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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