AnnMarie Milazzo is releasing a concept album of her musical Joy, inspired by the life of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano. The Shape of Things: Songs From Joy the Musical will release January 17 via Joy Machine Records. Get a first listen to the album's title track, featuring vocals by Milazzo, above.
Pre-order and pre-save the album here.
“Making this record was an opportunity for me to get back to my roots in the recording studio, working with my band and doing the thing I love most—writing and singing songs,” says Milazzo in a statement.
Based on Mangano's memoir Inventing Joy: Dare to Build a Brave and Creative Life, Joy features music and lyrics by Milazzo and a book by producer Ken Davenport. The work played a world premiere engagement at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse in 2022, and recently held an industry reading directed by Lorin Latarro. The project is being produced by Davenport and Sandi Moran with TBD Theatricals, Jonathan and Rae Corr, Adam Riemer, Scott Abrams, Christine Petti, Sheri and Les Biller, Marco Santarelli, Michael T. Cohen and Robin Reinach, Megan Ann Rasmussen, Christine G. Williamson, and Matthew Salloway.
The forthcoming concept album is produced by the musical's music director Sonny Paladino, with Davenport serving as executive producer and Mary Elizabeth Dina as associate executive producer. Ian Kagey was engineer and mixer, and Oscar Zambrano handled mastering. Andy Einhorn music directed the album and plays piano along with Paladino. The band also includes guitarist Ben Butler, bassist Jeffery Allen, percussionist Rich Mercurio, and cellist Yair Evnine. The album was recorded and mixed at Renaissance Studio in NYC.
The music video features videography by Harry McFann, editing by Katie Goffman, and creative direction by Dina.
The project sees Davenport and Milazzo stepping into new career areas. Davenport is a Tony-winning Broadway producer, noted for his work on the 2017 revival of Once On This Island, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Groundhog Day. He previously co-wrote (with The Grundleshotz) the book to 2018's short-lived Gettin' the Band Back Together. Milazzo is best known as a vocal arranger and orchestrator, including on Davenport-produced projects Spring Awakening, Once On This Island, and A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical.
Take a look at the full track listing below:
1. "Welcome to My World"
2. "The Shape of Things"
3. "I Got People"
4. "Out of Here"
5. "The Only Mop You'll Ever Need"
6. "We Sell Stories" (with The Doo Wop Project)
7. "Walk With Me" (with Drew Gehling)
8. "Mother's Daughter"
9. "Have You Ever Felt That?"
10. "Is This As Good As"
Visit JoyTheMusical.com.
