ITS: Having seen your terrific "News in Revue" several times, I anticipate that "Ludwig" will be a bit irreverent and edgy. Is that the case?
HOLSON: "Ludwig Live!" channels the irreverent spirit of The News in Revue and applies it to the life story of Beethoven. Sounds crazy, no? Well, it is! But somehow it works. I am totally in love with the way this show has turned out.
ITS: Was writing the "Ludwig" script the same as writing lyrics, as you did with "Revue"? Are you fitting your words to Beethoven's "greatest hits"?
HOLSON: I'll bet Beethoven never suspected that his masterpieces could become actual songs. But it's wild how well it works. It is a major challenge to craft lyrics to such iconic music, but all those years writing The News in Revue have been a big help. Also, I recently completed writing a musical version of "The Nutcracker," putting lyrics to Tchaikovsky's music, so I had to learn how to take a classical piece and repurpose it as a song. That was very helpful.
ITS: Why Beethoven? Does he have a particularly interesting or funny past?
HOLSON: Beethoven is a fascinating character. He was arguably the most important classical composer (though the NY Times rates him the second most important!). He was larger than life with a life filled with angst, drama, and brilliance. Does that make him a guy who is lampoonable? YOU BET!
ITS: How much of the play is based on fact? Did the writing process call for research?
HOLSON: Although I take liberties for comic effect, the essentials of Beethoven's life are accurate. I did do a lot of reading about Beethoven's life and felt like I had a real sense of who he was. Comedy comes from heightened reality, so I took all of the key events in Beethoven's life and added a comic veneer. For example, his lover Josephine, a widowed mom, has a touch of Sarah Palin in her as a Mama Bear who takes care of her cubs and can see Prussia from her window.
HOLSON: What a crazy career I have had. I have been writing and producing "Revue" for 20 years. Plus a smattering of other shows along the way. I had no clue when I started out that this was where I would be at this point in my life. But I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have this career. I have taken my own path and have had to blaze the trail continually. I have never followed the rules when it comes to either writing or producing, so it's not been possible to have had a mentor; I sure wish I had someone to help point the way, but it didn't work out that way. I have had the steadfast support of my wonderful family which has made all the risks I've taken less scary.
ITS: Is the Seven Hills production the premier? What do you hope will be the future of "Ludwig"?
HOLSON: Seven Hills will be the very first home for "Ludwig Live!". It was designed as an entertainment for the Berkshires. I think it is ready-made for the crowds that enjoy visiting Tanglewood. I hope that the audiences will love it and that it will have a future in other parts of the country where there is a classical music scene.
