KALEIDOSCOPE Symphony’S
DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

Kaleidoscope Symphony (previously titled Kaleidoscope) is a show that Carla has been working on telling for some time with true stories from her own life.  It is a show she unknowingly began to write as part of her own personal healing process.  It all began with the courage to express some repressed feelings through song about her challenging childhood. She noticed these few songs indeed had a theme and formed a song cycle which she called Countess Misery. 

While working as an actor on and off Broadway in musicals such as Rent and Bright Lights, Big City, Carla became inspired to turn her song cycle into a musical.  The show was called Scales early on and had its first reading in Michigan.  From there, the show took new shape and the title was changed to Kaleidoscope.

Carla produced a second reading in 2002 at the Lillian Theater in Los Angeles co-starring Mary Gutzi (Bdway Les Mis)and music directed by Steven Cahill.  The show was then selected for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles directed by Craig Carnelia (Stephen Schwartz normally directs but he was working on Wicked that year).   Following the ASCAP/Disney workshop, The Blank Theater Company in Los Angeles produced a staged reading of the show where it began to take on more shape as a five-person cast in 2003. 

And just like the saying goes ‘Life imitates Art’, Carla’s father became gravely ill, just like she wrote about in her musical, and she returned home to Pittsburgh.   During that time, Kaleidoscope was put on hold as Carla pursued other artistic endeavors, got married and had a son.  As Carla continued her career as a songwriter and performer, she explored different songs and stories that would go on to become part of Kaleidoscope through several cabaret shows. 

She premiered ‘The Call: An Evening with Carla Bianco” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in 2015 which followed a small East coast tour of the show.  Then in 2017, The Musical Theater Artists of Pittsburgh (MTAP) asked if Carla would present some songs from Kaleidoscope at one of their meetings.  It began to perk interest again and re-inspired Carla to continue working on the show.  

In December 2017, MTAP produced a reading of Kaleidoscope as part of their Incubator Series.  Steve Cuden, book writer of the Broadway show Jeckyl and Hyde, collaborated with Carla on the book and the reading co-starred, Broadway veteran, Lenora Nemetz.  After the MTAP reading, Carla rewrote the show alone and this time discovered a new form for her story.  She restructured Kaleidoscope as a three-person female musical with each character depicting Carla in a different time of her life with her teenage and little girl selves.  Spencer Whale came on board as director with Leon Zionts, of Front Porch Theatricals, as producer. 

In November 2018, Carla did another reading of Kaleidoscope with the new structure and it was met with much success.  The show had finally found its form.  Everyone commented very positively in the talkback and indicated they would come to a production in the future.  Songwriting duo, Kooman and Dimond, upon hearing the song “I Don’t Wanna Go Home” from Kaleidoscope selected it to be performed in their Holiday show at City Theatre in December 2018.  Kaleidoscope had another reading in 2019 and was chosen by Leon Zionts for a full-scale production with Front Porch Theatricals for their 2020 season.  But, unfortunately Leon Zionts passed away and the pandemic hit. 

Since then, Carla has continued to polish the new three-person structure and changed the name toKaleidoscope Symphony, and is looking to find a place to continue its development, working towards a full-scale production.

carla bianco

Carla Bianco has worked extensively in many areas of the entertainment industry as a performer and composer.   As a performer, she is most known for her starring role as Maureen in the Pulitzer Prize-winning show Rent in the Los Angeles West Coast premiere with Neil Patrick Harris and then replacing Idina Menzel on Broadway. 

As a composer, Carla got her start in the music business landing a publishing deal with House of Fun Music, Jellybean Benitez’s company.  She is the proud recipient of an ASCAP award for penning the #1 Billboard dance song and international hit, “The Lover That You Are” sung by Pulse.  Carla’s follow up composition, “Music Takes Ya”, also succeeded making it to the Top Ten on Billboard.  

In its early development, Carla’s self-composed and autobiographical musical, Kaleidoscope Symphony (previously titled Kaleidoscope), was chosen for the ASCAP/Disney musical theater workshop in Los Angeles directed by Stephen Schwartz.  The show has evolved over the years, finding its form through several readings, workshops and cabaret shows through the support of acclaimed colleagues such as Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success) and Steve Cuden (Jeckyl & Hyde). 

Carla has performed with national and international acts such as Kenny Loggins, Gino Vannelli, Rusted Root and Seth Glier. She also toured the East Coast where she debuted her cabaret show ‘The Call: An Evening with Carla Bianco’ at 54 Below: Broadway’s Supper Club in NYC.  As a singer/songwriter, Carla has released 3 studio albums on her label, Ivory Note Records, distributed by Sony Orchard where several of her critically acclaimed songs have received national radio airplay and recognition.  She also recently performed a televised concert on Cornerstone Network with songs from her latest record, You Love Me As I Am.  As an actor, Carla has also worked off-Broadway and regionally in many cutting-edge and influential shows working directly with the composers themselves. Some highlights include Spring Awakening, where she originated the role of Wendla, working with Duncan Sheik and under Michael Mayer’s direction in its early stages at the Sundance Theater Lab, Bright Lights, Big City at The New York Theatre Workshop directed by Michael Greif, Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick, Boom at the National Theatre Convention in Miami and Do I Hear a Waltz at the Georgestreet Playhouse where Carla had the opportunity to work with the legendary Arthur Laurents and present the show for the composer himself, Stephen Sondheim.  Carla is grateful for all those that have been a part of the journey with Kaleidoscope Symphony and she looks forward to the future and the lives it will touch.