Another 70's musical by john daniels, jr. Aqualung to Comfortably
Numb with high school in between.
Premièred August 17 - Sept. 2, 2000 at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs, Austin, Texas A Sponsored Project of Austin Circle of Theaters |
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Cute Classic Cutlass Convertible Courtesy of Flipnotics.
Photo by Engela Edwards.
L to R: Ian Daniel Glowka, Tracey Crossett,
Stacie Primeaux,
Carlos Chang, Sergio Mireles, and Candice Ellison.
From the program:
| Director’s Note:
My first 8-track was a K-mart special "No Name" player. Yes, I had the Blue-Light Special tape player. I mounted it under the dashboard of my 1966 El Camino. It was very fine, but I couldn’t afford speakers with my $1.05-per-hour salary at Baskin Robins. I took an old AM-radio speaker out of a 1951 Ford Pickup and made a speaker box from a cigar box. The other speaker came from... the drive-in. The drive-in speaker had this nice little volume control on it. These were my "Kicker" days, and my 8-track case (glove compartment) was filled with, Carl Smith, Moe Bandy, Charlie Rich, and Al Dean and His All Stars. Dean had a version of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," the theme from Bonnie and Clyde, that was exciting. Many times my friends and I raced around town shooting imaginary machineguns at unsuspecting pedestrians. These were the days of two-step. These days were fun; but I met a new friend, and he had a better 8-track. Bryan’s green Gran Tornio station wagon (his mom’s old car) had a Craig 8-Track that was the top of the line. Bryan even had real car speakers, the kind you screwed into the door panels or dashboard. Bryan never screwed his down. He laid them on top of the dashboard leaving the wires dangling. Depending on which way Bryan turned the wagon, he would have to reach out and catch the loose speaker before it went flying out of the window. Bryan had a real 8-track case, too. It was huge. I remember the first 8-track Bryan popped into the player, "click, click, click... You wanted it and you got it. The hottest band in the land... KISS." I remember all the words to "Duce", but I can’t remember the name of the young lady sharing the back seat with me... This show is at once a tribute to the artistic influences of my teenage years and a remembrance of the music that made me think, cry, or drive my car really fast. It is also both the Smart A__ (Alec) sense of humor youth brings and the confusion of an adulthood that is nothing like what high school told us it would be. After my graduation from high school in 1978, I said to myself, "What next?" I find myself facing the same question 22 years later. Most of the time I try to face it with a smile. 8TRACKS should face it with a smile too. john daniels, jr. Teacher P.S. The cast really laughed at my yearbook on Dress rehearsal night. Musical Director’s Note: This show has been a real test... a test of our courage, our patience, our will to do something different and our drive to produce a fun exciting piece for the actors and the audience. I think we've succeeded admirably and I can't wait to rock 'n- roll all night! April Daniels,
Choreographer’s Note: john asked me to choreograph the "Money" number for the show, but after working with this wonderful cast I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I loved the challenge of finding something for everyone. I want to thank all the dancers who worked with me, especially Jenny, Yvonne, Sergio, Traci L. Tracey C. and Candice who came to extra rehearsals and patiently tried different moves until we found the right ones. I want to thank the actors for reaching outside their comfort zone to try something new. I want to thank those of you who continued to rehearse at 100% long after you had the routine just to help those that didn’t. I want to thank Traci L., Debra, Candice, and Tracey C. for "weaving a dream" for the future. Every director with whom I have worked has a role and tries to find just the right actor for the role, except john who starts with the actor and tries to find the best role for that actor. It takes more effort and a great passion for actors; but when it works, there is magic. Thank you, john and my family, for letting me stay and see uncut gems turn into bright shining moments of brilliance. Engela Edwards Sharer The Cast
Act 1
"Desperado" Sung by Janet; Bass-Tracey C.; Guitar-Jay "Money" Cashier: Emily; Couple at store: Sergio and Laurie; Suits: Tom, Jay, john, Sergio, Silver, Beth, Debra, Jennifer, Stacie and Frances; Students: Ian, Yvonne, Candice, Suzie, Traci L., Jessie, Tracey C., Jessica, and Emily; The Girl in the Red Dress: Jenny; The Dancing Couple: Yvonne and Sergio Scene: A S D F J K L: Ms. Coupe the Teacher: Silver; Randolph: Carlos; Sherry: Yvonne; Woodrum: Ian "The Joker" Sung by Jay; Fans: Debra, Ian, Jessica, Carlos, Candice "Heartbreaker" Sung by Jennifer; Dancers: Yvonne and Frances (Choreography: "2 dancers" by Yvonne; "3 dancers" by Jennifer; ending by Frances and Engela) Scene: Rhinestone Stud In Skin Setter: Rhinestoner: Jessica; Announcer: Sergio; Rhinestone Artist: Tom; Partiers: Emily, Carlos, Stacie; Young Girls: Tracey C., Susie; Running Kids: Matthew and Jessie; Crazy: Beth, Laurie, Yvette "Werewolves of London" Sung by Carlos; Werewolf: Sergio; Waiters: Ian, Debra; Old Lady: Stacie; Detective: Yvette; Lon Chaney: Tom; Queen: Silver; Lon Chaney, Jr.: Matthew; Princess: Candice Scene: Smith, James Smith: Sergio, Silver, Janet, Jessica, Jennifer, Yvette, Carlos "Crazy On You" Sung by April; Scene: Sergio, Jennifer, Jessica, Yvette, Carlos Scene: End Of Smith, James Smith: Sergio, Jenny, Janet, Stacie "Gold Dust Woman" Singers: Stacie, Traci L., France; Dancers: Traci L., Yvonne, Jenny, Frances Poem: What’s Next: Beth, Traci L., Susie, Stacie, Tracey C. "Sugar Mountain" Matthew, john, Ian, Sergio, Jay, Tom Scene: Zapruder: Man with Camera "Zapruder:" Tom; The Street Man: john; Paramedics: Sergio, Laurie; The Poet: Frances "Rock And Roll All Nite" Sung by Sergio and The Cast "God Of Thunder" Sung by April Scene: Drive Inn: Front-Seat Couple: Emily, Jay "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" Singers: john, April Scene: Drive Inn 2: Back-Seat Couple: Jessica, The Poet: Frances Scene: Rocky Road: Sergio, Yvonne "Dream On" Sung by Jennifer Scene: Ping: Jay, Laurie, Stacie, Debra, Jessie, Beth, Janet, Traci L., Susie, Jessica, Emily "Legend in Your Own Time" Singers: Stacie, Jenny Scene: Mall Cruisin’: Tracey C., Candice, Jay Scene: Poor Lance: Emily, Susie, Jessica, Stacie, Jay Scene: Stone Buddy: Janet, Laurie, Beth, Jay, Debra Scene: Same Question: Traci L., Frances "At Seventeen" Singers: Beth, Stacie, Frances, Traci L. "Behind Blue Eyes" Janet, Jenny Poem: "Late Lament" Tom Scene: What are you Thinking: Laurie, Jay "It’s Too Late" Sung by Laurie; Couples: Candice & Carlos, Silver & Tom, Sergio & Jessica, Ian & Yvette, Waitress: Emily, Women at Table: Beth, Stacie Band: Guitars: Raymond, John Web; Piano: Traci C., Drums: john "Vincent" Sung by April Scene: You’re No Don MacLean: Left to Right: Tom, Jay, Jenny, Jennifer, Emily, Ian, Yvette, Silver "You’re No Good" Sung by Beth Scene: Take’m Back: Matthew, Jay, Tom "We are the Champions" Jay "Comfortably Numb" Singers: Jenny, April;
Uncomfortably Numb: Jennifer; The Street Man: john; The Poet: Frances;
The Cast
Directed by: john daniels, jr.
Editing: john daniels, jr. Production Assistants: Yvette Ponce and Silver; Actors: john daniels, jr., Laurie Coker, Sergio Mireles |
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