BIRTH

Mr. Silver was born in my head in 1993.  I had collaborated on a musical comedy with a friend at Illinois Central College.  We had both wanted to write a musical, so we joined forces, me writing the score and lyrics, him writing the script.  It was a show called “Clashing Tides”, and it was staged and went off quite well.  (It was too long, running about 3 hours, which is a little much for a musical comedy!)  I remember an audience member telling me, “don’t let this just sit in your closet.  Do something with this.”  Well… I chalked that show up to a learning experience, (it’s sitting in my closet) and went off to Anderson University.  Somewhere along the way, I felt that I really wanted to write an entire show myself, the script and the score.  I don’t know why.  Maybe I just didn’t trust anybody enough to write with them?  When trying to come up with an idea, I thought of what I really like.  I love ghost stories…  I love shows with kids and adults in them…  I love a busy chorus in a show, and lots of fascinating characters…. Anyway, Mr. Silver was born.  I remember it was the fall semester, 1993, when I approached the director of the theater, and told him of my intentions to write a musical and stage it as a self-imposed senior project.  After he heard the synopsis, he told me (visionary that he was) that I should just do a staged reading, because I wouldn’t have enough people, and where would I get the kids? (hurdle upon hurdle)  I told him NO, not a staged reading, a full production.  Long story short, I got my show on all the promotional material that was going out of the college before I even had the show half done.  I obsessively got to work!  I remember many, MANY nights, being in the piano labs on campus, writing furiously.  People always popped their heads in to say hello.  I would like to say right now to those people, that I’m sorry for snapping at you!  Really, I was downright rude sometimes.  “GET OUT!”  Later in life, on this and other projects, I try to remember the passion and determination I had at that point in life.  It was going to work!  

Another quick memory… I was trying to come up with a ballad for the kids to sing in Act 2.  One that would really tell their feelings.  I remember driving through Tennessee, my head spinning with lyrical ideas.  Then it came!  I grabbed a bag with a book I had bought and scribbled on it, “In the arms of mother make-believe.”  I was oh so proud of that lyric.  “I will fall asleep in the arms of mother make-believe!”  There were LOTS of moments like that, moments of inspiration, but that one really sticks in my head.  (And… I still have that piece of paper!)

This is the short version of what happened.  We had auditions and cast the show.  We did find our kids, and the majority of the campus came out to audition.  One notable auditionee… a 12 year old boy and his sister showed up on day two.  He had this beautiful, boy-soprano voice.  He was cast, and he and I became fast friends, his family becoming my “Indiana Family”.  Well, one night, years later, during a bout of insomnia, I turned on VH1.  There he was, Jon McLaughlin, in his very own music video.  I think I fell over.  Look him up everybody.  He’s a recording artist, performed on the grammys, and it’s all because I gave him a shot and guided his career.  HAHAHAHA… Just kidding!

Back to the story!

We worked REALLY hard, and the show began to form.  The orchestration was not written out and I, of course, wanted more than just piano accompaniment.  So, after rehearsal, well into the wee morning hours, my friend, Dan Beahm, and I sequenced all the music.  All I did, my whole existence, involved Mr. Silver.  I remember Mr. Smith, the theatre director, was very surprised at how much everyone pitched in to help out when, as he said, no one would help him with anything for his shows.  And pitch in they did.  I was surrounded by people who worked their tails off!  Everyone built sets, put together costumes, did whatever needed to be done.  Again, today I try to remember the determination I had at that point.  Anything was possible to me!  We were college kids, and the world was wide open!

We had only 2 performances (and I think the tickets were like three bucks!).  I recall, very clearly, the first audience.  The big opening number, “Haunted”, ended and there was a moment of stunned silence and then… so much applause!  YAY!  It was overwhelming to me!  People laughed, people cried and, to me, it was a hit!  AND… the first night the crowd was small, not knowing what they were getting into with this student written show.  The second night… attendance doubled!  Word got out, what kind of show we had.  

It was really an amazing time in life.  For me… I had done what I set out to do, create a piece of theatre that worked.  Success!  What happened to Mr. Silver after that was up to me.  Looking back on my journey, I don’t think I did with this show what I was supposed to do.  (It’s not on Broadway yet)  But… the good news is, Mr. Silver is still alive, back from the dead so to speak…

A Gunman and Bad Backs!

As is the case with many shows, ours has been plagued with setbacks.  A week or so back, Poppy and I showed up for rehearsal.  The street up ahead of us was blocked off with 5 or 6 police vehicles.  I thought there was an accident perhaps...  Come to find out, there was a lone, elderly, drunken gunman in the building where we rehearse.  Our director, Jeff, had a gun pulled on him.  Alas, the building was secured and the 77 year old man was hauled away.  We cancelled rehearsal.  Although, my best friend, and director of the first Mr. Silver production, Terry, told me there was a dead body outside of their rehearsal space and they still met.  Weird.

Yesterday I received word from one of our leads that a herniated disc prohibits her from much movement at all, let alone being in a musical, and she had to drop out.  Auditions, like I said before, were sparse, a month in and we still haven't filled one of the male roles (I think we may have now... and it's a GREAT ROLE), etc. etc. 

A cast member asked me if we were cursed!

We're not.

I think perhaps all shows are cursed in a way, but also blessed.  I think staging a musical is a test for those of us who are called to do so.  If any of you have been on the production end, you know it's wall after wall that you have to bust through... hurdle after hurdle you have to jump...  It's A LOT of WORK!  I've been really pushed to keep a steady head and I'm guessing, there'll probably be a few more trials before we open on October 27th to test my steadiness.  But, as anybody who's ever done a show will be able to attest, some of the shows that are an absolute MESS on tech week turn out to be  some of the best.  We're actually sitting pretty compared to some productions I've been involved in. 

And... I'm surrounded by a team of not only competent people, but amazingly talented, hard working people.  From the very beginning of this project I told Poppy that I had to have a team of people who are great and are in love with this project.  I have that!  Thanks God.  That's them up at the top of this page.  We're having a little coffee and a meeting of the minds.   Good people!  And the cast... well they're committed to putting on the best show we can.

So... trial after trial, we keep on keeping on, knowing "it'll all work out."  Am I doing the right thing? Doing what I'm supposed to be doing?  I believe so, and I believe actually fulfilling your purpose, you will be blessed.  Mr. Silver sat on a shelf for about 15 years.  I dusted him and the other ghosts off, and told them to get back to work.  And so, on we go... we persevere, taking down one gunman at a time!

Producing a show from SCRATCH!

Mr. Silver Fans:

At the end of 2015, I signed a contract with The Apollo Theatre to independently produce my show, Mr. Silver's Children.  It's been done twice before, both times with existing theatre entities.  This time, after pitching it to several theatres and getting nowhere, I decided to bring the show to life on my own, with whatever little resources I had.  After signing the contract...

I FREAKED OUT!

All along the way I've had the support of Poppy, my wife, (which was and is awesome to have) but other than that, I started my journey by myself.  Who would direct, music direct, choreograph?  Would we get a cast?  Could I get all the music together on time?  How on earth is this going to work?!?

I had a couple SLEEPLESS NIGHTS... WORRYING...

Then I sucked it up and started working.  I had to sequence over 30 musical pieces for the show.  So, from January through about May I worked, and worked hard.  Trying my best not to think about any other elements... or I'd freak again. 

The first team member I grabbed was Traci Carey as Production Secretary.  She loves the show and is the best at what she does.  Then I had lunch with Jeff Sloter.  We barely knew each other at that point.  He pretty much signed on to direct before he even read the script.  He has successfully directed a plethora of shows, but never a musical.  Next... find a musical director.  I approached (via Facebook) someone I didn't know at all.  She has a few rules about music directing a show.  She doesn't like pre-recorded orchestra (which we have) and she does not like people to approach her when she's working on another show (which she was).  I had no idea that I was signing up a musical director as qualified and amazing as Andrea Molina.  Holy smokes!  But, despite me doing everything wrong, she agreed to do the show.Then we added the amazing Chas Killen (who directed the show at CornStock) as our Stage Manager, and Rachel Hayes as our Choreographer.

So... My core team was in place!  I was no longer all alone.  When auditions came, attendance was, to say the least, sparse.  But, alas, through auditions, our begging and recruiting, etc. we cast some incredible talents like Dan McGowan, Gwyneth Mitchell, Wendi Fleming, Brian Morgan... The list goes on!  On day two, Poppy and I were sitting out on the front steps of The Women's Club at 1:00 (the audition time) and no one was there.  I prayed.  Then, from clear down the street, we see a young soprano walking toward us with a folder of music.  Blisse Stanford became our Abigail, and we couldn't have a better fit for that role.

Here we are mid-September.  We have a cast of (no offense guys) a lot of misfits, people you wouldn't expect to see on stage, and some veterans.  We have a crazy, weird group of good people, who are really enjoying working together.  As is the case in every show, miracles are happening.  People are actually learning my (near impossible, challenging) music.  The characters are getting defined.  A show is starting to form from the big lump of clay that is us.

To whoever took the time to read this... I just want to say... if something is important to you, like Mr. Silver is to me, make it happen.  It felt like, and still sometimes feels like, everything is against me and this production being staged.  But, we're going to make it happen, and it's going to be a GREAT SHOW!  If any of you know about my personal struggles, you know that I dropped out for about 10 years or so.  I guess a lot of my old theatre "friends" and acquaintances remember that Derek and still think I'm that person.  I'm not.  I'm doing this show because I'm coming back to life, joining in, and Mr. Silver is, in my opinion, the best of me thus far.  I'm very proud of this show.  I really feel like I was Divinely Inspired when I wrote it.  I am thankful to God for any gifts I have.  I'm humbled to have this cast and crew, and I'll be thankful for each and everyone of you who comes to see the show.  You're in for a treat!

Now... BACK TO WORK!

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