by Don Priest
So what do you get when you cross an empty venue with a crazy idea and five guys drinking beer? In our case, you get the radio show you’ll want to see, Flower Tome Companion, the smash hit of the 2015 Rogue Festival.
The 1st guy was Mike Workman. The others were John Alden, Glen Westersund, Don Weaver and myself. The bar was Sequoia Brewery in Fresno’s Tower District. And the show turned out to be a celebration of our lives.
If you haven’t seen it, “Flower Tome Companion” is a parody of the radio program, “Prairie Home Companion”, a show that’s funny, musical and satirical. The idea to adapt that to a story about life in the Tower started just over two years ago with a casual conversation at Sequoia between Mike & John Alden, the business manager of the Fresno Music Academy. As Workman recalls “He told me about having an hour time slot for the upcoming Rogue Festival and had no idea what to do with it. I didn’t even know what the Rogue Festival was. I was only trying to help when I thought a parody of the Prairie Home Companion would be a fun thing to try to do. I had no idea that I would do anything more than give John the premise,”.
Mike & John then pitched the idea to the rest of us, and like Spanky and Alfalfa in the old “Our Gang” movies, we all said “Sure!” And in almost no time we found ourselves immersed in the project. Thus the “Five Guys Drinking Beer” production team was born. Mike became the principle writer and motivator. The rest of us “Companions” – along with a core group of friends – became the actors, musicians and sound effects crew. It was a thrilling ride that further bonded our friendship and challenged us all in different ways. And when it was over, we thought it was over.
But now we find ourselves preparing to do it again. Most of the original crew is back, plus a couple of new recruits. Rehearsals are going well. But as we gear up for the next installment a lot of us are reflecting on why we’re doing it and what we’re gaining from the experience.
For John Alden, co-directing this year with Mike, it’s about collaboration. “The family that comes together to do a production like this is absolutely the best. We rely on each other in ways that bio-fams can’t. Ultimately, for me, its about fellowship, creating collectively, and family.”
For our Music Director, Larry Lindberg, it’s the opportunity to re-stimulate some creative juices. “During grad school at CalArts, I participated in an Interdisciplinary Studies program that involved collaboration between students from other performance areas. We created and staged a multi-media opera as one of our projects. It’s been one of my desires ever since to work on projects like that again.”
For Valerie Priest, who splits time between acting and sound effects, it’s about growth. “My favorite part of the production process is when individuals arrive at ‘aha’ moments. I truly love workshopping with open-minded professionals. It’s enlightening to see the progression of teamwork and focus.”
For Mike Workman, the meaning goes a little deeper. “My mom always wanted me to be a performer of some type. She was always after to me to audition for a local community theater group. One of my deepest regrets is that my mother passed away before this show was conceived. So, I’m doing this for Mom, my wife and all those who believe in me more than I believe in myself!”
For me, it’s about loving friendships, creativity, and beer! Three of my favorite things!
