A Collectible Sensation

On the eve of the unveiling of the million-dollar renovation of their renowned Cone Collection at the Baltimore Museum of Modern Art, long dead sisters Etta and Claribel Cone suddenly materialize. "Family friend" Gertrude Stein and her paramour Alice Toklas (equally dead) also pop up, uninvited. Their mission: to settle once and for all how the “Friendship” between Etta and Gertrude fell apart. We are transported back to Baltimore, Paris and turn-of-the-century Italy to learn what derailed the relationship (and suspected affair), and how Gertrude and Alice came to be a couple. The musical moves between present time in the Cone Wing and memories of their younger selves (who also appear to help them sort it out). Etta struggles with her intimate feelings for Gertrude, her modern proclivities at direct odds with her Victorian mores. The surrounding artwork miraculously comes to life to propel the story forward and provide additional commentary and insight. By the end, Etta sheds her many layers of black and white petticoats and learns to embrace color. All four women are able to right some wrongs, merge with their younger selves and come to a place of peace with their choices during their earthly life. By dawn, the women disappear back into the ether, and the artwork retreats into its frames again as the museum gates open to the public.

2025 Workshop/Readings Depot Theatre Duluth, MN, produced by Dunbar-Hofmann Productions in association with the Univ of Minnesota Duluth
2025 Nautilus Music-Theatre’s ROUGH CUTS New Works Series (Minneapolis/St. Paul): Selections presented
2024 Finalist: TRU Musical Readings Series, Musical Theatre West New Works Festival (LA)
2024 54 Below, True Mirage: Resonation (Miami): Selections presented
2023 Semi-finalist: Eugene O’Neill NMTC
2023 Finalist: Kleban Prize
2023 Musical Theatre Educators Alliance New Works Catalogue
2023 Finalist: Pipeline Theatre Development Award