STARZ THE MUSICAL!

I’m thrilled to announce my newest project, Starz The Musical. Some of y’all know that in my so-called spare time, I’m a performer (actor/singer/musician). As a playwright, I partner with the talented writer/performer Frank Steele to create musical theatre scripts and librettos. We have previously written and produced several well-received shows (read about them here).

SHOJAI & STEELE PLAYS

You can read about our background on the plays page. We created SHOJAI & STEELE PLAYS to write material for “the rest of us” — that means, performers who feel they may not be the “right age, right shape, right (fill in the blank)” for other popular shows.

STARZ THE MUSICAL was born out of our teaching at the annual Texas Thespian Festival. The acting students we taught share the same concerns, celebrate the same successes, and voice the same questions as more seasoned performers. So we decided to create a musical that shined a light on all of us MISFITS, and how we come to the stage in various ways–and decide to stay when we find a place we finally fit in, along with our chosen family. *s*

STARZ THE MUSICAL @ THE RIALTO THEATER

We are pleased to have secured a performance venue for STARZ THE MUSICAL. We have partnered with The Rialto Theater in Denison, Texas for April 19, 20 & 21 performances.

Open auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, February 5 & 6, at HOPE ON HOUSTON (formerly Key Memorial Church) 901 E. Houston St. in Sherman, TX. Our rehearsals will also be held at this venue, with a tentative Monday through Thursday evening schedule (and a Sunday-Wednesday tech week rehearsal prior to performance).

Frank Steele will direct, I will direct the music. We’re delighted that the talented Amy Wallace, frequent choreographer with Sherman Community Players/Theatricks, will choreograph the show.  The cast and production team will be listed as the originating team, along with a company photo, in the final script which each participant will receive. Hey, how often can you say YOU originated a role?

If you are interested in auditioning and/or helping with tech issues (lighting, sound, stage manager, etc.), we’d love to have you! This will be a fun show for the whole family, since thespians come in all ages. Learn more about the show by asking to join the Starz The Musical Facebook Group here.

Should you be interested in producing the show at your theatre or school, don’t hesitate to reach out! More details follow.

STARZ THE MUSICAL CASTING & STAGING

The complete show includes 34 scenes and 14 songs, and runs approximately two hours with an intermission. STARZ is a review format show, with a mix of funny to poignant scenes and can be cast with any age performer, but age 11 to adult is recommended.

The show can be mounted with as few as 9-12 ADULT SINGER/ACTORS doubling roles, or 20 FEATURED PLAYERS plus a CHORUS. All performers may also perform in group/ensemble numbers with solo phrases/choruses assigned individually as wished, and some non-singing roles. Only a few characters are specifically male/female, with most open to either pending best casting options. Music harmonies typically are combined “solo” lines or “rounds” to better assist learning parts for non-music-reading performers. Dance numbers can be as simple or elaborate as wanted, depending on the abilities of those cast.

This is an ensemble show, with no specific “stars” and addresses the issue of “type casting” in a realistic but also humorous way. Therefore, a mix of body types, ages and genders offers the most fun and flexibility. It can be mounted on a bare stage or with any kind of set, and available costumes or street clothes typical of audition or rehearsal process.

CHARACTERS, SCENES & SONGS

Characters are self-described misfits, who find a supportive and accepting family in the theatre. They include WALLY and his sports-booster DAD; the reluctant SHIRLEY and her gung-ho pushy stage MOM; the class clown SHECKY and nerdy CHANCE; BUBBA dragged to auditions by his girlfriend; the know-it-all LANCE, deeply shy POINDEXTER, and outgoing cheerleader BERTHA; and all the TECHIES who help create theater magic, including the PIANIST, STAGE MANAGER, VOCAL COACH, CHOREOGRAPHER and DIRECTORS.

A piano/vocal score as well as the script/libretto is available. We’ve created an audio CD of the full orchestration for use in both rehearsals and performance.

ACT 1 

• Scene 1: Misfit: Company
• Scene 2: Slate: Company
• Scene 3: My Way, Or The Highway: Director(s), Company
• Scene 4: Father/Son #1: Dad, Wally
• Scene 5: Theater Games #1: Lance
• Scene 6: Sparkle: Mom, Shirley
• Scene 7: Know It All #1: Lance
• Scene 8: Piano Man: Pianist, Various VO
• Scene 9: Boogie Woogie Laffs: Shecky
• Scene 10: Know It All #2: Lance
• Scene 11: In It For The Babes: Chance, Girl Trio
• Scene 12: Know It All #3: Lance
• Scene 13: We’re Not Babies: Poindexter, Stage Mng, Chance, Bertha, Bubba
• Scene 14: Starz: Bertha, Wally, Mom, Company
• Scene 15: Make Me Proud: Dad, Wally, Mom, Shirley
• Scene 16: Talk Dirty To Me: VO, Bubba
• Scene 17: Broken Dreams: Director 2
• Scene 18: Fit The Suit: Company

ACT 2 

• Scene 1: Dreams Never Die: Director 2
• Scene 2: I’m Perfect: Bertha, Lance, Chance
• Scene 3: You’re Enough: Director 2
• Scene 4: Waltzing In 4/4 Time: Wally
• Scene 5: Theater Games #2: Lance
• Scene 6: Dueling Directors: Directors, Mom, Bertha, Shirley, Poindexter, Shecky
• Scene 7: Dueling Directors: Directors, Mom, Bertha, Shirley, Poindexter, Shecky
• Scene 8: Know It All #4: Lance
• Scene 9: Stage Crush: Poindexter, Bubba, VO
• Scene 10: When Kisses Don’t Matter: Poindexter, Bubba
• Scene 11: Know It All 5: Lance
• Scene 12: Cry Baby Cry: Bertha, Shirley, Wally, VO
• Scene 13: Respect: Stage Manager
• Scene 14: When Techies Let You Down & Techie Rap: Company
• Scene 15: Father/Son #2: Dad, Wally
• Scene 16: Starz Finale: Company

ARE YOU A MISFIT?

Many “creative types” I know feel a bit out of sync with the rest of the world. Maybe that’s why I love cats and dogs–they don’t care if I make up stories, or pretend to be different characters, and take refuge and comfort in these things.

My writing has allowed me to better “fit in” and find my place in the world. I like to hope that the various books (fiction, nonfiction, plays) have helped others as well. What about you? Have you ever felt like you don’t fit in? How do you manage?

If you manage by performing onstage–maybe you’ll find a chosen family with STARZ THE MUSICAL! 

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