The Man...The Music...The Legend

Synopsis:
Over 50 years ago, the man who changed the face of popular music tragically died in a plane crash at age 22. Our Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist with a show that features over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits including 'Peggy Sue,' 'That'll Be The Day,' 'Oh Boy,' ‘Everyday,’ 'Not Fade Away,' 'Rave On' and 'Raining In My Heart.'

“He made it okay to wear glasses”  --John Lennon  

The musical follows the tragically short life of this great artist from his first recording contract through to his move to New York and concluding with the fatal tour of Midwest America. The production experiences the ups and downs of Holly’s ‘budding’ musical career as he strives to fulfill his potential genius. The heart-warming tale of an All-American boy from Texas is told with care, detail and humor. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story finally explodes into a celebration of youth and lust for life in a re-creation of his last concert in Iowa.  

The day the music died…  

Following the February 2nd performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, the performers and their road crew drew straws to decide who would fly in the airplane, and who would ride in the unheated tour bus. The winners were Holly, 17 year old Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, JP Richardson. The four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza took off into a blinding snow storm and crashed into a corn field several miles after takeoff at 1:05 a.m. The crash killed all three and pilot Roger Peterson, leaving Holly's pregnant bride, Maria Elena Holly, a widow. (She would miscarry soon after.)  

“Buddy Holly was a poet-way ahead of his time” --Bob Dylan  

Our own Buddy will be performed by Daniel C. Jackson, from Alabama, a veteran of over 130 performances of the show from Birmingham, AL to Reno, NV. His band The Crickets will be handled by drummer Joshua McNair (from the local Brass Heart Band), Kemp Brinson (Chairman of the TWH board) and Marcus Brixa (guitar instructor, Carlton’s Music). Thom Mesrobian takes on the Big Bopper and Alex De La Torre sings as Ritchie Valens and TWH veteran Vincent Miller performs in the Apollo Theatre scene, the place where the Crickets were accidentally booked… as a white band.  

Buddy’s wife Maria Elena is played by Francesca Roberto with Isoan Corlew as her Aunt Santiago. Michael Tanner is Buddy’s record producer Norman Petty, with Virginia Zechiel doubling as his wife and the production’s Music Director. Pierrot winner Lori Engler takes on four different roles in the show while Travis Whirl, John Durbin, Tremayne Clay, Katria Harper, Michael DeFelice and Lee Metheny also find themselves in multiple roles. Chris Walsh rounds out the cast as Buddy’s first mentor, Hipockets Duncan.  

Directing is Norman Small, set configuration by THW Technical Director Kirk Stalnaker. Costuming the company is Camille McClellan with  musical direction by Virginia Zechiel and choreography by Jennifer Marshall. Jeremy Chase  is rehearsal Stage Manager and Jake McKinnon is production Stage Manager.  

“I play Buddy Holly every night before going on stage. It keeps me honest.” --Bruce Springsteen  

With over 19 million tickets sold worldwide Buddy has had audiences on their feet in every corner of the globe. His brief life has been immortalized in this dynamic and heart-rending stage show – a celebration of the man, his music and life – that captures the unique mix of innocence, determination, humor and charm that was Buddy Holly.  

“…and the rest will just be Rock ‘n’ Roll…”

"'BUDDY' SHAKES UP BROADWAY! IT WOULD BE WISE FOR THE HOUSE PHYSICIAN TO BE IN THE THEATRE DURING ALL PERFORMANCES." ---Associated Press