March 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 03
FREE WORLD PREMIERE OF “BEHIND THE BOOKSTORE,” WRITTEN BY MURRAY HIGH STUDENT, TO TAKE STAGE THIS MONTH By Julie Slama | Julie@mycityjournals.com
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ne day in June 2015, Murray High student Ben Stanford sat down at the piano and started playing a tune he had in his head. “I didn’t know what it was about — the plot, the characters, the name or anything, but it became the second song in my show and what Danny needs to make it and find success,” he said. During the next few months, Ben said he wrote a second song and then, a third. Then, a storyline and the lyrics to his first song came to his mind. “I realized this could be a musical so I talked to (Murray High theatre director Will) Saxton about it,” he said. “I was nowhere close to being a professional, and it would not be easy, but I wanted a challenge.” That was the beginning of what now is the world premiere of “Behind the Bookstore,” a musical set in the 1900s, not only written, but directed by the 18-year-old senior. The show will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 8 through Saturday, March 10 and again, Monday, March 12. Tickets are $6 for students and $7 for non-students in advance and $8 at the door. The family-friendly musical has live music that appeals to all ages, Theatre Director Will Saxton said. Saxton said he has told students if any of them will write a full musical, with all the songs, then Murray High will produce it. “Ben did just that,” said Saxton. “Ben is very talented, ambitious, hard worker who wants to be a playwright. This is my first student who has ever written a musical and it isn’t just an attempt. It’s awesome. He knows what he’s doing.” While Ben keeps the second act of the musical under wraps, he said the first scene, set in a Virginia town, explores the relationships of several characters. Continued on Page 5...
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Murray High senior Ben Stanford directs students in a rehearsal for the world premiere of his show, “Behind the Bookstore.” (Will Saxton/Murray High School)
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