Son of a Gun is a new Broadway musical born of the creative collaboration between Don and Lori Chaffer of the Nashville band, Waterdeep, and Chris Cragin and Steve Day of the New York City theater company, Firebone Theatre. We've been working on developing the piece since 2007, though The Khrusty Brothers family band has been alive and entertaining for some time. In the fall of 2010 we were given a grant by The Drama League to present a concert reading of the piece at Playwright's Horizon's in Manhattan. The presentation was so successful that Joe's Pub, the music venue at The Public Theater, invited us to bring the show to their audience on Monday, May 9, 2011. This is where you come in.
The road to creating, developing and bringing a new piece of musical theater to Broadway is a long, arduous journey. But that is exactly what we intend to do with SON OF A GUN. And we are on the right path. Joe's Pub is exactly the right kind of place for a quirky rock musical like ours to make it's first outing before the NYC professional theater community and local audiences. Joe's Pub has a long history of presenting new musicals that have gone on to become hit shows on Broadway, (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson most recently). And we have a killer team of Broadway actors and musicians who love the show so much they are willing to rehearse longs hours and get paid laughable sums of money for this concert presentation. But even laughable sums add up.
The money we raise will provide a small stipend for each of the artists involved, plane tickets for Don, Lori, and Billy (cast member/drummer), rehearsal space, and minimal supplies. That's it. It's our bare minimum.
Why should you give?
1. This show has the potential to go all the way. We submitted and were accepted into the O'Neill Music Theater Conference this summer. We were also a finalist for the Yale Music Theater Institute.
2. The story is worth the telling. Beyond the quirky humor and the heart warming romance is the gut wrenching story of a man who must learn to love, even when it brings pain.
3. We need your help. We are doing this as a labor of love but the costs are such that our heart, soul, and blood, just won't cut it.
4. Your donation is tax deductible.
Other Ways You Can Help
1. If you live in the NYC area, buy a ticket and come see the show at Joe's Pub! And invite your friends! It'll be a great night of music, laughs, and fantastic table service!
2. Spread the word! Pass this along to people you know who are WATERDEEP fans, FIREBONE THEATRE fans, or fans of the actors in our spectacular cast which includes Justin Badger (Hair), Billy Brimblecom, Rebecca Hart, Lori Fischer, Jared Mason (Million Dollar Quartet), Drew McVety (Billy Elliot), and Ryan Melia.
Story Synopsis:
SON OF A GUN is a quirky, darkly comic, rock musical that
tells the story of Danderhauler Agamenon Khrusty, the eldest of three sons of
Winston and Elmadora Khrusty, and the
heir apparent to the throne of the Khrusty family Appalachian band. Danderhaulers life is dominated by the
charismatic personality of his father, a
highly-functioning, highly-entertaining alcoholic. When Danderhauler meets the
love of his life, Lucy Sunshine, they conspire to free him of the burden of his
fathers addiction, but their plans are thwarted by the surprising news of
Winstons tongue cancer. Winstons
tongue is promptly removed to save his life, forcing Danderhauler to step up as
the new band leader. As the events that
follow spiral out of control Danderhauler clings to his love for Lucy to keep
him upright. When even that window of
hope is shattered, Danderhauler is
forced to confront his dead father,
which he does by means of an old fashioned cowboy duel.
