The Musical McCoy

Based on the play “The Real McCoy”
by Andrew Moodie
Lyrics by Vincent de Tourdonnet (V.)
Book by V. & Moodie
Music by Rosalind Mills, Lal & V. 

Inspired by the true life tale of Elijah McCoy, The Musical McCoy is an electronic musical about an inventor. Born in Canada to parents who had escaped slavery, McCoy helped revolutionize the steam engine.  

In this beat-based musical, McCoy’s advances  in 19th-century technology are driven by a 21st century electronica score- which bridges his innovative spirit with our own age.

Having lost his own mother in childbirth, Elijah strives, through science, to push back the inevitable hand of Death. But Death herself, personified, might not consent to being made into his enemy... 



Recorded Excerpts- 1 min X 5


The team of The Musical McCoy is delighted have support via Graham Abbey and Vikki Anderson to complete a production draft of the musical by early 2022, with a workshop reading at the Elgin/Winter Garden studio. (postponed due to Covid- stay tuned!) 

Below are a few sample demos. 




DEMOS

1.  The Train Must Never Stop 
The unexpected death of his father has caused Elijah to deepen his commitment- how can life be made safer- more stable? 
(Studio demo with Thom Allison, Andrew Moodie and Jewelle Blackman) 

2. Shake it Like an Earthquake
​Elijah is on a date at a Detroit skating pond. Mary Eleanor Delaney is joined by friends from "The Women's League". 
(Demo lead, and additional lyrics: Phoenix Pagliacci) 
Vincent de Tourdonnet, Rosalind Mills, Nicholas Murray
 Act I Equity Workshop
 2017 at Array Space in Toronto

CAST*: Alana Hibbert, Daren Herbert, David Keeley, Edward Glen, Lisa Michelle Cornelius, Matthew Brown, Nicole Brooks, Rudy Webb.
 DIRECTION: Andrew Moodie*​ 

Funding by The National Arts Centre, The Shaw Festival, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, The Toronto Arts Council and The Grand Theatre in London. 

*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the DanceOperaTheatre Policy. 
Video discussion (now somewhat dated)  with Andrew Moodie and Vincent de Tourdonnet of The Musical McCoy, March 2013. 7 Min. 
​
3. Upon The Moon
Elijah's demanding Scottish engineering professor has been impressed by the talents of the young Elijah.  
(From the 2017 Equity workshop- Professor Rankine: David Keeley, Young Elijah: Matthew Brown. 
4. ACT I Finale

Elijah’s revolutionary lubrication device has been successfully demonstrated to his bosses. But he's been so busy inventing that he barely noticed that his wife’s cough was getting very bad indeed... 
From left: Vincent de Tourdonnet, Rosalind Mills, Nicholas Murray, Andrew Moodie
​
Acknowledgements:
All of our progress to date has been made possible thanks to the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council,  the National Arts Centre's "Collaborations" program, the Shaw Festival, and the Grand Theatre.