If you’re wondering (and you’re probably
not) how a theatrical musical found its way into a column about live music
happenings, it is simply this: Roger Wainwright, composer of the
play’s songs, is a musician. A well-respected, veteran keyboardist of
several local bands, Wainwright now spends his days writing songs about
specific subjects intended for the stage.
He claims to “not like musicals.” He
couldn’t find any that he liked other than Jesus Christ Superstar. The original
rock musical inspired his first major work, David:
You and I, a set of songs based on the life
of King David, the famed monarch from the Old Testament. After writing the
music, Wainwright contacted area author and playwright Ken Bradbury who
took a listen to the tunes and agreed to create a script connecting the
songs into a cohesive story. They debuted the show in 2006 and since have
collaborated on three other musicals.
Camp Sunshine, the latest
endeavor from the minds of Bradbury and Wainwright, is a musical comedy
scripted by Bradbury as an expansion of an eight-minute, one-act play he
wrote many years ago about the trials and tribulations of a church summer
camp for kids. The former Triopia High School teacher and prolific author
received positive feedback from his publisher on the short piece and
decided to flesh it out into a full-scale theater work. Wainwright had no
problem delivering humorous ditties about “everything you’ve
dreaded about summer camp” including Mr.
Romance, Junk Food, and The Girl I Used to Be.
“Writing songs is easy for me, coming up with
something to write about is the hard part,” says Wainwright.
“As a songwriter I like writing a variety of styles and a musical
gives me a reason to develop songs.”
Wainwright gives Bradbury most of the credit for
their success, praising the extensively published writer’s ability to
build a scene around a song and for providing a good story to write songs
about. According to the composer, the key to the pair’s collaborative
success is being brutally honest as critics of each other’s work.
“We had a song all choreographed, written in and
acting in the play when Ken and I agreed it wasn’t working,”
says Wainwright. “I wrote a new song and it made the play that much
better. “
There is a certain advantage to doing original
productions — the authors-as-directors can alter what they feel
doesn’t work while the play is still in rehearsal stage. The
versatility and capacity of the actors for change then comes into action
and Wainwright has nothing but admiration for the cast, comprised mainly of
central Illinois college and high school students.
“To see these people care so much about this is
so great,” he says. “I love seeing the passion in these kids. I
don’t know how they do it.”
Last weekend heralded the world premiere of Camp Sunshine and it did so
well at the box office Jacksonville Theatre Guild officials added an extra
show for the final weekend. David: You and I also debuted in the Sophie Leschin Theatre in
Jacksonville, not far from Bradbury’s home in nearby Arenzville.
“I will always have a special place in my heart
for the Jacksonville Theatre Guild,” says Wainwright. “They
gave us the time, money and support to get it started.”
Bradbury and Wainwright Productions recently received
a commission to develop a play for Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial
birthday celebration. As soon as Camp Sunshine concludes its run, the pair will start writing in earnest
on the Abe show due to debut in February of 2009, while simultaneously
knocking around other pieces of plays that just might be coming soon to a
theater near you. Already plans are in the works for an independent
Springfield production of Camp Sunshine by next spring or summer.
“Ken and I are writing about three shows at any
given time,” says Wainwright. “We’re going to ride the
wave while we can. It’s just a whole lot of fun.”
The Jacksonville Theatre Guild presents Camp Sunshine at the
Sophie Leschin Theatre September 26-28. For more information call the JTG
at 217-245-1402 or visit www.jaxtg.org or www.bradburywainwright.com.
This article appears in Sep 18-24, 2008.
