Joy Kosta, Book Writer
Joy affirmed her love for theatre at Syracuse University. A life-long writer and dancer, once she discovered tango, Tango Tonight! became inevitable, brought to life with composer Bob Merrill. She brings operations experience in professional and community theatre and is a member of Musical Writers Academy, New Dramatist Guild, National Alliance Musical Theatre, and New Musicals Inc. Joy is actively developing two more plays, participating in Watch Me Work, Public Theatre & Howl Round Theatre Commons with Suzan-Lori Parks.
Bob Merrill, Composer
As a songwriter, he has written dozens of songs, ten of which he recorded for his first album, “(Got No) Razzle Dazzle.” He won Honorable Mention in the Billboard Song Contest for “Standin’ On Solid Ground.” As a composer, he has written jingles, themes, and underscore for ballet, theater, industrial video, television, and film. His theme for the educational video “Kids’ Coach” received special mention in a People Magazine “Picks and Pans” review.
He’s the founder of Tango Norte, a tango ensemble that plays milongas (public tango dances), and has a long-standing following. He studied with Latin Grammy award-winning pianist/composer Gustavo Casenave. He regularly composes and performs original underscore for silent films for Dartmouth’s Hopkins Center Film series and for Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH. He has played his silent film scores at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, and at Memorial Hall Center for the Arts in Wilmington, VT, and has original scores in two recent silent film restoration releases.
About This Play
Since its origins, tango filled a feeling of loneliness among immigrants. Today when people don’t have the words to connect across diverse perspectives and backgrounds, tango still brings people together in an artistic encounter of self-expression, no matter who they are, where they come from, or whether they speak the same language.
Tango Tonight! draws from the rich tradition of Argentine tango, weaving it into a contemporary musical. The audience includes people who love musicals and dance, people who know nothing about tango, and tango aficionados. We see tango’s lessons as a metaphor for living, and a unifying force to embrace humanity. Diversity and inclusion are central themes.
Synopsis
On his way to a world championship, Sergio, a professional tango dancer, battles to sever ties with his controlling con artist “agent” Mort, who supports him. Janel resists her corporate employer’s lack of business ethics, and escapes from her high-pressure job to tango. Posing as a dance agent, Mort offers to match Janel with Sergio in exchange for investing in his career. Beguiled by Sergio’s dance chemistry, Janel departs with Sergio for the Buenos Aries World Tango Competition, until his past catches up with him.
Mort follows Sergio to Buenos Aries and is determined to win the cash first prize, by enlisting a younger more naïve dancer to compete against Sergio. Sergio is determined he and Janel will win to recover money Mort has swindled from Janel. As their mutual feelings grow, Sergio confesses the con to Janel and commits he will lead an honorable life. But will Janel forgive Sergio and stay when her employer demands she return to her job?
On the night of the competition finals, Janel and Sergio are missing. To what lengths has Mort gone to win? How will Janel pursue success in business and not lose the love of her life? As our characters reconcile romance, betrayal and redemption, they discover that forgiveness moves love forward, and that it is never too late to make a family and reclaim love.