Creating a "Masterpiece"

   I've been in SO much theater over the past couple of years and i love the whole experience.  Yet, I had never tried and/or thought about the other side of it before.....the people who REALLY make it happen: the writers, the composers, the directors, the tech crew, the set designers......there is SO much more then just the actors!!!  I have recently been given the opportunity to dabble in these areas. Yes, it is only for a my singles ward christmas musical, but, even so, it's a TOTALLY different experience! I'm currently helping to write the script, the music directer, and will be co-directing....oh, and I'm the lead.

  We have named our show "A Very Single Christmas".  It's set in 1953 at a malt shop called Frank's. It's you're typical..."chick-flick" if you will?  We started out with the idea of combining so many of our singles ward experiences, and also some fun puns off of the 1950's and dating in general.  So, here's how it goes:
              Gary is in love Linda, his best friend.  But he doesn't know how to express his feelings to her.  Molly, (a nosy "adelaide" type of character, a waitress at Frank's who is waiting for her missionary, her "hippopotamus" to come home from his mission to marry her) is determined to set up all of her friends with dates for the ward christmas sock hop...where everyone MUST have a date to get in.  In doing so, she confuses who likes who, sets them up with the wrong people, and everything's a mess.  But, with the return of her Hippopotamus, she sets everything to right, and christmas is saved.  Everyone has a date, and they all live happily ever after.....  The show will be featuring music of that time, or similar to it such as Mr. Sandman (mister santa), Don't be cruel, Oh, baby it's cold outside, Blue Christmas, and I can't help falling in love with you.

 

 

 

  A relatively simple plot, that's sure to be corny, but has a lot of heart, and some touching moments along the way.  We are currently in pre-production, but it has surprised me at how much fun it is to help to create an original production, and then act it out.  Besides the fact that i'm working with some of my favorite people on the planet!
        What this has REALLY done for me so far is a greater apprieciation for everyone behind the scenes.  The unsung hero's of every production.  If you are, or have been one of them; You rock, my friend! Thank you for all the work that you do!
      I will post updates and developments on this silly little production as we work, because it has been, and will be, so much fun.  I also believe that others, as well as myself, will grow from this wonderful experience!
     If you have never been in a production before, try it! You never know just how much it might change you for the better....(oh, jeez, now i'm almost quoting Wicked....)  This is one theater addict who won't be going through "rehab" anytime soon!