Myke Salomon on Crafting the Score of ‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’ for This Generation
Bar Boys: A New Musical, running until November 3 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati, has officially released five tracks of its original music on Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s YouTube channel– Daan ng Pag-ibig, Ang Hirap Mangarap, Quitters Win, May Singil ang Pangarap, and Dear Future Lawyers, with the latter two already available on Spotify.
It’s always exciting to discover new music from a homegrown musical, knowing that it was developed completely from the ground up. Bar Boys: A New Musical is especially thrilling because, after more than a decade of listening to him arrange music for some of the most popular jukebox musicals, composer and musical director Myke Salomon has finally crafted his own original score.
In an email interview with Salomon, we asked him about his journey in creating Bar Boys’ sound and about finally achieving his dream of co-creating an original musical.
When we interviewed you back in November 2018, after you had arranged music for numerous shows (PETA’s Rak of Aegis, 3 Stars and a Sun and Ako si Josephine, Spotlight Artists Centre’s Dirty Old Musical, Full House Theater Company/Newport World Resorts’ Ang Huling El Bimbo), you said, “I dream of making my own original musical. But aside from that, I just want to work with everyone. I want to collaborate with everyone.”
Since then, you have also served as the musical director for Trumpets Inc.’s Joseph the Dreamer, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Mula sa Buwan, and PETA’s One More Chance: The Musical. And in May of this year, you achieved that dream by composing, co-writing the lyrics, and serving as the musical director for the original musical adaptation of Bar Boys: A New Musical.
Looking back at that 2018 interview, how does it feel to have finally achieved your dream of creating an original musical?
It wasn’t really a personal dream. I know it will eventually happen with the right team, and I’m glad it happened in Barefoot with Pat [Valera], Mikko [Angeles], and Jomelle [Era]. We gave birth to a new original musical. It was challenging but fun to do and I strongly believe I’ll be doing more for the next 20 years. I thank Barefoot Theatre Collaborative for giving me the chance and space to create. Sila lang ang naghire sa akin to do an original musical.
What were your initial thoughts when you heard that the stage adaptation of Bar Boys was going to be the first show for which you’d be creating original music?
I was told I will be part of the Bar Boys creative team during The Last Five Years. I was internally scared and confused because… why law school?? How do we make songs about law school??? Ano, kakanta tayo ng preamble??? No objection your honor. Ayun, nangyari nga.
I think I’ve heard you mention before that composing original music from scratch was easier than arranging existing music. Can you tell us more about that?
I see it as an empty earth. Planting different trees. Building a house anywhere without rules. I can make anything happen. I can mold any sound that will help propel the story and not get stuck in a scene just because we need to do a “popular song” for fan service.
As a composer, what’s your process for finding the musical identity of a show? Did you face any unique challenges while shaping the sound of Bar Boys?
The identity of this musical is coded in the text: young law school students who face each battle like a video game. That was my initial recipe. As they take their journey in law school, their mentors ground them and guide them through the core meaning and purpose of their profession in life. The general challenge is to make everything coherent and to make every song grow.
Side quest challenge: to create the score of this musical and doing Ben&Ben jukebox musical at the same time.
What was the most surprising or rewarding aspect of bringing Bar Boys to life as a musical?
Barefoot Theatre Collaborative unlocking a unique story. We didn’t realize its true power in transforming people. We get to encapsulate the emotions in every part of a law student’s journey through songs. We get to create this voice for this generation of lawyers and dreamers.
Bar Boys: A New Musical features Benedix Ramos as Erik, Alex Diaz as Chris, Jerom Canlas as Torran, Omar Uddin as Josh, and Sheila Francisco as Justice Hernandez.
Joining them are Juliene Mendoza and Lorenz Martinez as Paping, Topper Fabregas as Atty. Victor Cruz, Nor Domingo as Atty. Maurice Carlson, Carlon Matobato as the Male Professor, Gimbey dela Cruz as Boss Mama, and Katrine Sunga as the Female Professor. Chino Veguillas also plays Paping and covers for Atty. Maurice Carlson.
Diego Aranda, Ade Valenzona, Edrei Tan, Jannah Baniasia, Uzziel Delamide, Meg Ruiz, and Jam Binay form the ensemble.
Also in the cast are Ian Pangilinan as the cover for Chris, Khalil Tambio as the cover for Erik and Torran, Naths Everett as the cover for Justice Hernandez, Shaun Ocrisma as the cover for Atty. Victor Cruz, Rapah Manalo as the male swing, and Mikaela Regis as the female swing.
Bar Boys: A New Musical follows the lives and friendship of four law school students as they are challenged by the demands of law school, the pressures of love and life, and the harsh reality of the world.
The book and lyrics of this stage adaptation are by Pat Valera, who also directs the production alongside Mikko Angeles. Completing the creative team are Jomelle Era for movement direction, D Cortezano for Technical Direction, Arnold Jallores for Sound Engineering, Ohm David for Set Design, Tata Tuviera for Costume Design, Meliton Roxas Jr. for Lighting Design, Joyce Garcia for Video Projection Design, and Julio Garcia for Property Design.
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