Born Blue

‘Born Blue’ a rollicking celebration of music and the ‘soul-to-soul’ connections of lifetimes

It’s not the place that anyone wants to end up, but ultimately, no one escapes a metaphysical bender at the Atomic Bar & Chill. In Caren Tackett’s musical “Born Blue,” this dive bar is a stopping place between the soul’s exit from one life and entrance into another.

The award-winning Mezzanine continues its second blockbuster season with “Born Blue,” which runs Oct. 30-Nov. 24.

“It’s a unique exploration of the timeless themes that we all are connected in this universal web,” explains Tackett, who wrote the book, lyrics and score for “Born Blue.” “Possibly the take away for audience is that we can relate to one another on a soul-to-soul level rather than sex-to-sex or skin-to-skin. Or maybe it’s just an exciting and funky evening of otherworldly rock and soul.

“One of the great things about ‘Blue” is it inspires questions rather than answers. I like that about art.”

At the center of this celebration of funk, pop, rock, folk and R&B is Infinity Blue, a member of the house band who fails to see her own lingering issues about time on the planet. Tackett reprises the role in this production.

The lead mentor in theater at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, Tackett is a Broadway veteran who wrote her own work during stints in the original Broadway production of the Tony-winning “Rent,” as well as national and international touring productions of “Les Misérables,” “Evita,” “Grease” and “Fame.”

Critics praised Tackett’s mystical musical, calling her creation of the book, music and lyrics an “impressive feat. … (With) nearly two hours of music here, there is nothing that feels like filler, and many songs that are outstanding, with memorable melodies and hooks,” wrote NYTheatre.com’s David Pumo after its premiere at the New York International Fringe Festival. Tackett, who was in “Rent” at the time, “knows her way around a musical. She never lets the energy drop, and builds to a crescendo that had the audience on its feet. Let it lift you up, too.”

Voted Best Date Night by The Gazette’s 2015 Best of the Springs, The Mezz is an intimate Downtown venue with 112 café-style seats and a full bar. This season it offers more than 300 one-of-a-kind experiences from both acclaimed touring and local performers.

“’Born Blue’ requires a specific type of intimacy that will only be heightened by The Mezzanine,” Tackett says. “The two creations are perfect for one another.”