The Singing Biologist

The Singing Biologist is a sexy musical about a charismatic young jazz singer who mixes music with science to explore the boundaries of love--with a biologist, a Brother, and a boy wonder. Rose prepares her biggest show for a prestigious theater and recruits biologist Shandra to join her troupe. Shandra's smitten colleague Dana insinuates himself into the bargain by supplying the band with music he's composed from DNA. In a heady dance to the opening curtain Rose meets Brother Hugh, a biology and ethics teacher, in an online chat room and they blithely launch an experiment in romantic tragedy; the theater management plots against Rose's company; and the lives and loves of her colleagues play to the insistent backbeat of human nature. This unprecedented feature takes an intellectual twist, ambitiously wringing ethics, religion, science, and love into an inquisitive romance that puts flesh on the premise: It takes a rockin' scientist to sing a modern love song.

Directed by Ed Montgomery, The Singing Biologist leans on a strong ensemble — Imani Coppola, Leenya Rideout, Stephen Kilcullen — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about music titles of 2004.