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For the Record(s)Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard UhrlaubWebsite: https://www.ftrmusical.com/ Contact Email: richuwrites@gmail.com |
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Set in the late 1960s through mid-1990s, the original new musical For the Record(s) captures the little-known, sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous dynamics of relinquishment and adoption. Protagonist Joshua Greenman is a young man of Mexican-Italian ancestry, but raised by devoted adoptive parents to believe he is of Jewish origins – until he discovers shocking secrets revealed at summer sleepaway camp. He must overcome obstacles from his parents and government institutions – and from within – to learn the truth about his origins, his identity, and the covert, coercive system that forced his teen mother to surrender him for adoption. He struggles to find a competent therapist, then locates a search and support group who band together to change laws and stand by each other through gut-wrenching emotional challenges. FTR is a heartfelt, at times funny pop/rock/klezmer/salsa/blues/gospel-style musical with a diverse cast and timeless themes about family lost and found.
Based on valuable feedback from directors, actors/singers and audiences, I have reduced the number of characters to 16, added a few short transition scenes and welcome all wisdom on how to refine and improve the show. I am seeking well-resourced individuals, theatres and organizations who share the show’s passion and vision to engage in development next steps (a sizzle reel? a cast recording? a local or regional theatre production? beyond?) on the path to touching hearts, educating minds, and reaching this show’s significant global built-in audience. Please have a look at additional song clips and the glowing reactions from audience members and actors on the show’s website. Thanks for considering FTR! Rich Uhrlaub, M.Ed.
Rich has worked in the public and private sectors in corporate training/organization development; digital marketing and wireless sales; and risk management/claims administration. He is a longtime member of Denver’s Lighthouse Writers Workshop and a member of the Musical Writers Academy and New Musicals Inc. He is a contributing author of Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons, and Orphanage Alumni (ABC-CLIO) and Adoption and Mothering (Demeter Press). In the NMI Core Curriculum Program, Rich was the book writer of “For the Good of Humanity,” the 15 Minute Frozen Embryo Musical performed at the Broadwater Main Stage in Hollywood. Rich studied piano under the (then) Denver Symphony Orchestra’s Kathleen Joiner. Relinquished and adopted shortly after birth, Rich has been a national conference speaker, legislative liaison, and volunteer leader in the adoption search, support and advocacy community for over twenty years. This project is born of that passion.
“Much is at stake as the adoption experience reverberates throughout (adoptees’) lives and influences them and the people they come into contact with in very fundamental ways.” – Rafael Javier, Ph.D. in Handbook of Adoption.
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For the Record(s)
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard Uhrlaub
Website: https://www.ftrmusical.com/
Contact Email: richuwrites@gmail.com
Set in the late 1960s through mid-1990s, the original new musical For the Record(s) captures the little-known, sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous dynamics of relinquishment and adoption. Protagonist Joshua Greenman is a young man of Mexican-Italian ancestry, but raised by devoted adoptive parents to believe he is of Jewish origins – until he discovers shocking secrets revealed at summer sleepaway camp. He must overcome obstacles from his parents and government institutions – and from within – to learn the truth about his origins, his identity, and the covert, coercive system that forced his teen mother to surrender him for adoption. He struggles to find a competent therapist, then locates a search and support group who band together to change laws and stand by each other through gut-wrenching emotional challenges. FTR is a heartfelt, at times funny pop/rock/klezmer/salsa/blues/gospel-style musical with a diverse cast and timeless themes about family lost and found.
FTR is presented in two Acts and includes 16 songs. The show has experienced two table readings, most recently after being selected as a top-two finalist at the October 2023 MusicalWriters, Inc. pitch night. The first three scenes were performed at the Colorado New Musical Festival in August 2023, and a full staged reading is scheduled for Friday April 26 at the Untangling Our Roots Summit in Denver!
Based on valuable feedback from directors, actors/singers and audiences, I have reduced the number of characters to 16, added a few short transition scenes and welcome all wisdom on how to refine and improve the show. I am seeking well-resourced individuals, theatres and organizations who share the show’s passion and vision to engage in development next steps (a sizzle reel? a cast recording? a local or regional theatre production? beyond?) on the path to touching hearts, educating minds, and reaching this show’s significant global built-in audience. Please have a look at additional song clips and the glowing reactions from audience members and actors on the show’s website. Thanks for considering FTR!
Rich has worked in the public and private sectors in corporate training/organization development; digital marketing and wireless sales; and risk management/claims administration. He is a longtime member of Denver’s Lighthouse Writers Workshop and a member of the Musical Writers Academy and New Musicals Inc. He is a contributing author of Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons, and Orphanage Alumni (ABC-CLIO) and Adoption and Mothering (Demeter Press). In the NMI Core Curriculum Program, Rich was the book writer of “For the Good of Humanity,” the 15 Minute Frozen Embryo Musical performed at the Broadwater Main Stage in Hollywood. Rich studied piano under the (then) Denver Symphony Orchestra’s Kathleen Joiner. Relinquished and adopted shortly after birth, Rich has been a national conference speaker, legislative liaison, and volunteer leader in the adoption search, support and advocacy community for over twenty years. This project is born of that passion.
“Much is at stake as the adoption experience reverberates throughout (adoptees’) lives and influences them and the people they come into contact with in very fundamental ways.” – Rafael Javier, Ph.D. in Handbook of Adoption.