In this bold new musical adaptation of The Scarlet Letter, penned through a feminist lens by Kenady Sean & Christine Hand Jones, the narrative dives deep into themes of societal shame and female empowerment. Set in a Puritanical society, Hester Prynne transforms her scarlet letter from a mark of condemnation into a symbol of defiance and resilience. Through evocative folk music played by an all-female band, the musical explores Hester’s journey of reclaiming her identity and raising her daughter amidst judgment and oppression. Supported by a diverse and dynamic cast of characters struggling with their own battles against societal expectations, the adaptation weaves a tapestry of liberation and solidarity. As Hester navigates love, loss, and the pursuit of justice, the musical celebrates the strength found in embracing one’s truth, challenging norms, and rewriting the narrative of shame into a powerful anthem of empowerment where “All Are Welcome.”
Demos
The A Between You and Me
Minister in a Maze
The Light of Day Duet
I Know You
Moxie Arts NY Incubator Semi-Finalist 2024
SheNYC Semi-Finalist 2022
September 2024
Musicalwriters.com and Broadway DNA produced a concert at Green Room 42 as our NYC debut of The Scarlet Letter Musical
July 2023
The Table Co/lab produced a staged workshop of The Scarlet Letter Musical.
July 2022
“Welcome” featured in the MusicalWriters Festival in their New Works Cabaret.
Bios
Christine Hand Jones
Christine Hand Jones (composer, lyricist, & bookwriter) is a singer-songwriter, performer, and professor. Christine teaches writing at Southern Methodist University, and she holds a PhD in literary studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, which she earned largely by writing about the music and lyrics of Bob Dylan. Interested in the intersections of music and literature, her recent academic work has focused on Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, The Band, and Paul Simon. When she’s not in the classroom, Christine brings her dual literary and musical background into her work as the co-writer of The Scarlet Letter Musical, and her musical settings of Shakespeare’s lyrics have been featured in several productions of Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and Love’s Labour’s Lost. As a singer-songwriter, Christine’s soulful folk-rock has been a mainstay of the Dallas-Fort Worth live music scene for over 20 years. Her most recent album, Standing on the Shoulders, is a tribute to family in all its messy beauty, and it wraps its intimate story-telling in a combination of bluegrass instrumentation, lush strings and ethereal vocals. Find out more at christinehand.com.
Kenady Sean
Kenady Sean (Composer, Lyricist & Bookwriter) is currently working on three musical projects other than The Scarlet Letter Musical. The Birthmark was featured in Theatre Now’s Soundbites Festival in 2024. We Can Do It! was an award-winning festival participant of the 2023 National Women’s Theatre Festival. The Scarlet Letter Musical recently had a concert at Green Room 42 produced by Musicalwriters.com and Broadway DNA. The Scarlet Letter Musical is also a SheNYC Festival semi-finalist in 2022 and a Moxie Incubator Finalist in 2023. Beyond Perfection and The Scarlet Letter Musical have both had a workshop produced by or in conjunction with The Table Co/lab, now SheDFW. Kenady graduated with an MBA and a BS in Music Business from Dallas Baptist University where she received the Texas Business Hall of Fame Scholarship. She currently is the regional moderator of Texas for Maestra Music, and hopes to improve gender parity in the musical theatre business. She is also a graduate of Theatre Resource Unlimited’s Producer Mentor Program.
