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| Michael Thompson and Tim Shawver photo by Ginny Medinilla |
In 2006, a relatively unknown, two person musical opened Off Broadway after a run in London and a previous tryout at The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), the developmental testing ground for such musicals as Next to Normal, Altar Boyz and [title of show]. This new musical would go on to earn nominations for Best Musical at both the Outer Critic's Circle Awards and the Lucille Lortel Awards, as well as being nominated for Best Book and Best Director of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards.
That musical was Gutenberg! The Musical! - a hilarious show within a show about two people who are seeking financial backing for their musical about, of all things, Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.
Full of high energy, humorous songs and a fun spirit, where the two writers of the show within a show portray dozens of characters in the piece, Gutenberg! The Musical! found itself a loyal fan base.
The musical makes its Phoenix premiere in A/C Theatre Company's upcoming production, which opens on May 17th, co-directed by two well known Valley artists David Chorley and Osiris Cuen and starring two other well known Valley performers, Michael Thompson and Tim Shawver.
Chorley and Cuen took a brief break in between rehearsals of the show to talk about the musical, this production, and what the co-directing process is like.
For someone who has never heard of Gutenberg! The Musical! before, what would you tell them it's about?
OSIRIS CUEN: "It's a show within a show about two guys who after seeing a Broadway show thought "we can make musicals too!". They hope their show will one day, soon, make it to Broadway!"
Why did you want to direct this show?
DAVID CHORLEY: "Truth be told, this was on my list to act in. I heard it for the first time on XM Radio and was laughing so hard, it quickly was on my radar to either audition for if I saw it, or produce somewhere. When I was given the chance to direct it, I jumped on it because I just knew the comedic potential it possessed. "
How do you approach co-directing a show verses a show you are directing by yourself?
DC: "I don’t think you could ever co-direct a play with just anyone. You need to have someone working with you that is collaborative. It’s actually really nice to have a separate set of eyes on things. Osiris will go to places where I didn’t even think to go and vice versa. There have also been times where we have thought of the exact same jokes or notes at the same exact time– so there is a great chemistry. Just like the two actors on stage have to jive, so do the two directors backstage! "
OC: "Co-directing has been a great experience for me. David is such a funny guy and on our first day directing together we had the same idea for one bit and we were cackling! From that moment on I felt this was going to be a great experience, I was right! It's also nice having someone to check your work and vice versa. I also love how we each continue to develop not only our own ideas but we add to our co-directors ideas as well."
You are both performers and have both performed in numerous comedies in town. How does being a comic actor prepare you to direct a show like this, and in what ways have you've found that it is a disadvantage?
OC: "I personally have only seen advantages to the fact that we're both comedic actors. For me both start out with the same idea; "I want this to happen at this moment". Either I do it or I direct someone to do it."
DC: "There is definitely broad comedy involved that most everyone will appreciate. Specifically though, this is a musical about making wrong musical choices. Years of being on the stage have taught me what right choices are – so it was easy to a certain extent to direct them to make the wrong choices. The flip side to that is sometimes you want to make the right choice because you know it will get a great big laugh, but then have to think…is that a choice that would actually be made in this particular presentation? You have to be careful for sure. The wrong choice gets a different type of laugh for sure. "
What kind of research did you do to prepare for directing it? Did you read up on Johann Gutenberg, who invented the printing press and is the man the musical is named for?
DC: "I did more research than was actually probably necessary. A big joke in the show is that the authors of Gutenberg: The Musical really didn’t research the show much at all, and actually start making up the plot about halfway through. I learned how the Gutenberg press was built, great video on Youtube if you are interested!"
In the show, the two main characters have written a musical and are attempting to get people to back it. However, their musical is kinda ridiculous and includes a lot of fictional information about Gutenberg, since not a lot was known about him. What is your most favorite of these outlandish fictional items in the show?
DC: "Oh my, there are too many good ones, but if I had to zero in on one, I would say that the love interest they invented for Gutenberg is my personal favorite. Their rational is that she was a wench, and in in Gutenberg’s time there were a lot of wenches, so chances are she actually existed. "
OC: "The musical is a Historical Fiction and I think they took that to the extreme! The Monk is one of my favorite characters in the entire show! He has an interesting little backstory that you hear in the number "Haunted German Wood". Bud and Doug, the two characters who wrote the musical, have written such a hysterical and over dramatized nefarious villain. It's an absolute joy to watch!"
While this is a comedy, are there any important themes or messages you think the musical depicts?
OC: "Bud and Doug think there is an important message in their musical..."
DC: "Oh my, there are too many good ones, but if I had to zero in on one, I would say that the love interest they invented for Gutenberg is my personal favorite. Their rational is that she was a wench, and in Gutenberg’s time there were a lot of wenches, so chances are she actually existed. "
What is your favorite song in the show and why?
OC: "My favorite song in the show is Biscuits! The song itself is silly and will definitely get stuck in your head. You’ll find yourself thinking “Why is this song even in this?!” and I think Bud and Doug’s answer is pretty funny and very true."
DC: "Biscuits – it’s actually really catchy, but its purpose for being in the show will have you chuckling. "
What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing this production?
DC: "Tim and Michael are extraordinary comedic performers – the idea is that we want to make it seem effortless, but I really do hope the audience leaves with a great appreciation for how much work and dedication it takes for two actors to pull off doing a full musical, on their own, with just a piano and some hats. It’s quite the theatrical feat, even if it is purposefully low-budget. "
OC: "I hope the audience sees the immense talent that both Tim Shawver and Michael Thompson posses. I think they are both incredibly underutilized actors in the valley. There is a lot of talent in the Phoenix area but instead theatres will cast out of town actors; which end up costing them more money. The theatres here need to realize that talent or risk losing it all to other states."
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