Book by Tim Alderson. Music and Lyrics by Mark Heard, Pat Terry, Randy VanWarmer, Tim Alderson.
“Salvage” is much, much more than a musical. Although I love musicals, who doesn’t? “Salvage” is a play with music.
A truly wonderful, moving, funny, mesmerizing play with equally excellent and beautifully performed music. A play that in no way relies on the music to take us from moment to moment or scene to scene, the play does that very well itself. The music bares the souls of the characters, giving us insight far deeper than dialogue ever could.
Leonard Earl Howze Christopher Fordinal David Atkinson
A young musician wanders into a bar on his way to pawn his guitar. He knows the bar, although he’s never actually been there because his favorite musician died there. So when he finds the bar empty save for the barman and a solitary older man playing his own guitar and singing songs heartbreakingly good, he can’t help but take his guitar from its case one last time and join him.
Of course, this doesn’t go down particularly well and the story that begins to unfold because of his naiveté and the older man’s bitter twist on the world and the barman’s attempt to keep the peace takes them on a journey that it’s clear none of them were expecting that day.
These three souls are linked in ways we discover as they themselves do. The songs they sing teach us more about the why and the how they are all there and add dimensions of sadness and profundity to the story that only the very best music ever can.
Christopher Fordinal Leonard Earl Howze Nina Herzog
It’s a simple story, really. One that has been told in many ways and will probably be told again, and yet this play tells it so beautifully and with such astonishing grace and soul that it feels undiscovered and breathtakingly new. We learn who these people are and why they are here. We learn about their pain and regret and fears and, in the end, about their forgiveness.
I’m not afraid to tell you that I wept, several times in fact, and laughed and even bobbed my head to the absolutely wonderful songs. Songs are sung with effortless excellence and the kind of genius that only the very best vocalists can do. Country, blues, call it what you may…it’s all gorgeous and from the heart.
Christopher Fordinal and David Atkinson
Do yourselves a huge favor and see this show. It’s a world premiere of a show that I believe will play and play and play and this, the first-ever cast, is just superb.
Their voices and their musicality are extraordinary, and the story that links them all is quite beautiful…loved it!!!
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=5052
Directed by Damian D. Lewis
Produced by Racquel Lehrman Running November 16 through December 15, Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
The Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, 90038
Cast: David Atkinson, Christopher Fordinal, Nia Herzog, Leonard Earl Howze
Creative Team: Joel Daavid (Scenic Design), Matt Richter (Lighting Design), Christopher Moscatiello (Sound Design), Wendell C. Carmichael (Costume Design), Jenine (Props Design), Stephan Terry (Music Director), Michael Donovan (Casting Director), Laurien Allmon (Stage Manager)
Author: Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros
Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros is a British writer and filmmaker living In Los Angeles.
