The noted orchestrator, music director, composer and arranger Kris Kukul discusses working with the late Elizabeth Swados, and the new album he’s co-produced The Liz Swados Project (Ghostlight Records), with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Elizabeth Swados was an American writer, composer, musician and director. In 1978, she received four Tony Award nominations for the Best Musical nominee Runaways, for its direction, book, score, and choreography. She also wrote musicals that were contemporary, that drew on folk and world music, as well as experimental concepts of theatre. A recent album, one that’s available on all the streaming platforms, has just been released in physical form, The Liz Swados Project. It is a tribute to her vision and artistry as a composer, lyricist, teacher and performer. Elizabeth Swados died in 2016 at the age of 64. Hers was a career that was prolific and multifaceted. Joining me now is Kris Kukul, he is Ms. Swados’s long time musical director, and with Lauren Fitzgerald and Matt Stine, produced this album with 19 tracks, 14 of which are world premiere recordings. I’ll ask him about Swados, about her work, as well as the music itself, this album, and the extraordinary luminaries from Broadway today who appear: Starr Busby, Sophia Anne Caruso, Damon Daunno, Amber Gray, Stephanie Hsu, Jo Lampert, Alicia Olatuja, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Grace McLean, and Ali Stroker, with The Bengsons, Heather Christian, Michael R. Jackson, Taylor Mac, Dave Malloy, Shaina Taub, and the late Michael Friedman, among others. Kris Kukul is an orchestrator, arranger, music director and composer, who most recently was the music supervisor, conductor and orchestrator of the Broadway hit Beetlejuice The Musical. For ten seasons, he served as the resident music director for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Visit his own website at www.kriskukul.com for information. This new album is from Ghostlight Records. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Kris Kukul; Mr. Kukul, good morning.

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