They say it takes a village to raise a child. Birthing a new work of art can be analogous to the process of childbirth, but now the creative artistry and talents of three cities are coming together to produce a new original musical, “Dandelion,” set to open Aug. 9 at Trustus Theatre.
The Vista nonprofit arts venue traditionally reserves this late-summer slot in their season, now in its 40th year, for the premiere of original work. The Midlands’ longest-running professional theater has held its Playwrights’ Festival since the late 1980s, producing each year’s winning script, as well as occasionally commissioning new works from local and regional authors. However, Jessica Francis Fichter, the theater’s Executive Director since early 2022, brought a new proposition to the table: the opportunity to co-produce a new musical that had not only already been developed and workshopped in New York City, but even had partial funding available.
The chain of events that has led to “Dandelion’s” debut might seem random, or could resemble a domino effect, with each inspiring the next. In a former life, Midlands native Fichter taught drama at Dutch Fork High School, before setting out to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the Actors Studio program at Pace University in New York City in 2020. Connections made through school and the NYC theater world led to directing gigs, including new musicals.
“I like really off-the-wall straight plays,” Fichter explained, “and I like musicals.” She said musicals are popular now, although the current trend leans towards adaptations of familiar titles, such as popular films. Meanwhile, Fichter was in touch with two former students, Sean Riehm and Hailee Beltzhoover Zuniga, both Winthrop University grads who ended up working professionally in theater in New York and Atlanta, respectively.
The duo had an idea for a play, inspired by real-life events, but filled with universal truths about maturity and responsibility. Fichter quickly became a collaborator. “We felt we had a story that needed to be told,” she said.
Realizing that the story’s themes might be best realized via a musical format, Fichter turned to her sister, Colleen Francis, who studied the music business at Belmont University in Nashville, where she is a successful country/pop singer/songwriter under the name “Franky C.” Francis in turn recruited a colleague, Bill Zeffiro, to join the creative team. Ultimately, music and lyrics are credited to Francis, with additional music and lyrics by Zuniga and Zeffiro, and the book co-written by Riehm and Fichter.
Now titled “Dandelion,” the fledgling script received its concert premiere in 2018 as part of the New Musicals concert series at 54 Below in New York, followed by an Equity reading with Thousand Faced Theatre Company in the winter of 2020. It was selected for a full-staged professional version, complete with a budget cobbled together from awards, grants and investors who liked what they saw — but then COVID happened. Director Jessica Francis Fichter (far right) watches as musical director Steven Gross (seated at keyboard) rehearses with the cast of Trustus' "Dandelion" at USC's Longstreet Theatre.
“We were in talks,” Fichter said, “and then everything fell apart.” Work on “Dandelion” went into a deep sleep. Fast forward several years.
Fichter found herself back in Columbia, running a theater that was always looking for challenging new works to produce. There was still funding available from the show’s original budget, giving Trustus the rare opportunity to co-produce a new play that was very nearly ready to go. This synergy continued, with the addition of Steven Gross as musical director.
A former Fulbright Scholar with a Doctorate of Music in Conducting from Yale University, Gross is a prolific music educator and conductor, having worked on Broadway and in London as musical director, conductor and pianist. In recent years he has helped lead summer workshops for aspiring musical theater performers at the University of South Carolina. An evening spent at last summer’s Trustus production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by Fichter, connected Gross to her, and in turn to “Dandelion.
” “Any piece that speaks to the human condition is worth telling,” Gross observed. The musical centers on a daughter, who's deciding whether to go to college or stay home with her mother, who is struggling with drug addiction. “It’s a look at caretaking and childhood trauma, and what we owe to those around us and to ourselves,” Fichter said.
She said the script is “touching and hopeful and fun. We approach it from the hopeful and inspirational side.” “So it’s dark — but it’s light,” Francis added.
Casting similarly fell into place via fortunate happenstance. Hannah Bonnett, whom Fichter knew from her New York days, recently played the lead in the national tour of “Legally Blonde.” When the show came through Columbia, the pair reconnected.
Bonnett was delighted to hear about the upcoming revival of “Dandelion.” She had missed its performance at 54 Below, but later heard a recording and fell in love with the score; eagerly, she accepted the lead role of Jane for the show’s 10-performance run in Columbia. Sean Stephens, another New York-based professional actor, will portray Jane’s brother.
Local members of the Trustus Company, Katrina Garvin and Stann Gwynn, will play their parents. The cast also includes Sadie Wiskes, Mel Driggers, Brittany Hammock, Kristin Claiborne and Terrance Henderson, who will double as choreographer. Scenic and lighting design is by USC professor Jim Hunter, who also made rehearsal space available in Longstreet Theatre.
Fichter and her creative team have high expectations for "Dandelion's" life beyond its Columbia premiere. “Selling the art is almost as important” as its creation, Fichter acknowledged, adding that the entire team is sending out inquiries, press releases and PR material to any resources they can find — 40 or more daily. It's starting to pay off, she said.
Potential producers for future incarnations are planning scouting visits to Columbia. And the title? It’s a reference to the paradox of the plant. “Dandelions are weeds,” Fichter explained.
And in addition to being beautiful, they “can grow in the tightest of places." Yet, the flower's existence is fragile. “Sometimes to grow," Fichter said.
"You have to fly away.”.
