A new Broadway-bound musical, ‘The Way Way West,’ is set to grace Myron’s at The Smith Center on June 26, featuring captivating songs from its original score.
This musical is a poignant collection of five stories that draws inspiration from actual characters who intersected at the Mountain Meadows in the Utah Territory in 1857.
Themes of pioneering courage, politics, religion, and military aggression weave through the narratives, with characters striving to fulfill the promise of a new frontier.
The score is accompanied by modern Americana and folk music that highlights the profound and cascading impacts of one man’s narcissism and pain on numerous individuals separated by vast distances.
The creative team behind this project boasts Broadway veterans such as Dan Sharkey, known for his work on ‘Spiderman-Turn Off the Dark,’ and Mike Eldred, who has played ‘Jean Valjean’ in ‘Les Misérables’ and contributed to Frank Wildhorn’s ‘Civil War.’
Award-winning songwriters and record producers Chris Roberts and Ross Bridgeman are also involved, alongside actor/director Daz Weller and a selection of Las Vegas’ top musicians.
Sharkey described the vision for the musical: “We were looking to present something new and different from what Broadway currently offers. With cowboy poetry and contemporary Americana Folk music, we wanted to tell the stories of the lost and forgotten voices of the Old West.”
Their journey began with the discovery of the lesser-known story surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre, prompting extensive research into the people involved.
The endeavor was made even more compelling by the church’s history of silence and a century of cover-ups.
“As we began to dig and learn more about these unsung heroes through documents and letters from the period, it became obvious that we didn’t pick the story; this story picked us,” stated Sharkey.
He added that ‘The Way Way West’ distinguishes itself by combining good, old-fashioned storytelling with cowboy poetry and modern folk music.
The creative team meticulously researched key historical events, including Buchanan’s Blunder and the Mountain Meadows Massacre, as well as the Baker Fancher Wagon Train.
They delved into accounts from Eleanor Jane McComb McClean Pratt, the Pony Express, and prominent figures like Brigham Young and Porter Rockwell, as well as the stories of families involved in the wagon trains and the eventual confession and execution of John D. Lee.
After a year of research and inspired by a thought-provoking Ken Burns interview, the time came to bring their findings to life through songwriting.
Sharkey believes that every audience member will resonate with different aspects of the production but highlighted the ongoing themes of political power, religious dominance, and control over the less fortunate.
These issues remain as relevant today as they were 170 years ago.
Proceeds from the performance will benefit The Composers Showcase LV LTD, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a platform for original musical creations.
They also offer scholarships for aspiring composers and financial support for the Las Vegas entertainment community.
Producer, Host, and President of The Composers Showcase, Keith Thompson, stated, “We are in our 20th year and approaching our 20th anniversary next spring.”
In addition to their monthly showcases at Myron’s at The Smith Center promoting new music by composers and songwriters, the organization has expanded its scholarship program to include three music departments at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, covering jazz, classical, and electronic music.
image source from：broadwayworld
