Feed The Lake
By David Getz
Original Music composed and performed by David Getz
Feed The LakeJun 28, 2021
Episode 09 - Interview with Micah Hancock
In the last episode of season 1, I offer an outsider's perspective on Ruth. I sit down with Micah Hancock, a local videographer, and talk about his role in producing a mini-documentary of Ruth over the final 4 weeks of production. Micah shares his perspective on joining the Ruth project right at the end, making documentaries when the ending is uncertain, and he also coins the term "creatively constipated." We also discuss his work in freelance, as well as the value of making art for your local community.
"Ruth: The Mini-Documentary" - https://www.theruthmusical.com/media
Micah's website - www.micahhancock.com
To learn more about "Ruth," visit our website at www.theruthmusical.com.
If you have any questions or comments about this episode, or the podcast in general, write to me at theruthmusical@gmail.com.
Leave a review for this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed-the-lake/id1525473192
Episode 08 - The World Premiere
In this episode I talk about June 16, 2018, the world premiere of "Ruth!" It was an absolutely unforgettable evening, and I do my best to recount the emotions and thoughts leading up to and including the performance. This evening capped my amazing 7-year creative journey, and it's still humbling to stroll down memory lane and believe that it all actually happened.
There will be one more episode coming to cap off Season 1 of "Feed The Lake," an interview with Micah Hancock, the videographer that captured the the final month of "Ruth" as it came together. Look forward to that episode coming soon.
The entire recording from this world premiere performance is now available on Spotify.
If you want to learn more about "Ruth," visit our website at www.theruthmusical.com.
If you have any question or comments about the show or this podcast, write to me at theruthmusical@gmail.com.
Episode 07 - The Rehearsal Process
Once all of the administrative work is put in motion, it's time to get the show ready for performance. In this episode, I talk about the rehearsal process and 3 important lessons I learned along the way. I also share some comments from the cast that I taped at one of our last rehearsals before the premiere.
Email any questions you have to theruthmusical@gmail.com, or look me up on Instagram (@dave.getz) or Twitter (@dave_getz).
Episode 06 - BONUS - Musical Preview
This weekend, Sept. 11-13, 2020, Ruth will be available on YouTube for this weekend only as a fundraiser for Midwest Food Bank East Africa. You can find all the details for how to stream the show, as well as find information for a Live Composer Q&A on Sat. Sept. 12 @ 7:00pm CST at the event webpage: www.midwestfoodbank.org/ruth.
In this episode, you can preview 3 songs from Act 1, the scene where Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah have their famous confrontation before the return to Bethlehem.
CAST (in order of appearance):
Ruth - Courtney Huffman Frye
Orpah - Claire Huette
Naomi - Alison Meuth
For information on the show, visit www.theruthmusical.com.
Episode 05 - The Production Process
In this episode, I begin recounting the administrative process I underwent to get "Ruth" off the ground and into the production process. So many key conversations and situations seemed to line up perfectly to allow "Ruth" to become a reality. The production process is not always easy, but it's worth going through to make your creative dreams something you can share with others.
Don't forget that "Ruth" is available on YouTube in just two weeks, on Sept. 11-13, 2020 thanks to Midwest Food Bank. I will also be online for a "Composer's Q&A Forum" on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:00pm CST along with Courtney Huffman Frye, Alison Meuth, and Steve Williams, all of whom I talk about in this episode. If you want to learn about this exciting weekend of events, visit https://midwestfoodbank.org/ruth.
The official show website is https://www.theruthmusical.com/.
If you have any questions or comments about the show, please email me at theruthmusical@gmail.com.
Episode 04 - Influences
In this week's episode, I talk about 3 shows and several composers that influenced the style and structure of "Ruth." If you haven't seen Les Miserables, Chess, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame, then you need to quickly visit these links before listening to this episode:
- "The Confrontaion (Valjean & Javert)" from Les Miserables
- "One Day More" from Les Miserables
- "Anthem" from Chess
- "The Deal" from Chess
- "Esmerelda" from Hunchback of Notre Dame
Also, here are some of my favorite lectures/masterclasses that I found on YouTube while finishing up writing Ruth:
- Stephen Schwartz on Crafting Musical Theatre
- Lin Manuel Miranda and Andrew Lloyd Webber in conversation
- Jason Robert Brown Masterclass
- Stephen Sondheim "Into the Woods" - MTI Conversation Piece
Also, we're under a month until Ruth is available for free on YouTube the weekend of Sept. 11-13. I will be giving a Virtual Q&A on Zoom with myself and the 3 lead performers form the show on Sat. Sept. 12 at 7:00pm CST. For more information on how you can attend, visit https://midwestfoodbank.org/ruth
Episode 03 - Revision
It's very easy to be overly-committed to our first ideas. As artists, we have to be willing to undergo the disciplined process of revising, even if it means starting over from scratch. In this episode, I share three major revisions that I made to "Ruth" over the years.
LINKS & CREDITS:
- "Ruth" YouTube channel - Show available 9/11-9/13, 2020.
- Midwest Food Bank: "Ruth" Event Page
- Midwest Food Bank: East Africa Division
- "Downstream" by Matt Lauer, member of MHS Composers' Guild (audio used in episode)
- "Tradecraft: Be a Revisionary" by Pete Peterson, playwright.
Get in touch with the show!
- Email me at theruthmusical@gmail.com
- Twitter (@dave_getz)
- Instagram (@dave.getz) & (@ruth_the_musical)
Episode 02 - The Composition Process
In this episode, I break down my compositional process for 3 songs from "Ruth" that come from very different genres: the aria, the show-tune, and the madrigal. I will throw out a lot of music theory terms, so if anything is confusing, feel free to reach out with questions.
Email any questions you have to theruthmusical@gmail.com, or look me up on Instagram (@dave.getz) or Twitter (@dave_getz).
Episode 01 - The Origin Story
Welcome to Season 1, Episode 1 of "Feed The Lake," the podcast for the chronically creative.
In this season, I am gong to be narrating the 7-year creative journey I undertook to write, direct, and produce my first musical, "Ruth." As a full-time music teacher and cross country coach, I hope to encourage and inspire any artist who has a big idea that they work on "on the side." My dream took seven years to come to fruition, but every step was worth it. For more information about the show, visit www.theruthmusical.com.
Episode One explores the initial spark of inspiration I had for the show in November 2011. I also delve into my background as a musician and a composer.
"Ruth" is going to be available for free on YouTube the weekend of September 11-13 thanks to the sponsorship of Midwest Food Bank. I will also be presenting in an Online Q&A Forum on Saturday, September 12 at 7:00pm CST. For more information about this weekend's events, visit https://midwestfoodbank.org/ruth.
I would love for you to reach out if you have any questions or comments on the show. You can write to me at theruthmusical@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @dave.getz.
Feed The Lake - Trailer
Welcome to Feed The Lake, the podcast for the chronically creative. The title for this podcast is derived from a phrase used by author Madeline L’Engle in her book on creativity, “Walking on Water.” She compares all of our collective artistic contributions to the world as a great body of water, and every time we create or express ourselves artistically, we are feeding the lake.
“I have never served a work as it ought to be served; my little trickle adds hardly a drop of water to the lake, and yet it doesn’t matter; there is no trickle too small...The great artists, the rivers and tributaries, collaborate with the work, but for the most of us, it is our greatest privilege to be its servant.” -L'Engle
This podcast is for anyone who has a creative vision, is working on a project, or would just like some inspiration to get started.
In this first season, I am going to explore the seven-year journey that led to the writing and world premiere of my first musical, "Ruth."
My name is David Getz, and I can be reached at dgetz08@gmail.com. You can find me on Instagram (@dave.getz) and on Twitter (@dave_getz). To follow my show, "Ruth," follow Instagram (@ruth_the_musical).
All original music in this podcast was composed and performed by David Getz.