Cry of the Ghost Wind …

 

imagines a legacy for an historic figure: a Nicoleño Indian woman who survived alone for eighteen years on San Nicolas Island, an inhospitable mass of land off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.  Her real name was never known, but following her rescue by George Nidever, she was given the name Juana Maria. Scott O’Dell’s compelling novel, Island of the Blue Dolphins, inspired this musical, although the story-line is significantly different and the woman is named Azara.

 

The drama opens in 1853 upon Azara’s arrival in Santa Barbara. After her untimely death, her ghost is persuaded to come to terms with her anguished past in order to remain on the island as a Protector of the Wild. But Azara is tricked. Her quest for enlightenment involves higher stakes than she understood and her decision will have everlasting consequences. Dedicated to her success are her favorite creatures of the sea whose own experiences speak to present-day issues of conservation and environmental protection.

 

Fifteen original songs are woven into this two-act musical designed for school drama groups and children’s theatre companies.

 

“Your poetry is so profound, the issues are gut wrenching, I am moved to tears by several of the songs. It is a winner.”

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