Show History

History

Inspiration

The concept for Band Geeks occurred when writing partners, Tommy Newman and Mark Allen, were considering ideas for a second show upon which to work. When both writers realized that they shared the similar experience of playing trumpet in a high school marching band, they agreed to attempt a stage translation of that unique experience. Newman believed that the concept would have appeal beyond just marching band enthusiasts.

The writing team's vision expanded with the addition some time later of a fellow NYU graduate student, Gaby Alter. The show, which was commissioned in 2008 by Goodspeed Musicals, received numerous readings and workshops over the course of the three or so years leading up to its world premiere.

Gordon Greenberg, the fourth and newest member of the team, also inspired the decision to set the show in the early 1990s, with what they described as "our last gasp of innocence – before information and instant access became our dictators, prior to the advent of email, cell phones and internet."

Productions

Although it began as a staged reading in a New Artists festival, Band Geeks received its world premiere full-scale production in May of 2010 at Goodspeed Musical's Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Connecticut. It enjoyed a limited engagement (which was closed to critics) after several years of developmental workshops and staged readings.

Since 2010, there have been several regional presentations throughout the country, including the Midwest stage premiere at Ohio's Human Race Theatre. Most notably, the musical was presented in 2012 by the Troy University's Department of Theatre and Dance in collaboration with creator Tommy Newman, a Troy University alum. The production was presented as part of the school's yearlong 125th Birthday Celebration.

Trivia

  • As part of their developmental research, the writers interviewed marching band students from the Nathan Hale-Ray High School in East Haddam, CT.
  • Jared Gertner, star of Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, appeared as the story's main character, Elliott, in the world premiere production.
  • The writers of Band Geeks all met in Grad School at New York University.