Press Kit — Life Review: The Hospice Musical
Official Press Kit · 2026

Life Review

The Hospice Musical

Live Concert & Album Recording
Saturday, May 9, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Arellano Theater, Levering Hall · Johns Hopkins University
Homewood Campus, Baltimore, MD
140 Seats · One Night Only
Press Contact
Benjamin Kintisch · Creator, Writer & Performer
[email protected] · lifereviewmusical.com

Promotional Partner
David C. Griffiths · Content Creating Academy
[email protected] · davidgriffiths.org
At a Glance

The Essential Facts

What
Live concert performance & album recording of a full-length original musical
When
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Doors 6:30 PM · Show 7:00 PM
Where
Arellano Theater, Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Tickets
$25 General Admission
$20 Students & Seniors
Capacity
140 seats — one night only
Created By
Benjamin Kintisch — Cantor, Chaplain & Playwright
Music Direction
Kieran Casey (Peabody Conservatory)
Ensemble
5 Peabody musicians · 5 professional vocalists
About the Show

“A Chorus Line” Meets “Fiddler on the Roof” — In a Hospice

Life Review: The Hospice Musical is a two-act musical — approximately two hours and ten minutes — celebrating life, love, and loss through three seasons at a residential hospice. Book by Benjamin Kintisch with Beth Broadway. Created from real patient stories gathered over a decade of chaplaincy, it transforms private bedside conversations into song — inviting audiences to hear each voice, even as it fades.

Set in “Hopeful Hospice,” the show follows Rabbi David Goodman, a young and earnest chaplain navigating his own grief while accompanying patients through theirs. Through the seasons, each patient takes center stage to sing their story: a proud mother remembering snow, a brave young man wondering what’s to come, an older man looking for one last friend, and a man of God singing praises.

The musical features 16 original songs spanning genres from vaudeville to Black gospel, Carol King-style ballads, Sinatra-era jazz, R&B, hymns, and Broadway anthems. Music by Benjamin Kintisch with composers Jason Spiewak, Andy Bossov, Michael Miller, and Miriam Kook. It is warm, funny, and emotionally rich — a work that reminds us: even at the end, there is so much life.

“One night, on the drive home, I said to my wife — these stories need to be songs. She said, ‘Get writing.’”
— Benjamin Kintisch, Creator
The May 9 Concert

A Live Concert & Album Recording in One Historic Evening

On May 9, the full ensemble will perform eight newly orchestrated songs from the musical at the Arellano Theater inside Levering Hall on the Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus. The performance will be captured as a live album recording — the first time audiences will be able to revisit and share the music of Life Review.

The recording is being made possible through a Kickstarter campaign and ticket sales, with funds covering live sound engineers, musical direction, rehearsal time, production costs, and fair compensation for all collaborating artists.

Orchestrations are by Kieran Casey and Dennis Erickson, with Casey serving as Music Director. The ensemble features five instrumentalists from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University alongside five professional Baltimore-area vocalists.

The Cast

Five Voices, Five Stories

Benjamin Kintisch
Benjamin Kintisch
as Rabbi David Goodman
Benjamin Kintisch is a Cantor, chaplain, playwright, and music teacher based in Columbia, Maryland. A graduate of Brown University (B.A., Judaic Studies) and the Jewish Theological Seminary (Master of Sacred Music, Cantorial Degree), Benjamin has served as Cantor at Columbia Jewish Congregation and as a chaplain in the JSSA Hospice Program. Life Review: The Hospice Musical — which he created, wrote, and performs — was born from real patient stories gathered over a decade of chaplaincy work. He has performed the one-man cabaret version approximately 30 times across fringe festivals, synagogues, conferences, and virtually, including the Lifting the Lid Festival in London.
Songs: “Send Me a Sign,” “Life Review,” “Lullabye (To Rest in Peace),” plus ensemble numbers
Kyra Britt
Kyra Britt
as Nurse Marie
Kyra Britt is honored to be stepping into the role of Nurse Marie in Life Review: The Hospice Musical. A BFA Music Theatre graduate from Elon University, her favorite credits include Spring Awakening (Thea), Company (Marta), and Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Larkin). She has a deep love for new works and meaningful storytelling, and is grateful to be collaborating with such a thoughtful and inspiring group of artists.
Songs: “Live Until You Die,” “Wave a Wand,” “Psalm 23 / God Is My Shepherd,” plus ensemble numbers
Leo Euraque
Leo Euraque
as Murray Moskowitz & Joey
Leo Euraque is a Maryland native returning for the 2026 iteration of Life Review: The Hospice Musical. He previously played Joey and Anthony in the January 2020 production in Columbia, MD, and is delighted to reprise these roles. Relatively new to theater, Leo has a choral background and enjoys playing piano, guitar, and singing. A graduate of Howard Community College, he works as a dental hygienist and is passionate about educating his patients about the importance of oral hygiene in relation to overall health. In his free time, he loves recording covers of his favorite songs to share on social media, traveling, trying new restaurants, and hopes to pursue a career in music, acting, or modeling.
Songs: “Love and Laughter” (as Murray), “I Am Here Now” (as Joey), “This Time,” “Till Death Do Us Part,” plus ensemble numbers
Ellen Quay
Ellen Quay
as Stella & Minnie
Ellen is thrilled to be a part of this collaboration and perform with such talented singers and musicians. You may have seen Ellen on stage in local community theater productions around Maryland. Her latest and most favorite role was Helen Bechdel in Fun Home with Silhouette Stages. Ellen is a professional voice actor, working from her own home studio. She teaches courses and hosts workshops about the Art of Audiobook Narration at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, local libraries, and virtually. Ellen would like to dedicate this performance to her three beautiful children.
Songs: “Will It Still Snow” (as Stella), “This Time,” “Till Death Do Us Part” (as Minnie), plus ensemble numbers
David C. Griffiths
David C. Griffiths
as Leroy Washington
David C. Griffiths is a classically trained baritone with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and theological training from Washington Adventist University. With over 30 years of ministry service, his career includes Kennedy Center performances, appearances before audiences of 70,000+, collaboration with Grammy-winning producers, and over 300 original compositions. Named 2009 ISSA Songwriter of the Year, David currently serves as Minister of Music at John Wesley UMC in Glen Burnie, MD and reaches over 1.55 million social media followers daily through morning prayer and faith-based content. He is also CEO and Lead Strategist of Content Creating Academy, the promotional partner for the May 9 concert.
Songs: “With These Hands” (featured gospel ballad), “Wave a Wand,” plus ensemble numbers
Music Direction & Ensemble

The Sound Behind the Story

Kieran Casey
Kieran Casey
Music Director, Conductor & Orchestrator
Kieran Casey is a biracial composer and director from Richmond, Virginia, currently pursuing his Master’s in Music for New Media at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He holds a B.A. in Music Education and Composition from Virginia Tech (2023). His work draws on an unusually wide range of influences — Japanese compositions, marching drum corps, Black hymns, folk songs, and jazz — woven together in service of immersive narrative experiences. A passionate filmmaker as well as composer, his produced short film “The Tale of Two Brothers” (2022) explores themes of religion and governance through anime-inspired storytelling. Kieran is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of multimedia and music creators, and plans to pursue a Doctorate in Ethnomusicology after completing his studies at Peabody.
Role: Music Direction, Conducting & Orchestrations (with Dennis Erickson) for the May 9 concert and live album recording
Peabody Conservatory Ensemble

Five instrumentalists from the Peabody Conservatory bring the newly orchestrated arrangements to life.

Clarinet
Lucas Netto
Piano
Haoyu Zheng
Violin
Alexandra Mihailova
Flute
Ivan Smaltsuga
Cello
Victoria Mitchell
The World of the Show

Characters & Their Songs

Each character in Life Review is inspired by real people Benjamin encountered during his chaplaincy work. Each patient’s story becomes a song in a distinct musical genre — from vaudeville to gospel to Sinatra-era jazz.

Character Featured Song(s) / Genre Description
Rabbi David Goodman
(Benjamin Kintisch)		 “Send Me a Sign” (Folk/Pop)
“Life Review” (Broadway Anthem)
“Lullabye (To Rest in Peace)” (Acoustic)		 The young chaplain who arrives at Hopeful Hospice eager and naive, caring but lonely, struggling with his own grief. “Send Me a Sign” is his “I Wish” song — a man of faith praying into silence.
Nurse Marie
(Kyra Britt)		 “Live Until You Die” (Ballad/Anthem)
“Wave a Wand” (Folk Pop, w/ Rabbi David)
“Psalm 23 / God Is My Shepherd” (Hymn)		 The compassionate heart of the hospice who believes deeply in the value of end-of-life care. Her anthem is a declaration of purpose — a window into why this work matters.
Stella
(Ellen Quay)		 “Will It Still Snow” (Ballad)
“This Time” (Bawdy R&B Romp, w/ Murray)		 A proud mother reflecting on legacy, seasons, and the beauty of a life fully lived. “Will It Still Snow” was the first song written for the musical. Ellen also plays Minnie, Murray’s beloved wife, in the nostalgic waltz “Till Death Do Us Part.”
Murray Moskowitz
(Leo Euraque)		 “Love and Laughter” (Sinatra-style Jazz Pop)
“Till Death Do Us Part” (Waltz, w/ Minnie)		 A New York Jew in his eighties with stories to tell and love to share — a proud, wry reflection on a century lived. Leo also plays Joey, a brave but scared 23-year-old, singing the Pop/R&B number “I Am Here Now.”
Leroy Washington
(David C. Griffiths)		 “With These Hands” (Gospel Ballad) An African American man and former church musician grappling with the grief of bodily betrayal through a lens of unshakeable faith and gratitude. A man of God singing praises and sharing the wisdom of a life lived in service.
Ensemble Numbers
“Spoiler Alert” (Vaudeville — Full Ensemble) · “Regrets” (Soft Shoe — Full Ensemble) · “Eulogy Song (We Sing It for You)” (Piano-forward Rock Ballad) · “In the End (I Thank You)” (Uplifting Broadway Clap-Along Finale)
Synopsis

Two Acts, Six Seasons of Dying, One Spring of Return

Life Review is a two-act musical running approximately two hours and ten minutes. Book by Benjamin Kintisch with Beth Broadway. Music by Jason Spiewak and Michael Miller, with additional compositions by Andy Bossov and Miriam Kook. Six actors embody a chaplain, a nurse, four dying residents, and the family members who love them.

Act I — Autumn Into Winter
September · Arrival · The First Life Reviews
Rabbi David Goodman arrives at Hopeful Hospice on his first day and plants bulbs in the garden. Marie St. John, the Caribbean-American head nurse, welcomes him and begins teaching him the sacred rhythm of walking alongside the dying. One by one he meets the residents: Leroy Washington, the 102-year-old storyteller from Bedford-Stuyvesant who challenges him to a Bible-quote duel; Joey Martinez, the dying twenty-year-old whose mother turns away from comfort; Murray Moskowitz, haunted by his estranged brother Sam. The act closes with Leroy’s thunderous gospel solo “With These Hands” — a century of church music and labor pouring out of one body.
Act II — Winter Into Spring
December · Departures · The Memorial · The Garden Returns
A birthday party. A bawdy R&B number about still feeling alive at 80, 90, 102. Then the departures begin — Stella first, then Joey, then Murray, then Leroy, who finally admits he is “done livin’” and asks the Rabbi to sing him out. Marie’s clinical patient care updates punctuate the show, charting each person’s decline. A community memorial honors them all with “Psalm 23 / God Is My Shepherd.” And in the final scene — April — the daffodils bloom, the chaplain returns to the garden, and the patients past and present join in one last song: “In the End (I Thank You).”
The Residents & Those Who Tend Them

Six Actors, a Dozen Lives

Each character draws from real people Benjamin encountered during his years as a hospice chaplain. Their stories span race, faith, age, and background — united by the universal experience of facing the end with dignity.

Character Who They Are
Rabbi David Goodman
The Chaplain		 A young Jewish chaplain in his 30s–40s on his first day at Hopeful Hospice. Earnest, bookish, learning to hold grief as he walks alongside the dying. Carries a cardigan, a quiet faith, and a private history of loss.
Marie St. John
The Head Nurse		 Caribbean-American, deeply experienced, the beating heart of the hospice. She teaches the Rabbi the sacred rhythm of asking the right questions, and dreams of flying back to Haiti.
Stella Santini
First to Go		 Italian-American mother in her 50s, Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Funny, warm, devoted to her son Tony and to the memory of skiing with her boys in Western Mass. The first patient to die. Her death song: “Will It Still Snow When I’m Gone?”
Joey Martinez
The Youngest		 A 20-year-old Latino man with leukemia. Only weeks remain. His mother Carolina rages at God; Joey asks simply for friends. His song: “I Am Here Now.”
Murray Moskowitz
The Husband		 A Jewish man in his 80s. Full of regret about his estranged brother Sam, full of devotion to his wife Minnie. He dies holding her hand after their waltz duet, “Till Death Do Us Part.”
Leroy Washington
The Old One · 102 Years		 African-American elder from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. A lifelong church musician and choir leader who marched with Dr. King. A dapper flirt in a bowtie and cardigan. The soul of the show’s joy — and the one who teaches the Rabbi how to die well.
Story Angles & Themes

What This Show Is Really About

For journalists, programmers, and community partners — each theme is a story angle.

Dignity at the End
Dying is not losing. It is a final act of presence, performed with as much style as one can muster.
Laughter as Medicine
Humor is not denial here — it is discipline, survival, and love.
Intergenerational Faith
A Black Christian elder and a young Jewish chaplain trade scripture and become friends. Ecclesiastes belongs to them both.
The Life Review Itself
The chaplain’s craft: asking the right questions so that every life, told out loud, becomes its own music.
Love That Outlives
Murray and Minnie. Stella and Tony. Leroy and his sister Hannah. Love does not end when the body does.
Seasons & Return
Bulbs planted in autumn bloom in spring. The chaplain returns. Memory becomes a garden.
About the Creator

Benjamin Kintisch

Benjamin Kintisch is a Columbia, Maryland-based artist, educator, and chaplain. His work sits at the convergence of sacred music, end-of-life care, and theatrical storytelling.

Education: B.A. from Brown University (Judaic Studies); Master of Sacred Music with Cantorial Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Professional Roles: Cantor at Columbia Jewish Congregation; Chaplain in the JSSA Hospice Program; Middle school music teacher (Friends Community School & Strickler Middle School); Creator and performer of Life Review: The Hospice Musical.

Life Review has been performed as a one-man cabaret show approximately 30 times across fringe festivals, house shows, synagogues, conferences, and virtually — including the Lifting the Lid Festival in London. The May 9 concert is the first full ensemble performance with orchestral arrangements and a live album recording.

Featured Performer

David C. Griffiths as Leroy Washington

David C. Griffiths brings over 30 years of ministry and performance experience to the role of Leroy Washington. A classically trained baritone with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and theological training from Washington Adventist University, David’s career includes Kennedy Center performances, appearances before audiences of 70,000+, collaboration with Grammy-winning producers, and over 300 original compositions. He was named 2009 ISSA Songwriter of the Year.

Currently serving as Minister of Music at John Wesley UMC in Glen Burnie, MD, David reaches over 1.55 million social media followers daily through morning prayer and faith-based content. He is also CEO and Lead Strategist of Content Creating Academy, the promotional partner for the May 9 concert.

The character of Leroy Washington — a former church musician reflecting on a life of faith and service — mirrors David’s own calling. His featured song, “With These Hands,” is a gospel power ballad that translates physical loss into a vocal powerhouse.

Press & Testimonials

What People Are Saying

“We attracted a larger-than-expected audience who thoroughly enjoyed the entire presentation and raised significant funds for the hospice. Many attendees commented that this event was not only entertaining but also provided them with much-needed inspiration and comfort.”
— Karen M. Wyatt, MD · Author, 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying
“I feel grateful to have experienced Life Review Musical. The lessons taught through song I will carry with me for the rest of my life! The value of listening. The concept of a life review. I recommend anyone with a beating heart goes to see Life Review.”
— Cassandra Geisel · Lifting the Lid Festival, London
“If you haven’t yet seen this… GO!!!”
— Wendy H. · 4-time attendee
Featured Coverage

Baltimore Fishbowl — “The Hospice Musical is Fiddler meets A Chorus Line” — In-depth feature on the creation of Life Review, Benjamin Kintisch’s journey from hospice chaplain to musical creator, and the upcoming one-night Johns Hopkins performance.

End-of-Life University Podcast (Ep. 292) — with Dr. Karen Wyatt. Benjamin performs two songs live and discusses the creative process behind the musical.

Fill to Capacity Podcast (Ep. 115) — “Hospice & Harmony: Life in a Major Key” with host Pat Benincasa.

Jewish Sacred Aging — Feature interview exploring the intersection of chaplaincy and musical theater.

Seekers of Meaning (JLink) — Radio feature on the story behind the musical.

Production History

Over a Decade in the Making

2010s
Benjamin begins chaplaincy work at a residential hospice. The stories he hears bedside become the seeds of what will become Life Review. He writes the first song, “Will It Still Snow?,” that same night.
2018 – 2023
The one-man cabaret version of Life Review is performed approximately 30 times across fringe festivals (Charm City Fringe, Asheville Fringe), house shows, synagogues, conferences, and virtual performances — including the Lifting the Lid Festival in London.
2024
Development of the full-ensemble concert version begins. New orchestral arrangements commissioned. Collaboration with composers Jason Spiewak, Michael Miller, Andy Bossov, and Miriam Kook on the 16-song score.
2026
Kieran Casey (Peabody) joins as Music Director with Dennis Erickson as co-orchestrator. Full cast assembled. Arellano Theater at Johns Hopkins secured. Kickstarter campaign launched to fund the live album recording.
May 9, 2026
One-night concert performance and live album recording. Five Peabody musicians, five professional vocalists. 140 seats. The first time Life Review will be captured as a studio-quality recording.
Why It Matters

Because Somebody Has to Sing Them Out

Life Review refuses the two easy lies our culture tells about dying — that it is either a medical defeat to be postponed at all costs, or a tragedy too sacred to speak of. Instead, it offers a third way: that the end of a life, when witnessed well, can be as full of music and laughter and flirtation and scripture and friendship as any other part of it. Maybe more.

The show is funny. It is tender. It will make you cry, and it will make you laugh, sometimes in the same breath. And it will leave you thinking about who in your own life deserves to be sat with, listened to, and sung for — before it is too late.

Booking & Future Engagements

Bring Life Review to Your Community

Beyond the May 9 concert, Life Review is available for bookings in multiple formats tailored to your venue, audience, and goals.

Live Cabaret Show
Full performance with travel available nationwide
House Show
Intimate setting performance for private gatherings
Small Group Discussion
Post-show facilitated conversation on themes from the musical
Shabbaton Services
Liturgical integration for synagogues and congregations
Lunch & Learn
Educational presentation for organizations and conferences
Teacher Trainings
Workshops available across five topics

Custom packages available. Contact [email protected] for pricing and availability.

Links & Resources

For Press & Media

Brand Assets

Visual Identity & Usage

The Life Review brand features a daffodil illustration with gold script and bold serif typography on a warm, elegant palette. High-resolution logos, cast headshots, and event flyers are available upon request.

Approved hashtags: #LifeReviewMusical   #HospiceMusical   #MusicalTheater   #LifeStories   #BaltimoreEvents   #LiveAlbumRecording

Short description (for listings): Life Review: The Hospice Musical is a new musical celebrating life, love, and loss through three seasons at a residential hospice. Described as “A Chorus Line meets Fiddler on the Roof,” it transforms real hospice stories into song. Live concert and album recording — May 9 at Johns Hopkins.

For high-resolution images, logos, and headshots, contact [email protected].