On opening night of Boneyard Prayer, creator Frank Maugeri shared a few thoughts with the audience… read on to learn more about his experience developing this brand new production:

I knew a few things when I began this new work: I wanted to make a show that was about very personal subjects to me, fatherhood and alcoholism. I wanted to use the media of puppetry and song, because I love them both - they are great examples of hope and imagination. I wanted to develop a dark and filthy world in which the event could take place, one of symbol and metaphor.

I approached a committed, intelligent, creative group of makers: Seth Bockley, who wrote lyrics and helped shape the story; Charles Kim, who generated the wonderful music; and Tracy Otwell, who created the world of the play - the set and the shadows - and stood by my side as a primary storyteller and co-director. I cast 5 talented singers and performers to help make the work with me and this team, a group of people who committed to the creation of this work in a way that was nothing short of obsessed with greatness. We worked for 5 weeks developing a show, which had moments of beauty, moments of surrealism, and moments of imagination, but had yet to reach to reach its full potential… potential we could all feel the emerging presence of.

At this point, I met with my central and constant team of collaborators, the core artists of Redmoon, Jim Lasko, Rebecca Hunter, and Vanessa Stalling. They encouraged me to express to them my hopes for the work - find a way to alter the pace, provide the magic it deserved, create greater shifts in tone and energy. They immediately leapt into the material with care, intensity, generosity, direction. Their suggestions and actions deeply shaped our first show into this second work you see tonight: a collaborative exercise in honesty and integrity; a small spiritual spectacle.

Jim suggested a dandy/hobo character, who you will meet tonight, and saw that Martin, our main puppet, could be uglier, a brawler. Rebecca encouraged me and the group to recall my earliest work in the the puppetry medium and with that she released wonderful and beautiful images into the show. Vanessa gave of her time and energy, joined my side in the room, became an additional co-director, produced this uncanny depth of emotion in the performers, and helped manifest dynamic variety in the staging. This group went above and beyond the call of duty, brought their full selves forward to the work - were proof and examples of the mission of the theater.

With these 3 people by my side, with my original team of collaborators, and with the undying commitment and trust of the performers, we revealed what I believe to be a unique and odd event. They helped me find this work - a work of emotion, humility, and beauty.

Here is what I believe is great about Redmoon. My team did more than realize a vision; we, together, as a community, we discovered a new vision - one we did not expect, but fully embraced, one we could not make alone…. This is what Redmoon does. We journey deep and we journey together. I have been with Redmoon 12 years, and have been witness to the theater’s greatness, and am proud to have been a leader in this experience. Redmoon has a might, a humility, a desire to work in wonderful chaos, deep collaboration, enormous idea generation, incredible willingness to make work that is visually based, inspired by dream, driven by craft and discipline. We love the impossible and are inspired by risk.

I alone did not and could not make this work. I was simply blessed with great people around me who wanted to provide the world with something unique, something truthful, something mythical. I hope tonight you experience the dedication, the passion, and the creativity of this group.