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     When you sit down to write a musical, the task isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds - and that’s saying something.  Sparta! in some ways has been in progress for almost my entire four years at GDS, even before I realized that I was writing it.  When people have asked me why I’d want to write a musical, especially if it requires so much effort, it’s been hard to come up with an answer.  I’ve even read pieces from authors of musicals who vigorously attempt to dissuade others from following in their footsteps.  But I think the best way to answer that question is how playwright John Kenrick puts it: “You should write musicals only if there is no possible way for you not to.”  And I think that aptly describes how I feel about this project, and how I feel about Sparta itself: there was no possible way for me not to share this story.

     One of my biggest goals in the writing of Sparta! was for me to introduce the audience to my friends: who they are as people, the quirky things they do, and what makes them so special as real-life characters.  I wanted to show the audience why these people are really important to me, why we come together, and why they have shown me the importance of welcoming, togetherness, and friendship.  Sparta! first and foremost is about a group of friends, who, faced with a lot of differences and reasons to split apart, stick together and remain a family.  This musical is about a family, and that couldn’t be more true to life.

     In the creation of this project, I’ve had extensive help from everyone I know, whether it was just listening to me talk about it, helping me read through it, work through ideas, make edits, or, most importantly, putting it onstage.  Furthermore, I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with Anika Hanson and Caroline Smith, who are the most talented songwriters and collaborators I could’ve hoped for; this show would’ve still been an idea in my head without them.  And for pulling this show off the script and on to a stage I’ve been so lucky to have our directing team of Marina Wei, Iman Bakayoko, and Anika Hanson, who have channeled their time and thoughts into all parts of this production.  And for everyone else on the production team, I am so grateful to all of you for being a part of this project: it’s been four wonderful years, and your effort has been for a lot longer than these past few weeks as a senior quest; I don’t know where this show would be without all of your help to make it possible.  And last of all, I thank you, the audience: while the show must go on, it’s hardly worth performing if no one’s there to see it!  The fact that you have all come to see this project truly means a lot.  On behalf of all my friends, I want to welcome you and thank you for coming: it’s an honor to have you see our work.

     Sparta! has been a pleasure to create and to share with all of you.  It is truly a miracle that this project has come together.  And to all the Spartans, this is very much your show, not mine.  I am so privileged to call each and every one of you part of my family, and I never would’ve made it through high school without any of you.  Sparta is much more than a place on the second floor of GDS: it’s all of you, and I’m just glad I could be a small part of it. :)

Enjoy the show!

Michael Oosterhout

Writer/Composer, Sparta! The Musical