Album Notes

“[Kahn’s] lyrics are witty and reach for Sondheim in the use of rhyme with help from Tartalia’s varied, memorable, and often soaring score…” . . . . . . . Off Off Online

“‘1918’ has treasures to be discovered: beautiful music, an excellent cast and a story that we can all understand and identify with…” . . . . . New York Theatre Wire



A hotly debated war, legislation branding dissenters as unpatriotic, anti-foreign sentiments inspiring anti-immigration laws, families torn apart by generational conflicts, lesbians and gays finding each other in Greenwich Village, music and art flourishing in New York City.

It\'s not 2008.

It\'s 1918: A House Divided
A new musical drama

Book & lyrics by Barbara Kahn
Music and arrangements by Allison Tartalia


This recording features the cast of the original Off-Off Broadway production, presented by Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director. Working on a shoestring budget, 1918: A House Divided assembles an extremely talented cast of actor-musicians who double as the orchestra.

Featuring performances by:
Robert Gonzales Jr., Victoria Lavington, Dan Leeds, Victoria Levin, Kyle J. Martin, Matthew Naclerio, Rick Redondo, Kelly Scanlon, Erin Leigh Schmoyer, Laura Jean Smith, Jeanie Tse, Tina Ward, Faith Wu.




Barbara Kahn is a multi-award winning playwright. Her honors include the Torch of Hope Award for lifetime achievement in non-profit theatre, whose past recipients include Terrence McNally, August Wilson, Horton Foote, A.R. Gurney and other theater luminaries. She most recently was named best playwright in the Fresh Fruit International Festival. She has directed plays in New York, Paris and the National Theatre in London. www.barbara-kahn.com

Allison Tartalia is a composer, instrumentalist and touring singer-songwriter. She graduated from The New School and studied acting at the London Dramatic Academy. A classically trained pianist, Allison draws upon diverse influences to create her eclectic brand of jazz-infused acoustic pop. Her debut CD, Ready, was enthusiastically received by critics, and songs from the album have been honored by the Indiegrrl, Billboard and John Lennon songwriting contests. www.allisontartalia.com.