Dear Karen, My name is Angela Giuseppina Lumicisi and I am your number one Carpenterian fan!

In the 1970’s a good Italian girl goes to school, gets married and then has babies. But what happens if you want more?

The Carpenters, one of the most successful and cherished bands of their time, are a beacon of hope for one little Italian girl growing up in the confines of her traditional life in Melbourne.

Karen’s soaring and heart wrenching vocals spoke to Angela in a way no-one had before. It’s like you’re singing to me and know what I’m going through, how is that?

Karen and Angela’s lives begin to intertwine through their weight struggles, their love life but ultimately through Karen’s untimely end Angela finds the strength to be the person she’s always wanted to be.

And as Karen’s life ends, Angela’s has only just begun…

Venue Format
Theatre, Black Box Venue
Technical Rating
C
Touring Party
2 people, Performer and Musical Director
Considerations

This show is suitable for all ages. It has no controversial content. It does deal with Karen's death from Anorexia- Nervosa, so there is the opportunity to connect with health services within the community around the issues of body image, healthy eating depression.

Angela Lumicisi is a graduate of the Melba Conservatorium of Music in classical singing, and her career has varied from the national to the international in Musical Theatre, Opera and Cabaret.

Musical Theatre credits include the Australasian Tour of Wicked, the Melbourne premiere and Brisbane return season of Lady Macbeth Macbeth the Contemporary Rock Opera, Ozmade-Magnormos 10th Anniversary Concert, Scotty Merrily we roll along, Charlotte Flora the red Menace, Mehitabels cohorts Archy and Mehitabel, Celeste Saturday Night, Rhoda A New Brain, Cleaning Woman Working (Melbourne Fringe Festival) and the Voice of Audrey ll Little Shop of Horrors.

Opera credits include Cio Cio San Madame Butterfly (Mornington Peninsula Theatre), Sylviane The Merry Widow (Melbourne Opera), Soprano Meraviglia (More than Opera) Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci (Melbourne Opera) and Merrie England (Lyric Opera). Other classical performances include the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening of the Superdome, Mahlers Symphony of 1000 (Melbourne Chorale), Carmina Birana and Faure’s Requiem (Australian Ballet).

Other theatre credits include Act a Lady (Midsumma Festival), and a number of cabarets Angela has written and produced, We’ve only just begun The music of The Carpenters, Solitaire and The Casting Couch.

Company Website
facebook.com/Weve-Only-Just-Begun-The-Music-of-the-Carpenters-352615874755335/?ref=bookmarks

Unique Selling Point

We’ve Only Just Begun: The Music of The Carpenters is the only show of its kind in Australia, which celebrates the timeless music of this iconic band. It allows audiences to relive their memories as well as bringing this music to a whole new set of Carpenters fans. Even those who have never heard of The Carpenters know one or more of their songs, and this intimate, niche exploration of everything “Carpentererian” allows the audience to be transported to a time when Hope, Happiness and Harmony defined an era.

Marketing Materials

Posters, flyers, broadcast quality promotional footage

Community Engagement

The benefits of this show for the community will allow the older generation to be able to reminisce, enjoy and sing a long to some of their favourite songs, reliving a simpler time when music told a story, had meaning and took you on a journey. For the younger generation this is an opportunity to meet the Carpenters, to discover these remarkable songs of joy and heartbreak, love and loneliness. The songs make people feel connected, understood, like their pain is shared and therefore lightened. This show does the same thing, it brings people together through music. The show also deals with Karen's death from Anorexia-Nervosa which will allow an opportunity to invite an open discussion within the community about this relevant issue.