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…
