CREEP to Open in October at WaterTower Theatre

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced details of the world premiere of Donald Fowler's musical Creep. The musical will open WaterTower Theatre's 2015-2016 season on Monday, October 5, 2015 (with previews on Friday, October 2, Saturday, October 3, and a Gala Preview performance on Sunday, October 4). Kate Galvin, Associate Producer at the 11th Hour Theatre Company in Philadelphia, will direct.

The creative team, in addition to Kate Galvin and Donald Fowler, includes Kevin Gunter (Musical Director), Kelly McCain (Choreographer), Jeff Schmidt (Set Designer), Derek Whitener (Costume Designer), Jason Foster (Lighting Designer), Curtis Craig (Sound Designer), Kellen Voss (Assistant Sound Designer/Sound Mixer), Adam C. Wright (Copyist/Transcriber), Dan Kazemi (Orchestrator), Kyle Eric Bradford (Dramaturg) and Caron Grant (Production Stage Manager).

Donald Fowler's new musical Creep had a workshop performance at the 2010 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival at WaterTower Theatre and later by Uptown Players in 2013. In February and June 2015, the musical was given a week-long workshop rehearsal with director Kate Galvin.

A special fundraising campaign -- the WaterTower Theatre 2015 Producers' Circle -- was established to raise funds in support of Creep. Nicholas Even is chairing the Campaign. Barbara Daseke will chair the Producers' Circle Gala Preview (date to be determined) in October 2015. The Producers' Circle Committee includes Heather and Scott Alexander, Derek Blount, Shannon Brame, Anita and Tom Braun, Stan Graner, Terry Martin, Karol Omlor and Lynn and Allan McBee. Contribution opportunities range from $25,000 to $1,000.

Creep is an original musical with a cast of 16 actors and an orchestra of 8 told within the parameters of what we know about Jack the Ripper, the infamous Victorian serial killer. No one knows who the Ripper was, or his motivations, but he was, in a macabre way, a product of his time. Harsh and inhumane conditions of the period, an indifference towards children, and a savage lifestyle all conspired to create an environment conducive to violence and sexual deviance. It is not surprising then that the psychological and social infrastructure of the 19th century produced the first modern serial killer. Creep explores many of the dark truths surrounding the fabled Ripper and perhaps, more importantly, metaphorically examines how the individual, when dehumanized, will adapt, use, or hide from truth in order to survive.