New Jersey Brothers Pay Tribute To Theater-Loving Grandmother

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Marcella Victoria Quarles owned a home in East Orange, worked forty years for the IRS and loved the theater. And though she’s passed on, her mission to show the world the beauty – and necessity - of culture and art endures in “The 88.”

The new musical is the latest effort from New Jersey poet/musician brothers Calvin Gaines and reg e gaines, who will debut a selection from the yet-unfinished work during an “interactive concert” at Luna Stage in West Orange on Friday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. (Click here for ticket information)

The October shows will act as fundraisers so that the brothers can continue working on the piece, a homage to their grandmother, Marcella.

“There's no staging in hopes the music and lyrics convey the complicated emotions we feel for our grandmother and her love for the theater,” reg e gaines told Patch.

Gaines, a two-time Tony Award-nominated playwright, Grammy Award-nominated lyricist and author of four poetry books, said that his grandmother somehow figured ways to take her 10 grandchildren - often together - to experience the lights, sights and sounds of Broadway.

And to get there from their East Orange home, they would take the 88 bus, gaines said.

“Marvella owned a home in East Orange, worked forty years for the IRS and loved the theater,” he said. “She immersed us in a world where differences were often acceptable. Though this differed greatly from the real world, the magic of musicals allowed us to believe we could do or be whatever we pleased.”

It was through experiences like this that the Gaines’ brothers discovered their love for the arts; in addition to reg e’s accomplishments, Calvin Gaines is an award-winning musician and producer who has worked with such artists as Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, The Temptations, and Destiny’s Child with musical direction by Mark Wilson.

“Her mission was show us that culture and art would help us understand we belong,” reg e told Patch. “Though no longer with us, I'm certain she'd be thrilled.”

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Photos: reg e gaines and Calvin Gaines