Hi everyone, I’m Deborah Henson-Conant, the creator of the musical The Golden Cage. It’s a story about connection, freedom, and the power of music to uplift the human spirit.

Today I want to introduce you to someone who had a huge role in the development of the show – and tell you how YOU can be part of its next chapter.

So who the heck is Tim Maurice?! He’s the orchestrational magic-maker behind The Golden Cage. He’s a film composer and Boston-area music director who I first met in 2013 when he arranged music of mine for a local Cabaret. Since then, he’s been a key collaborator in the development of the show whose role has evolved and expanded over the years.

Initially he came in as a ‘music facilitator’ to help me restructure and complete the show – a term I invented to describe the unique way we worked together. We met once a week – he sight-read the scores on piano, and I sang both characters. Together we could perform a rough sketch of the show in real time, and because Tim was so adept at transposing the music and spontaneously working in themes as I called them out, we were able to reshape the flow of the story and refine the music in the moment.

During the workshop phase, Tim stepped into the music director role, playing piano and coaching the singers through three rounds of workshop presentation and a studio recording. Then, when we prepared the show for the New York City production, he shifted into the crucial Arranger role, refining the music so the New York team would be able to understand and interpret my musical intentions, which is essential for any musical production.

In May 2022, The Golden Cage emerged on stage in the CreateTheater Festival where it won awards for Best Score, Best Actor, and Best Production. Our goal was to film the show live, and partner with StreamingMusicals.com to bring The Golden Cage’s message to a wider audience.

But capturing the live video and audio was just the beginning of releasing it on film.

While the original piano and vocal performances were powerful and effective on a live stage, I envisioned a more cinematic experience for the film. This is where Tim’s expertise shifted the project onto a much higher level as he crafted a virtual orchestra to be layered in, adding depth and grandeur.

Using his studio equipment, he meticulously performed each orchestral part into the computer by hand, carefully choosing instruments to amplify the drama and emotion of the music while staying true to the intimate, deep and whimsical tone of the show. This is where his deep understanding of both orchestration and the narrative of the musical turned the film into a stunning cinematic version of The Golden Cage, released for streaming in 2023.

Now that we’ve completed the film version, we’ve turned again to the live version. My vision for The Golden Cage has always been as a live production for talented theater companies worldwide. While the virtual orchestra made the film truly soar, we needed a small ensemble version of the orchestration for the raw energy and connection of a live ensemble performing alongside actors. That’s where The Golden Cage’s journey takes flight – to the stage!

To make this dream a reality, we need your help.

Our final hurdle is creating full, live musical arrangements specifically designed for theater productions so that theater companies who license the show can choose to perform it with solo piano, as we did in New York City – or with a small ensemble, adding more breadth to the score.

Having this adaptability is an essential part of making the show accessible to theaters of all sizes and budgets.

So now Tim is back to Arranging, but this time, with the live ensemble in mind.

With your tax-deductible donation to our $10,000 fundraising campaign, together we can complete the LIVE music arrangements and unlock the full potential of The Golden Cage, as a LIVE show, inspiring audiences worldwide with its universal themes and uplifting message.

Donate now and be a part of bringing The Golden Cage to its rightful place – on live stages worldwide!

And to learn more about Tim Maurice, go to TimMaurice.com