A Walk in the Garden: The Making of a Musical

The Genesis of Botanic Garden

• 💡 The musical "Botanic Garden" originated from Todd Logan's 2008 play of the same name, which was directed by Olympia Dukakis.
• 🎯 The play's inspiration came from Logan's mother-in-law's experience of grief and the prospect of dating again after her husband's death.
• 🔑 The original play explored themes of loss, moving on, and the complexities of relationships, set in Chicago.

Adapting the Play to a Musical

• 🚀 Lindsay Jones, a composer and sound designer, was approached by Todd Logan to adapt the play into a musical.
• 🧩 Jones initially focused on identifying where songs could naturally fit within the existing dialogue and narrative structure.
• ✍️ The process involved both writing new song lyrics and adapting lines from the original play into song form.

"I'm Not Here": An Initial Songwriting Challenge

• 😔 The first song written, "I'm Not Here," aimed to capture the absence of Jake's physical presence and Kate's withdrawal from life.
• 🎭 During a workshop production in a public park due to COVID-19, it became apparent that this song started the musical on too somber a note.
• ⚠️ The team decided to remove "I'm Not Here" from the opening to better set the show's overall tone and energy.

"Why Am I Here?": A New Opening

• 💡 Inspired by the creation of "Comedy Tonight" for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Jones decided to write a direct opening song.
• 🤔 "Why Am I Here?" serves a dual purpose, questioning the audience's presence and the characters' existential struggles after loss and isolation.
• ⚡ This new song was designed to be upbeat and positive, setting a tone of unraveling life's mysteries rather than succumbing to them.

"An Honest Lie": Setting Dialogue to Music

• 💬 Jones adapted a fast-paced, rhythmic scene between Kate and Jake, where they brainstorm ways to avoid a date, into the song "An Honest Lie."
• 🎹 The musical's minimalist approach features only one piano, with a metronome used to establish a steady, clock-like rhythm for the song.
• 🎭 Jones, who lacks formal musical training, found that her intuitive approach to composition sometimes presented challenges for actors, requiring adjustments for clarity and performance.
• ✅ The song "An Honest Lie" was revised for the audio drama presentation, featuring a more polished performance and a clearer narrative arc.