I'll start at the beginning.

In 2019 while in LA for a gig, I found my plans cancelled (actually, I chose to go someplace that was closed — sadly not unusual) so I thought to make the best of it by making my first visit to the Getty Museum.
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The featured exhibit was called “Modern Beauty” showing the later paintings of Édouard Manet, who I didn’t have any particular connection to at the time, little knowing this encounter would be one that would shape my artistic life from then on.

I found myself fascinated by the portraits, and started scribbling down words (lyrics?) to some of them. I was astonished at how moved I was by the still lifes. I got the book of paintings from the exhibit, as many postcards as I could.

In 2020 — well, a lot happened (and didn't). I worked on and released another project that was in the works, made quarantine videos, promising myself I would get to Manet once I had finished.

When I eventually did, the songs came. In 2022, I recorded a demo, worked on a script. It wasn't finished -- but was on it was well on its way!

In 2023, I made a card, inspired by one of Manet’s solo exhibits, to give out on the steps of the Met Museum as an “unofficial audio guide” to accompany their paintings at the “Manet/Degas” exhibit there.

(Turns out, I am very bad at talking to strangers and handing them things. I still have hundreds of these cards.)

At “Manet/Degas” I got a more intimate look at Manet’s work, and then understood what next to do with the piece — to focus not on single paintings, but women he depicted time and time again. I became very intimate with them in this writing, the show ever more startlingly personal.

In 2024, The show and script now more or less complete, writer, friend, and now intrepid producer Cassandra Csencsitz produced two private readings for theater biz folks in the West Village. We received some very meaningful praise from writers and performers (you can read them in the trailer linked below.) The show was renamed for the last number, becoming “Beyond the Frame."​
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We took meetings with producers and learned what to do next: find a director. Thus began a ten month education and journey to find the right captain to helm the artistic ship. Kismet and providence provided, and we proudly added the inspiring and insightful Gaye Taylor Upchurch to our team.

We worked on the script together, refining and reflecting. In August 2025 we had our second reading for invited audience, where I was joined once more by the incomparable Jeb Patton, and we got to toast over "Still Life Spritz"s at the Edition Hotel afterwards.

Since then, I added a new song and made more revisions to the script. It's ready not just to be read, but to be fully performed.

Now, we plan to take the next step in our journey — to arrange the music (with my partner-in-all-things, the multi-Grammy Award winning Ted Nash), record it, release it and eventually, perform the full show off-Broadway. We can’t do it without your (tax-deductible) support and your becoming part of this community that feel so passionately about this work and the power of art.

Thank you for considering being a part of the team that makes 2026 the year we record this music, and get ourselves ready for the stage. It's time.

​Fractured Atlas Fundraiser​

Thank you.

Truly,

Kristen

P.S. If you would like to hear more of the music as part of your consideration, please just email me, I'd be happy to share some of the material with you privately.

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