Interview: San Antonio Music Director Darrin Newhardt

Darrin Newhardt is one of the busiest music directors in San Antonio. In recent months he has been the music director of ten shows, including the premier of the musical "Oh Rats" for the Vexlar Theater. "Ragtime" "The Last 5 Years" for the Playhouse San Antonio, "Young Frankenstein" "Into The Woods" "Mary Poppins" and "West Side Story" for the Woodlawn Theater and many more shows while he lived in Los Angeles, California. On top of that he is the regular accompanist at Broadway Nights, a weekly cabaret at the Woodlawn Theatre every Saturday night, where the cream of San Antonio's singers exercise their vocal skills. He is also a vocal coach to many local performers and has been the music director at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church for the past 15 years.

QUESTION: How do you balance such a hectic schedule, with some shows running almost on top of each other?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: I am very fortunate that I have an understanding family. In fact, all three of us are performers. Believe it or not, sometimes, I'm the one with the calm schedule and THEY have the busy lives!

Also, my church job is very understanding of my hectic schedule. My wife Sharon is very good at helping me carve out time for family that does not get encroached on.

Q: Which shows have you most enjoyed working on?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: I have music directed "Into The Woods" for 3 different theaters. I don't get tired of that one. Last year, I had the privilege of working on The Last 5 Years. It was very satisfying because the music is so piano driven and I played the show as well as leading the band. I had to work to get that one sounding good. Growing up with the music of Leonard Bernstein, It was a dream to work on the Woodlawn's award winning production of West Side Story. To lead that orchestra every night was like driving an elite sports car.

Q: What is the most satisfying aspect of your work?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: .The hardest part is getting the instrumentalists I want. Multiple theaters vie for the same core players and I admit, I'm a procrastinator. Sometimes getting the band together is tricky. The most satisfying aspect is building relationships with the wonderful talented people here in San Antonio. I have so many deep friendships that even three years ago, I didn't have with this group of people. Also, as an artist and creative type, working on shows feeds me on a spiritual level.

Q: How often do you have to deal with thespian insecurity and how to you cope with it?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: ALL THE TIME! The adults get can be more insecure then the kids I work with. Part of my job as a coach is to remind them that they can do what is being asked of them. I encourage them, cajole them and let them know when they are doing a good job. I try and infuse humor into our sessions as much as I can because sometimes creative people can't get very stuck in their head. I work to keep it fun and the insecurities go away. At least temporarily.

Q: What have been the highlights of the past year?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: I have cultivated a wonderful relationship with local actor/director and lawyer Lee Cusenbary. I have Music Directed his Ethics Follies show for the past 3 years and this past year, he actually wrote a part for me in one of his shows. It had been quite a while since I'd been on the stage as a character. That was definitely a highlight

Q: I understand your children are following you into showbiz. Are you the male equivalent of a stage mom, or do you just encourage them to do their own thing?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: My son Evan is following in our footsteps and that is so exciting. I work very hard NOT to be a stage mom. A lot of the kids he performs with are either students of mine or are in the casts of my shows. It wouldn't look good for him or me to be a "stage dad". I encourage him and then I get out of the way.

Q: On your Facebook posting you demonstrate a lot of pride in your family. Your wife Sharon is also a performer. Will it develop into a family act at some stage?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: We all did Mary Poppins together last summer. They were both in the cast and I was MD. We enjoy performing together so yes! I hope we can keep making it a family act!

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

DARRIN NEWHARDT: I knew from an early age I wanted to do music. I always like to tell young people that it really is possible to make a living making music. I also encourage people to study music. Learn how to read the language of notes and sheet music. Listen to as much as you can in as many styles as you can.

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