Back in the Saddle

I've been on a hiatus from my career as a musical director/keyboardist since the Maxster was born, but jumped back into the saddle this week when I started rehearsals the reading of a new musical. The show is part of the Penn State New Musical Theatre Festival. It's a pop/rock piece called 'Steam', set in 1960's Brooklyn and based on 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

The show was written and premiered in Denmark. I had the pleasure of spending a lot of one-on-one time on Sunday-Tuesday with the composer, as she was here for the first two days of rehearsal. She's insanely talented, down to Earth and just an all around fantastic person. It was so fun to work through the score with her and take note of all of her intentions. I have the supreme honor and responsibility of seeing that her music is performed exactly the way she wants it. It's exciting, diverse and frankly, I get to rock out. :) She and the three gentlemen who conceived and wrote the book will be back in three weeks for the final days of rehearsal and then the performances, which is very exciting.

I've done three original shows in the past and this one is proving to be just as exciting. I love doing new pieces and the 'ready for anything-ness' that goes along with the territory. And honestly, it's also just really nice to be doing a show again. I'm realizing in just a few days of rehearsal that I really do miss it!

On a side note, I just found out this afternoon that one of the lead females in the show just got off a tour in Asia with three good friends of mine. One was my assistant in summerstock in NY (and then went on to music direct a tour of the Christmas Carol musical I composed), and I've toured twice! with the other two. Talk about a small world! I love it. :)