Answering Broadway’s Call

By Nancy K. Crevier

He is an enthusiastic young man who has been fascinated with music since he first started toying with the piano at age 2, and it seems that in the world of musical theater, Brett Bole’s star is rising.

Brett, a 2003 graduate of Newtown High School who graduated this spring from Ithaca College with a degree in music composition, returned to Newtown in mid-July from the opening of the Firehouse Theatre Project production in Richmond, Va., of Austin’s Bridge. The music for the play, based on a book by Bill C. Davis, was written by Brett, and although there have been a number of staged readings of the play since he finished collaborating on it in 2003, this was the first full production of Austin’s Bridge.

“It was very exciting. It was a good opportunity to get my foot in the door as a musical writer,” Brett said during a recent interview.

Austin’s Bridge is not the only production carrying his name, however. In April, Lee Byron, Department of Theatre Arts chair at Ithaca College, made an unprecedented decision to include Brett’s musical theater piece based on the Alexandre Dumas novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, in the main stage season at the college.

The Count of Monte Cristo is the culmination of more than four years and thousands of hours of work at the computer and piano as Brett pulled together the classic tale of betrayal, hope and faith. Brett first became interested in the story as a senior in high school, recognizing the many elements that would lend themselves to music.

“There’s something in every character in that story that people can relate to. What really drew me in was the main character, Edmond, and his journey throughout the story. And the whole revenge concept is amazing. I’m also a sucker for epic stories, so The Count of Monte Cristo was a perfect fit,” said Brett.

The production of The Count of Monte Cristo was extremely satisfying all around, he said, although there were a few painful moments when musical pieces ended up on the cutting floor.

“There is nothing more fulfilling for me than seeing my work and vision brought to life on stage by performers, creative members, and crews that devote all their energy to making the musical the best it can be,” Brett said. “It was a very collaborative production and that’s what I love. I did have a lot of input for casting and directing, but I wanted to leave it up ultimately to the director, Susannah Berryman. I couldn’t have been happier with the results.”

Another Newtown resident and Ithaca College student, Melanie Beck, found herself in the ensemble for The Count of Monte Cristo, and described her experience as “instrumental in giving me one of my favorite, most cherished theater experiences. The music, lyrics, and dialogue are overwhelmingly stunning and compelling and it was so inspiring to perform material that was so passionate, original, and completely captivating.” Having performed at Newtown High School with Brett, Melanie said, “It was not a struggle at all to see that he was an exceptionally talented person, gifted in so many things.”

Brett has studied piano since age eight and along the way, has studied voice and acting, as well. He has been involved in performance for ten years, performing in over 20 shows, including the NHS productions of West Side Story and Anything Goes. His characters have ranged from a mischievous Huck Finn in Big River to Jesus in Godspell. One of his favorite parts, oddly enough, said Brett, was not a lead part.

“It might sound funny, but it was when I was in Les Miserables with Shelton Youth Connection. I played one of the young revolutionaries. I had only one or two singing lines, but being able to find the meaty stuff in that part was the most fun I’ve had.”

Even while he pursues his dream of making a career out of musical composition and lyric writing for the stage, Brett plans to keep one foot in performance. “I love performing, so every summer I have done productions around the area. Now that I am done with school, I’ll have more time year around to take part.”

This summer Brett is running sound for the Sabrina’s Encore Productions performances of Aladdin, Jr at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, July 21 and 22 and performing as Radames in Aida, also a Sabrina’s Encore Productions performance, that same weekend (see details, this page).

“I love jumping into a new skin and creating the character,” Brett said. Brett is teaching voice and stage skills at Sabrina’s Encore Productions summer camp, as well, and will continue on in that capacity through the next year.

Broadway shows have influenced his direction in life, he said, beginning with Beauty and the Beast, which he saw at age 7, one of many to come that he would see with his grandmother, Lenore Boles. “She would take me to shows two or three times a year. The show that absolutely did it for me, though,” said Brett, “was Les Miserables.”

The long running, no holds barred, extravagant musical inspired him and holds a special place in Brett’s heart. “I performed in the closing night finale of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in May of 2003. I was in the ensemble and it was an awesome experience,” he said.

There are playwrights and lyricists who have held great influence in his chosen career, among them being Frank Wildhorn and the more modern Jason Robert Brown. “I love Stephen Sondheim. His lyrics are brilliant,” said Brett. “There are so many great writers that have influenced me, it’s hard to say who I most admire.”

He is presently working on a new musical based on the life of Jenny Cameron, who lived in Scotland in the 1740s. “She raised an army of soldiers from her clan to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in The Rising of ’45 against the British. She’s a fascinating character,” said Brett. Because only the bare bones are known about Jenny Cameron, Brett is writing not only the music, but the story line as well.

But his new work does not mean that this is the last that will be heard of The Count of Monte Cristo, Brett said. “Sabrina’s Encore Productions may help me produce it at the Klein Memorial Theater in Bridgeport this coming winter, with an all-professional staff and orchestra.” More modestly, he added, “Miramax and Disney have approached me, too. Miramax may be interested in doing The Count as a movie, Disney as a Broadway production. I’m trying not to get too excited, but I can’t say that it wouldn’t be very, very cool to have either happen. I love the world of musical theater and I love the life and the people I meet. Who knows? Anything is possible,” said Brett.

Including a Broadway playwright in our own backyard.