Compositions
April 2019
Music for the original theater piece Dividual, written by Paul Manganello, conceived by Paul Manganello and Michael Malis
Instrumentation: keyboards, percussion, live electronics, fixed media
Premiered at the Cleveland Public Theater April 2019
April 2019
Co-Composed by Balance (Michael Malis and Marcus Elliot)
After texts from I Got To Keep Moving by Bill Harris (Wayne State University Press)
Featuring:
Bill Harris — narration
Gerald Cleaver — drums
Marcus Elliot — saxophone
Michael Malis — piano
Performed at the Toledo Museum of Art; University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance; and Detroit Public Library Main Branch
“What was most striking about the synergy between Harris and the band was the sheer beauty of the music: the stark contrast between the grim realities of Harris's story and the band's melodic core, located in Elliot's exultant phrases and Malis's evocative runs, was stirring. And much of the music's strength was found in the spirit of resilience and defiance that permeates Harris's text.” — All About Jazz
October 2015
Co-developed, co-composed, and performed by Michael Malis, Matthew Daher, and Costa Kazaleh Sirdenis
Instrumentation: piano, drumset, live electronics, text
Warped and Wept is a performance piece that draws on hour‐long conversations with 8 masculine‐identifying Detroit interviewees of various backgrounds and ages. Audio excerpts from their intimate articulations about their relationship with masculinity and with crying are interwoven with live improvised music, movement, animation, installation, and electroacoustic sound design.
Developed through an Artist Hub Residency at the Carr Center, Detroit MI
Performed at the Carr Center, Burdock (Toronto), and La Plante (Montréal).
October 2013
Original music for the theater piece String Up the Moon, devised by Samuel Blake, Jim Manganello, Paul Manganello, and Sango Tajima
Instrumentation: piano, drums, percussion, and electronics
Produced by Fratellanza
Debuted at Detroit PuppetART Theater, Detroit MI, October 2013
“Risk-taking and courage, exhibited by talented theater artists who have boldly created something unconventional.” — Encore Michigan
June 2012
Original music for theater production written by Jim Manganello and Paul Manganello
Instrumentation: piano, percussion, electronics
Produced by Fratellanza
Debuted at the New Theater Project, Ypsilanti MI, June 2012
Remounted in at the Galway Fringe Festival, Galway, Ireland 2014
Winner of “Best International Production” at the Galway Fringe Festival 2014
