When I was a young performer in love with the Broadway stage, I always classified an excellent show that I was in or had seen by if a chandelier crashed to the ground, a helicopter landed on stage or if there was a great show-stopping Act 1 Finale tap number with a belting Diva; which would always give me goose bumps and have me singing all the way home; and I would think – now that is a great show!!

Then, one day in 1993, I stumbled onto Broadway and saw a show called “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell – not the typical show that I would choose on my own as my idea of a perfect toe-tapping, glitter-saturated evening, but – hey – I had a front row seat. This show starts off with two boys who had been shot with a mother grieving over these two young men in song. I thought “what the hell?” As the story plays on, we as an audience, learn the sad tale of the Johnston twins separated at birth, how each of their situations landed them at the opposite ends of the social spectrum and how they ended up face down before us. Something happened to me at that performance: I emotionally matured. I had never previously had a theater experience where I not only laughed and toe-tapped but had also cried. I left, walking through Times Square, with tears in my eyes, a smile on my face and humming the finale. I’m so thankful for that experience, because before all I knew were the classics, which were great, but never made me think and feel the way that performance did. Then later, as an actor, I started to expand my own personal boundaries and explored performing more dramatic works; being able to feel that emotion radiating back at you from the audience was like nothing I had ever felt. That show alone is one major reason for Slow Burn Theatre Co. coming into existence. Little did I know that was just the beginning of Broadway’s big change, for then I experienced “Rent”, another great tale of real-life current events happening in the 1990’s that reached out to a whole other audience and set the tone for a new Broadway.

Soon to follow more thought provoking musicals such as Aida, with music by Elton John, dealt with forbidden love, war and race. Spring Awakening a coming of age tale about sexuality and set with a rocking pop score and then the most current installment Next to Normal about a family dealing with a bipolar mother, I have seen this show several times and I am still amazed at how the audience jumps out of their seat sobbing to show the actors their appreciation before they can even hit the final chord of the finale. Shows that are less mainstream but have a mainstream message are the backbone of Slow Burn Theatre Co. We want to bring that experience to you, to produce shows that put a song in your heart but also put a fire in your soul. We look forward to joining the brotherhood of amazing theatre that has already been established in South Florida and to see you at the theatre.

Sincerely,

Patrick Fitzwater