After the well-deserved success of its initial developmental concert presentation in January, AVALONA, A Musical Legend, by creator and performer Dina Fanai, has returned for an additional limited engagement on Friday and Saturday nights through March 29, at The Sanctuary at St. Paul & St. Andrew. Inspired by the poetic mysticism of Rumi – a 13th-century poet, scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic – with insights from Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth and the archetypes of Jungian psychology, the immersive performance, combining song, dance, storytelling, and 3D digital projections, takes audiences on a spiritual journey of courage, self-discovery, healing, and transformation, as the eponymous woman confronts her inner doubts, discovers her own essence and truth, and chooses to “LIVE. LOVE. SEE,” while encouraging us to do the same.
Staged in the lofty sanctuary of the church, with the pews arranged and the audience seated around the circular performance space and an hourglass at its center (the circle is a Jungian symbol of the Self; the hourglass represents the passage of time, awareness of our mortality, and the need to make the most of our lives), Avalona’s inner quest is presented in twelve “sectors” that conform to the hours on the face of a clock, which appears repeatedly in projections on the floor, side screens, and draped fabrics. Each of the segments is introduced from the gallery level above by The Weaver of Time, in contemplative ruminations that form the tapestry of the protagonist’s odyssey and shape our understanding of the questions she asks herself, the challenges she faces, and the concerns from within that she must overcome.
She is encircled and led by six Guides through the shadows of the unknown that haunt her mind, encounters with magical embodiments of The Dark Horse (symbolizing in Jung the unconscious, subconscious, and instinctual drives), The Child (representing innocence and earliest impressions, including feeling loved or hurt), and The Shaman (the wounded healer, who emerges with the knowledge and power to heal others), and the presence of The Shadow (the repressed or denied, hidden or unconscious aspects of the personality that are perceived as negative but are essential for growth), so she can learn, see, and ultimately make her way into the light and find the sacred place within herself – and, by extension, within all of us, identifying everyone there not merely as a theater-going viewer but as “The Seeker.”
Under the spellbinding direction of Dodd Loomis and musical supervision of Bob Kinkel, the multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional performance takes on an appropriately ethereal otherworldly tone, as Avalona looks at, then beyond, the illusions and overcomes the psychological and emotional negativity that hinders her. There are also moments of direct interplay with the audience, inviting us further into the realm of her experience and concluding with an ebullient group dance to “All About Love” – the over-riding message of Rumi’s philosophy and this uplifting show.
Jenna Rubaii brings her empathy and expressiveness to the lead character, manifesting the range of profound feelings she experiences through each sector and interactive vision, with her powerhouse vocals (the eleven-o’clock number “Fearless” is a blockbuster), agile movement, and emotive face and body language. The featured cast of five – Fanai as The Weaver, Madeline Serrano as The Child, Fabricio Seraphin as The Dark Horse, Maya Days as The Shaman, and Constantine Maroulis as The Shadow – is equally outstanding, all embodying the intrinsic nature of their roles with archetypal characterizations and commanding the stage with their exceptional talents and passionate deliveries of the show’s 23 didactic musical numbers (music and lyrics by Fanai) in their formidable voices (including The Shaman and The Shadow asking Avalona in song, “Whatchagonnachoose”).
Their stellar singing is accompanied by live musicians Dave Eggar on cello and keyboard and Chuck Palmer on percussion and set to pre-recorded electronic synth soundtracks (produced by Fanai and Kinkel, with sound and mixing by Linds Cadwell) that contribute aurally to the preternatural tone. And the entire fully committed ensemble of Guides – Morgan Andrews, Alyssa Rose Bulin, Kenley Hardwick, Kaori Hiwasa, Jamal Shuriah, and Jordann Stoute – embraces the purpose and transcendent actions of the spiritual figures, in their stunning execution of choreography (by Natalie Lomonte) that combines modern dance, expressionist movement, and acrobatics, with solemn and joyful ritual.
The captivating performance is enhanced by evocative lighting (by Jason Boyd) and active projections (by James Lanius III) that transport us to another realm, costumes and accessories (by Galit Levi – also the main designer of the show, Christine Darch, AchesonWalsh Studios, Le Minou Chanceux, Francesca Todesco, Dances-We-Dance Inc., and Nicole Loizides – MovingOn.dance) defining the symbolic characters, and a scenic design (by Derek Stenborg) that emphasizes the motif of the circle, with sheer white fabric hangings suggestive of the metaphorical veils Avalona removes to reveal her true self.
My best advice is to LIVE and go SEE the brilliantly conceived, masterfully performed, and remarkably distinctive AVALONA; you are sure to LOVE it as much as I did.
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, without intermission.
Avalona, A Musical Legend plays Fridays and Saturdays through March 29, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at The Sanctuary at St. Paul & St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street, NYC. For tickets (priced at $63.74-113.89, including fees), go online.
