My Fair Lady

Once again this summer I am directing a musical. It is difficult, long, demanding, stressful, and I absolutely love it! I now have several musicals under my repertoire belt and feel confident I could direct almost any show now. The years have allowed me to direct Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Music Man, parts of Camelot, and Cinderella not to mention several operas. It has all been fun, educational, enriching, hard work, and at times deeply meaningful. It is a heavy responsibility to determine the right kind of orchestra and the personnel for the orchestra. Some shows need more strings--a tall order in our area--whereas other shows need more winds and rhythm. Some shows require woodwinds to double on saxophones but others need a more "classical" woodwind approach. Brass players usually need to be well-rounded players who can play a little jazz, show style, and classical style.

Forming the orchestra depends on the show as well as the available personnel but somehow each year it all comes together. Normally I suspect a town the size of Brownwood would be challenged to do a full-length musical, but in Brownwood the talent is deep. We hear great players, great singers, and impressive acting. The sets are lavish, efficient, and completely appropriate to the show. Lighting and sound, always challenging, are nevertheless done well. This year the My Fair Lady production is amazing. A well-crafted, classy show with lavish costumes, fastidious and accurate sets, and acting demands that would challenge professionals. On top of that, the music is wonderful and difficult, requiring full range and styles. The orchestra is asked to play under the singers but maintain the stylistic demands of the score.

Aside from some lengthy dialog and emotional ambiguity of the story line, My Fair Lady zings along at a fast pace with a myriad of great songs and serious moments balanced by hilarity. Tender love songs are juxtaposed with energetic happy songs only to be interrupted by yet another song of anger or concern. All comes together to form one of the great musicals of the 20th century. I am blessed to be the conductor of the orchestra and blessed to be part of this terrific show.