Buddy Holly died in a plane crash Feb. 3, 1959, but he lives on today through his music and influence.
Wagon Wheel Theatre celebrates his life and music with the final show of the 2008 season, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story".
Three of the show's actors sat down Monday afternoon to discuss Holly, his music and the show that honors his memory. Each of the actors has appeared in at least one production of "Buddy" previously.
Dennis Michael Keefe, 30, plays bassist Joe Mauldin Jr. in "Buddy". A nine-year New York City resident, Keefe said he's been acting since he was 18. He studied theater performance at Niagara University. After graduation, he moved to the Big Apple where he's been since.
"It's someplace I knew I always wanted to be," said Keefe.
Drummer Jerry Allison is played in "Buddy" by Steven Lasiter. Besides, having appeared in two previous "Buddy" productions, Lasiter can connect himself to Holly in two degrees.
Lasiter is from Beaumont, Texas, the same town as the J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. The Big Bopper toured with and was on the plane with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens when the plane crashed and all aboard died, including the 21-year-old pilot, Roger Peterson.
Lasiter, 27, went to the University of Texas. From there, Lasiter said, he just started working his hardest in the professional theater world.
The first time he did "Buddy," Lasiter said, was in Rock Island, Ill., with Keefe. The second time was in Arizona.
Friends in Chicago told Lasiter about the Wagon Wheel auditions for "Buddy". He also heard about the auditions through the "Buddy" grapevine, he said. Lasiter told Keefe about the auditions.The Wagon Wheel show will be Anthony Rand's ninth production of the show, bringing his total up to 450 performances of "Buddy". He plays the title role in the Wagon Wheel production.
Though from NYC, Rand said he's done shows all across the country, from California to Connecticut. He did the show in Arizona with Lasiter.
"'Buddy' is a unique musical," Rand said. In "Buddy", an actor has to sing, act and play an instrument.
"I like to think of it as a play with music," said Rand. The last 40 minutes of the show, he said, is more of a concert. Audiences don't know they're going to be a part of the show until the actors get out into the audience or dance with them.
"It's something completely different," said Lasiter, comparing it to a rock concert.
Though all three men have done productions of "Buddy" before, Keefe said, in general, any production will be a bit different from place to place. The director may have a different vision, or the staging may be varied.
"It's never up to us how it should be and look. It's a creative process. Where it hits us a bit more is where our characters are concerned," said Keefe.
Lasiter said that in each production of "Buddy" he's been in, he's never played the same role twice. He's also never done "Buddy" on a theater-in-the-round stage. Though Lasiter has performed in the round before, he said he will have to adapt his role in "Buddy" to the Wagon Wheel stage.
Rand said he's gleaned ideas for playing Holly from other actors he's worked with who have played the title role. He saw what worked for them in their roles, and what didn't. He can use those ideas and expand on them.
Holly and his band, The Crickets, are the source behind such classic rock songs as "That'll be the Day," "Everyday," "Peggy Sue" and "Rave On".
Lasiter said Holly's music helped make three-chord rock music popular. Holly made it easy for musicians to play three-chord songs that could become hits, he said. Holly's music influenced The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
Rand said a lot of Holly's songs, if you throw some distortion into it, are punk songs. Bands today, like Green Day, have latched onto the three-chord song because of Holly's influence, Lasiter said.
Keefe said the music in "Buddy" is very recognizable to most people. The story in the show helps people understand Holly better. At the time of Holly's career, Keefe said, rock music was not as accepted as it is today.
"Everyday" is Keefe's favorite Holly song. "It's one of the few that doesn't follow the traditional chord pattern," Keefe said. "I think it's very forward-thinking for its time, but also very simple to play, too."
Rand's favorite Holly song is not in the show. "Well All Right," Rand said, is an amazing song that sounds like a Bob Dylan song from the 1960s. "It's just an example of just how far ahead of his time he was," Rand said.
"Not Fade Away" is the fourth to last song in Act I of "Buddy," and it's also Lasiter's favorite Holly song. He said it has a neat feel and beat to it. "It's really rocking without a lot of the noise to it," Lasiter said.
Rand said Holly was only 22 when he died. "He had maturity beyond his years. He was planning a whole production facility," Rand said. "... He was already thinking of doing things in terms of being behind the scenes."
Music today and during Holly's time is very different, Rand said. Holly was very successful, but rock was very rebellious. Today's music, Rand said, tries to fit more of a mold. The record companies tried to fit Holly into a country music artist, Rand said, but Holly would have none of that.
"Buddy" is a good show, Rand said. Holly was a real innovator. People wanted conformity, but Holly rebelled. He didn't care about the prejudices of the day, he just wanted to play music.
"He just walked his own line and it worked out for him," said Rand.
"It's a show people will enjoy," said Lasiter. "People who enjoy rock concerts or theater both will enjoy it. It's a really great show."
Keefe said, "Overall, it's a unique experience. Audiences experience a concert, musical and play all at the same time."
Regardless of the audience reaction to the show, Rand said the actors on stage will be giving 100 percent.
"It's a lot of fun, different each night," said Rand.
To order tickets for "Buddy", call 574-267-8041, toll free at 866-823-2618 or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
