Dear Friends and Theatre Lovers:

 

There are moments in life when we stop—consciously or not—to search. For meaning. For answers. For direction. As playwright Joel Krantz so beautifully says:​ "There is a seeker inside all of us."

 

One of my deepest passions is finding stories that are ready to be told—stories that ask big questions, move hearts, and remind us of our shared humanity. Over the years, I’ve encountered countless new musicals and plays in development. Many of them come with bold claims: “This will be a hit!” “Broadway is next!”  I admire that kind of passion—honestly, it’s infectious. But the truth is, not every work is ready to take that leap.

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Then I met Joel Krantz.

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He introduced me to Ocean in a Teacup, a musical he was preparing to present at a theatre festival he founded. He hired me as his publicist, and truthfully, I didn’t expect much from yet another developmental festival production.

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But then I saw the show.​ I heard the music. I watched a group of young performers give their all. I listened to a story that felt both deeply personal and profoundly universal. And I was hooked.

 

Ocean in a Teacup isn’t just another hopeful musical—it’s the rare kind of piece that speaks to the heart and the soul. For the first time in a long while, I met a creator who was absolutely right about the power of their work.

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This musical is emotionally rich, beautifully crafted, and spiritually resonant. It’s about love, war, inner transformation, and what it means to search for purpose in a broken world. And the music—honest, moving, and memorable—stays with you.

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So yes, I’m seeking something now too: your support.

 

Joel has spent nearly a decade bringing this musical to life. He’s self-funded readings, workshops, rewrites, video recordings, and outreach to producing companies. He’s come close—but now, the show needs the right strategy and structure to take the next big step.

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That’s where I come in—and hopefully, where you do too.

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We are now building a plan to fully develop Ocean in a Teacup into a production-ready show. That means:

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• Bringing on a dramaturg who understands the emotional and cultural layers of the story

• Partnering with a long-term director who can shape a bold, visionary staging

• Hiring a musical arranger to elevate the already beautiful score

• And forming a creative development team to fine-tune every element of the work

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This is the first step in a larger journey: from intimate stages to regional theatres, and yes—possibly Off-Broadway, a national tour, or even Broadway itself. Too soon to know? Maybe. But we believe in preparing with excellence and dreaming big.

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To get there, we’re raising an initial round of $25,000–$35,000 in seed funding. This will cover the first phase of development and allow us to attract the right collaborators and partners.

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We’re not just asking for donations—we’re inviting you to come along for the journey. To be a part of something beautiful, meaningful, and resonant. To help bring to life a story about a seeker who finds love and humanity in a time of war—just when the world needs stories like this the most.

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If Ocean in a Teacup speaks to something in you, I’d love to talk. I’m happy to share more, show you what we’re building, and find ways you can support us—creatively, financially, or simply by helping us spread the word.

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Let’s build something remarkable together.

 

With gratitude and excitement,

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Roger Gonzalez

Producer, Director

President of INDIEARTZ and TheatreArtz.com​

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