ICKY: A Radio Musical
Created During the Pandemic Lockdown
The Children’s Hour Inc. presents…
ICKY: A Radio Musical
Way back in the days before the end of The Big Sick, students everywhere were forced to stare at computer screens featuring live video feeds of their classmates. This was happening in bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens across the country and the world.
With the help (and the subconscious musings) of a dreamer named Halley, a team of super heroes discover that unity and togetherness can get them through any sicky situation.
ICKY runs 35 minutes.
Poster art by Noe Barnett
© 2020 The Children’s Hour Inc.
ICKY: A Radio Musical
LEARN MORE: ICKY Learn-Along Guide
Credits
Starring
Illuminata, Maya F, Airdrie, Flo, Kodiak, Corbit, Maya M., Melissa, Amadeus, Zen, Isaac, Thaniel, Xander, Kalum, Lucas, Sasha Menéndez,
Tania Hopkins & Katie Stone
Produced by Katie Stone
Directed by Jonathan Dunski
Written by Sarin Monet West
Composed by Jules Latimer Warren
Lyrics by Hakim Bellamy
Assistant Direction by Nicholas Main
Musical Direction & Arrangement by Sage Sarason
Recording Engineering by Andrés MartÃnez Scoring by Robb Janov
Sound Design by Jen Kraus
Poster & Coloring Book Art by Noe Barnett Â
The ICKY Band:
Guitar by Kyle Malone
Violin, Robb Janov
Drums & Percussion, Josh English
Keyboards, Shaun Hettinger
Bass, Paul Hunton
Ukelele, Maya Malone
Making ICKY during the COVID pandemic lockdown
How did we make ICKY during a pandemic lockdown in New Mexico? The Children’s Hour Radio Musical Players are children from our Kids Crew and a few parents. We met weekly online together with our professional creative team and learned about how everyone was coping with the pandemic lockdown. Our creative team asked us to think about how we might envision an end to COVID-19. The ICKY story came out of these online weekly workshops, including quotes taken directly from our conversations.Â
Our creative team worked to write the story, musical compositions, and lyrics. The Kids Crew was presented with a script and songs which we practiced together on Zoom.Â
One cloudy day, we recorded ICKY in person, gathering in a field next to our Sunspot Solar Studio. Each member of the cast was in their family’s car, with a wireless microphone coming through a window. We wore headphones that carried the sound of all our voices, plus the soundtrack instrumentals. Our director Jonathan was in the back of his convertible giving us instructions and keeping the recording moving along.Â
Because there was a restriction on having more than 5 people together at once, our music director Sage, composer Jules and writer Sarin were with us online. The only people not in cars were the guys on our engineering team and Katie Stone. Photos here were taken by The Children’s Hour.Â
ICKY: Art Contest Winners
1st Place
“Visitation”
Xander, 8
2nd Place
“Boredom”
Valerie, 16
3rd Place
“Sorrow”
Maya, 8
ICKY In The News
The Paper
Katie Stone guest writes a column all about ICKY and how it came to be. What inspired it and how all the creatives were assembled to create a once-in-a-lifetime creation. She explains how this musical opens up conversations about COVID-19 and kids’ concerns about it.
New Mexico In Focus
Katie discusses ALL THINGS ICKY with Gene Grant from New Mexico in Focus, A Production of NMPBS. Watch the interview in its entirety here online. Find out how this sick icky came to life.
Hear the Podcast of the interview!
New Mexico Living
Katie zooms with Flavia Costa to discuss how ICKY came to be and how you can find it! Find the interview here