2009: Brian Degas and Phil Lanzon met in Broadstairs, Kent, where they both lived, after Phil had attended a talk given by Brian. The two men became friends and went on to collaborate on a new rock musical, which would also include beautiful anthemic ballads. They researched stories about a time when America opened its arms to Immigrants from all over war-torn Europe and they set the musical in 1917.
Reading true accounts of the Immigrants’ journey to America in the hope of being accepted into that great country, inspired a one day snapshot of time on Ellis Island before successful applicants were able to change what money they brought with them into dollars and be ferried over to Manhattan, as the start of their journey to a new life. THE GOLDEN DOOR became an ensemble musical based on the true accounts of a group of Immigrants from different European countries. Judged on their health and other background details, not all Immigrants were successful, and some were sent back home to face the terror of war, of famine, forced labour, relocation, and disease.
In 2015, Brian contacted Joan Lane and sent her a package about the new rock musical he was writing with Phil. It was called HEARTBREAK ISLAND, the original title given to THE GOLDEN DOOR. Brian asked Joan to consider producing the new musical for them. Having a desk full of other projects at that time, she turned down the opportunity. As a classical music scholar from the age 11 to 18, she felt had little to bring to the table for a rock musical but responded by sending the names and contact details of others who might be able to help.
In January 2023, Phil decided the musical was too good to leave on the shelf and wrote a bunch of new songs which he went on to demo with top session players and singers. While tidying his studio he came across the original letter to Joan and immediately called her to say that Brian had passed away in 2020. Meantime, she had passed on information about the musical to an American colleague. He too had been busy, so was unable to undertake more work. Phil then persuaded her to listen to some of the recent music written for the show. She liked it, a lot, and asked colleagues in the music industry for their view. It was unanimous: this was something different with great potential. So, following further conversations with Phil, and with a director in mind for a Showcase performance, she, Phil, and director Amanda Noar met up for the first time. Bringing in contacts from the world of musical theatre, progress moved swiftly from the (very successful Showcase) to the Concept Album with the expectation of a stage production in the near future.
Images of Ellis Island circa 1917 (click below)