new relationship and the current birthing issues and generational challenges faced by Gen X, Y, and Z. Celebrating resilience and possibility, the musical brings a message of hope. When we tell the truth and open our hearts the “unexpected” can happen!
Why Now?
The hallmarks of a well bonded connection between a parent and baby are the human capacities for intimacy, empathy, love, vulnerability, self-confidence, and courage. But institutions don’t have the time or capacity needed to support bonding. Hospitals continue to separate parent and baby at birth and encourage unnecessary, elective cesarean sections for financial gain and convenience. The laws restricting a woman’s right to choose has endangered women’s health even more. Plus, with the new revelations about the long-lasting effects of generational trauma, new parents are experiencing more isolation and post-partum depression than ever before. That’s a bleak picture.
But we can do something about it! The magic of musical theater can provoke thinking while it opens hearts and minds! UNEXPECTED! A Story of Sex, Love and OMG Birth has the humor of “Waitress” and the depth of “Evan Hanson” as it’s powerful music takes us through a story of synchronicity, healing and love.
Audience Responses to the Play
“I am a lifelong musician … the music in “Unexpected!” Is fabulous, both melodically and lyrically. If I can dig it … I know you will love it.”
-HB Barnum, Music Director and Arranger for Aretha Franklin and many more Motown greats.
“The music and writing are superb — they unleash a whole gamut of emotions — the ups and downs, as well as the frustrations and effects of secrets being released after a lifetime of holding them in … no one saw that coming.”
-Linda Donofrio, President of NY Take Five Public Relations
“I found the music very smart, fresh and original. There are so many good songs in this musical that it’ll be interesting to see which ones become audience favorites — and future hits. I thoroughly enjoyed what’s been done.”
–Eddie Holland, Legendary Motown Composer and in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame
Development History
Sept 2015 – Inspired to create a theatrical presentation about birthing, Lisa Rafel interviewed new mothers and fathers, doctors, midwives and doulas to find true stories about birth that would be hilarious, deep, and absolutely entertaining.
March 2015 – Can You Hear Me Baby? was performed at the Berkshire Festival of Woman Writer’s. Directed and Co-Produced by Tony nominee Jayne Atkinson, it was performed at the Unicorn Theater in Stockbridge, MA as an anthology with monologues, duologues, scenes, and songs (co-written with Gary Malkin). It received standing ovations at each of its 4 performances.
April 2017 – Following re-writes and conference presentations, a staged reading/concert presentation of Can You Hear Me Baby? with an added central story line and new songs was produced in Binghamton, NY at the Firehouse Theater. Musically arranged for a 4-piece band by Broadway arranger and orchestrator, Kim Scharmberg and directed by New York director, Cara Reichel, it included 4 performances, plus a talk back and received 4 standing ovations.
August 2022 – Following rewrites, table readings, and staged readings, a full reading of the musical play was performed for an invited audience in Oakland, CA. The audience included Kim Scharnberg, producers, and people who had seen previous readings and people who had never seen it before. The response was tears, a lot of laughter and a cheering, standing ovation.
October 2022 – A one-hour showcase of the 2 ½ hour play was presented to potential funders in San Mateo, CA. Edited so the actors narrated the story between selected scenes and songs, the cast of seven was reduced to five actor/singers. Musically directed by Broadway veteran Jeff Saver with a 4-piece band arranged by Kim Scharnberg, an enthusiastic audience raised enough money to produce another showcase in December of the same year in Los Angeles. But Covid hit the creators and following LA, everything had to be put on hold.
June 2023 – After completing a rewrite of Act 2 and adding new songs, a staged reading of the play in complete form was produced at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, CA with piano accompaniment and a full cast. An invited audience enthusiastically offered feedback through a talk back and questionnaire.
2024 – Retitled and rewritten with a stronger story line to increase the dramatic resolve, UNEXPECTED! a Story of Sex, Love and OMG Birth is now being submitted to competitions, potential theaters, backers and potential directors.
Follow Our Progress
We will occasionally be sending out updates about our progress through social media and a designated newsletter. If you would like to follow us, please contact: Anita@lisarafel.com
Would You Like to Become Involved?
It can be so fulfilling to support the arts, particularly at this stage of development. We are building our larger team and would love to know more about you. What is calling to you? Would you like to help financially? Do you have connections to theaters that develop musicals and/or producers, directors or actors who might help us? We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Anita Jones at Anita@lisarafel.com
For more details about investing and the returns that might come your way.
Contact: Executive Producer, David Surrenda PhD. at dsurrenda@gmail.com.
The Marquis sign outside the Brickroom LA
From the left: Kerry O’Malley, David Toole, Natalie Hawkins, Sydney Endicott, Maia Conty, Anastasia Barzee, Victoria Theodore, Jeff Saver
Kim Scharnberg making the band sound so good!
Rehearsing for SM in Oakland.
Kerry O’Malley, David Toole, Natalie Hawkins, Sydney Endicott, Maiya Sykes, Anastasia Barzee applauding the authors at the LA Showcase
Sam Faustine, Natalie Hawkins, Adria Swan, Tanika Baptiste, Genevieve Perdue. The cast from San Mateo, CA showcase
Jeff Saver working his magic with the LA cast.
Maiya Sykes and Jeff Saver, LA Showcase
David Toole, Lisa Rafel, Sydney Endicott – LA Showcase
Gary Malkin in the recording studio.
Genie Shermak recording “I Am the Answer to My Dream”
Lisa Rafel and Gary Malkin
David Surrenda, Executive Producer; Lisa Rafel, Book and Lyrics; Raylene Phillips, President of APPPAH, Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health
Jeff Saver and Gary Malkin at the piano preparing Sam Faustine, Natalie Hawkins and Tanika Baptiste for the San Mateo, CA Showcase
The dynamic duo of Jeff Saver and Kim Scharnberg working on Zoom.
Everyone is happy after the show!
