I've been working on a musical theater project recently. Matt Glickstein, with whom I've written some songs over the last several months, had mentioned us working on a theater project together. I spent a month or two thinking of possible ideas, and then stumbled upon the book "Defending a Monster" by Sam Arimante, John Wayne Gacy's original defense lawyer. I was frightened and intrigued. I had my idea!
The musical is based on the Gacy murders of the late 70's. John Wayne Gacy was convicted of murdering 33 young men- many of which he buried in the crawl space under his home. I'm writing the script with and Matt Glickstein is providing the music to my lyrics. The musical is, for now, called "Beneath the Surface" (we may change it to "Buried Secrets" at some point). The show is centered around a (fictional) interview that takes place one year after between an imprisoned Gacy and a psychologist one year after his arrest. The defense team is trying to build their case on an insanity plea (Gacy is claiming to suffer from a multiple personality disorder) and have enlisted a psychologist to examine their client. Through the show, Gacy leads the doctor through his scattered and foggy memories, detailing his childhood, life, and crimes. The doctor is, at first, interested and intrigued. However, she becomes more and more disturbed as she digs deeper into the mind of the man who has been called the most infamous serial killer in American history.
I'm really a bit nervous about working on a musical as the author and lyricist- instead of the composer (which is the role I would normally play). However, I've really enjoyed working as the lyricist with Matt on stand alone songs in the past. It has given me a chance to challenge myself and to step out of my comfort zone into the other side of the song writing process. So, I thought I'd give it a try with a musical. We'll see how it goes.
Below, I am posting a demo of the song "Buried Secrets". This is only a first draft of the number that will be performed by the Gacy character near the end of the first act. Matt performs it here...
The musical is based on the Gacy murders of the late 70's. John Wayne Gacy was convicted of murdering 33 young men- many of which he buried in the crawl space under his home. I'm writing the script with and Matt Glickstein is providing the music to my lyrics. The musical is, for now, called "Beneath the Surface" (we may change it to "Buried Secrets" at some point). The show is centered around a (fictional) interview that takes place one year after between an imprisoned Gacy and a psychologist one year after his arrest. The defense team is trying to build their case on an insanity plea (Gacy is claiming to suffer from a multiple personality disorder) and have enlisted a psychologist to examine their client. Through the show, Gacy leads the doctor through his scattered and foggy memories, detailing his childhood, life, and crimes. The doctor is, at first, interested and intrigued. However, she becomes more and more disturbed as she digs deeper into the mind of the man who has been called the most infamous serial killer in American history.
I'm really a bit nervous about working on a musical as the author and lyricist- instead of the composer (which is the role I would normally play). However, I've really enjoyed working as the lyricist with Matt on stand alone songs in the past. It has given me a chance to challenge myself and to step out of my comfort zone into the other side of the song writing process. So, I thought I'd give it a try with a musical. We'll see how it goes.
Below, I am posting a demo of the song "Buried Secrets". This is only a first draft of the number that will be performed by the Gacy character near the end of the first act. Matt performs it here...
“BURIED SECRETS”
Gacy:
(verse)
In those hours of nighttime,
when daylight had been spent,
I would face the darkness
begin the black descent.
begin the black descent.
Every man has demons,
but mine were growing bold.
Dark and deadly forces
were starting to take hold.
(verse)
All my life they’ve been there
the urges and desires,
the urges and desires,
eating me from inside
and burning me like fires.
Even as a young man,
I knew I had to hide-
to bury my strange secrets
to bury my strange secrets
where daylight is denied.
(chorus)
Buried Secrets…
Behind the walls of self-defense,
Beneath the floors of shame.
Buried Secrets…
I hid them each and every one,
but I was not to blame.
Buried Secrets…
(verse)
Things that once were daydreams
had started to take form.
Printed porn and drug use
helped usher in the storm.
Then there came the hustlers,
the violence, and the sex.
Then there were the bodies
with ropes around their necks.
(repeat chorus)
(repeat chorus)
(bridge)
Someone else had left them there
other hands had tied the knots.
other hands had tied the knots.
I was left to hide them all
where buried secrets rot.
Lyrics by Spraggins/ Music by Glickstein
