Daniel Does DFW Theater
Take a listen as Daniel interviews local DFW Theater artists on... Daniel Does DFW Theater! Watch this Vodcast at: www.youtube.com/@danieldoesdfw
Daniel Does DFW Theater
Who Direct The World? GIRLS! (with Rebecca Lowrey)
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Get ready for an exhilarating journey with Rebecca Lowrey, an influential force in the DFW theater scene! From her childhood beginnings and passion for piano, Rebecca shares her vibrant and engaging story. Discover how she ingeniously balances her creative pursuits with her busy life, offering a glimpse into the inspiring energy that propels her forward. We guarantee you'll be enchanted by her dynamic personality and dedication to her craft.
Rebecca and I dive into the critical aspects of audition preparation and casting equity, revealing the importance of confidence and preparation in the competitive world of theater. We discuss practical steps for making auditions accessible and enjoyable, while also addressing the exhilarating, yet stressful nature of understudy opportunities. Learn from Rebecca's insights on the evolving audition landscape in the post-COVID era and the importance of inclusive, safe spaces for all individuals in the theater industry.
As we wrap up, we explore dream roles in musical theater, the intricacies of developing new musicals in Texas, and the mission of MusicalWriters.com. Hear about our shared excitement for upcoming musical collaborations and the joy of producing new works that resonate with diverse audiences. Don't miss this creative, insightful, and entertaining episode with Rebecca Lowrey!
If you want to catch all the action, you can watch the full episode video at YouTube.com/@DanielDoesDFW. Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok: @DanielDoesDFW
Hi guys, and welcome back to Daniel. Does the DFW? I am Daniel. If you don't know that by now, you should Thanks Pause for I don't know. Insert a noise there Today. I'm so excited because I'm excited every single week, aren't I? You should be excited because I'm excited every single week, aren't I? Really, I'm really excited every single time. I'm even more excited because I have another creative person on my show this time. Instead of just showcasing, you know, all the singing talent that we have out there, let's branch out into some creatives as well, and so I'm excited to have this person on today. So please help me. Welcome, rebecca.
Speaker 2Lowry, all right.
Speaker 1So so full name. Did I pronounce it correctly?
Speaker 3yes, rebecca lowry, that's correct wonderful, and pronouns she her wonderful, not queen or piano master yeah, that's true, like master, it was like like dom vibes I point, Like I feel like post-apocalyptic, you know whether, whether it's zombies or a bomb, I don't care, but I do feel like that I will rise to like some sort of queen status, so I just imagine everybody's, like I mean, we're already there, I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, we're playing little pumpkin Magic carriage. So Rebecca and I have actually never been in a room together?
Speaker 3maybe I don't think. So I think our admiration is online.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, I think one time maybe, I passed in a room when you were rehearsing one day with Theater Arlington, but other than that, and then I was supposed to do something with you, but then I got a gig yeah, newark's Cabaret, and then you had some stuff going on, yeah and so I couldn't do that, which I promise.
Speaker 1that's not how I always am. Book me, please. Um so, but yeah, we've never been able to work together and so but just from so many friends that have talked with you or worked with you, I know what a presence you are in the DFW area, and so when Rebecca was actually the one who DM'd me, I did Slid into my DMs?
Speaker 1Ask me ask me yeah, and was like I want to do this, and so I was like, please. So I'm glad that you reached out, because I don't think I would have thought immediately to be, you know, like, because you're such a force, right, I'm like she's always busy and out of town.
Speaker 3That is true, I am always busy and out of town, but this worked out. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 1So I love it and, like I said, just hearing from everybody and the amount of stuff that you do in this area that we're going to really get into as well, because I want to use this platform so that you can share everything that you do with us. But tell me a little bit of your background.
Speaker 3Are you from the area? Where'd you grow up? Grew up in the Metroplex. So I was born in Dallas and grew up in Garland for most of that and then went to school in Abilene and then came back after school and based in Fort Worth for like seven years. Then I've been everywhere so Grapevine, plano, dallas Farmer's Branch and really have been full-time at DFW up until COVID. And then when COVID hit I actually moved out to our farm in Arkansas and kind of based there, and now I split my time between here and DFW farm in Arkansas and New York City. So I'm just kind of always in a plane or a car and I'm gonna do that until it doesn't make sense. I need to figure out a way to put a piano in a car. I mean, yeah, maybe.
Speaker 3I guess in a Tesla probably I like my car time, though, because that's when I get a lot of like phone calls done and a lot of catching up. Also when I listen to a Tesla. Probably I like my car time, though, because that's when I get a lot of like phone calls done and a lot of catching up. Also when I listen to a lot of music. I don't listen to music during the day normally, so I like my car time.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, I've become. I'm in the habit now of calling people when I'm in the phone.
Speaker 3Yeah, no that's when I get home, they said I've called everybody in the car and no one answers. And then you get home and they're all calling back and you're just like no literally, you can ask amanda sitting by the desk because I'm like no to talk to you. I had nothing to talk about. I was just going to talk to you because we were in the car. Yes, literally.
Speaker 1So did you come out of the womb playing piano?
Speaker 3No, so I started playing at five years old, but we were those kids that, like we did everything. So our parents put us in all of the things, so music, dance, sports, 4-h, sewing, all of it. We left some of those things behind and we found out what our strengths were.
Speaker 1Find it in our next segment, where Rebecca dances for us.
Speaker 3Oh, let's not. I mean, if it's Zumba I can do that. Yeah, Like if I ever, if I was ever responsible for choreographing anything, it would all be. Zumba moves, I mean it would be sexy jazz squares and some really hot grapevines and then Zumba moves.
Speaker 1And that would be the whole show. I see like hip rolls with those grapevines.
Speaker 3But past that and don't ask me to turn around, no, absolutely not. Front only. So we did everything and started playing the piano at five and that was the one thing that stuck and I'm so glad it did and I'm so glad that my parents never let me quit, because it would get hard and I would say, oh, this is too hard, and then I would move past it and I just kept playing, kept playing.
Speaker 1But 12 years old, I played for my first musical sound of music.
Speaker 3it was a two piano version and that was like when I got bit by the theater bug, um. And then also my first church job at 12 years old and that's really where I learned how to sight read, because you can't stop, you're getting new music every Sunday and that really stretched that muscle. I went to a very small Baptist University in Abilene, texas. I was a big fish in a small pond and I got to play for everything and so I accompanied for every voice lesson. I've probably been in more voice lessons than a normal vocal major and I got to hear altos and sopranos and tenors and basses and everyone in all different styles of music and with all different vocal issues, and that was just a lot of osmosis from that. Also played for opera and theater and university and then I moved here and didn't do any music for a little bit and that was a nightmare. It's like oh man, I have to create. So started doing musicals and music directing and here we are, that's what I do.
Speaker 1Wow, what was maybe your first break in professional here, if you want to talk about it so I did a lot of stuff.
Speaker 3I mean, gosh, it's been a long time. So it's. I, we're about to be 20 years in DFW as an adult, as a professional post-college, and I, yeah, I know right, um and so, and I've played everywhere. I mean there's not a theater really that I haven't had some experience with, whether whether it was music directing or playing for their auditions. Right before COVID was when things were really getting exciting, and it's also when I made my tradition from exclusively music directing to also directing. I kind of got to this point where I was like you know what, I just want to make the opportunities happen. And so Theater Arlington actually, here was where I directed my first show, which was plaid tidings, um, and that was like, okay, here we go, hashtag women direct, I can do this, I can do both. Um, and then the opportunities have just been great from that. And then we kind of had that big pause, um, but we're, we're getting back to it yeah, no, I wasn't able to see that, but I mean, you had an amazing cast that well, that's 90 of it.
Speaker 3Um, my secret sauce is in the casting. Um, if you get the right people and if you get the people that maybe everyone else might not consider, that's when you're really going to have some magic happen. But but, casting is the part, and I want to work with people who want to be there right, who want to do the show. That is also the other half of the battle. But, yeah, plaid Titans was awesome. We had Jason Phillips-Solis, brandon Bailey, jamal Houston and Joshua Sherman. It was a ridiculous cast. That show is hard. It is really really difficult, but that was a really fun one.
Speaker 3Yeah, I cannot stand, jason phillips you know, and they, they knew you were going to say that, um, I, we were texting on the way here today, actually, um, and, and they wanted to know you know. One, why did you cancel on them? And two, when are when, when, when, when is he going to get the opportunity to do this right?
Speaker 1so jason phillips elise is my, my best friend in the entire world, my boat sister, that is just the most like loving person yeah I've ever met jason, well just phenomenally talented in everything that they touch um, absolutely phenomenal choir director, great music director, fabulous vocalist.
Speaker 3There's nothing that they can't sing Like, it's just really really great Um and then, in flat tidings, I made him play piano, and he did that too, are you serious?
Speaker 1Yeah, it was really good.
Speaker 3Stressed him out. Stressed him out.
Speaker 1He'll tell you like he probably still is going to therapy because of that therapy because of that, um, but but, yeah, phenomenally talented, I would, I would put him in every show that I could. Your your video, which we need to post a link for it, of the yeah, covet conducting, yes, see, and that was before tiktok for me or for anything.
Speaker 3Um, that was like right at the beginning of everything shutting down. We probably were supposed to be staying at home at that time but we'll just pretend that he was my roommate and we were putting on songs like Frozen and Lizzo and he just started conducting to it and for a Facebook video. It's got like a lot of views. But if it had been TikTok like we probably have like six million views and we probably would hate each other by now because we would be so desperately trying to put out content on a regular basis.
Speaker 1But it's you like, laughing, crying at the same time. It makes it all together. I am losing, because he's just the most like.
Speaker 3Professional yes, but I'm reading the comments too. So, like I'm reading the comments that are coming through and I am being so tickled and I'm so glad that we had it filmed and that it was just a Facebook Live.
Audition Prep and Casting Equity
Speaker 1We were just being ridiculous and going on facebook live and so, yeah, we'll put, we'll put the links. Yeah, no for sure, because it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and I think you really do have this way of knowing what's funny. At the same time, I think you have a comedy about you, thank you, that I really enjoy, um, but with that we're going to go to something serious. Okay, I, I'm ready. Hard questions. We're actually going to take a break first, okay, and we're going to go over to the piano and do our first little segment at the piano together. So, something serious, something that we can really take in all together as an audience. So catch us at the keyboard here in a bit.
Speaker 2Okay, keyboard here in the bed. All right, thank you, all right, okay, here we go. Presto presto, presto, presto. Okay, thank you, thank you, wow, I mean I've never, ever heard somebody just like make that one note sing thank you like you you really have to get it took a lot of practice, honestly.
Speaker 3Yeah, I mean we should, we should do this more often we really should like a tour right see you on tour the one notes it really touched my soul.
Speaker 1Did it it really well? More touched my soul in my home.
Speaker 2Your words, not mine.
Speaker 1Well, we'll edit it out later. Probably not. Honestly, we left golden showers in.
Speaker 3What I didn't watch that episode.
Speaker 1So thank you for accompanying me. Yeah, that's fun, like I said, see you on tour y'all. Like Rebecca said, yeah, it's going to happen. No, I want more of your insight in what you are really. I was going to say best at, but no, you have so many like talents that you're not even best at. You're just a pro at it at this point. Right, you have played for so many auditions, like you said. I mean mean you basically have helped build the audition right catalog here at DFW and I mean you've not only trained them, built their book, but then also play for their auditions yeah.
Speaker 3So pre-COVID I mean, that was the main service that I was offering DFW actors and and creatives was audition prep, and that kind of started out of friends and shows going, hey, I have an audition coming up and I'd be like, hey, just come over, bring a bottle of wine and we'll work on your songs. And then it turned into so much more than that and in 2019, so right before everything shut down, I had 363 unique audition prep clients. Some of them came in once, some of them came in multiple times. But what that allowed me was I knew like every voice in DFW and I knew what they could do outside of just that one 30-second audition. But it also really created for me a vocabulary and a skill of helping folks with audition prep. And because it's just confidence, that's really what it is. And for some people, just having that 30 minutes to focus and go okay, let's make sure my cut is right, let's make sure my music is right, what do I sing first? What do I do? I have anything ready if they ask for something else. For a lot of folks, that was all they needed. I wasn't really doing anything for them except for providing a space to just get their thoughts together, get their confidence up and be ready to go in and nail that audition. So it also helped my casting because I could tell in an audition is this person just really good at auditioning, can they bring it after that, or the opposite. Some people just aren't good at auditioning and that's OK because it's stressful, your adrenaline gets going, and so I would really know I started to do to make things more equitable, make things easier in my audition rooms was providing rehearsal tracks and like the callback information ahead of the original audition.
Speaker 3I'm totally a fan of singing songs from the show. I think that's a great way to come in and do that and so really trying to make sure that the auditions were as accessible and as fun as possible. I'm not a big fan of like huge callbacks either. So like nine to five, for example, was one of the last shows that I directed before COVID, and we only called back for two roles because everybody else showed me what I needed to see in the audition. They either sang from the show or they just came in and nailed it, or I already knew what they could do and we just had two roles that we had a bunch of people that could have kind of been anything and that's all.
Speaker 3We had callbacks for these theaters that are doing these five and six hour callbacks. That's insane to me. It just is a lot of work. And so on both sides for the people who are coming back to do the callback and for the folks who are making the decisions sometimes we got to go with our gut a little bit. Also, backup plans for our backup plan. So I love to have, especially in this post COVID era, always having extra people who can, you know, pop into these different roles and be understudies essentially, if not just like you know, extra people who are ready to go and take the role. You just had an understudy opportunity, didn't you?
Speaker 1I did how was that. Oh, so stressful.
Speaker 3But you did it.
Speaker 1Yeah, so great. I mean getting that call, Cause I mean I think our call was like 1 o'clock or something and I wasn't called until like almost 11. Wow, when they were like hey, have you heard?
Speaker 3anything.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I was like and when the producer asked me or the general manager was like you think you can do it? And I was like I don't think I have any other answer. Right. Right, so sure why not, and he's like well, I need you to.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1It's like, okay, let's do it. Yeah, no, I think.
Speaker 3I enjoyed it.
Speaker 1It's that rush, that I really do as much as I hate it as actors and as performers. I think that's what we crave.
Speaker 3Oh, it really is. So I love I've had a couple of awesome you know last minute put ends and shows that are just it's fun and it's exhilarating and everyone pulls together and makes it happen. No one wants you out there failing, so that's really fun.
Speaker 1I enjoyed it so much. It was definitely surprising, but a good time overall. As far as your audition, are you still offering that? Is that something?
Speaker 3So it's difficult. So I don't really have kind of a home base here right now at DFW, so it's hard for me to schedule. One of the beauties before COVID was that I just had this calendar that was open and people can sign up whenever and just pop in and do a 30 minute in the middle of my day, and it worked. I do some coaching in New York when I'm up there, I do some coaching here, um, but I just tell people just to let me know it's not as easy to get time with me, as it used to be, cause I don't have that calendar, that's just always open Um, but I love it.
Speaker 3I love helping people out with um with their auditions.
Speaker 1Nice. One thing I do want to touch with you as well is, uh, since you are someone who's behind the and sorry if I'm putting you on the spot, yeah, um, but I think that's why we're here, right, since you are someone who is behind those casting tables and stuff like that, what efforts do you feel you make as a creative to make sure that we are representing yeah, you know every type of diverse group?
Creating Safe Spaces in Theater
Speaker 3it starts so early, it's way before the day of the audition. So we have to actively reach out to the people, groups that we want to show up at our audition. First and foremost, the thing that will just drive me up the wall and I will go to bat is when a theater will announce a show and there's clearly a lack of diversity, and then you confront them about it and their responses Well, this is who showed up to audition. You've got to, you've got to get out there, you've got to make your theater, you've got to make your creative team a safe space for for people of color, for our non-binary and trans individuals, and let them know that they are wanted and that they are needed and that there are roles for them.
Speaker 3Um, that's always been really important to me, um, but it starts way before the audition. Um, that's like I can talk about that for an hour though that's. That's a really big thing, but you've got to let um, and it's hard because I think the flip side also is you know, there are actors who go. I'm not going to work at that theater and I think that that is valid. But I also really recommend, you know, looking at the creative team, looking and seeing what their casts were for their other shows, see if they're casting diversely to know that they can, to you know, have an opportunity to seat at the table. Also, it's about having diversity behind the table as well and having people of color on your creative teams. Obviously, I'm big on hashtag women direct and I like to have creative teams that are full of women, but we also have to take that step further and have people of color as well wonderful.
Speaker 1I love that. So here's where I'm gonna dig into a little bit more okay as well, because somebody that I know that you've worked with right has now been a little bit outspoken, um, recently in the past, someone that you were on that creative side with, and so I kind of wanted to dig in a little bit about, um, brian Claudus oh, that's a fun name.
Speaker 1That's a fun name and I know and I'm sure what's so sad to me is that I'm sure sound of music has such a place in your heart, because it was your first show, as you said it was, and it.
Speaker 3Sound of music was my first show and sound of music will also be my last show that I ever do. That's not a new musical. So right before COVID I did do sound of Music with Brian Claudus experiences. It was the most massive epic production that I've ever been a part of. It was out at the Promise in Glen Rose. We had a boat and water and fire and flames and big flags that were 10 by 10 of a certain symbol. I mean it was. It was over the top.
Speaker 3Personally, I had a lovely time with Brian Um, but I it wasn't until after our experience working together that everything came out and for me it was a really quick like never again, not not going to, not going to do that, and I think the lesson that I learned from that is that if you're confronted with someone with something, you need to address it and you need to deal with it. So, and there's especially when there's just untold amount of stories out there and it's really unfortunate for those folks that you know have really bad experiences with him he's on my do not work list Just because for some people it might be totally fine and totally safe, but if any of my actors are not going to be in a good experience.
Speaker 1I'm not gonna you know, promote that, and I think that's where it is right. Yeah, you are the type of person that you know that somebody on your team, or potentially on your team, could not make somebody else say right, you are like well then, I can't, just I can't do it.
Dream Roles in Musical Theater
Speaker 3Yeah, and it's, and it's unfortunate because I mean, he has a brilliant creative mind. You can't, you can't cancel that out, you know. But if it's not a safe environment for all of your actors and your staff, like that's not gonna work. All crazy people are a little smart, creative maybe takes a little mental illness to do this that's why and he's got a lot of it so clearly you said it I mean, I sure did yeah, but I wasn't there with him storming the capitol, so I was.
Speaker 3Well, that's the thing it's like. You know everybody, you're not the first person to ask. Like you know, I don't have any personal stories about right. I can't say, oh well, I was in the room when he did this or whatever. That didn't happen, but just a quick google literally right, just a quick google and you go yeah, never mind.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, well, and I'm glad that you and I knew that was your point anyway.
Speaker 3What would you have said if I was like bro opening a show next week?
Speaker 1No, that's a lie. We would have cut tape. No, well, and I like part of it is like the company you keep right, right and you want to protect the people that are around you, right For sure, and I sent that off of you. And so why? Why would you want? Yeah?
Speaker 3no, it's, it's definitely. We're actually doing heather is finally, because that whole production like that was such a cool concept and I wanted it to work for him, you know, and I would have, you know, been a part of it if, if things started, started crumbling pretty quickly, and then also just the fact that they were trying to produce that during the height of COVID no, no, we can't do that. We needed to take a break.
Speaker 1And it was good for everyone. Speaking of taking a break, we are going to go ahead and scoot back over for our oh, I'm going to sing this time.
Speaker 3Oh, yes, you are. I'm not singing, that's for sure.
Speaker 1Can you imagine I mean but that's for sure, can you imagine I mean but that's what you normally do, but I kind of like the switch though that's for the last one you're singing for the last one.
Speaker 3Well, hopefully we can play. Jesus loves me, that's about all I can sing. Or mary had a little lamb, that's a good one.
Speaker 1Yes, I can find the notes awesome, but uh, we're gonna get over there and I'm gonna sing a little bit, so we'll see you in a bit so excited to finally like have you behind the keyboard. I don't think we've ever collaborated together.
Speaker 3No, I don't think so.
Speaker 1Ever. You don't even know if I can actually sing.
Speaker 3I don't, and that's what's super fun about this, right, because that's normally. I have no idea what's going to come out of someone's mouth, but it doesn't matter. I still have to play what's here and save you when you make a mistake.
Speaker 1Right. Which going to test, Rebecca? I don't even know this song.
Speaker 3Right, so it's going to be fun, I have played this song. I don't think I've ever played it in this key, but Thanks for giving away that.
Speaker 1I changed the key, Rebecca. There's no shame in that.
Speaker 3I'm all about transposing it, just puts it in fun keys.
Speaker 1Thanks, yeah, so we're all about trans rights, transposing, yes, everything. Yes, Trans lyrics all the things, all the things, whatever happens, all right. So I'm going to be singing middle of the moment from James and the Giant Peach. Let's do it If this is what my family has to be then. I don't need one watching over me. Family doesn't make you sleep outside. Family doesn't laugh and say you're blind. Remember what a home is. Think of what your life should be. Can't crawl out of where you are. You're just steps away.
Speaker 2The world's okay, but you can't see that far and there, in the middle of a moment, you're halfway to somewhere new. Can't go back. Keep pushing through. You'll have to think in ways you've never thought. You'll have to make the best of what you've got. Find the answers hiding in between. You have to make the best of what you've got. Find the answers hiding in between.
Speaker 1Seek a door that no one's ever seen.
Speaker 2Something's there. You feel it. Stop to look. It's all around, but you're stuck in the middle of the moment.
Speaker 1No clear path, no shining star.
Speaker 2You're just steps away, the world's okay, but you can't see that far and there, in the middle of the moment, you're halfway to somewhere new. Can't go back, keep moving through, cause there's magic. Now you know, you know magic Made it grow, make me grow, and wonderful, marvelous Things can come true In the middle of a moment. In the middle of a moment, in the middle of a moment, in the middle of a moment, You're on your way. That was fun.
Speaker 1You play that song, Gert?
Speaker 3Most of it.
Speaker 1So I'm going to give you away, because when we were practicing that song earlier, there was a moment where I was just playing chords and she's like and notes here, notes here this key. Yes, then we changed the key. I hate.
Speaker 3E sharps y'all. We're going to charge extra for E sharps.
Speaker 1Goodness. So I will pay you extra of what we're paying you to be on the show today.
Speaker 3Great, amazing. Let's triple it. Honestly for you. Let's do it.
Speaker 1I will do it and I'll heartbeat. No, let's talk a little bit about maybe some dream shows or dream roles.
Speaker 3Dream shows, dream roles. So if I ever was to be on stage, like not behind you know a table, um, Hello, Dolly, right, so cause I don't think I would have to act at all. I just am a matchmaker by trade, whether it's romantic, Can we talk later. Yeah, we can Just tell me what you want, I'll find it.
Speaker 1A man. Okay, that's all I figured. Are you assuming that I'm a homo?
Speaker 3I am assuming, I am assuming, I am Adding that to the list.
Speaker 3But yeah, so I'm a natural matchmaker, whether it's people or projects or people with projects. So Hello Dolly, I think, is a lovely show. I had a great opportunity to music direct there in Denton with a 19-piece orchestra, so I love Hello Dolly. I piece orchestra, so I love hello tolly, um, I think dream show. I think the only existing musical that would like pull me out of new musicals would be waitress. I think I could. I would like to music director direct waitress um. There's also a beautiful show that I saw in new york right before the shutdown called darling grenadine and I would direct that in a heartbeat.
Speaker 1I thought you were going to say five five.
Speaker 3No, I saw five. That was. That was interesting. It was an interesting show. Um, not six five. Um Darling Grenadine. So that would be like stage roles, but that's not for me. I want to be behind the table, um, and making that jump from music director to director was really important to me. I love musicals and music is 85% of the show, so it wasn't that big of a jump to do that. And then I think the dream role that I have right now as CEO of musical writers is pretty cool. So I went from music director to director to CEO. So, yeah, those are my dream roles.
Speaker 1Tell me more about musical writers. I know, obviously it's my. Those are my dream roles. Tell me more about musical writers. I I know obviously it's people who write musicals right, and they bring them into you where you can produce them. Yes, so tell us more about how you got into that, how you found out about them even, or how you became CEO.
Developing New Musicals in Texas
Speaker 3Right. So musicalwriterscom was formerly run by Holly Reed, who actually lives in Tyler, texas, and right before COVID we had started having some conversations about me starting to do some of their new works in my living room because I was doing living room concerts at the time and then the world shut down and we still kind of connected and my first staged reading that I did with them was in July of 2021. And MusicalWriterscom, first and foremost, just exists as a resource and musicalwriterscom, first and foremost, just exists as a resource. My favorite compliment and favorite criticism of our website is wow, this is an overwhelming amount of information and it is because writing a musical is the hardest thing to do. It is the hardest thing to do If you want to do something easier. Go write a play, go write a novel, do any of those other things. So I started with them in early 2021. We did our first show in July of 2021. And since then we've done countless stage readings and table reads.
Speaker 3We do a big summer festival here in Texas as well and we really exist to help writers get their show from page to stage, and that development process includes writing and rewriting and table reads, getting some feedback on the work, finding out what's on the page but also what's not on the page, and then moving to stage readings. We've actually done quite a few here at Theatre Arlington. We're thankful for that support so that a writer can hear their show out loud, all the lines, all of the songs. And then we've had some great success with shows that we have developed and worked on, that have gone off Broadway or had other licensing opportunities, which is really cool. And then last summer we announced that I'm new owner and CEO.
Speaker 3Holly's still around and we love her. She does my website and graphic design still. She's a fabulous writer and has a show called True North that is moving through the stages of development. Hope to see it on a Broadway stage soon. And so it's exciting for me because, as a female director and having worked on some really awesome shows like 9 to 5, director, and having worked on some really awesome shows like nine to five best little whorehouse I mean some really great shows the burden is on the director. The burden is on the director and the producer and the and the creative team to sometimes make these shows less problematic for a 2024 audience.
Speaker 3And that's exhausting it's exhausting and I just really decided that I'd rather just start with shows that aren't problematic in the first place. I'd rather start with shows that already are not misogynistic or transphobic or homophobic or any of those things. I'd rather start with that than feeling like, oh, now I have to like figure out how to diversely cast this. Well, I just want to do shows that already require diversity. I want to do shows that are already not problematic, and that's part of the development process as well is finding things that are unintentionally offensive and making sure that we're including all different types of people groups in all of the steps. We're including all different types of people groups in all of the steps.
Speaker 3One of my favorite quotes that stands out to me from my friend Chris was not about us without us, and that's something that's really important to me that if we're doing a show that has roles or characters that have different lived experiences than myself or my writers, I want to make sure those people are in the room. I want to make sure that they have the opportunity to say, hey, we wouldn't say that that way, or I think that's a little touchy of a subject, or what can we do. So that's where my passion came and I COVID like really clarified for me that I'm done doing Sound of Music and Mamma Mia. I've done it. I did my time. I've done some great productions of it. I've done Mamma Mia countless times, especially with high schools.
Speaker 1Oh my goodness, it was everywhere.
Speaker 3Right, and so it's what I'm passionate about. There are stories out there that we need to be telling, and I really want to make sure that I'm giving the opportunity to do that. So that's musical writers in a nutshell. There is no one size fits all path to development, and also not every show is destined for Broadway, and so I love working with writers who know that about their show and they want it to go to universities or they want it to go to community theaters. Maybe they are writing the raunchiest show ever, and they just want it to be, you know, a late night show at a professional theater that they do to, you know, have a late night option. So that's what's.
Speaker 1That's what musical writers is we need more toxic avengers and toxic avenger.
Speaker 3That is one of my favorite shows too. I really enjoy that show what's the other one?
Speaker 1that is, another late night. Oh my god, he has a chainsaw, ash uh evil dead yes, evil dead is another.
Speaker 3Yeah, so like we need more of those local writer, brian christensen, has read lynn via chainsaw, which is getting its first like world premiere fully produced production this fall at lakeside community theater. We've done, uh, two stage readings for him on hallow Halloween the last two years. The first year, which was two years ago, we had a great stage reading of that and got to let people hear it and laugh. We did rewrites and then this past Halloween we did a production of it with blood and it needed the blood and it was so fun to have all of the gory, gory blood on there needed the blood and it was so fun to have all of the gory gory blood on there. And it's really exciting to see not only a local writer um find a path, but that we also have so much support here in DFW um to help produce these new musicals love it.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, I think that that's so important. And just to go back a little bit, yeah, one thing that you talked about, I love that, instead of just, you know, trying to fit a piece, you know, of the puzzle in and trying to fit people in, which I think is still important, right, giving them the opportunity to give roles that to do roles that they aren't you know, maybe not necessarily for, but building a whole new puzzle you know, Right, I mean in no shade to the classics you know I'm not anti-classics, I'm really not and I think that there are some really creative ways that folks are doing colorblind casting or nontraditional casting or they're doing it with, you know, a different light.
Speaker 3But there are new stories to tell. There really are, and there's some exciting opportunities and I think that DFW is the best place to do it and we have such a diverse, just community already. We have incredibly talented actors and creatives and theater. We have so many theaters and so much space to do this in, and that's I really want DFW to be known as like the place to develop and create new musicals.
Speaker 1So with that is DFW the only hub currently for musicalwriterscom.
Speaker 3Yeah, so I mean, we have members all over the world, from New Zealand, the UK, quite a few members from Israel, canada, I mean just all over the place but I want to create art here. This is where my community is, these are where my resources are. This is where some of the most talented individuals are brian hathaway and elisa james and jason phillips. So lease um, we've just got so much great talent here. Maybe I'll get you in a show here, coming up. I have one that he's on a short list for.
Speaker 1We'll see, we'll see, we'll see, um, but yeah it's, it's really fun to do these new works because I know you are a part of something else that I do want to bring up as well that has multiple hubs.
Speaker 3Um, yes, us called the she dfw, so this is another just great opportunity that promotes women writers, non-binary writers, women directors, um as well. And so it started with she nyc, uh, with Danielle DiMatteo, who's awesome and created this amazing festival, and then they expanded to LA, and then they expanded to Atlanta, and then Sarah Powell and I got connected with her through Georgia Stitt. We did a production of her brand new musical, the Danger Year, and she connected us all up and we were like hey, like we think DOW needs to be the next city. And of course they were like, oh well, you know, we thought Austin would be it, or maybe Chicago, or Denver, seattle. And we're like, no, dallas, fort Worth is it. And so we are really excited.
Speaker 3Plays and musicals have been submitted. We are in the reading process right now and we'll be announcing two plays and one musical that will be presented in September, fully produced, shows everything. It's going to be really exciting. It's just a great opportunity to have one, that DFW representation on this national scale. I just want people to come see the new art that we've got.
Speaker 1I was just in Sweeney Todd with Sarah and she was working her butt off reading those scripts.
Speaker 1It is, it's a lot Trying to get everything done and she told me a little bit about you know that they told y'all in that initial phone call. We really don't think we want to open another location. We think we're good right now and she goes, and then by the end of that phone call we had really talked them into it. Yeah, yeah, and she's like so it, she's ready, and I know that you're ready as well. Just, I'm.
Speaker 3I am excited I'm not reading the first or second round of scripts, I'm waiting for the final. Here's like the biggest tea. The dirt that I can tell about myself is like I hate reading scripts. Oh, I thought you were gonna say you didn't know how to read, right, wouldn't that be funny? No, I hate reading scripts, and so I prefer to hear them read out loud. I love table reads for that, oh yeah, but I don't have a long enough attention span to sit and read a script, and so I'm so thankful that we have such an awesome group of volunteers and folks who are being those first and second round screen screen screeners. I guess for it. Um, and then I'll get the prim of the crop and figure out what's gonna what's gonna get produced nice, any other tea that you need to spill or anything else.
Speaker 1You feel that this is your moment, this is my moment, you know I, I don't know.
Speaker 3I'm sure I have plenty, but I've not been given a sufficient amount of wine to just to be, to, to, to spill it all. Right, I mean, it's the afternoon, are we? Are we supposed to pretend that this is like a 10 o'clock, like late night?
Speaker 1Thanks for ruining the facade, sorry, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2I'm drunk? No, you're not.
Speaker 3I mean, you're a lightweight.
Speaker 1if you are, I know I'm light, thank you, she called me skinny. Skinny legend no, yeah, no, I can't think of anything other tea that I would want you to spill, I mean maybe off camera.
Speaker 3Yeah, that's when we start charging, right.
Speaker 1That's the Patreon.
Speaker 3Yes, that's when we that's when we start charging right, like that's the Patreon, yes, that's the you know. And then 50% goes to musical writers, and then you can take the other 50%.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1If enough people comment that they want tea, then we can Like do you know, we're actually going to bleep this out If she wants, if you want to know what she really wants to know about, Do not Hashtag women direct. Hashtag women direct but no, I do want to thank you for coming on the show today. I had a blast. It really it feels like you know we are old friends I know, I think, I think we can be friends now like for real, I think so.
Speaker 3Yeah, that wild. Yeah, that's kind of crazy. It's fun. I know let's take a trip to new york together. I would love to show you my New York. Yeah, please.
Speaker 1I'm going next weekend.
Speaker 3Are you really?
Speaker 1I don't think I'm going to be there next weekend. Well, I'll be there in June.
Speaker 3What are you going to see?
Speaker 1A little shop Great.
Speaker 3Super fun yeah.
Speaker 1The notebook, that, no, I don't know what else I really. I really wanted to kind of see a cabaret Is that the name of it? Yeah, cabaret, but it was so expensive.
Speaker 3It's going to be expensive, like 700 bucks yeah.
Speaker 1So I was like maybe not.
Speaker 3I'm going to start entering the lottery for that now, or selling my body. Yeah, very cool, but no, but I want to thank you for coming on for playing for me one more before we head out.
Speaker 1Okay, I do want you to plug your socials, if you want to, for sure any and all socials.
Speaker 3Yeah, so you can follow us on that. Just musical writers, so musicalwriterscom, or musical writers, on instagram, facebook, um, and then my personal is a company musicals, um. You can find me on tiktok and instagram. I haven't done tiktok in a while, but there's so much content out there, so go enjoy that. Maybe do add a few songs, but yeah, that's what we've got. I forgot, you did that whole duet thing.
Speaker 3Yeah, that was, it seems like a lifetime ago, but people still sing Every day. I get duets Every day and I love it. I love seeing the immense talent that's out there.
Speaker 1I think I did a couple, but she never responded. So thank you for coming. Actually she did comment and say why do you have this one up?
Speaker 3No, I probably commented hashtag keep singing, which people can take either way. Right, they can take it as like wow, you're amazing, keep singing. Or wow, you have some work to do, so keep singing.
Speaker 1I'm so sorry you say that when I don't like someone wow you're amazing, keep singing, or wow you have some work to do, so keep singing again.
Speaker 3That's, that's what I comment on every video that I actually watch and see I do hashtag keeps when I see a really bad show.
Speaker 1Now I'm like keep, keep doing the thing you're doing it, you keep, keep on, and you know what y'all, y'all should keep on, keeping on too.
Speaker 3Keep watching, yes, keep watching, it'll get better.
Musical Collaboration and Impromptu Cher Impersonation
Speaker 1No, no, but thank you so much again. Thank you, guys, for watching. We have one more song to close out the show. Don't forget that you can follow us on social media at DanielDoesDFW, that's on Instagram, facebook, um, whatever other things you follow. And look for our patreon soon where we are charging for content, where rebecca talks about stuff she doesn't want to talk about so excited after that what are we excited about?
Speaker 1um, about more collaborating and playing and singing together. That's right, because so I've always wanted to do this song as Cher. Okay, that's a choice, are we doing?
Speaker 3it as Cher today.
Speaker 1I mean it doesn't affect you.
Speaker 2No you're right, it doesn't. I don't think so. It affects me not having the wig today, unless I'm supposed to be Sunny.
Speaker 1You do the random interjections as sunny.
Speaker 3That would be great, I mean if that works for you, you can feel it in the moment and the spirit moves you because it is from God's spell I'm doing Turn Back, oh man.
Speaker 1Should we do it?
Speaker 2Yes, All right, here we go ways. Oh, now is earth and none may count her days. And if thou, her child, whose head is ground in flame, still will not hear thine inner God proclaim, still will not hear Thine inner God proclaim Turn back, o man. Turn back, o man. Turn back, o man. Forswear thy foolish ways. Earth, my heat. Be fair and all men glad and wise. Age after age, their tragic empires rise, but it will deaden. That's why they dream, and that dream in me Would never wake From how he's haunted sleep. Turn back, old man. Turn back time war. Turn back, old man. Soldier dance Turn back, old man. I was hoping for the like eat your heart out.
Speaker 2That would be great as share hi Sweden, hi Sweden, licking the lips.
