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For the Record(s)Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard UhrlaubWebsite: https://www.ftrmusical.com/ Contact Email: richuwrites@gmail.com |
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Drawn from decades of real-life stories of love, longing, loss – and the visceral human quest for identity, empowerment and connection – the original new musical For the Record(s) captures the little-known, sometimes poignant, sometimes unjust, sometimes humorous dynamics of relinquishment and adoption. It’s the fall of 1967, and an unexpected pregnancy thrusts teen lovers into the stark arena of adult realities. An infertile married couple longs to become parents via a system rooted in secrecy and shame. A beloved baby, born of Mexican-Italian ancestry and named Joshua by his Jewish adoptive parents, must grow up severed from his roots – until a shocking secret is brought to light. Forced to navigate seemingly insurmountable obstacles on the journey to learn his full identity as an adult, fast forward to the 1990s, when Joshua (finally!) discovers an adoption-informed therapist and a group with shared experiences who find their voices and fight for access to the truth about their origins. For the Record(s) is the first show to portray adoption in the last half of the 20th century – a time dubbed the “Baby Scoop Era” – along with the current, ongoing battle for records access. The show in two Acts includes 18 songs, with a cast of 6+ males and 8+ females (with some doubling). The show works well with a 5-8 piece band, and runs approximately two hours and 20 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. FTR is a heartfelt, at times funny pop/rock/ballad/klezmer/salsa/blues/gospel-style musical with a diverse cast and timeless themes. For the Record(s) resonates with anyone who has lost or found family, and is bringing audiences to their feet, to tears, to laughter and together.
There are an estimated 6 million adopted persons in the U.S. alone, plus parents by birth and adoption, siblings, spouses/partners, etc.! This show’s themes are also connecting with the donor-conceived community and those who have experienced a “DNA surprise.” The show has undergone revisions and the addition of a new song. I am seeking well-resourced individuals, theatres and organizations who share the show’s passion and vision to move toward a cabaret song showcase, full production, sizzle reel and cast recording that will begin to reach this show’s significant global built-in audience Please have a look at additional song demos and the glowing reactions from audience members and actors on the show’s website. Thank you for considering For the Record(s)! Richard Uhrlaub, M.Ed. (Book, Music and Lyrics) is a member of ASCAP, an Associate Member of the Dramatists’ Guild, the Colorado Theatre Guild, and a longtime member of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop. For the Record(s) is Rich’s surprise debut musical! For years, Rich would joke with adoptee friends about writing “Adoption: the Musical.” Like many people stuck at home, he was looking for a creative outlet during the pandemic. One day, while he was sitting outside in a hot tub, inspiration struck in the form of about 15 song titles. Suppressing intense feelings of baffled unworthiness, Rich dove into the project at the Muse’s insistence. Turns out, his background in formalist poetry and music, combined with decades of service as a volunteer non-profit leader, facilitator, writer, advocate and national conference speaker have allowed him to bring powerful stories to light – with the help of brilliant, wildly talented collaborators. He began piano lessons at age five, advancing to study with the Denver Symphony’s Kathleen Joiner. Accompanying various church and school choirs as a youth, his early theatrical career peaked in the role of Harry Beaton in a high school production of Brigadoon. In response to his adoptive mother’s conflicting messages that, “You have a gift for music, and you really should use it,” and “You need to get a steady job with good benefits,” Rich opted for the latter. Nevertheless, he schlepped his piano around the country in various moves and continues his love of music as an avocation. As part of the NMI Core Curriculum, he wrote the book for the new 15 minute frozen embryo musical For the Good of Humanity. Rich is a contributing author to Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons and Orphanage Alumni (ABC-CLIO/Greenwood), and Adoption and Mothering (Demeter Press). “Much is at stake as the adoption experience reverberates throughout (adoptees’) lives and influences them and the people they come into contact with in very fundamental ways.” – Rafael Javier, Ph.D. in Handbook of Adoption. Dan Sander-Wells (Arranger) is a freelance music director, arranger, and orchestrator based in NYC. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, Dan holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the institution and is a highly sought after music director and arranger with past collaborators including Kate Baldwin, LaChanze, Freddi Walker-Browne, and Zoe Sarnak to name a few. His most recent work includes music directing the acclaimed production of RUBY at Detroit Music Hall earlier this year (which also featured his vocal arrangements and orchestrations). Recent credits include collaborating with the music team for the premiere of EMPIRE RECORDS at McCarter Theatre Center and music directing the 50th anniversary revival of RAISIN (starring Freddi Walker-Browne). In addition, his arrangements and orchestrations can be heard on newly premiered shows such as SYNCOPATED AVENUE,KHAN! The Musical, Lend Me A Chainsaw, and True North: A New Holiday Musical. Furthermore,Dan owns DSW Music Services which specializes in developing new American musical theater through high quality transcriptions, arrangements, demos, and orchestrations at an affordable price. His upcoming projects include Wolf Ballad (with Lindsay Cutting) and Jon Virgin (with Greg Paxton); for more information, you can reach out to Dan via www.dwellsmusic.com or on Instagram (@dwellsmusic).
Keaton Viavattine (Orchestration and Mastering) is a dynamic composer and performer from New York City who recently completed an intensive one-year master’s degree in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria. Studying under celebrated mentors including Andy Hill (Walt Disney Studios), video game composer Mikolai Stroinski (The Witcher 3, League of Legends), and renowned orchestrator and composer Conrad Pope (Star Wars, Harry Potter), Keaton refined his skills in media composition, conducting, and score preparation for film and television. With a rich background as a performer, Keaton is credited in nearly 1,000 performances for several international touring musical theater productions, captivating more than one million audience members in total, with recent credits including The King and I, The SpongeBob Musical, and Anastasia: The Musical. His trumpet playing can also be heard on the accompanying audio tracks of the acclaimed textbook The Study of Orchestration by Samuel Adler. Keaton is an alumnus of the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Trumpet Performance and studied conducting with professor and conductor Mark Scatterday of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Keaton’s music has been showcased across the United States, most notably at the Buffalo Film Festival, Marina Del Rey Film Festival, and Indie Short Fest.
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Demos:
1. Baby Fever – the opening number after Liz/Therapist #4 tells Joshua, “You were the focus of a lot, and I mean a LOT of energy when you came into this world!”
2. Real Mother – thrilled new adoptive mom Eliana and heartbroken teen first mother Blanca ask the same question from miles apart.
3. Testify – Germaine, leader of the search, advocacy and support group SRCH, inspires members to “speak truth to power.”
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For the Record(s)
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard Uhrlaub
Website: https://www.ftrmusical.com/
Contact Email: richuwrites@gmail.com
Drawn from decades of real-life stories of love, longing, loss – and the visceral human quest for identity, empowerment and connection – the original new musical For the Record(s) captures the little-known, sometimes poignant, sometimes unjust, sometimes humorous dynamics of relinquishment and adoption.
It’s the fall of 1967, and an unexpected pregnancy thrusts teen lovers into the stark arena of adult realities. An infertile married couple longs to become parents via a system rooted in secrecy and shame. A beloved baby, born of Mexican-Italian ancestry and named Joshua by his Jewish adoptive parents, must grow up severed from his roots – until a shocking secret is brought to light. Forced to navigate seemingly insurmountable obstacles on the journey to learn his full identity as an adult, fast forward to the 1990s, when Joshua (finally!) discovers an adoption-informed therapist and a group with shared experiences who find their voices and fight for access to the truth about their origins.
For the Record(s) is the first show to portray adoption in the last half of the 20th century – a time dubbed the “Baby Scoop Era” – along with the current, ongoing battle for records access. The show in two Acts includes 18 songs, with a cast of 6+ males and 8+ females (with some doubling). The show works well with a 5-8 piece band, and runs approximately two hours and 20 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
FTR is a heartfelt, at times funny pop/rock/ballad/klezmer/salsa/blues/gospel-style musical with a diverse cast and timeless themes. For the Record(s) resonates with anyone who has lost or found family, and is bringing audiences to their feet, to tears, to laughter and together.
Here’s a brief development history to date. PLEASE SEE THE WEBSITE HOMEPAGE FOR A DEMO REEL FROM THE STAGED READING:
- Song Showcase Cabaret/Concert Reading (New York, NY) – Currently casting, late summer date and location TBA.
- New Musicals, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) – Reading 11/18/24
- Celia Center Arts Festival, The Electric Lodge (Venice, CA) – Selected song performances 11/15/24
- Untangling Our Roots Summit, Hyatt Regency Denver/Aurora (Denver, CO) – Premiere staged reading before an audience of 150+ 4/26/24
- Musical Writers, Inc. (Dallas, TX) – Table reading, Pitch Night Winner 11/11/23
- Colorado New Musicals Festival, Broomfield Auditorium (Denver, CO) – Selected Finalist 8/22/23
There are an estimated 6 million adopted persons in the U.S. alone, plus parents by birth and adoption, siblings, spouses/partners, etc.! This show’s themes are also connecting with the donor-conceived community and those who have experienced a “DNA surprise.”
The show has undergone revisions and the addition of a new song. I am seeking well-resourced individuals, theatres and organizations who share the show’s passion and vision to move toward a cabaret song showcase, full production, sizzle reel and cast recording that will begin to reach this show’s significant global built-in audience Please have a look at additional song demos and the glowing reactions from audience members and actors on the show’s website. Thank you for considering For the Record(s)!
Richard Uhrlaub, M.Ed. (Book, Music and Lyrics) is a member of ASCAP, an Associate Member of the Dramatists’ Guild, the Colorado Theatre Guild, and a longtime member of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop.
For the Record(s) is Rich’s surprise debut musical! For years, Rich would joke with adoptee friends about writing “Adoption: the Musical.” Like many people stuck at home, he was looking for a creative outlet during the pandemic. One day, while he was sitting outside in a hot tub, inspiration struck in the form of about 15 song titles. Suppressing intense feelings of baffled unworthiness, Rich dove into the project at the Muse’s insistence. Turns out, his background in formalist poetry and music, combined with decades of service as a volunteer non-profit leader, facilitator, writer, advocate and national conference speaker have allowed him to bring powerful stories to light – with the help of brilliant, wildly talented collaborators.
He began piano lessons at age five, advancing to study with the Denver Symphony’s Kathleen Joiner. Accompanying various church and school choirs as a youth, his early theatrical career peaked in the role of Harry Beaton in a high school production of Brigadoon. In response to his adoptive mother’s conflicting messages that, “You have a gift for music, and you really should use it,” and “You need to get a steady job with good benefits,” Rich opted for the latter. Nevertheless, he schlepped his piano around the country in various moves and continues his love of music as an avocation.
As part of the NMI Core Curriculum, he wrote the book for the new 15 minute frozen embryo musical For the Good of Humanity. Rich is a contributing author to Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons and Orphanage Alumni (ABC-CLIO/Greenwood), and Adoption and Mothering (Demeter Press).
“Much is at stake as the adoption experience reverberates throughout (adoptees’) lives and influences them and the people they come into contact with in very fundamental ways.” – Rafael Javier, Ph.D. in Handbook of Adoption.
Dan Sander-Wells (Arranger) is a freelance music director, arranger, and orchestrator based in NYC. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, Dan holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the institution and is a highly sought after music director and arranger with past collaborators including Kate Baldwin, LaChanze, Freddi Walker-Browne, and Zoe Sarnak to name a few. His most recent work includes music directing the acclaimed production of RUBY at Detroit Music Hall earlier this year (which also featured his vocal arrangements and orchestrations). Recent credits include collaborating with the music team for the premiere of EMPIRE RECORDS at McCarter Theatre Center and music directing the 50th anniversary revival of RAISIN (starring Freddi Walker-Browne). In addition, his arrangements and orchestrations can be heard on newly premiered shows such as SYNCOPATED AVENUE,KHAN! The Musical, Lend Me A Chainsaw, and True North: A New Holiday Musical. Furthermore,Dan owns DSW Music Services which specializes in developing new American musical theater through high quality transcriptions, arrangements, demos, and orchestrations at an affordable price. His upcoming projects include Wolf Ballad (with Lindsay Cutting) and Jon Virgin (with Greg Paxton); for more information, you can reach out to Dan via www.dwellsmusic.com or on Instagram (@dwellsmusic).