I love theater where the music is live and the musicians are incorporated into the universe of the story. Most of the music for theater I’ve done has been this way. The musicians are usually a mix of musicians and musician/actors. The cues live and grow with the evolution of the show, the energy of the audience, and the time of day. Sometimes the music is as much action as sound.
Berlin
Court Theater
Adapted from Jason Lutes’ graphic novel by Mickle Maher and directed by Charles Newell.
The music and sound effects were performed by props turned sound makers – suitcases, tables, chairs, newspapers and everyday objects that were prescribed by the text. Songs were accompanied by noise makers and instruments that actors played.
Special thanks to Court Theater Associate Sound Designer Josh McCammon who wired the room with custom speakers, mics under the stage, and was an ingenious collaborator in developing our noise making techniques.
Songs were sourced by Maher from the graphic novel. I worked with the cast to fashion song arrangements.
Song Credits:
Somewhere in the World
Lyrics – Robert Gilbert | Music – Werner Richard Heymann, Translation – Mickle Maher
Nuit d’Alger
Lyrics – Pierre Joseph Henri Larrieux | Music – Maurice Francois Paul Hermite
Silent Night
Lyrics – Joseph Mohr | Music – Franz Xaver Gruber
Brahms Lullaby
Lyrics – Original Verse Johannes Brahms, Second Verse Georg Scherer | Music – Johannes Brahms
Die Wacht am Rhein
Lyrics – Max Schueckenburger | Music – Carl Wilhelm
Sugar Foot Stomp
Fletcher Henderson
The Drowned Girl
Lyrics – Bertoldt Brecht |Music – Kurt Weil, Translation – Mickle Maher
Das Lila Lied
Lyrics – Kurt Schwabach | Music – Mischa Spoliansky
The Cabinet – a Radio Play
Cabinet of Curiosity – Phonophobia Department
Directecd by Frank Maugeri |Written by Mickle Maher | Music and Sound Design by Mark Messing
Released as Phonophobia’s first audio play on the 101st anniversary of the premier of German Expressionism film classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
“…SUPERBLY PRODUCED AND VIVIDLY FRIGHTENING…” Nancy Bishop Third Coast Review
“…THIS RADIO PLAY VERSION OF THE SILENT FILM IS GRIPPING… FOR 45 MINUTES WE FEEL AS IF WE’RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION…” Alisyn Amant Picture This Post
Excerpt “Alan’s apartment”
Audio PlayerThe Tell Tale Heart
Blair Thomas & Company Puppet Theater
Directed by Blair Thomas| Produced by Blair Thomas & Company
The Hunchback Variations
Theater Oobleck
Produced by Theater Oobleck | Libretto by Mickle Maher | Music by Mark Messing.
The Hunchback Variations is a COMEDIC SINGSPIEL for two voices, cello, and piano. It played in Chicago and New York in 2012.
Chicago3Media writes: “Maher and composer Mark Messing bring us the inconceivable, side-stitching story of a doomed collaboration in this gem of new musical theater… Theater Oobleck has struck gold with this absurdist romp through time and space and reality and fantasy… I haven’t laughed so hard at the theater in a long time.”
Click here for trailer
Selections from The Tinder Box and The Thief of Bagdad
The Ljubljana Puppet Theater
Directed by Jan Zakonjsek | Produced by The Ljubljana Puppet Theater
The Twilight Orchard
Redmoon Theater
Conceived and Directed by Jim Lasko, Frank Maugeri, and Vanessa Stalling | Produced by Redmoon Theater | Performed at Columbus Park Chicago
Galway’s Shadow
Redmoon Theater
Directed by Frank Maugeri | Produced by Redmoon Theater | Performed at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
The Cabinet
Redmoon Theater
By Mickle Maher | Conceived by Frank Maugeri | Directed by Vanessa Stalling | Music by Mark Messing
Escape From Goose Island
The Redmoon Big Band
Escape From Goose Island is an album of theater music repertoire Produced by Redmoon Theater and Maestro-Matic
Ego Sum Abbas, Olim Lacus Colueram – Carl Orff, Arrangment – Mark Messing
Viragok Vetelkedese – Hungarian Traditional, Arrangment – Mark Messing
Rumanian Dance – Bela Bartok, Arrangment – Paul Bessenbacher
All other songs by Mark Messing
Love At Orange
The Redmoon Big Band
Love at Orange is an album of theater music repertoire Produced by Redmoon Theater and Maestro-Matic
all “Love At Orange” songs composed by Mark Messing
Voyaging
Lucky Plush Productions/Walkabout Theater Company
Directed by Julia Rhodes and Stephan Mazurek
Lucky Plush Productions and Walkabout Theater Company collaborated to produce Voyaging based on Charles Darwin and his voyage on the HMS Beagle.