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Theatreworx make contact with
'The Christmas Schooner' authors - John Reeger & Julie Shannon
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"The Christmas Schooner," a musical by American writers Julie Shannon (music and lyrics) and John Reeger (book) is in its ninth Yuletide run at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The musical tells the story of the heroic effort to bring Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, across the stormy waters of Lake Michigan, to Chicagoans in the late 19th century. Here's what they had to say when Theatreworx made contact.......
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Julie: |
"The holiday tradition of bringing fir trees by boat down Lake Michigan to Chicago is absolutely true. There were many lumber schooners on the lakes in the late 1800's. As winter started, the lakes began to freeze and shipping halted for the season. At some point, no one knows for sure when, schooners began bringing Christmas trees, to the delight of the large population of tannenbaum-bred German immigrants. The arrival of the Christmas Schooner was always a joyous celebration in the city."
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John: |
"The question Julie and I kept asking ourselves was 'How did the tradition of the Christmas Schooner start? Who was the first captain to decide to make the trip?'. There was no record of the first voyage, so we decided to focus our story on a fictional family -- the captain of a lumber schooner, his wife and son. What would prompt the sailor to risk sailing on a winter lake? How would his family react to the idea?"
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Julie: |
"When I began composing the score I would sit for hours, gazing at Lake Michigan. I would watch the waves crashing and try to imagine what it would be like to be the captain of a boat out there in the middle of winter. And then I would try to imagine what it would be like to be a captain's wife, waiting at home to see if he survived the 600 mile trip. I developed such a respect for the brave souls who ventured out, as well as the strength of those who waited behind."
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John: |
"Historically, transporting these trees in early December was a dangerous job. In 1912 a schooner named the Rouse Simmons, captained by Herman Schuenemann, sailed into a fierce ice storm and sank with its entire crew of sixteen off Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The vessel was recently discovered with some of its evergreen cargo still on board under water. That watery graveyard is crowded, as the American inland seas claimed thousands of schooners and crewmen over the decades."
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Julie: |
"We are, of course, delighted that Theatreworx has chosen our musical for their first production. Welcome aboard! We hope the Bristol audiences enjoy The Christmas Schooner. We wish everyone the happiest of holidays and a fond embrace of family traditions."
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