Get to know the creative team of TREVOR the musical each week through TREVOR Spotlight. Dan Collins, book writer and lyricist of TREVOR the musical at Writers Theatre answers five questions in this week’s post!
What was the first musical you ever participated in? How old were you?
It was a musical called “Luanne” based on the comic strip of the same name. I was in Middle School (sixth grade, maybe?) and I played Gunther, the school nerd, under the direction of Mr. (Patrick) Kerr, who is one of the primary guilty parties for passing the theatre bug on to me! Thanks?
What was your first professional job in theatre?
I bar backed at the Broadway in Chicago theatres when I was saving up money to make the move to New York. This might not officially answer the question, but I was being paid to be “in a theatre” and listen to (over and over!) the amazingly talented casts of numerous touring Broadway (and sit down) productions (albeit through the PA system). Before that time (and since) I typically would only experience a live, professional performance of a musical once, so the opportunity to hear the variations between multiple performances was really remarkable and incredibly valuable to me.
In a four-word phrase, describe your job.
Collaborator. Collaborator. Collaborator. Collaborator.
Is there someone you looked up to growing up? Who is your Diana Ross? Why?
There are so many people I looked up to growing up, not least of which would be my wonderful parents. But in the context of my “Diana Ross”; I pretty much wanted to be every Disney Princess (Snow White, Ariel and Belle leading the pack!), but the celebrity I remember being the most obsessed with was Linda Hamilton, who played Sarah Conner in the Terminator movies. The “why?” of it might always be the million-dollar question, but I know I was so drawn to her character’s strength in those movies, as well as the concept of her leading this normal, everyday existence and then suddenly being thrown into the center of this epic battle for humanity that spanned time itself. The obsession moved beyond the Terminator films (“Mr. Destiny”, anyone?) and I remember so many evenings lying in bed or staring at the sky on car rides home from family gatherings just dreaming that I would meet her someday and knowing that it would pretty much mean everything, everything, EVERYTHING!
What has participating in TREVOR reminded you about life in 1981?
So much. The amazingness of “Fame”. The embarrassment of riches that is the Diana Ross song catalog. Jodi Foster’s strange association with the Reagan assassination attempt. Passing notes instead of sending text messages (and how to fold those notes!). And the incredible distance we’ve come since then, and how incredibly far we can, and must, continue to go!
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Dan, as an elementary student, was always writing plays and designing the playbills for them. We would attend the children’s musicals at Marriott Lincolnshire near our home and in high school he acted in plays. The theatre bug was in him from always and I’m so proud of all he’s accomplished in his life.
Dan, and/or Mom Judy – I just found out about the play and am thrilled to see a former CCSD 46 student doing so well! Can you please send us an update on how you’re doing? Perhaps a little bio update – we like to feature our D46 grads and see what they are up to now. Let me know which D46 schools you attended and the years! Thanks and congrats on the play!