Jeff Flaster
Melodic Music
Overview
Based on O Henry’s sunnier version of Les Misérables, Following Jimmy Valentine pits a detective out of Blue Bloods against a thief like Remington Steele.
Story
Challenged when his reflection talks back to him, inspired when he falls in love with Annabel Adams, notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine has gone straight. But with driven Detective Jen Price on his trail, is it too late?
Characters
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Notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine, on the day of his release from prison, swears he'll go straight.
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His cellmate Emil LaRue laughs. When Jimmy goes back to his old ways, it seems that Emil is right. But when Jimmy is stealing an emerald bracelet,
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His Reflection argues with him from the other side of a mirror. This could be Jimmy’s last theft. But what Jimmy doesn't know is that the bracelet belongs to
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Disillusioned New Orleans Police Detective Jen Price, who decides to go after Jimmy so that she can feel like a hero again, even though this decision sparks a breakup with
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Her girlfriend Collette Adams, protective owner of a bank in quiet Elmore, Louisiana, and widowed mother of
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Annabel Adams, an independent young woman seeking adventure. When Jimmy runs to Elmore and falls in love with Annabel, has she found more adventure than she can handle?
Listen
The music of Following Jimmy Valentine employs Beethovenesque motivic development in genres such as country, jazz, rock, R&B, and gospel, creating a score that is memorable, varied, distinctive, and coherent.
Sample Tracks:
Watch
History
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Workshop Reading directed by Rebecca Lowrey, June 2024, Dallas, TX
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Zoom reading directed by Lennie Watts as Shell Shock, October 2021, featuring Ashton Michael Corey as Jimmy Valentine, Eve Eaton as Jen Price, Grace Fluharty as Annabel Adams, Derek Staranowski as Morgan Adams, and Bobby Peaco on piano. The demo tracks available on this page come from this reading.
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Stage reading directed by Lennie Watts as A Retrieved Reformation, May 2019, National Opera Center, New York, NY
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Stage reading directed by Collette Black as A Retrieved Reformation, May 2018, Don’t Tell Mama, New York, NY
Contact
For more information about Following Jimmy Valentine, or to inquire about collaborations or productions, please email please email Jeff Flaster, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics, at jeff@melodic.com.