We're Going to Philadelphia!

Olivia O is a musical theatre production about a migrant child separated from her mother at the US-Mexican border and her journey to reunite with family within the harsh realities of the immigration detention system.  

This is an exciting time for the Olivia O team, as we’re gearing up for our premiere production - a performance at the Theatre on the Verge New Musicals Festival in Philadelphia in March 2024! It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our work and achieve our big dream. 

Oh, yes, the big dream. … 

We want to create a long-lasting, commercially successful musical theatre show (Broadway? West End? A global phenomenon?  .. We’re dreaming big!)  and we want to tell a compelling story that challenges as it entertains.

This is a show whose time has come! The actors are cast, the venue is booked, and the story and songs are waiting to be heard.  

The only thing missing is you! 

We’d love your help and support on our journey to our concert reading at the Abington Arts Center on March 23, 2024.  Join us as we tell this engrossing story about how Olivia and the community around her grapple with what it means to find home, family, and - most importantly -  love.

What Is This Fundraiser For?

While we are partially funded through the great folks at Theatre on the Verge, this production needs some additional funding to truly get on its feet, and support the talented artists that will be contributing their time and talent to this premiere production. 

The funds raised on this campaign will cover: 

• Paying actors, director, stage manager, musicians
• Equipment rentals
• Travel and rehearsal space
• Promotional costs

Your Impact: Helping Olivia O Reach its Full Potential

Your contribution means a lot to us and to the future of this amazing story. We believe in the power of art and storytelling to change the world, and we hope that this is the first of many shows to come for Olivia O, The Musical.  

A high quality production gives us track recordings, video clips, and a foundation for approaching producers or other festival opportunities - opening doors for us into the world of new musical productions. 

Our goal is that by the end of this production, we will have secured meetings with regional theatre producers, opened up some workshop development opportunities, and built a fanbase of people like you who love the story and share the vision of this show being performed across the globe! 

Who Are We? 

Hello! We’re Jennica Carmona, (Director) Jessica Carmona (Lyricist/Librettist), Diane Currie Sam (Librettist/Lyricist) and Gil Yaron (Composer)  - artists, theatre makers and storytellers from Canada and the United States. 

This musical is personal for us. We all share the vision of Olivia O and the profound message it delivers - that the future we collectively build must be one that includes compassionate and fair treatment of immigrants and migrants all over the world. Love thy neighbor includes everyone. 

While Olivia O shines a light on the tragedy and inhumanity of family separations it also celebrates the resilience of community, the love of family and the spirit of a young girl who just doesn’t give up. It shows us that in times of change and struggle, love ultimately triumphs. 

We'd love for you to be part of this and share in our dream of this musical being performed and loved in theaters all over the world! 

Other Ways You Can Help

We understand that some of you may not be able to contribute financially, but that doesn't mean you can't help.

• Make some noise about our campaign! Share this page with your family and friends, and anyone you know who loves theatre and storytelling.
• If you’re in the Philadelphia area this March, come out and see the show - March 23 at 6:30pm at the Abington Arts Center.
• Follow us on our various social media platforms and like our posts.
• Join our newsletter and follow the development of this amazing story.  

Thanks and we’ll see you in the theater!

Why Back This Project? 

This show is about coming together and connecting within a system that is trying to tear people apart. It shines a light on the tragedy and inhumanity of family separations while celebrating the resilience of community, the love of family and the triumph of the human spirit.  

As artists, theatre makers and storytellers, we believe this is a timely and important story. As war, poverty, and climate change push more and more refugees into dangerous situations, the cruelty of family separations and policies that separate and isolate people must stop. 

The music is heartstopping and beautiful. The story is engrossing, powerful and ultimately uplifting. The time to tell it is now. 

We will also be having an "invited dress" rehearsal performance with invited producers, theatre professionals and the public. This is an important step toward having the show produced by a theatre company.