soon after meeting, sater collaborated with sheik on his play "umbrage", with sheik providing the music for sater's lyrics. to produce sheik's third studio album "phantom moon", sater gave sheik lyrics and sheik set them musically, cooperatively producing the album. they returned to stage to produce "nero" at the magic theatre in san francisco, with book and lyrics by sater and music by sheik. the project remains in active development, most recently workshopped with new york stage and film at the powerhouse theater at vassar college in july 2008, starring idina menzel, lea michele, and michael arden, under the direction of daniel kramer.