Pinokenstein Backstory

Backstory

I went to the Eugene O'Neill Center to attend the Puppetry Conference mostly because Heart Failure contains a piece with a singing teddy bear. I was looking forward to workshopping it. At the Conference, they really encourage you to take part in at least one other project besides your own. The first night, we sit in a circle and everyone pitches their idea. I don't recall most of the pitches that came before mine, as I was endlessly revising my own. But after I said my peace, I started to hear others over my thumping heart. I heard lots of great ideas, but none that really needed a musical theatre writer. Then this young guy spoke up and said "Hi, I'm Chris McLaughlin. I'm doing a piece called Pinokenstein, and it's going to be a musical." I just about dropped dead. That was exactly what I wanted to be a part of. So I approached the guy afterwards and asked if he would let me write a song for him, with no commitments from either of us, for whatever section he was working on. He graciously accepted. We said goodnight, and then both walked to our room. We were roommates for the conference, and we hadn't met each other yet. Fabulous.

We worked together in our spare time, which wasn't much. There is a lot to do at the O'Neill. So in about one hour of talking and about four hours of writing, including polishing, I wrote "You Made Me", and he staged it and we put it up that week. It was exhilarating. It was funny and terrifying. Sweet and viscous. It was unlike anything I had ever written. I hoped desperately that he would want to continue with me on the project. I think he was surprised I wanted in so badly, but he once again accepted. I returned to Portland, and he to U Conn, and around way too many other projects, we collaborated on the show that would open that December! It was a dream collaboration from beginning to end. He thinks in fantastic images and concepts, and visuals are exactly what I crave. It opened and had a great production that was well received. It is something that has become somewhat of a calling card for me, because the title and then the experience is so memorable. I can't wait to see where it will go to next.