WHISPER HOUSE: Kyle's Blog - VASSAR: THINGS SOUND DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SPEAK THEM

Grammy and Tony award-winning songwriter and composer Duncan Sheik returns with his new album WHISPER HOUSE, which hit stores on January 27 from Victor Records/Sony Music. WHISPER HOUSE marks Sheik's first solo album since 2006's critically-acclaimed White Limousine and comes on the heels of the success of Spring Awakening. The idea for WHISPER HOUSE came about when actor Keith Powell (30 Rock) approached Sheik about developing a musical theatre piece with him.

Following a trip Powell took to New England, a story began to emerge centered around a lighthouse, and up-and-coming young playwright Kyle Jarrow, already an Obie winner for A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, signed on to create the book. BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you Kyle's exclusive WHISPER HOUSE Blog following the show from it's inception through the tentatively scheduled Broadway Production in 2010, now continue the journey with Kyle to WHISPER HOUSE!

THINGS SOUND DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SPEAK THEM

We're now in the midst of our workshop of Whisper House, at New York Stage and Film on the leafy Vassar campus in Poughkeepsie, NY. Today's our third day of rehearsal... we've spent the last two days working through the book scenes of Whisper House, and we'll continue to do that today. We haven't done any music yet: today's the first day that we fold that into the mix. The two singers in the show, Holly Brooke and David Poe, arrive today. The full band arrives next week.

As we've done tablework (ie, sitting around the table reading and discussing the script) over the past two days, I've been struck once again by something I'm always reminded of in these kinds of processes: how differently things sound when they're spoken. The words on the page versus the words in the actors' mouths. It's a huge difference. Especially when working with such strong actors as these. It's what makes this kind of workshop process a vital part of play development.
I had a big revelation on Wednesday, when I heard Gideon Banner reading the role of Lieutenant Rando. The character is a young Coast Guard lieutenant, who, in a pivotal scene in the show, is forced to carry out an arrest. The character has some funny moments, which Gideon really brought to life. And then the scene takes a turn to the serious. Hearing Gideon, who is a fantastic actor, read that part of the scene, I realized that I was missing an opportunity. Even though Rando's role is to be a "voice of authority," that didn't need to be all the character was. I hadn't given him much of a character arc. Reading the scene on the page, this didn't bother me. When I heard the lines out loud, I realized there was a lot more I could do with the character. So: revision time.

Anyway, off to rehearsal now. I'll keep posting more as our workshop continues and we move toward our presentation days. Which are: July 10 at 8pm, and July 11 at 2pm and 8pm. The showings are open to the public.

If you'd like to attend, you can get more info and tickets at http://www.newyorkstageandfilm.org/

P.S. Random note: Last night, Duncan, Keith, assistant director Rachel Chavkin, and I all went to a restaurant in Poughkeepsie called Thai Spice. The food was pretty damn good. For anyone coming up to NYSAF and looking for a spot to eat, I'd recommend it.

7-3-09 -Kyle Jarrow

Kyle Jarrow is a writer and musician based in New York City. He writes for the stage as well as film and television, and he plays in the bands The Fabulous Entourage and Super Mirage. He won the prestigious OBIE Award at age 24 for his Off-Broadway hit A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, which has subsequently been produced all over the country. Kyle's play Armless won the Overall Excellence Award at the New York International Fringe Festival. Other plays include Love Kills, Trigger, President Harding is a Rock Star, Rip Me Open (co-writer), Hostage Song (music & lyrics), Gorilla Man (script available from Samuel French), and the upcoming Big Money (with Nathan Leigh) and Whisper House (with Tony-winner Duncan Sheik, record now available from RCA/Victor).

For more information on Whisper House visit: www.duncansheik.com/whisperhouse

For more information on Kyle visit: www.landoftrust.com

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Masterworks Broadway Newsletter: www.masterworksbroadway.com

Photo of Kyle by Sarah Sloboda