Magnificent musical features original music by Tyler Castleton
The
anticipation to repeat the outstanding success enjoyed at the debut of “If
These Walls Could Talk” last year has charged the musical’s directors for this
year’s production on July 16, 17 & 18.
The original musical will be presented in front of the Oneida Stake
Academy at 8:45 p.m.
Written by
Cecile Costley and directed by Danielle Dunn, the musical features local
actors, dancers and vocalists playing both historical and fictitious people
from Franklin County. The storyline
centers on a grandfather
trying to connect to his digitally-distracted grandson, a father hoping to
inspire his rambunctious young family and a young man in love eager to share a
meaningful secret with his sweetheart, unexpectedly meet in the Oneida Stake
Academy building, and discover that sometimes, walls can talk.
From
dancers to actors, to singers and organizers, participants in the pageant last
year are thrilled to repeat the performance this year, say organizers.
“My
granddaughter “has” to be in the play again this year. She absolutely loved it
last year” said Dunn.
Local
residents are also thrilled for a repeat production.
“A lady I
was talking to the other day was very excited because she said she missed the
pageant last year,” said Pat Moses. She and Glenda Swainston are making and
gathering costumes. Other people were so impressed from last year’s production
that they want to return this year.
“I had a
couple from Weston tell me that the pageant touched their hearts and helped them
to see what a great heritage the community has in that building,” said music
director, Carla Gunderson.
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| Renowned composer, Tyler Castleton, wrote magnificent songs specifically for this musical. |
“The music
Tyler Castleton wrote for it is fabulous. He really got the spirit of the
academy. Everyone that sang the music felt it. I felt it. He brought the
courage the pioneers had, the camaraderie they had, and the dreams they had,
and brought them to life in the songs,” she continued.
“How could
he have known that every person that comes through those (academy) doors will
know that those pioneers built that building to last forever?”
Castleton
has said that he wrote the music as a gift to his hometown.
“I knew it would be difficult with
my schedule, but … I said I would wholeheartedly. Frankly, I wanted to make a
contribution. I wanted to help tell the story of our heritage and our history
and of all the wonderful and amazing people who came before us. I feel really
privileged to … use (my talents) to help.”
At the time, Castleton
was in the middle of producing a tour and debut of the boy band, Beyond 5, so
his time was extraordinarily tight. He wrote the music, but in his heart, he
knew it wasn’t right. So despite the hopes of the Oneida Stake Academy
Foundation Pageant Committee’s directors, he scrapped the songs. The pageant
therefore, was not a part of Franklin County’s Centennial as it was originally
intended.
Determined to find just the “right” message with his songs, Castleton
rewrote them all, and when they finally came together, the music was worth the
wait, said Peggy Christensen, co-chair of the OSAF Pageant Committee.
Castleton said he found inspiration in the characters and script Costley
created, by imagining the mindset and heartfelt feelings of the characters.
“I tried to
put myself into the place of the townspeople so long ago when the prophet was
encouraging them to make education a bigger part of their lives,” he said.
“The music conveys exactly the message and emotions we were hoping
for,” said Christensen. When the actors,
dancers, light are added to the music on
the steps of the grand building itself, the effect is magical.
“We are thrilled with how the pageant has turned out, and we are pleased
to sponsor such an uplifting event in celebration of our community’s heritage,”
said OSAF chairman, Nathan Hale.
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