How Music Connects Us On-Stage and Off

Behind the Scenes of Once – A Musical

By Miriam Colvin

There’s something extraordinary that happens when live theatre and live music intersect. During the run of Once – A Musical (Dec. 3-15, 2024), the cast created something truly special that extended far beyond the stage.

In this production, the cast wasn’t just performing; they were the orchestra. The show requires every actor to play multiple instruments while staying in character and performing complex choreography. There is no conductor leading the band; instead, the cast relies on their deep connection with each other, their listening skills, and their instinctive rhythm to stay in sync. The result? A dynamic and exhilarating performance that blurs the line between theatre and live music, highlighting the talent and versatility of the cast.

The Unseen Magic: Hootenannies and Collaboration

Even with the exhausting schedule of eight shows a week, the cast didn’t put down their instruments when the curtain fell. In fact, they often found themselves coming together backstage, during lunch breaks, or on their days off for impromptu musical gatherings known as “hootenannies.” These informal musical sessions are a wonderful example of the magic that happens when artists are passionate about their craft. However, hootenannies differ from “jam sessions” in the fact that they are not a performance or a showcasing of skills. They are simply an outward reaching thing to bring community, togetherness, and music into a circle.

A hootenanny is all about supporting one another, and any level of experience is encouraged and welcomed—as long as you can keep up. For this talented cast, keeping up wasn’t easy, though I had the pleasure of joining in with a metal spoon tapped against a beer bottle, trying my best to match the rhythm.

There was a pause between every song, in which it was up to someone to choose the next melody. Once a song was chosen, that was it, everyone had to join in whether it’s improvisation or from previous knowledge. While the cast was open to all genres of music, they often gravitated toward “classic folk”—a sound rooted in the heart of live music. The blend of folk, bluegrass, and Americana seemed to resonate with the group. Occasionally they’d add a surprising song like “Kiss” by Prince.

From Guitar to Violin: The Cast’s Hidden Talents

It was fascinating to see how many of the cast members were multi-instrumentalists. The characters of Guy and Girl may play only one instrument each on stage, but offstage, the cast revealed their diverse talents. Erica Swindell, for example, stunned us with her violin skills, which she honed as the violinist for The Eagles. Jack Gerhard, too, impressed us with his mastery of various instruments.

Some cast members would switch between guitar, mandolin, accordion, and banjo. The question remains: Are these actors child prodigies, or do they simply have an innate rhythm that compels them to learn and grow as musicians? Perhaps it’s a combination of both, with each actor continually pushing themselves to explore more instruments and challenge their musical abilities.

The Hootenanny Master: David Lutken’s Legacy

David Lutken, who portrayed Da in Once, is known for being a “master” of these musical gatherings. He grew up around music from a young age, as his grandmother was a talented pianist. He recalls some of his first hootenannies (word origin unknown), during his early days on Broadway. Performing in a quartet of musicians, the group would often play together in their free time, building up the world of the “town” they had to create within the story of the show.

“We WERE a community, we WERE a town, and that’s because of the hootenannies,” says Lutken.

Lutken’s award-winning original show, Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, has toured Europe, the British Isles, the U.S., the Middle East, and China. He also performed in Hootenanny the Musical! in which he engaged in hootenannies with large audiences, encouraging them to join in. He makes sure to include storytelling in every sit-down too, setting the scene with instrumental music as everyone patiently listens.

Lutken reflected on the importance of these gatherings, saying, “One rule, if you know the words you have to sing. If you don’t know the words, but you’ve heard the chorus ten times, then you better sing along.” These hootenannies aided the cast of Once – A Musical in their performance each night. “It affords the opportunity to learn about not only who these people are, but how they play,” says Lutken, “You experience things there that you wouldn’t have seen in the show or in the rehearsals.”

As the friendships within the cast of Once – A Musical grew, so did their musical chemistry, which they brought with them on stage each and every performance. The show only got better and better. Lutken’s passion for music, combined with the cast’s shared love of performing, created an environment where collaboration and joy were always at the forefront.

A Memorable Farewell: Music and Connection

On the final night of the run, after the last performance, the cast gathered for one final hootenanny at a nearby public pool. As they soaked in the bittersweet atmosphere of the evening, they played classic songs like those of John Denver—the type of music you listen to when you’re about to move on to something new and want to let the nostalgia wash over you.

It was during this intimate moment that a woman approached them. “Were you guys in the show Once?” she asked.

“Yes!” the cast responded in unison.

“I saw it a few days ago, it was incredible! I live right upstairs,” she continued.

“Thanks! Do you want us to shut up?” one of the cast members joked.

“No! Keep playing! I’m going to keep listening from my balcony,” she said with a smile.

The cast’s love for music didn’t stop when the performance ended. It followed them into their personal lives, forming lasting bonds and ensuring they would continue making music together, both on and off the stage. Their passion for live music was infectious, and it was clear that many of them had plans to collaborate again in the future.

Live Theatre and Music: A Powerful Connection

The story of Once – A Musical is more than just a tale of love, loss, and music. It’s a testament to the power of live theatre and music in creating connection—between the cast, the audience, and beyond. When musicians come together, whether onstage or behind the scenes, they form a community bound by a shared love of their craft. This sense of camaraderie and passion for the art form is what makes live music and theatre such an unforgettable experience.

Whether you attended a live performance of Once, participated in a spontaneous hootenanny, or simply enjoyed a jam session with friends, one thing is clear: music has the power to bring people together in the most magical of ways.