The Story of My Life is a
musicalMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music and lyrics by
Neil BartramNeil Bartram is a Composer/lyricist and the recipient of a Dramatists Guild Jonathan Larson Fellowship, a 2005 Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, and was a finalist for the 2007 Fred Ebb Award....
, and a book by Brian Hill. The show follows two childhood friends from age six to 35 and has only two characters.
The musical debuted in Toronto in 2006 and premiered on
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
in February 2009, closing after 5 regular performances.
The Story
This new musical that follows the contours of a lifelong friendship between two men, Alvin and Thomas, whose childhood bond threads throughout their adult years. THE STORY OF MY LIFE is a Broadway rarity: an intimate musical that candidly explores the simplicity of human need and the complexity of emotions under which it lies buried. Composer-lyricist Neil Bartram and librettist Brian Hill have created an authentic and affecting work, told through a series of songs in turn playful, touching and dramatic, and expertly orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick. One New York critic predicted, "When the original cast recording comes out, see if you don't find yourself moved to Google the name of some long-lost friend with whom you simply lost touch. THE STORY OF MY LIFE inspires us to reconnect with those who were part of the earliest chapters of our own life stories".
Productions and history
Following developmental readings at
Manhattan Theatre ClubManhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from a prolific Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s...
, The O’Neill Center, and CanStage,
The Story of My Life was produced in Toronto at the Canadian Stage Company in 2006. It was next produced at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in the fall of 2007.
The musical then ran at
Goodspeed MusicalsGoodspeed Musicals, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theater and the creation of new works, was formed in 1959 to restore the Goodspeed Opera House, located in East Haddam, Connecticut, to its original Victorian appearance. Each year, Goodspeed...
from October 10, 2008 through November 2. The production was directed by
Richard Maltby, Jr.Richard Maltby, Jr. is an American theatre director and producer, lyricist, and screenwriter.Maltby is also well known as a constructor of cryptic crossword puzzles. He has done this for Harper's Magazine, sometimes in collaboration with E. R...
, and featured
Will ChaseWill Chase is an American actor.Born in Frankfort, Kentucky to Jerry and Betty Chase, he is the youngest of three boys...
as Thomas Weaver, and
Malcolm GetsHugh Malcolm Gerard Gets is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Richard in the American television sitcom Caroline in the City. Gets is also a dancer, singer, composer, classically trained pianist, vocal director, and choreographer. He has a small part in the film adaptation of...
as Alvin Kelby.
The Story of My Life premiered on
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
at the
Booth TheatreThe Booth Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City....
on February 3, 2009 and opened on February 19, 2009. Maltby directed with Chase and Gets reprising their roles. The musical closed on February 22, 2009 after 5 performances and 18 previews.
"The Story of My Life" received four 2009 Drama Desk Award nominations: outstanding music (Neil Bartram), outstanding lyrics (Neil Bartram), outstanding book (Brian Hill), outstanding musical.
"The Story of My Life" will receive its first regional production in April 2010, at Act 2 Playhouse in Ambler, PA. It will be directed by Act 2's Producing Artistic Director Bud Martin (an original producer of the Broadway production) and will star Barrymore Award Winner Tony Braithwaite as Alvin Kelby.
The first non-professional production of "The Story of My Life", presented by Introspect Theatre - Bartlett High School in Bartlett, IL September 17-26, 2009. Starring Trace Hamilton as Thomas Weaver and Tanner Spears as Alvin Kelby. Directed by Jeff Linamen.
Song List
Song List / Sung By
Act 1
Write What You Know ....................................... Thomas Weaver
Mrs. Remington ....................................... Alvin Kelby
The Greatest Gift ....................................... Alvin Kelby and Thomas Weaver
1876 ....................................... Thomas Weaver
Normal ....................................... Thomas Weaver
People Carry On ....................................... Alvin Kelby
The Butterfly ....................................... Thomas Weaver
Saying Goodbye (Part 1) ....................................... Thomas Weaver and Alvin Kelby
Here's Where It Begins ....................................... Thomas Weaver and Alvin Kelby
Saying Goodbye (Part 2) ....................................... Thomas Weaver and Alvin Kelby
Independence Day ....................................... Alvin Kelby
Saying Goodbye (Part 3) ....................................... Thomas Weaver and Alvin Kelby
I Like It Here ....................................... Thomas Weaver
You're Amazing, Tom ....................................... Alvin Kelby
Nothing There/Saying Goodbye (Part 4) ....................................... Thomas Weaver and Alvin Kelby
I Didn't See Alvin ....................................... Thomas Weaver
This Is It ....................................... Alvin Kelby and Thomas Weaver
Angels in the Snow ....................................... Alvin Kelby and Thomas Weaver
External links