For the latest news, photo and video material on the making of a musical — “West Meets East” (produced by Seabreeze Productions, Inc.) — you can sign up for our official Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/WETheMusical and join the journey!

On June 19th 2000, an unlikely yet destined musical bond was formed when a young Russian/Georgian singer met an older African American NY musician. This is the story of their humorous life-altering meetings.

“W-E” is a true story that was inspired by Tinatin Japaridze’s much-anticipated memoir, Beyond Borders, currently in the works alongside Chuck Taylor, a renowned author and journalist, former Sr. Correspondent for Billboard Magazine. The upcoming memoir is a fascinating story of a girl’s journey through the Iron Curtain when the Great American Songbook was a forbidden fruit…to all but one Soviet child with an all-American dream.

W-E is a tale of how different ages and cultures can come together to make beautiful music. As told through the comic, informative and life-changing encounters of Tinatin Japaridze and Mr. Graphenreed and Tinatin’s ongoing pen pal relationship with Academy Award-winning musician Dave Grusin. Truly a story of West meets East.

“There are many stories about following ones dreams.  What makes W-E different is the life that it explores and openly shares with the audience.   W-E is fresh and inspiring, full of intriguing adventures and difficult choices made by a teenager.   The story reveals a few left turns in life.  What emerges is a young woman determined to capture the life once dreamed of by a young girl.

The lyrics and music are heartfelt, sung with emotions that are true to the core.  The banter between the lead characters, a Broadway veteran and his young protegee from Georgia by way Russia, then England and finally America, is fun and thought provoking.  I believe that audiences will relate to W-E and take a moment to examine the story of their own lives.  I think people will be inspired to take charge of their destiny and make a change if necessary to re-capture their dream.  It is never too late.” — Donna Lynn Burns, Co-Producer

What an amazing summer… The dream of “W-E” is finally coming true after 2 years of heavy duty writing, rehearsing, more writing, more rehearsing and most importantly previewing for the very first time at NYC’s legendary Triad Theater on July 2nd, 2012. What an amazing evening that was! And to think that it’s only the beginning…

Our team has launched a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WETheMusical for latest news, photo and video teasers, rehearsal exclusives and much more, so make sure you join the journey…

2013 should be an interesting year for us. While between now and Dec 2012, Timothy and I are reworking some of the songs, polishing the book and concentrating on readings and extensive rehearsals with our immediate team (director Leslie Dockery, stage manager Gwen Gilliam, producers Mr. TG himself, J David Moore, Donna Lynn Burns, Hattie & Eddie Jenkins), next year should be all about the staged readings, university and regional theater workshops, more live performances with my American muse, Mr. Graphenreed… All towards our big off Broadway premiere. So cannot wait, to say the least.

And meanwhile, of course, FINALLY nearing the completion of the memoir that has long been in the works and a full-length album (details TBC, very exciting!) to accompany the book like a good old traditional soundtrack… Definitely never a dull moment, that’s for sure.

Watch this space for the latest bits and pieces — and Timothy & I will be sure to post a video or two very soon during one of our upcoming rehearsals. It will be fun but also a little on the crazy side (unless our director and stage manager are there, and then we’ll have to behave ) so don’t miss it!

For now, though, sweet dreams from New York, New York — the city that never sleeps. Indeed.