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Meet the Composers of MURDEROUS MUSICAL MONDAYS- Spotlight on Adam Gwon
By: Nicole Rosky Jun. 09, 2014
The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder for Two are teaming up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Adam Gwon continues the series on Monday, June 16, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder for Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street).
Performers will include Addi McDaniel (Cloudlands), Bonnie Milligan (Jasper in Deadland), Geoff Packard (Matilda), Ciara Renee (Pippin), Noah Zachary (NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation).
Below, Gwon shares some details on the upcoming concert!
What can you share about your Murderous Musical Mondays concert ?
The butler did it. Also, there will be some truly fabulous singers -- some of whom I'm working with for the first time! And I'm singing one number myself. The only actual murder onstage will be my murdering a high G.
Who/what were some of your early musical influences?
It always circles back to Tori Amos for me. She taught teenaged-me that piano can be cool and that baring your emotions can be beautiful.
When did you realize that writing was for you?
In college. I went to an acting program, but started writing because freshmen weren't allowed to audition for productions, and I didn't want to wait until sophomore year to get involved in shows. Professionally, it was a moment shortly after I graduated: I had a manager for acting for a hot second, and kept getting sent out for stuff like "The Brady Bunch Goes to Washington." It dawned on me very quickly that I'd be much happier creating work I wanted to see, rather than trying to fit myself into work that I didn't.
The composers on Audra McDonald's first album -- which included Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel, and Jason Robert Brown -- made me want to write musicals. They really shifted my perspective on what musical theater was -- that, even back to the shows of Rodgers & Hammerstein, musicals were much more interesting and exciting than most people give them credit for. I mean, I liked musicals a lot before I heard that album, but I never appreciated what the art form could do until I heard those songs. I also had a teacher in college who was a composer -- the late David Bucknam -- and he was a big influence and inspiration for me as well.
Who in the theatrical/music community would you kill to work with?
Do you have any new projects in the works?
Always! I'm working on commissions from Roundabout and Playwrights Horizons. And my show "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," which I wrote with Julia Jordan of "Murder Ballad" fame, will be premiering next year.
What are you most looking forward to in being a part of this concert series?
The fame and fortune, of course. No, in all seriousness, something that struck me recently is that one of my favorite things about making live theater is that it gets a bunch of people you love all in the same room together. So, that. I hope you'll come be in the room with us on the 16th!
