Richard Tatum relates a happy series of circumstances that brought him into the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble fold as director of Group: A Musical, written by Adam Emperor Southard with music by Southard and Josh Allan Dykstra. It is having its world premiere at the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica.
Director Richard Tatum photography by Chris Moscatiello
“This is a show that developed in stages,” he recalls. “The way Adam tells it, this is an idea his brother, a novelist, had come up with, a story about people in group therapy. He thought it would make a good musical. So Adam started writing some songs. This was all a couple of years ago. Then he moved to LA and in the process, all that got lost. But the idea stuck with him.”
According to Tatum, it was the birth of Southard’s son that motivated him to ruminate about what he wanted to do in his life and that clinched his decision to write a musical. After foraging for his original notes, he began in earnest. At that same time, Southard was working on a radio theater project with friend Isaac Wade, who is a member of LA Theatre Ensemble. Wade was encouraged enough by what Southard was doing to take the work-in-progress to the Ensemble for part of its reading series. The Ensemble’s positive reaction to Southard’s work led the company’s founder and producing artistic director Tom Burmester and company member Danika Sudik to assist Southard in developing the script.
Burmester has produced over 20 productions for the stage including his own Wounded and Survived, Kindred by Daniel Keleher, I Gelosi and The Heretic Mysteries by David Bridel, Monkey Madness by Daisuke Tsuji, Quixotic by Kit Steinkellner and The Water Engine by David Mamet. He felt Southard’s work complied with the Ensemble’s “commitment to strike a balance between providing a venue for emerging artists and veteran artists; between the works of new playwrights and revisiting timely and important classics.” After further development, LA Theatre Ensemble decided it was time to get Group: A Musical on its feet.
“The next thing you know, they got in touch with me to stage it,” says Tatum, who began directing 20 years ago at the Eugene O’Neill Center. In Los Angeles, he staged experimental projects such as Rock Song and The Unusual Prospects at Theatre West. Tatum was a founding member and Associate Artistic Director of the award-winning Ark Theatre Company where he staged The Country Wife, The London Cuckolds, On the Verge, Good and Hazard County as well as world premieres of The Big Ever After, Sounds of Silence and Gaining Ground.
Michael Hanson & Melissa Collins in Group: A Musical All production photography by Jeremy Roush
Tatum recalls, “I met with Adam a couple of months ago for the first time, and we became best friends within five minutes. By this time, he had begun working on the songs for the show with Josh Allan Dykstra who helped him shape some of the music and provided some of his own. So, the current score is a collaboration between the two of them.”
Group: A Musical incorporates the Southard/Dysktra fusion of folk and indie rock to illuminate the activities of Dr. Allen (Isaac Wade) who believes his “group” has the power to heal itself through the power of music. His problem just might be whether he can heal himself. “We were originally only going to do six workshop performances,” says Tatum. “But Burmester came to a rehearsal, really liked what he saw and decided to make it a fully staged production.
“This has been one of the top three fun experiences I have had in my 30 years in theater. The cast thoroughly throws themselves into the process and are so empathetic with Adam’s concept. And for his part, Adam has been nothing but generous and open to the ideas of others. He immediately is willing to work with the cast in developing the material even further whether the suggestions come from me, the producers or a cast member. What has come out of it is a stronger piece, a better piece.
“At times I would come to him with a suggestion for improving the arc or the shaping of a scene. He’d say, ‘Oh, all right.’ The next day he would come in with amazing re-writes. This happened every time. He was so immediate in understanding what my or anybody else’s concerns were. And it would get done. I believe the end result runs the gamut from hilarious to heart-wrenching. The actors really own their characters. And the songs are beautiful.”
Trevor Algatt, Caroline Sharp, Melissa Collins & Brooke Baldwin
Group: A Musical features a seven-member ensemble (Isaac Wade, Trevor Algatt, Melissa Collins, Caroline Sharp, Evan Martin, Michael Hanson and Brooke Baldwin) and focuses on two therapy sessions, divided by an intermission. It features a three-piece musical ensemble. Although the show is only scheduled for a three-week run at the Powerhouse, Tatum believes it has a future. “Musicals are not easy to produce, and this is my first time directing one, but all the parts fit. That is what you hope for but don’t always get.”
Group: A Musical, produced by Tom Burmester and Danika Sudik for Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble, opens Jan. 13; plays Thur.-Sat., 8 pm; through Jan. 29. Tickets: $15-$20. Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., Santa Monica; laensemble.com.
