[title of show] is "a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical." It was written by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, aka "two nobodys in New York," as an entry into the New York Musical Theater Festival in 2004, where it was accepted for production and later went on to play off and on Broadway. Hunter and Jeff are the main characters, and the show chronicles its own creation in a trippy "show within a show" kind of way. It's sort of like standing between two mirrors; you're not sure if what you're seeing is the real thing or its reflection. Hunter and Jeffy recruit their wacky and talented friends Heidi and Susan to help them create and star in the show. It's really about the love of musical theater and creation in general - creating something you love and watching it take off. There are so many musical theater references, from John Cameron Mitchell to Kander and Ebb to Shubert Alley to the magical number 525,600, that I didn't even catch them all, and I'm a musical theater geek! One of my favorite songs (I had to download the soundtrack after seeing the show) is "Original Musical," in which Hunter sings to Jeff about how hard it is to get an original musical on Broadway; it would be much easier "if it was a jukebox musical, a revival, or a recognizable commodity." I was nodding my head as the list of musicals based on movies went on and on and on. "So movies make good musicals? Well, they make musicals." (For a discussion of the jukebox musical vs. the original musical, see the footnote at the end of my recent Jersey Boys post.) Some other fun songs are "Monkeys and Playbills," which is almost entirely composed of the titles of obscure musicals, and "Die, Vampire, Die," which talks about those little voices inside (or outside) our heads that tell us we can't, and how to banish those voices. In a poignant moment, Heidi sings about living the life she dreamed of as a little girl in "A Way Back to Then." This show goes from the ridiculous to the sublime, and back again.
[title of show] is a perfect match for Yellow Tree Theatre - small and intimate ("just four chairs and a keyboard"), funny, quirky, and featuring great songs. Although I never thought I'd hear such a string of expletives coming from the stage of Yellow Tree Theatre. But I liked it. :) I've found that musicals that use the f-word are usually f***ing brilliant - RENT, Spring Awakening, Avenue Q, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Next to Normal (go see it at the Ordway, featuring the fierce Alice Ripley, hey that's the first time I've ever used the word fierce, and that's the second!). The four-person cast is comprised of four talented individuals who also have great chemistry and comfort with each other; they're really believable as friends. I knew Mary Fox (Susan) could sing from her recent appearance in Our Town, for which she also recorded a soundtrack with Blake Thomas. But I didn't know Jessica Lind (Heidi), co-founder of Yellow Tree, has such a gorgeous voice. Andy Frye and J.C. Lippold (who from his bio appears to be the Mr. Schue of Maple Grove) play Hunter and Jeff. They're both funny and natural and have great voices in addition to their wonderful chemistry together, and they rarely left the stage during the 90-minute show. The audience was clearly having a good time going on the journey to Broadway with this group of four friends.
There's lots of youtube fun associated with this show, which I've only begun to enjoy. In the show Hunter and Jeff talk about creating a youtube show called The [title of show] Show about getting [title of show] on Broadway. That really exists and it's hilarious (you can watch it on the [title of show] youtube channel). Also, check out this video of "Nine People's Favorite Things" featuring fans of the show, some famous and some just regular people. I've watched it several times and see someone new each time. (And if you watch closely you may see the CSB/SJU bus, which I spent four years riding!)
Thanks to Yellow Tree Theatre and the real Hunter, Jeff, Heidi, and Susan for sharing the love of musical theater, my favorite thing in the world. This blog is my [title of show]. If you love musical theater, or any art form, go see this show while you still can! I'll leave you with another one of my favorite quotes from the show, that speaks to what musical theater can do:
We could ask significant questions
We could get important points across
Like are we writing for art
And is art a springboard for fame
And will fame get folks to trust us
But will they trust us
If it’s just us
Me and you