Deadmall Ballads is a seriocomic song cycle about the life cycle of the American shopping mall.

“[With] original, bluesy-driven penetrating music… composed by Peter Hilliard with idiosyncratic words by Matt Boresi… Dead Mall Songs has a clear story arc built around nine colorful songs about a dying shopping mall. With titles and lyrics, the listener is taken on a journey not unlike Dante’s Inferno. There are songs about the appearance of temporary kiosks selling scrunchies as a harbinger of a mall’s dismissal, or about malls providing a very public place to get a quick massage. The kiosks are the “Canaries” in the coal mine. There was “Urban Legends” suggesting that shoppers be aware never to park near a van; for abduction by vile strangers awaits. Even Shelly’s “Ozymandias” makes an appearance “With Apologies to Shelly;” as does nature in the form of a tree constructed before the audience’s eyes.”

-D.C. Metro Theatre Arts