DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
WESLEY has been developed over multiple workshops at the Opera Department of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University where our director, Mary Duncan, serves as Managing Artistic Director. Our Peabody development cast includes graduate and former graduate students from the Vocal Studies Department.
Peabody Institute of
The Johns Hopkins University
On May 15, 2024, an Industry Reading of “WESLEY” was presented at the Jerry Orbach Theater on 50th Street in New York City, featuring the development cast from The Peabody Institute.
Reading Cast:: Andrianna Ayala, Daniel Sanchez, Christa Lisette Beveridge, Jacob Heacock, Ryan Alexander, Tara Dougherty, Olivia Heaner, and Joseph Richwine.
STACY O’BRIEN
Author of Wesley the Owl
FROM THE “WESLEY" INDUSTRY READING May15, 2024
When I saw the first reading of "Wesley" in New York, not only did the story ring true in form and spirit to my book, but it profoundly affected the audience - who were laughing out loud and openly crying throughout.
It movingly depicted my life as a young research biologist rescuing and adopting a baby owl with an injured wing, then watching him grow from a helpless fluff ball into an avid communicator with whom I developed a language all our own for the next nineteen years.
And incredibly, how later, Wesley’s insistent love, loyalty and courage rescued me from death when I was battling my own life-threatening illness.
Having lived the real story, it was amazing to me how the musical mirrored the essence of the real life people and my remarkable little barn owl upon whom it was based.
It is a stunning stage adaptation that left me and my editor in tears, along with everyone else in attendance.
Stacey O’Brien, author of “Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of a Bird and His Girl.” In attendance
