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All the More to Love artwork
The Phoenix Theatre is in the midst of preparing, from workshop to Main Stage, the world premiere of an exciting new musical, All the More to Love, by renowned composer Craig Bohmler and his long time collaborators, Marion Adler (lyrics) and Marc Jacobs (book).
All the More to Love is a funny and personal new musical based on a real life clothing consignment store of the same name. The musical opens this Wednesday, April 7 and will continue through Sunday, April 25. All the More to Love is directed by Phoenix Theatre's Producing Artistic Director, Michael Barnard and stars local favorites: Kristen Drathman; Robbie Harper; Jenny Hintze; Johanna Carlisle; Rusty Ferracane; and Angela Birchett playing more than forty roles.
Craig Bohmler
Craig Bohmler lives and works in Phoenix. He is a composer, pianist and conductor whose works have been performed in Europe and North America. He has nine musicals and three operas to his credit. Bohmler is also the composer for The Quiltmaker’s Gift, one of the most popular musicals ever staged by Phoenix Theatre’s Cookie Company.
Craig Bohmler and his collaborators, Marion Adler and Marc Jacobs, all sat down with me recently to chat about their new musical. Ms. Adler's and Mr. Jacobs' interviews will appear during the coming week.
1999 Lauguna Playhouse world premiere cast recording
Craig, can you tell us about your association with the Phoenix Theatre?
I have been associated with Phoenix Theatre since 1989, when it was known as Phoenix Little Theatre and Tom Oldendick was the Artistic Director. I was a part time Musical Director there. The first thing I did for him was maybe 42nd Street. I did a number of shows there as Musical Director. My last year, I did all of the Phoenix Little Theatre shows. I also did free lance for the Arizona Jewish Theatre and Musical Theatre of Arizona (when it existed). After Tom left, I moved to the Bay Area for a while.
Michael Barnard and I have always maintained a good relationship. The big thing that Phoenix Little Theatre did for us was the premiere of Gunmetal Blues.
Peter van Norden & Meg McKay in Enter the Guardsman
Gunmetal Blues played in New York as well?
It played Off-Broadway, yes. Apparently we just has a production in Osaka Japan, although we can't imagine a film noir piece translated into Japanese. It's had about 120 productions here and in Canada. The show has played mostly major theaters in Canada but smaller venues in the U.S. We did just have a production at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey
What inspires your music?
I have many inspirations. Actually, I was a classical musician until I met Marion Adler who is the lyricist on All the More to Love. Marion was my lyric collaborator on Gunmetal Blues and Enter the Guardsman. She has been my associate for twenty-two years. Carlisle Floyd, one of America's foremost opera composers, was my teacher and was a great influence on me. Of course, we are all raised on Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe. Then there is the time we bow to the alter of Sondheim but there's a point when we move beyond that and begin to find our own voices.I guess it's all of the above.
Is there one composer that may have influenced your work on All the More to Love?
I really can't put my finger on it, especially with this piece. All the More to Love has so many musical styles, deliberately so. The show is about clothing and there are so many different styles of clothing. There's also quite a bit of different styles of music. I am actually proud that not much of this show is “Sondheim-like,” none of it
How do you balance the challenges of writing for the opera house and the musical theater?
It's a different thing. In opera writing, there are certain tenets you must follow. Although, with works such as Jack Heggie's Dead Man Walking, opera is becoming much more theatrical with much more emphasis on text and libretto. Ultimately, for me, it still comes down to the ability to make the voices shine. As an opera goer, I love a beautiful phrase with a great high note. In musical theater, I would say, the text becomes more important than the music. In musical theater lyric tends to advance plot and character as well.
Real life shop co-owner Erna Salvini
Why All the More to Love?
This is a story about a shop by the same name in Alameda California. It was run by two woman who would become good friends of mine, Erna Salvini and her daughter Jenny Matteucci. They have since sold it; I think last year.
Jenny and I met at a party. She was engaged to a very good friend of mine. In casual cocktail conversation, I asked her,”What do you do?” She responded, “I run a shop with my mother called All the More to Love.” In my head I thought, “ Well, that's a great title for a musical.”
As the evening progressed, Jenny began to tell us stories about her store and it's customers. Afterwards, I laid awake much of that night thinking, “Oh my, this is really so interesting. Let's just tell her stories and name the musical All the More to Love.”
All the More to Love was a consignment shop for larger and plus size ladies and cross dressers, as you can imagine in the Bay Area. The show morphed into a piece about self image and how clothing can change how you look and who you are. Since we loved the name Erna for its unusualness, we combined the characters of Jenny and her mother and Erna became our main character.
What is next for you?
Phoenix Theatre has talked to me about another piece that they would like me to write for them. They have actually done three shows of mine. In addition to All the More to Love, Phoenix Theatre has also produced Gunmetal Blues and The Quiltmaker's Gift, which they also commissioned.
Personal photos courtesy of the authors and Phoenix Theatre.
Tie a piece of thread to your finger so you don't forget: All the More to Love opens this Wednesday, April 7, 2010. For additional information regarding ticket availability and performance schedule, please contact the Phoenix Theatre Box Office directly either by telephone at (601) 254 2151 or ON LINE.
Phoenix Theatre 100 McDowell Road Phoenix 85004
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