Donna Vaughan steps into her first role as Musical Director of FTC’s upcoming production of Godspell. Photo by Phil Houseal

Details:
Fredericksburg Theater Company presents Godspell, the groundbreaking musical based on the Gospel.
Performance Schedule:
Weekends February 17 – March 4, 2012
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Tickets: $20 for adults, $5.50 for youth 18 and under

webmaster: phil@fullhouseproductions.net

At the Edge of the Stage

by Phil Houseal
Feb 2012

I’ve been trying to get Donna Vaughan to sit still for an interview for five years now. I still haven’t gotten her to sit still, but I was able to interview her during a rehearsal for the Fredericksburg Theater Company’s upcoming production of Godspell.

“This is my kind of musical,” said the singer, teacher, and Music Director of this show. “It has everything from soft shoe to vaudeville to rock and roll. There are places that are going to make people cry, and a lot of surprises.”

That pretty much describes Donna, as well.

She earned her degree in Music Education at the University of Texas, and has been teaching for more than 30 years at all levels “from 10-month-olds to 80-year-olds.” She was Music Minister at First Baptist Church, taught at high school and college, and is currently helping direct the choirs at Heritage School. She plays piano, has been in many theater productions, and played in a band with her husband, Kenny, that has performed in clubs on 6th Street in Austin as well as pit orchestras at high schools.

But this is her first crack at being Music Director of a theater production.

“I’m excited about it,” she said, bouncing in her seat. “I like teaching people who can sing this kind of music in a way that won’t hurt their voice and still be in tune. I love classical style, but I also love pop and rock styles. I think you can move and have fun singing this style because that’s what people do in real life - put a little edge to the sound.”

Director Kerry Goff asked Vaughan to work along that “edge.” That was his approach to making this 1970s production fresh without getting away from the original intent.

“I told her that this goes against everything I’ve ever said about musical theater, but I really want to hear more pop, more rock, an edgier sound,” Goff said. According to Goff, Vaughan is bringing that, along with an ear for detail. “I like that she is particular about her harmonies,” he said. “They sound so tight and precise. You can really hear the difference.”

Goff is also impressed with his first-time music director’s work ethic.

“Our cast is young and energetic, and she is just as energetic as they are,” he said. “Donna is so encouraging, and a great teacher. She is willing to stay late and come early if a cast member wants help. That is what is great about community theater - if some people want extra attention, she is there to do it.”

It’s all gravy to Vaughan.

“I feel like I am teaching recess, because singing is something people love to do,” she said. “My goal is that they don’t want to leave the room at the end.”

An added interest is that both of Vaughan’s boys - Joe and Will - are in the cast. “That is really fun,” she said. “They keep me in line.”

If the production is spirited, the message is spiritual. Goff has invited local Pastor John Hierholzer in to speak to the cast on the messages of the various parables that figure in the script. While there is a message, the beauty of Godspell is that it never becomes heavy-handed or preachy. Audiences will also recognize several songs that crossed over into the pop charts, such as Day by Day.

“I feel really blessed and lucky to get to do this,” said Vaughan, who admits to already feeling blue because she knows it will soon be over. “This is going to be bright, fun, exciting, energetic, and colorful!”