After two original comedies of my own, I contributed the music for the Historical Drama, The Accidental President, Book and Lyrics by Allan Provost.
Thanks to the singers, actors, musicians, and production folks who lent their talents, the Manhattan Beach Community Church Theater Group presented the show.
Here’s a little more about how this production came to be.
From Jack Messenger former Artistic Director / MBCC Theater in Manhattan Beach, CA.
A few years ago, my theater organization was looking for a new musical; something that nobody had ever done before. We came across something called “THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT” – quite by accident. We were intrigued by the title and wanted to find out more. So we read both the play and the libretto and were gobsmacked to find out that the play dealt historically with a President that nobody ever talked about — the career of Millard Fillmore. When discussed, Fillmore was almost always disdained dismissively with a laugh during my high school days. We never discussed him. It was as though he never existed! Yet history placed him at a time that was crucial to our history – the early 1850’s. Pre-slavery and burgeoning territories ready to become states. But not without some trouble.
Not only was this fascinating fodder for a dramatic play but the music that accompanied the play was original, tuneful and struck an emotional chord with our audiences. President Fillmore came to life! For the very first time in this wonderful tale about a President who was faced with more than his share of issues that became crucial and which changed the course of our history.
Who knew? I recommend this wonderful production to any group looking to tell a traditional tale of a history of our country that we know only too little about. It’s compelling and the music is lovely. Our audiences found it to be a smash hit. They wished we ran it longer than our 3-week run.
Here are a few scenes from the original production:
Abigail, Millard Fillmore’s wife, tells Millard what she wants most in their new Washington City (later named Washington D.C.) home in: It Has To Have A Window Seat
On a hot summer evening, President Millard Fillmore, his wife Abigail, and their children Powers and Mary sing about the current times in: The Age of Invention.
Abigail’s and Mary’s mother-daughter discussion: Everything You Need To Know/The News
Millard and Abigail are happy and content to have reached Love’s Golden Age
Millard sings the Fugitive Slave Act
Millard, after Abigail has died: How Lonesome This World Is
Music by John Dusenberry 