Brian Gari, author of Late Nite Comic is at work on his latest musical Love Online, about a couple who meet in a chat room, hide behind their optimized cyber personas, but then must deal with the genuine problems of their lives when they meet in person.
A concept CD for the show was released in December 1997 by Original Cast Records. Gari said he's hoping to develop the project as an Off-Broadway musical.
The score includes songs "The Nicest Person I've Never Met," "How Did You Know?," "The Child in You" and "Why Do You Call?" The central drama involved Sarah's struggles to leave her dying marriage after she meets the far more empathetic Keith online.
Gari wrote, "A friend suggested I go 'online.' Not knowing a thing about that sort of thing, I took as many lessons from him as I could squeeze in in a very short period of time -- just enough to place an ad via this new world. The first response I got (and only response) intrigued me. We started with e-mail which led to 'instant messages' which led to phone calls and finally -- a live and in-person meeting. I was instantly in love. A gorgeous, wonderful, intelligent -- and married -- woman entered my life. And so began a musical of great passion and great conflict."
He said he's written more than 50 songs for the project, 15 of which are captured on the CD, with Gari doing all vocals. A veteran of the New York nightclub scene, Gari has recorded "Songs for Future Musicals," cast albums for the 1987 Broadway musical Late Nite Comic and his 1990 Off-Broadway revue A Hard Tie To Be Single, plus "Face To Face," an album of his songs performed by Jana Robbins.
The Love Online CD is available for $14.95 plus $3 shipping and handling from Original Cast Records Box 496 Georgetown CT 06829 (888) 627-3993. You can contact Gari directly at the e-mailbox that changed his life, [email protected].
-- By Robert Viagas
