Interview: Theatre Life with Shannon Ford

Today's subject, Shannon Ford, is currently living his theatre life behind a drum set at Signature Theatre playing for the new musical Disney's Freaky Friday.

Born and raised in Davidsonville, MD, Shannon had the good fortune in high school to perform with the jazz greats Clark Terry, Urbie Green, and Mundell Lowe. If that doesn't get you hooked on becoming a musician, I don't know what does.

His wide and varied musical career has afforded him the opportunity to play for such top recording artists as Paul Simon, Phoebe Snow, Lou Christie, and the Gatlin Brothers. He is equally at home in the musical theatre scene, playing on Broadway and on tour for such shows as Next to Normal (New York and national tour), Godspell, Hands on a Hard Body, Chaplin, Pippin, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and most recently, the national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Here is a musician of remarkable skill and intensity. For Godspell they encased Shannon is a cage like structure and if you sat on the correct side of the theatre (seating was on four sides) you could see Shannon in action. It was a performance in and of itself, and I mean that as a high compliment.

Disney's Freaky Friday at Signature Theatre brings this locally-raised musical genius back home to the DC area, and that is a good thing. Now everyone has a chance to not only experience a new musical, but hear Shannon Ford play, and appreciate his solid grooves and licks. I'd say that is a good way to spend a night in the theatre, wouldn't you?

As a kid, were you interested in playing any other instrument besides the drums?

My first experience with a musical instrument was in fourth grade when they introduced us to band class. I definitely wanted to play drums because The Beatles and rock and roll in general had a profound grip on me. Unfortunately twenty other 9-year-olds had the same obsession! Too many kids had signed up to play drums so I was handed a clarinet. I learned to play it well enough to function in the band, but drums were still my passion. I pleaded with the band director to let me be in the percussion section, and by the next year I was section leader.

Can you please tell us where you got your training and from whom?

My very first teacher was a gentleman named Leo LePage, who played with the Baltimore Symphony. He stressed music reading skills, which gave me a great foundation.

Growing up in the Washington, DC area also allowed me access to some of the brilliant musicians in the military bands. I owe a great deal to my lessons with Dick Bonenfant from the US Naval Academy Band. He taught me about rudimental drumming, which is the basis for much of my technique. I also got a ton of knowledge from Mike Shepard from the US Navy Band Commodores and Dave Palamar from the US Air Force Airmen of Note. These guys turned me on to some of the great jazz drummers like Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams.

You have a long association with the composer of Freaky Friday, Tom Kitt. Can you please tell us how you first met, and give us some insight into working with him in the rehearsal room?

As I recall, I first met Tom Kitt when I was playing with singer-songwriter Greg Naughton. We used to do a regular gig at The Red Lion on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Tom played keyboards and sang a little. We became friends and started doing various music and theatre projects around NYC. He eventually became my piano teacher, which I continue to brag about.

Working with Tom has become a priority for me these days. He has an acute sense of what works theatrically, as well as musically as he develops a show. It's a beautiful thing to watch and be a part of.

Tom has a vast array of influences so our working conversations will often include references ranging anywhere from Sondheim to Green Day. For instance, as we work on the Freaky Friday score I have heard "it should be a U2 vibe here," "think R.E.M. on that section," or "make it punk rock." It's very much like being in a real band, except we tend to start on time!

How do you best describe the Freaky Friday score?

As I mentioned, there are contemporary rock influences certainly reminiscent of Next To Normal and If/Then. I also feel some crazy Legally Blonde energy in there from time to time.

You worked on two very underappreciated musicals on Broadway. In both cases, the shows had a lot going for them, but never caught on. Can you please talk about the experiences of playing Chaplin and Hands on a Hardbody?

Chaplin and Hands On a Hardbody were both challenging and fun to work on. My impression was that Chaplin was underfunded, and Hands on a Hardbody was just under-attended! They both had a ton of heart so it's a drag that they couldn't have been more successful.

You played Next to Normal in New York and on tour. That show had some very "interesting" fans. What is your favorite Next to Normal fan story?

I don't really have a particular story, but I do remember watching Alice Ripley talk to the fans for 90 minutes or more at the stage door, sometimes in freezing temperatures. To me that was a testament of two things: Alice's commitment to the show and its fans, and how much Next to Normal spoke to people.

You recently came off the road after being out for a year with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Do you find it gets lonely out on the road after a while or are you one of those musicians that thrive on it?

I thrived on it for the first few months, then I felt the desire to do something else. Thank you Freaky Friday!

Loneliness was sometimes a byproduct of the tour. I missed my girlfriend terribly, and thanks to her love and commitment to communication we were able to manage that. There was also a community of very supportive people around me out there who were going through the same separation from their loved ones. We kept each other together with shared activities and lots of donuts on Sunday.

You were married to Tony Award winning Alice Ripley for a time, which included when the tour of Next to Normal played in DC. Even though you are not married anymore, are you a fan and do you think you'll work together again?

I am a big fan of Alice. Always will be. She's one of a kind. I hope I'll be lucky enough to be in a show with her again someday.

What are some of your favorite gigs you've played over the years?

I really loved working with Paul Simon on Capeman. Because...PAUL SIMON! Even though that show didn't take off, I learned a lot about attention to detail from him.

I miss my late friend Danny Gatton. He was an amazing guitarist who I would name as my musical mentor. Uncompromising. Look him up.

With the holidays coming up, why should families consider going to see Freaky Friday at Signature Theatre?

Freaky Friday will show you a lot about family relationships, and on a larger scale, the absolute necessity of looking at the world from someone else's point of view. Plus the band rocks!

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