COMPOSER
A Little About His Work
Joseph Thor’s music has traveled both worldwide and around the continental United States. His work “Odds and Ends” has been described as “having wonderful songs” by Nick Blaemire and “Fantastic” by Drew Gasparini. It was also featured as a developmental workshop as apart of the New Ground Theater Company’s 2023-2024 season at The Boston Conservatory. His short play, “Fruit of The Loom” co-written with Brendan Sheehan, won 9 APO awards in its collegiate debut. Other major works include: “Conquest IV” at the New England Young Composers forum, nominations for best arrangement at the 2020 ICCA’s, and the song “You and Me” featured in some versions of the Ratatouille musical.
Odds & Ends, A Song Cycle
Odds and Ends is a song cycle that explores the emotions of the universal human experience through heightened scenarios most humans have never experienced. Whether it be an insecure vampire who craves acceptance, the monster under the bed who misses you when you’re not home, or the stuffed rabbit in your arms who wants to sing you a lullaby, we identify with these character’s desires, dreams, and need for love. Even though we aren’t vampires… probably.
Odds and Ends follows these characters as they face their big emotions and strive to liberate themselves from their insecurities. With a message about self-love and the importance of your community and relationships, it is a piece full of heart and laughter that is both truthful and ultimately uplifting.
Haystack, “yep it’s real”
A folk-tastic new musical that tells the story of four misfit travelers who find themselves both figuratively and literally looking for a needle in a haystack. Once inside the stack they encounter larger than life challenges aided by mystical beings, lost explorers, and ex celebrities. Haystack makes everyone search for their own personal needle, while laughing all the way home.
Loosely based on this iconic novel “Paradise Lost”, Fallen Star retells the story of the fall of Lucifer. Only this time our protagonist is the archangel Peter, who guards the gates of heaven. After his warnings to God and those in heaven about stirrings in hell go unheard, Peter decides to take matters into his own hands and visit hell. However, when he does, he seemingly discovers a Utopia, where each person works for themselves to bring them prosperity. With talks of rebellion spreading and leaders who both preach that their ideal is correct, Peter must make the ultimate choice. Fallen Star begs the same question to Peter as it does the audience: which side are you on?
