Glendon College may not be a drama school, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to put on a good show. Last year, the school’s newly formed (and student-run) Lionheart Productions Coeur de Lion wowed audiences with their take on the Tony award winning musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Director Justin Ruttan was able to put his own spin on a well-known play. This year, we’re in for something completely different. Ruttan has stepped away from the director’s chair and written a brand show entitled Dark Lady: The Musical. It’s loud, it’s flashy, and it’s based on the music of Cher. What’s not to love?
Dark Lady follows the life of a drag performer as she navigates through certain life challenges such as unfaithfulness from a partner, finding a new love, and ultimately finding herself. The project is currently being workshopped and will run between January 22nd–25th. I was able to speak with Director/Writer Justin Ruttan about this incredible new project.
Fresh Print: Thanks for talking to us, Justin. The show looks amazing and it’s such a departure from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Why did you decide to write this show?
Justin Ruttan: I decided to write the show because, as a Cher fan, I connected with her music and decided to look at it from a different perspective. The show is semi-autobiographical. The characters all have elements of me in them and elements of people that have profoundly touched my life. I was able to connect Cher’s music to these elements.
Fresh Print: How long did it take for you to write this play? What was your process?
Justin Ruttan: It took a long time to write. I wrote the first act very quickly, and then mulled over where I wanted the story to go for a very long time. I didn’t write the second act until two years after the first. Over the years, I’ve been slowly chipping away at it. Finally, with this workshop, the cast and I have made some real headway in developing the characters and fleshing out their journeys.
Fresh Print: For those who don’t know, what is workshopping?
Justin Ruttan: Any play gets workshopped before being performed. Basically it’s a creative team (actors, directors, dramaturges, etc.) getting together and working through the scripts. Putting it on its feet and seeing what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be strengthened or further developed. It’s basically a live edit of a piece. You cut, you add, you reword and rewrite.
Fresh Print: What goes into putting on a show like this?
Justin Ruttan: A lot of work. We started in October with finding a cast and then started reads, re-reads, more rewrites and a whole lot of talking about the characters, their journeys, and trying to figure out what it all meant. More importantly, we needed to ask why it was important to share this story.
Fresh Print: What was the hardest part?
Justin Ruttan: I have thoroughly enjoyed the process. It was so cool to see my work take a shape of its own. I don’t really know the hardest part. I guess it would be cutting. Cutting songs especially. We started with, I think, thirty-six songs. No matter how great Cher’s songs are, that’s way too many! It was still hard to get rid of them because they meant a lot to me and the characters.
Fresh Print: On the other hand, what was the most rewarding part?
Justin Ruttan: The most rewarding part was definitely seeing the work evolve, almost naturally, and take a shape I never even thought was possible. The great part is that it has been a long time since I wrote this play. I’ve grown and changed, and now I can look at it from different perspectives. I can incorporate the maturity I have now with the story that I’ve started with, change things, and really help make this a great show.
Fresh Print: Dark Lady: The Musical will screen for an audience for the first time very soon. What are your plans after the curtain rises?
Justin Ruttan: I guess the next step is getting a major production company interested and having another workshop. This isn’t the finished product and there is still more work to be done. That said, I’m proud of the outcome of this workshop and I’m excited to share it with an audience and hear their feedback. I love the show and the characters. It’s time to find out if everyone else can connect to it!
Many thanks to Justin Ruttan for taking the time to talk to us about his project. Dark Lady: The Musical will be playing January 22nd-25th at Glendon Theatre. Tickets are available at the box office or at the door. Whether you’re a Cher fan at heart, a supporter of independent theatre, or just want to see a new and exciting show, Dark Lady: The Musical is not to be missed. I’ll definitely be there to see what being a diva is all about.
