An interview with
Ann-Carol Pence, Associate Producer of Aurora Theatre, about their upcoming
production of The
Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, by Kait Kerrigan and Brian
Lowdermilk.
Sam is a girl who has what every
teenager wants: brains, a boyfriend, functional parents and an acceptance
letter to the college of her choice. Yet, she sits in her car with her bags
packed and can’t turn the key in the ignition. At a crossroads, Samantha must
come to terms with her parents’ expectations, her first love and a lost
friendship before she can start the car, drive away and find freedom!
How did Sam Brown find her way to Aurora?
Anthony [Rodriguez] and I are avid new musical followers; moreover, I am
personally excited by composers, so I have followed Brian Lowdermilk pretty
closely. He is just a powerhouse songwriter. Some of his songs are the type of
great new material that singers are singing for cabarets so I already knew
tunes like “Run Away with Me.” When I heard “Freedom,” I can remember weeping
in my office. It was unbridled joy of two girls in a car singing at the top of
their lungs. How I remember when I was that girl!
We immediately contacted them and then came a long two-year journey of agents and producers that I will not bore you with. Suffice it to say, the way you get to do new musicals is that you must be very persistent and confident beyond belief that you can make a difference.
What drew you to the show?
It is a story of possibility. I love shows that look at the world from a young person's view and shine a light on what could be. Kait & Brian are on that same precipice. They have the opportunity to be the next great musical writing team of this generation. Anthony & I want to bank on those composers that have limitless possibility!
Has anything changed on the show since it was produced at Goodspeed Musicals two summers ago?
