HALF THE SKY
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Book & Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
Directed by Desdemona Chiang
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HALF THE SKY tells the story of an Asian American woman climbing Mount Everest — a contemporary American musical on a global scale, infused with the sounds of traditional Thai and Himalayan folk music.
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A year after her sister’s death, Aurelie sets out to fulfill her childhood dream of climbing Mount Everest. She joins an international group of mountaineers from around the globe. As Aurelie embarks on her path to the top of the world, memories of her Thai American past and the unresolved rift between her and her sister begin to surface. Borders between countries and cultures, past and present, and waking and dreaming blur in this epic journey of ambition, survival and reconciliation.
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Audio
Featuring:
Diana Huey
Kendyl Ito
Liz McCartney
Jamen Nanthakumar
James Seol
Piano:
Tidtaya Sinutoke
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Percussion:
Brandon Wong
Production/Development History:
• Musical Theatre Factory Joe's Pub Concert (2022)
• National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Finalist (2021)
• The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2020-2021 Digital Season (2021)
• Richard Rodgers Award Finalist (2021)
• Rhinebeck Writers Retreat (2020)
• Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award, with director Nana Dakin (2020)
• Eugene O'Neill Center's Independent Writer Residency (2020)
• The 5th Avenue Theatre Showcase (2019)
• Theater Latté Da's NEXT Festival (2019)
• Theater Mu's New Eyes Festival (2019)
• Commissioned by the 5th Avenue Theatre's First Draft: Raise Your Voice Program (2018-2019)
• First Draft Story Summit at the 5th Avenue Theatre (2018)​​​​
Videos
Filmed live February 28, 2022
Presented by Joe's Pub in association with Musical Theatre Factory
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Director: Desdemona Chiang
Music Director: Robert Frost
Featuring:
Shannon Tyo, Michael Maliakel, James Seol, Kendyl Ito, Victoria Huston-Elem
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Piano: Robert Frost
Drums: Brandon Wong
Bass: Yuka Tadano
Guitar: Ben Samuelson
Violin: Francesca Dawis
Klui: Tidtaya Sinutoke
"A591" from HALF THE SKY
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Performers: Michael Maliakel, Shannon Tyo
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"Outside" from HALF THE SKY
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Performers: Shannon Tyo, Michael Maliakel, James Seol, Kendyl Ito, Victoria Huston-Elem
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"Half the Sky" from HALF THE SKY
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Performer: Shannon Tyo
"Bistarai" from HALF THE SKY
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Performers: Kendyl Ito with Shannon Tyo, Michael Maliakel, James Seol, Victoria Huston-Elem
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"Rooftop" from HALF THE SKY
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Performers: Shannon Tyo, Kendyl Ito
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"Golden Bird" from HALF THE SKY
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Performer: Victoria Huston-Elem
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"The View" from HALF THE SKY
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Performer: James Seol
"Bistarai" from HALF THE SKY
Performers: Diany Huey, Kendyl Ito, Liz McCartney, Jamen Nanthakumar, and James Seoul
Piano: Tidtaya Sinutoke
Percussion: Brandon Wong
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Rhinebeck Writers Retreat - Meet the Writers
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
"Outside" - Gemma Nha
The Lotte Lenya Competition Songbook
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
"A591" - Michael Maliakel & Kendyl Yokoyama
ZAPI Artists - THIS IS THE HOUR: Under Our Own Pen
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
"Golden Bird" - Isabella Dawis
From Mu, With Love: A Virtual Cabaret -
Theater Mu
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
© 2026 by Tidtaya Sinutoke.