After the "Scream through" at MacNamara, the enthusiasm ran high. Copies of the play went out to every musical competition
and theater group in the country. Bob and John started planning their wardrobe for the Tonys! A sampler CD was recorded
in Bob's livingroom with amateur equipment, but the results were quite professional sounding. A copy went out with the book
and score as search for the next step continued. In a very short time, notice was received from the New Opera and Musical
Theater Initiative (NOMTI) in Boston that Lighthouse had been accepted as part of their "Birth of a Musical Festival".
As part of that festival, a scene from the play was performed at the North Shore Musical Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts
before an audience and well-known musical writer and critic, Jeffrey Sweet. A week later, the same scene was presented again,
with necessary rewrites after Sweet's critique, at Suffolk University in Boston. The experience was enlightening and energizing
for Bob and John, as if they needed any more energy!
Changes were made in response to Sweet's suggestions. It was decided to have the Captain be a rum-runner instead of a fisherman,
adding opportunity for some historical significance, some new funny lines, and some new characters. John also changed the lyrics
to "Be Careful What You Wish For" to give Megan a little more spunk.
And so it was to be for a few years. Both Bob and
John searched far and wide for theaters interested in doing the play and for professional criticism that would aid in the continuing
rewriting process. Along with many "no thank you's" came some good remarks, some good wishes, and some real world realizations.
It seemed that Lighthouse was certainly not what contemporary theater goers wanted to see. It had none of the elements or issues
readily present in modern plays. It was an old fashioned play with old fashioned music. There were those who said that
such a play was very much needed in today's world. The challenge was in finding those people and, in particular, the theater
group with the courage and money to see it done. They were not to be found.
Finally, with the generous support of a family
member, John took it into his own hands!
