CAPTURE THIS

A New Musical

book, music and lyrics by Stephen Randoy

This website has been created to put some of my work online since that is where life on earth seems to exist these days. I have been writing musicals for several decades and have a large repertoire of songs from 14 shows that are finished, a few that have been produced around the country, plus many more that were abandoned for one reason or another. The act of writing is the foundation of my existence and my greatest satisfaction despite the fact that the marketplace of the theater hasn’t been my home. I have spent my career as a music director, pianist and teacher which has been quite fulfilling however it always been a sideline to my true obsession which has been to express myself and my life experience through words and music. This is how I hear the world.

I know that my personal songbook may not have a wide interest in a world where popular music reigns supreme but that is not important to me. If you happen to stumble upon this website you might listen to a song or two and form your own opinions of what you have heard. If you want to give me any feedback feel free but it is not expected. randman625@gmail.com

The outline of CAPTURE THIS is contained in the following pages with links to most of the songs. Other scores I have written can be accessed above: THE OLD WEST, THE ONLY YEAR THAT EVER WAS, PERFECT FOOLS, FIRST NIGHTS, IN ORBIT and SECRETS OF SUCCESS: The J. Edgar Hoover musical, plus more to come. I’ve had a little help from my friends but for better or for worse most of the vocals and arrangements are mine and I have the intention of improving them whenever possible but let it be said that perfection is not my aim.

CAPTURE THIS

A two person musical with a cast of thousands

CAPTURE THIS is a musical about how a brother and sister, who are at critical turning points in their lives, comfort, quarrel and challenge each other. They travel back in time, with the help of LUCAS’ virtual reality equipment and the intrusive personalities that live in his mind, only to discover that it is the fragile but essential human connection through friendship and family that can help them to move forward.

LUCAS finds it difficult staying solvent and dealing with the demands of life. His escape into the world of Virtual Reality helps to counter his loneliness. He likes to create short episodes from the past with characters at moments of great historical change. A quartet of voices in his head, THE NEURON FAMILY, help him to populate these scenes while they bicker with each other and try to control him, comment on his behavior but also fuel his creativity.

CLAIRE, his younger sister, has asked LUCAS to pick her up and take her home after finding out her fiancé had been cheating on her…again. LUCAS is devoted to his sister so he puts away his own issues and tries to cheer her up with a bit of mindless nonsense.

CAPTURE THIS deals with several themes including the nature of time, past and future and the voices in our heads that guide us, praise us, berate us and confuse us and how to make choices in a world where the future is unknown.

CLAIRE expresses her frustration and confusion.

LUCAS gives her his philosophy of time.

LUCAS takes CLAIRE on several trips into the past with his Virtual Reality equipment and his fertile imagination.

A silent film star gives a young newcomer some advice about the business.

A young sailor is giving his buddy a tattoo on a ship in Hawaii while their world is about to end.

December 7, 1941, Hawaii — ***December 7, 1941, Hawai***i

Two recent graduates examine the future of their love lives with the advent of one particular scientific advance that will change women’s lives. A waiter looks on and catches their eye.

CLAIRE having been influenced by LUCAS’ mind trips retires for the night with a dream of her grandmothers courageous entry into America from Ireland while two immigration agents look on .