I've Been "StageStruck!"

So as I mentioned in my previous post, my husband and I visited Spring Arbor this past weekend to watch the debut of "StageStruck."

....At this point you're probably asking yourself, "what in tarnation is StageStruck?"....

Well, let me enlighten you - 

A couple/few years ago, a couple friends of mine had this idea to write a musical about the parts of theater that the audience doesn't see - namely the techies.  

(For those of you who have not done theater - you should probably know that for about every actor seen on stage in a play, there's usually at least one backstage: stage managers, sound techs, lighting techs, costumes, props, hair and make up, backstage crew...and they put in A LOT of work).

Anyway, these friends of mine (David and Liz, to be precise) had this idea for "Techies the Musical."  Then they made the decision to hire on a script writer - so they asked Breinne, and she took on the job.

It was about this point in the process - after Breinne was "hired" on (in quotes due to the fact that she was not paid), and David disappeared into the wonderful world of Disney for a semester internship, that I moved into an apartment for the year with Liz, Breinne, and some other pretty amazing ladies.

Through - much - toil, and many deadlines, Breinne had the first draft of the script written and Liz had about half/two-thirds of the music written.  The basic story had changed much since it's first vision, mainly due to the absence of it's visionary - David, but that was not necessarily a bad thing - it was actually quite the opposite.

To shorten this already lengthening story, the script went through - many - read-throughs for the theater professors (Paul Patton and Jen Letherer), and I was extremely blessed to be a part of this process.  Both Adam and I sat in on, and read for several of the beginning re-writes.  A typical day that year would see me walking into the apartment with Liz at the piano writing yet another song.  The Spring semester ended with a rather intense read-through.  Liz and Breinne had to find readers who could actually sing their parts as well, teach them the music, and have them read/perform for the professors and a very small audience.  It may not sound like a huge deal, but it was quite the obstacle - especially since they were trying to keep everything on the DL - and news like a student-written musical spreads like wildfire in Spring Arbor.

Anyway, we have since left Spring Arbor, and Breinne and Liz have continued to labor over the script and music.  Since the story was not the same as the original "Techies" vision, it was renamed "StageStruck."  I cannot even fathom how much work was put into the continuing re-writes, read-throughs, chopping, and editing.  Neither can I fathom the work put in writing and re-writing melodies and lyrics, AND writing out all of the orchestration for all of the instruments.  Their sheer talent alone astounds me.

And this is no typical student-written production, it is FABULOUS. The music is catchy, fun, and breathtaking.  The story and character development are realistic, meaningful, and will keep you on the edge of your seat at some moments while dying laughing at others.

It's the story of the last few days before a play's opening night.  The techies are tired of being walked all over and unappreciated, so they retaliate by locking up the actors backstage and trying to run the show themselves.  Of course this is unsuccessful, and they discover that they need the actors just as much as the actors need them.

The mere fact that - students - wrote this play, and that they actually brought it together, directed it, choreographed it, PRODUCED it - is absolutely remarkable.

I have played but a very minute part in this process - I've really been more on the sidelines than had an actual part in it.  But to see it in it's infantile stages, and then to see it all come together and be performed fully and beautifully was a feeling I can't describe. What Liz and Breinne felt, I can't even pretend to know.

So congratulations, from the very bottom of my heart, to two beautiful, talented young ladies.  To see how much your cast and crew loved the story and the music, and how dedicated they were to it, is a true testament to the hard work, love, and devotion that you have put in.  I love you both and truly hope that you will be able to get this work published.  I will be praying for you!

Breinne Reeder - writer

Liz Sutton - composer

(T-shirt made by Breinne for me last year, during the big read through at the end of the semester <3 )

Well there you have it, the very rough story of StageStruck, how it came to be, and why I've been so ecstatic about it.

Please be praying for Liz and Breinne - they need to get StageStruck copywritten as well as published, which costs money.

Much Love to All,

Here's to hoping that some day, the rest of the world will get a chance to be "StageStruck."

Cheryl