And There I Was, Minding My Own Business...

Hello. And welcome to the first in a series of Director’s Blogs for L.A. Blues. My name is Chris Lynch, writer/director for this production. By way of an introduction, a little on how we got to where we are…

The new play, a musical noir, is the first collaboration between Neon Fringe Productions and Winedark Productions. It is quite the departure for both companies and expectations are high that it will be a success.

The project began with the simple idea of a play with songs. Not a musical per se, but a drama with musical performances. A way for two companies with a close relationship to work together. Neon Fringe would supply the actors and Winedark the music. It was to be a cabaret of sorts, with the focus on a strong playlist and a few dramatic scenes to tie everything together.

Needless to say, as the script progressed and the play began to take shape, it became obvious that this would be much more of a coherent whole than originally envisaged. The story and the characters took over. No longer would the drama tie the music together. Rather the music would become an integral element in the story. A play with songs became a musical noir.

And what songs! The song selection for the production by James Barry is sublime. I defy anyone to not enjoy each and every one. Not only are they outstanding numbers, they complement and advance the story in ways I could not have imagined when writing the script. It is here that L.A. Blues became a true collaboration.

We have a long way to go. But the groundwork has been laid. I hope you will join us on our journey.