PGHwrites: Andrew Swensen & Yan Pang’s “Shelter” (Musical Theatre Showcase)

This special PGHwrites program features a musical theater showcase of Shelter, from the minds of Andrew Swensen and Yan Pang.

Shelter tells the story of scars carried from childhood into adulthood, exploring how they distort our vision of ourselves and damage our relationships, but also ultimately create the challenges by which we claim our strength and achieve self-determination. Paige, our protagonist, takes a journey through a series of memories, traveling with her childhood self through her past. She confronts unresolved sadness and unhealed brokenness resulting from her mother’s alcoholism, and this journey leads her to confront her own dysfunction in a life where she wants to help everyone but fears substantial attachments. Her life telescopes into an unhealthy mix of self-serving selflessness and psychological isolation, a well-wrought “shelter” that she has constructed from the pain of life. She emerges on the other side when she confronts her own role in what she has become, releases her blame toward her mother, and opens herself to the prospect of a genuine, balanced connection to another. 

This is the story of tearing down the walls that we ourselves have built. We see Paige before the walls were built (Young Paige), and then see the current life of fragmentation constructed as a shelter built around the place of her pain. The story then follows the path of her bringing down the walls, which are not actually protecting her but are keeping her from the possibility of living life fully.

Cast (in order of appearance): 

PAIGE Sofia Swensen

YOUNG PAIGE Audrey Logan

MOTHER Wendy Matsutani

MONSTER/TOMMY Colin Ruffer

MIGUEL/BARTENDER/STEVEN Melvin Holley

ROGER/ENSEMBLE Andy Moats

Featured Artists:

Piano: Thanakarm Lintham

Music Director: Amanda Sun

Book and lyrics: Andrew Swensen

Music: Yan Pang

Special thanks to Coleman, Deidre Cronin, Marina De Ratmiroff, Kevin Lewis, Jason Noer, Eli Plummer, Michelle Van Doeren, Gabrielle Wagner

About the Artists:

Mel Holley (Miguel/Bartender/Steven/Ensemble) is a graduate of Point Park University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. An actor and a playwright, Mel has mainly focused on writing since graduating from Point Park, with a literary library of about 10 plays over the course of six years, three produced. Previous professional acting credits include: Pittsburgh Playhouse REP’s Choir Boy (David) and NYWITF’s The Adventures of PJ (PJ & James Baldwin). He currently serves as one of the Assistant Directors of Artistic Recruitment for Point Park’s Conservatory. Mel is so ecstatic to help bring Yan and Andrew’s work to life alongside some deeply talented creatives. @melholley26

Audrey Logan (Young Paige) is a BroadwayWorld and Gene Kelly Award–winning soprano from Pittsburgh. Regionally, she has performed in Carousel, She Loves Me, Jersey Boys, and Oklahoma!, as well as a Guest Artist for the Tulsa Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. She holds a BM in musical theatre and vocal performance from Oklahoma City University. 

Wendy Matsutani Kellogg (Mother) is a Japanese-American singer and actor based in the Twin Cities. Most recently, she had the honor of participating in a workshop of Shelter this past February in Minnesota, alongside Dr. Andrew Swensen and Dr. Yan Pang. She is thrilled to return to the role of Mother and delve into the character on an even deeper level. Wendy holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota (UMN). As a proud UMN alum, she recently performed the role of Aunt Xue in the world premiere of the chamber version of the opera Dream of the Red Chamber. Her additional credits include the world premiere of The Song Poet with Minnesota Opera and the Minnesota premiere of Proving Up with Journey North Opera Company. She has also performed with a variety of Twin Cities-based companies, including Full Circle Theater Company, Theater Mu, and the Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company. 

Thanakarn Limtham (Piano) is a distinguished Thai pianist, composer, and band leader. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin. He won first prize at the 2023 Charleston International Music Competition (19th Century Music) and was a Major Winner at the Pittsburgh Concert Society in 2022. Learn more at: www.thanakarnlimtham.com

Andy Moats (Roger/Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of Shelter— his first professional production ever! Currently based in Pittsburgh, he attends Carnegie Mellon University, pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre. Originally from Dallas, he is a Texas boy at heart and loves his family of nine (seven siblings!) more than anything. He’d like to thank his God, his mom, and his family for all their support.

Colin Ruffer (Monster/Tommy/Ensemble) is a multi-genre artist with performance experience spanning from musical theatre to opera to radio tunes. Highlights include Into the Woods, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Falsettos, Cinderella, The Secret Garden, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Lil’ Abner, Anything Goes, Once Upon a Mattress, Die Zauberflöte, La Bohemé, Carmen, Our Town, and The Cunning Little Vixen. Colin is an assistant professor in the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University and serves as the artistic director of the New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, with a mission of providing a space for new work development.

Sofia Swensen is a NYC-based actor, singer, and dancer. Credits include: Anita/Ursula u/s in The Little Mermaid, Anybodys in West Side Story, and Angie in Rocky. Off the stage, she carols with Christmas Matters and trains clients how to lift heavy things. She would like to thank the love of her life, Tony, and her wonderful voice teacher, Marina DeRatmiroff, for her expertise, brilliance, and never-ending support. Syracuse University Department of Drama BFA.

About Your Visit: 

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