Waiting... 3.0

A year ago I knew Waiting... needed updated and revised and re-thought out.  Little did I know the incredible growth this show would take on its journey to be birthed one more time.

Funny how inspiration hits you, and when it hits me, it hits me hard - to the core. 

This past spring I rewrote the script (version 2.0) using the structure of the 2012 Workshop Production - sprucing up dialogue and thinking of new places for new songs and replacing songs that didn't work.  In April, at the wonderful table read we had an incredible array of professional Denver actors.  We heard the 2.0 show we had been rewriting for over 2 months.  

Afterwards, even though the entire evening went well, I knew deep down in my gut that this show and these characters AND the actors who played these characters deserved better.

But I didn't know what to do.  So I sat in a creative funk for three weeks  - how could I spring new life into this show so full of possibility but seriously limited by an old paradigm that was a great beginning but very limiting?

Then one morning I was on the interweb looking at photos of beautiful graffiti.  Pictures that could be in a NYC art gallery but that were instead on the side of a freeway underpass wall.  And then I stumbled on an article about LA graffiti artists who were being charged with vandalism (I've always loved LA since I lived there for a bit in 2001). 

ZAP! SYNCHRONICITY?

Something clicked and in a split second I knew what I had to do:  change the locale of the show from a small college town to the metropolis of LA.  In that split second, a flood of possibilities came pouring in and expanded this show.

But the avalanche of ideas kept coming.  I started taking notes as fast as I could so I could get everything down.  

Other major changes have transpired:  the show's main character, GG, became Latino.  His new back story:  Having been adopted by white parents (Prof and Grace) as a child, he is now in the middle of a serious personal and cultural identity crisis because of the lack of connection to his heritage, even though he is surrounded by it in LA.  His best friend, the character of Izzy, is now always a reminder to this disconnection because she has also now become Latina in the show.  

And his art (graffiti) has taken on a more important role in the show.  It's the tool, or escape, he uses to find himself in the midst of all this confusion (like most artists).

Another change:  the character of Josie is now the character of Marcus, a love interest for GG and a thorn in Izzy's side.  A quasi-love triangle?

All these changes were the tip of the iceberg - or should I say - tip of the treasure chest sticking out of the ground.  Not only have aspects of the script and story majorly changed, but this chain reaction has affected the lyrics and music, too.  While the previous music was bland at best (my opinion - I always knew I could do better), the new musical vibe of the show begain to rise to the top:  A melting pot and cross pollination of West Coast Latin/Jazz/Pop - just like the amazing culture and ethnicities of the new city the show is now set in - LA, The City of Angels.

Speaking of angels, might there be an angel on my shoulder watching over me and this show?  I do believe so.  It's almost magical.  And very exciting to re-write because I believe in these characters and their stories even more.  

They are now driving the bus.  The bus?  Another new part of Waiting...

Stay tuned.  The evolution of 3.0 continues.....