Civil War Musical debuts in Gettysburg, Pa.

'Battlecry!' is story of the real meaning of Lincoln's 'Last Full Measure of Devotion'

(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 7/7/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE …

CONTACT:

Granville Burgess
Co-Founder, President of Quill Entertainment
(203) 253-1825
[email protected]

Historic Gettysburg, Pa., welcomes its newest production, “Battlecry! A New Musical,” to the Riegel Auditorium Stage.

Beginning June 26 and on stage through July 26, this is a heart-warming story of the real meaning of Lincoln’s “last full measure of devotion,” as stated in the 16th president’s Gettysburg Address.

“The songs will cheer you and move you, reminding us that even in the midst of terrible agony, there can be joy, love and healing,” said Granville Burgess, Co-Founder and President of Quill Entertainment, the company producing “Battlecry!”

Quill Entertainment describes the musical as:
In the early morning dawn of November 19, 1863, six figures appear at the site of the national cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for the day’s dedication ceremony. Only two were soldiers in the monumental fighting that took place there four months earlier, but all bear the scars of battle.

Amelia Christianson, young, pretty, and affianced to Frank Smoker, a Union soldier. Frank is marching to Gettysburg. Quentin Johnson, a rebel, tells his friend Joe that he hopes to get some new boots for his bare feet. And while these characters are heading for town, two freed blacks, Isaac Hampton, and his wife, Sarah, are fleeing Gettysburg. Four soldiers and four citizens whose lives will intersect at the crossroads of the little town that saw the biggest battle of the Civil War.

Lee, Longstreet, Meade, Chamberlain, the iconic leaders, struggle with each other over how best to win while the battle is brought thrillingly to life through the dramatized diaries of real soldiers and citizens.

Battlecry! is written by Burgess and the music is by Paul Bogaev, a well-known music director and producer. Among his biggest successes is the Academy Award-winning film, “Chicago,” for which its soundtrack also won Grammy Award. He won his first Grammy Award for arranging, orchestrating, composing and producing the music for Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” on Broadway.

Burgess is a playwright, director, actor, producer, lyricist, composer and teacher with more than 30 years of professional experience. His plays and musicals have appeared Off-Broadway and regionally. He is the author of two screenplays and a book of short stories for children.