With marching bands in movies, television, commercials and music videos, it was only a matter of time before they took the stage for some musical theatre. “Band Geeks!” depicts the Cuyahoga High Marching Beavers as it struggles with recruitment and funding woes.
Creator Tommy Newman, a self-proclaimed “band geek,” borrowed from his own high school experiences to write the book, music and lyrics, along with partners Mark Allen, Gaby Alter, and Gordon Greenberg. “I was a total band geek; I was, like, the geekiest of geeks,” said Newman to TheDay.com.
Goodspeed Musicals, the organization behind past Broadway hits such as “Annie” and “Man of La Mancha,” commissioned the development of “Band Geeks!” and showcased it at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., from May 13 to June 6.
Although the show has a built-in audience of anyone who’s ever marched, characters were added to be more relatable to anyone who went through an adolescent misfit phase.
Goodspeed has sent nearly 20 shows to Broadway over the years, and there are high hopes for the future of “Band Geeks!” For more information visit www.goodspeed.org.
