An Interview with Playwright Michael Andrew

The power of courage and trust comes to life in our fantastical production of Jack and the Beanstalk! With a fun musical twist, playwright and composer Michael Andrew shares with us the wonders of childhood imagination and how both kids and parents can enjoy a night out to the theater. We sat down with Michael Andrew to learn more about his artistic process and what motivates him to write music for children’s theater.

Orlando Shakes: What’s your background in theater and music?

Michael Andrew: After I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a theater major, I was looking for an outlet as a performer and found myself on cruise ships out of Miami and Port Canaveral. At that time, Orlando was predicted to be the next Hollywood and was a great hub for casting and performing. I thought this could be an ideal place for me to start my career and grow with the city. So I came here, moved here, and the best part was that I formed these great friendships and relationships with arts organizations, including the Orlando Shakes. I kept doing ships for a while, maybe three days a week. Then I developed a show called Micky Swinger and the Earth Girls and it debuted right across the then-called Civic Theater of Central Florida., (Now it’s the Orlando Rep.) That inspired my band called Swingerhead, and then that became my full time concentration.

Orlando Shakes: What made you want to work with the Shakes?

Michael Andrew: I’ve had a working relationship with Jim Helsinger since he started, and I’ve done various projects with the Orlando Shakes. I love that the Orlando Shakes enjoys original works, both developing them and actually producing them, and I’ve been involved with several as a performer or as a music composer, never as a playwright, so it seemed to be a natural progression. It’s just always been a welcoming place.

Orlando Shakes: You’ve written for movies and orchestras. Why write Jack and the Beanstalk?

Michael Andrew: It had been years since I felt I had written something original, and I was just looking to be inspired. In 2004, I had written a musical version of The Nutty Professor, which I had performed here at the Orlando Fringe Festival. That was the last really original project I did.

I kept thinking, “What could I do that would be an original creation?” It was just like fate, I saw on the website for Orlando Shakes that they were doing Jack and the Beanstalk and it said “Playwright: TBD.” This was my son’s favorite fairytale, when he was 2,3,4. I thought, maybe they would consider a musical, since that is the project I’m kind of looking for. I got in contact with Jim, and he told me to send him any songs I had for the play. I didn’t have any songs! But I thought it would be a good exercise, so I developed a song called “Jack” which is Jack’s theme song. I thought it would be a cool way to pay homage to old 1960’s shows like How to Succeed in Business and the Golden Age of The American Musical. I also thought it would be very interesting how, as a theatrical device, we had it where in this one song Jack is transported from the city to the country. There were all these theatrical ideas coming into play and it would be a great way for all these creative minds to come together to create this theater piece. In the end, I called it “Down on the Farm and Out in the Country” or “Down and Out” for short. I developed that song and sent those demos to Jim. He in turn showed it to some people in the Education Department at the Orlando Shakes and they all really loved it.

Orlando Shakes: What message do you hope to inspire in families that come to watch your play?

Michael Andrew: The overall concept was this homage to the golden age of musicals and I hope it will introduce kids to that style. Maybe it’s their first time listening to that style and to that unique rhythm. For the parents, I hope that it’s a fun remembrance and the way we are tipping the hat to shows like Gypsy, Oklahoma!, all those shows from the Golden Age of Broadway. It’s just a fun way to relive that style of theater.

There’s lots of little things in Jack and the Beanstalk when it comes to its message, none of them trying to hit you over the head in their delivery. But overall, I would say it’s to use your imagination and to appreciate it. I’ve left it a bit ambiguous as to whether Jack imagines some of the stuff in the play and if it’s really happening, almost like The Wizard of Oz with Dorothy. One could even get very specific with it. Dreams are a part of our lives, and they are a part of our reality. Whether it’s just a takeaway from the play or something very directly implied, I’m not sure. I just hope that it’s entertaining and provides a very unique angle that both kids will appreciate and parents will enjoy.

It’s my hope that parents, not just kids, will have a lot of fun with this show. I wanted to created something that was fun for both parents and kids. As the parents, there are certain things that kids want to do that can be a bit of a drag and I think, with good theater, it can be a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to do something together and they both enjoy it. They don’t enjoy it just because their kid enjoys it, they enjoy it because they get something out of it too. It’s a great thing to experience together.

And, I guess, another message I want to make clear is that: there are people you can’t trust. You gotta be careful, you can’t just trust anybody. Hopefully it stimulates discussion. You can’t just trust strangers.

Orlando Shakes: What is the most positive impact of having your play produced at Orlando Shakes?

Michael Andrew: It’s unheard of to have an opportunity like this. Usually you develop something and then look for that opening or opportunity. In this case, it was the other way around where I stumbled across this and Orlando Shakes just told me to run with it and to create something from this concept. It’s an amazing gift, an amazing luxury for anyone who creates original works, especially if you’re not an established playwright or creator of musicals.

Orlando Shakes: Any family inspiration to write this musical?

Michael Andrew and his son, Tommy.

Michael Andrew: Tommy, my 6 year old son. He really helps me test new things. I can just go and say “Hey, Tommy, what do you think of this?” and he’s very opinionated. Which is great! I don’t always go with his ideas, but a lot of the times I will because he brings the mindset of a child to this thing that as an adult I just forget. Sometimes it just brings a better level of simplicity to things. I don’t think I would have been able to do this project if I wasn’t a dad.

Orlando Shakes: If you scaled a giant beanstalk that takes you high above the sky where giants live, what would be the first thing you’d do there?

Michael Andrew: Wow. Hmm. Well. I guess I would explore and see who’s there. Figure out who’s a friend and a who’s a foe. Just see who I can trust and who do I have to worry about!