-
May 10, 2022
2021-2022
- Enter filmmaker EUGENE CORR, who goads klipschutz to tackle a further revision and rope Chuck in.
- They retool the script head to toe – and add three new songs in the first 15 minutes of the play.
- Enter comedian/actor JACK GALLAGHER (talk show regular, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Shakes the Clown), who after proceeding with due caution agrees to portray Emperor/JJ Jericho in a table read at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento.
- Enter actor-director-writer PETER STORY, of the B Street Theatre company. Peter agrees to helm a book-and-song table read with Jack Gallagher and a roster of local thespians, including Peter himself as Dirk Dirksen.
- Intensive revision, per spot-on pinpoint notes from Peter Story.
- Chaos. Major health issues. Vision, Purpose. Elbow Grease. Destiny.
-
May 10, 2022
April 24, 2022
A glorious, inspired Table Read occurs at the B Street Theatre. The performers act and sing like they mean it. They are Jack Gallagher, Megan Wicks, Karen Vance, Rob Robinson, Peter Story, Sean Nill, Alissa Doyle, LiLi Young and Meher Mistry. Musical accompaniment by Chuck Prophet, Matt Jaffe and Vicente Rodriguez. Directed by Peter Story. Videography by Mark Herzig. Tommy Dunbar of the Rubinoos on the soundboard. The evidence is currently in the custody of editor extraordinaire Lauren Tabak.
-
May 10, 2022
Fall/Winter 2022
ENTER producer RICHARD FRIEDMAN, who rolls up his sleeves and puts Chuck & klip to work, post-Sacramento table read. New scenes written, old ones cut; new songs written, old ones cut. Major steps forward! Richard deems the play producible and gets busy. Meetings begin with Bay Area theatre companies and prospective friends of the project. Yes, after the plague, beauty and truth live on and TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL: The Musical is off the mat and back in the ring. How can you help?
- The Long and Winding Road -
Inception to Pandemic
-
2013
CHUCK PROPHET and KLIPSCHUTZ spread rumor that “lots of people are saying” Temple Beautiful the album should be a musical.
-
2014
Newly formed FOGG Theatre, committed to developing San Francisco themed musicals, commissions TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL: THE MUSICAL.
-
MID 2014
FELA! co-writer JIM LEWIS hired as lead book writer.
-
2015
Enter Director EMILIE WHELAN, brought in to shape the script.
Preliminary reshaping of book and music.
-
August 2016
Five day workshop at the old firehouse on Treasure Island – a gathering of the team from S.F., Brooklyn, New Orleans.
-
2017
- First Draft turned in to FOGG; initially well-received.
- Jim Lewis released from project.
- FOGG Theatre reorganization. TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL on hiatus.
- Prophet and klipschutz lick their wounds (“our year in the wilderness”); major script overhaul.
-
2018
Enter CLAY DAVID, on behalf of FOGG; after attending a table read of Act I at Prophet’s apartment, he falls in love with the new work.
-
MID 2018
Re-enter Emilie Whelan!
FOGG Theatre’s board approves fall workshop, with Clay David as Producer, Emilie Whelan as Director and a new writing team for the book: klipschutz and Prophet. Clay David knocks heads together, gets shit done: new songs; script revision; preparations for a Staged Reading with nine actors and five-piece band.
-
August 2018
Wunderkind MATT JAFFE, 22, joins team as Musical Director, auditions band members. David and Whelan cast award winning actors from Ray of Light Theatre, Bay Area Musicals, Altarena Playhouse, Ubuntu Project, New Orleans Solo Festival.
-
October 2018
Preproduction meeting at Olivetto in Berkeley. Final casting decisions for Staged Reading.
-
November 11-17
- Talent flown in for preliminary technical design concepts. ADAM LARSEN (Projection Design) and NICK BENACERRAF (Scenic Design) join team.
- Cast and musicians rehearse in intensive workshop at legendary Lennon Studios and PianoFight with director, musical director, Prophet and klipschutz.
- Costumes and properties designed and created.
- Klipschutz and David haul ass around San Francisco for last minute lighting needs and many trips to Kinkos; script evolves in rehearsals and late night sessions at Edinburgh Castle between Emilie Whelan and klipschutz.
- Clay David designs enormous lobby displays with vintage photographs of the original Temple Beautiful.
- Intensive run-throughs, dress rehearsals, final blocking, technical run-throughs with sound and lighting.
- Script continuing to evolve.
-
November 18
Invitation-only Staged Reading showcase at PianoFight (former site of the original Original Joes) in the heart of the heart of the Tenderloin.
A lit-up audience gives standing ovation. Excitement in the air. -
November 20
Whelan, Prophet, klipschutz, Jaffe, and designers Larsen and Benacerraf conductpostmortem at Producer’s home in Berkeley Hills.
Plans for build-up to a first run of the play.
-
LATE 2018
Preliminary video designs for promotional outreach begin. ALEX RODRIGUEZ (Choreography) and JC CARLOS MOORE (LightingDesign) join team.
-
January 2019
- TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL: THE MUSICAL shifts from FOGG Theatre to a larger company, Bay Area Musicals, helmed by Artistic Director MATTHEW MCCOY.
- Website launched.
- Detailed plans for three-week Spring 2019 workshop, with two to four performances, leading up to a World Premiere in 2020, followed touring show/festivals. Dreaming big.
-
2019-2020
- Our old friend the Pandemic throws plans, expectations and dreams to the wind: Bay Area Musicals (set to mount World Premiere, along with producer Clay David)
dissolves. - Clay David leaves the play – and the theatre business, after 30 years.
Emilie Whelan takes a demanding job with West Edge Opera. - The rest of the team (choreographer, light projection guru, and more) go their separate ways.
- TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL: THE MUSICAL lies dormant.
- Our old friend the Pandemic throws plans, expectations and dreams to the wind: Bay Area Musicals (set to mount World Premiere, along with producer Clay David)