Paris Through the Window

We Are Myth: A Folk-Pop Folktale
Music by Leo Hurley, Book/Lyrics by Charles Osborne 

We Are Myth is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation. With more than 30 myths woven into the lives of 6 characters, this musical addresses contemporary problems such as single-parent households, LGBT closeting, body image, slut-shaming, online dating, absent fathers, corporate materialism, and more, using timeless lessons found in ancient stories.

We Are Myth: A Folk-Pop Folktale

Lyrics by Charles Osborne, Book by Johnny Blaze Levitt
Based on an original story by Julie Saltman

​An anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages, Taking Wing is the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

Taking Wing: Legends of Emimencia

Instrumental Music

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

The Body Politic made worldwide headlines last year when it was presented at the North Carolina General Assembly in response to the state’s discriminatory “bathroom bill”.

The Body Politic

WESTERN FRONT MSTR12722

Premiere of work from the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium

Soon Shall Rise

A Christmas Rainbow

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

WE ARE MYTH is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation.

Phaeton steals fireball from his mother (myth - Prometheus)and Persephone has a new dead-beat boyfriend (myth - Persephone).

Recorded live at 54 Below, NYC

The Songs of Hurley and Osborne at 54 Below

One Last Night (Prometheus)

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

WE ARE MYTH is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation.

A group of friends vow to turn off their phones and be present for their last night together before graduating from high school (myth - Narcissus).

The Music of Hurley and Osborne at the Duplex

Lay Me Down (Narcissus)

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

WE ARE MYTH is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation.

Persephone worries about her best friend Laurel, who has lost her voice to defend herself against those who believe she should fit in a specific mold (Echo).

Echo (Echo)

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

WE ARE MYTH is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation. 

Laurel and Atlanta confess to each other the exhaustion felt trying to always succeed in keeping up appearances (Sisyphus).

Recorded live at 54 Below, NYC.

Raised That Way (Sisyphus)

Book: Johnny Blaze Leavitt and Julie Saltman
Lyrics: Charles Osborne

TAKING WING is anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages about the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

To prove the bullies wrong, Nya resolves to go to the Griffin King to get his help to become a Butterfly Fairy.

Recorded live at 54 Below, NYC.

Taking Wing

Book: Johnny Blaze Leavitt and Julie Saltman
Lyrics: Charles Osborne

TAKING WING is anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages about the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

The Griffin King is taken with the little caterpillar, Nya, and wants to help her by turning his claws into a goblet. His two advisors have differing opinions on the course of action.

Taking Wing Demos

What's The Use?

Book: Johnny Blaze Leavitt and Julie Saltman
Lyrics: Charles Osborne

TAKING WING is anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages about the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

Shergund, distraught from the oncoming goblin invasion, throws himself into the therapeutic art of baking pies.

Emimencian Rhapsody

Book: Johnny Blaze Leavitt and Julie Saltman
Lyrics: Charles Osborne

TAKING WING is anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages about the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

King Maldor, last of the Griffin race, has finally met someone, a caterpillar fairy named Nya, who is not afraid of him. He hopes to groom her to be the next leader of the land of Emimencia.

One Of My Kind

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

Using World War I Poet Alan Seeger's own words, we peel back the layers of time from 1923 to 1912.

Paris Through the Window - Abingdon Presentation #2

Do You Remember Once...

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

After completely bombing the public presentation of his latest poem, Alan yearns to be an artist who will be remembered and lauded long after his death.

Lucky Ones

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

Two star-crossed romantics on the verge of World War I weave a magical story and make a pact to shut out the outside world, and choose each other even for just one night.

Neighbors on a Star

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

As more and more men are dying on the western front, the families mourn their devastating losses.

Into The Light

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

The men of the front march to Alan Seeger's poem "Champagne". Two years into his military service to France, Alan has a chance to finally reunite with Marielle.

Champagne

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

WE ARE MYTH is a modern retelling of ancient Greek myths as applied to the issues facing a group of teens on one last camping trip the night before graduation.

Hyacinth and Apollo are the only two out gay kids at school and Apollo thinks they should get together. Hyacinth coyly refuses his advances, as he has fallen in love with a guy he's been talking to on OKCupid (Cupid and Psyche).

Recorded live at 54 Below, NYC

Bark and Bite (Daphne)

Book: Johnny Blaze Leavitt and Julie Saltman
Lyrics: Charles Osborne

TAKING WING is anti-bullying fantasy musical for all ages about the story of a little caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly fairy, to overcome the bullying of her peers. In a journey that takes her from the King of the Griffins to an invading army of Goblins, Nya learns to not be selfish and proves to everyone that "it doesn't take goods to do good."

Due to the continued bullying experienced at the hand of her peers, Nya returns twice more to King Maldor to request more and more of his power to give to her, while the King's advisor, Valedes, implores him to stop and focus on the oncoming goblin invasion.

Recorded live at 54 Below, NYC.

The Gifts

Book and Lyrics: Charles Osborne

PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW is about the City of Light in her darkest hour, and the men and women who took extraordinary measures, through pen or sword, to preserve the world they loved.

Ex-pats Alan Seeger and Marc Chagall grapple with what they owe the place that they have called home for the last few years, Paris.

You Are Paris

BROOKLYN BRIDGE tells the true story of the extraordinary woman who built the iconic bridge, becoming the world's first female chief engineer, when her architect husband became paralyzed early in construction.

Man-Made Stars is the night that electric light comes to New York City for the very first time, giving it it's identity as "the city that never sleeps". Emily Roebling, acting as the lead architect of the Brooklyn Bridge, describes the bridge to her bedridden husband, Wash.

Man-Made Stars

THE BODY POLITIC is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

Sola Chorus takes place the moment the US invaded Afghanistan, allowing music to return since it had been banned under the Taliban. However with music came the American bombs. Sola is Pashto for peace.

Sola Chorus

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world.

Constance, a conservative Afghan war widow, explains to her foster son Iphis, a trans-man from Afghanistan, that the goal of fostering him was to rehabilitate him back to understanding himself as a woman, and not the transgender man that he is.

The Body Politic at New York Musical Festival (NYMF)

Leave Us Be

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

A Drag Queen sings a country song at a dive bar on gay night in Chapel Hill, NC.

The Cowgirl Song

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

Constance, a conservative Afghan war widow, yearns for the peace she had before she lost her husband in the war, and fostered the constant reminder of him, Iphis, a trans man from Afghanistan, who wants nothing more than for them to continue to be a family. 

Recorded Live at 54 Below, NYC.

Peace and a Picket Fence

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

Roxanne, Iphis's mother, reminisces on the never-ending string of wars in Afghanistan that killed her husband, and has left her with no other option other than to present her youngest girl, Iphis, as a boy to the outside world in order to survive in a tradition known as "bacha posh". Iphis, who identifies as male, relishes the opportunity to go outside (a privilege limited only to males under the Taliban), and fly his kite (illegal under the Taliban).

The Body Politic LIVE

Sola (Peace) / Fly

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

Young Iphis is confronted with the opportunity to move to America. Will he stay in Afghanistan and conform as a woman and enter into the marriage his mother has arranged, or will he abandon the only family he knows in search of a life that may, or may not, give him the chance to live his life as a man?

What is the Meaning

Libretto by Charles Osborne

The Body Politic is a contemporary opera that follows Iphis, a transgender man from Afghanistan, who emigrates to North Carolina at the height of the Afghan War. As his LBGT social circle collides with the traditional American Family, this explosive new musical exposes the daily bigotry facing the trans community, and the divisive prejudices of the post-9/11 world. 

Iphis, a trans man and afghan refugee, and his room-mate Eugene, a southern drag queen, come to terms with the fact that their hole of Chapel Hill may not be ready for them. So they set their sights on New York City.

Fly Alone

Commissioned by Kate Jablonski and Beyond Words Dance Company. Premiered at the New Worlds Stages, New York City, NY. 

Kate's Song

Movement 1 of 4. This Woodwind Quintet was a product of the 3 month collaboration with Halcyon Woodwind Quintet. 

Storm Sketches - Clouds Gather

Saxophone Quartet. Winner of a ASCAP Morton Gould Award 2009. 

Zydeco

A short string quartet originally choreographed by Alonzo King.  

Fire Dance

Winner of Best Original Score at the 33rd College Television Awards. The musical is about a female scientist and her zombie lover. 

Leo Hurley Composer

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