For years, I’d wanted to see a movie in which I felt the sensation of watching a character or characters shape a song from beginning to end. Any time a movie gave me a taste of that process, I was thrilled, and I always wanted more. I wanted to experience a character’s creative catharsis, to watch them work through their heartache or process joy or strive to express their longing or frustration or confusion in order to forge something new, to create a song that could be shared, a song that could stand a chance of connecting with people and helping some of them feel more understood. Since I just kept wanting to see that movie, I eventually realized that I needed to make it, so in 2012, I started down the path to writing Breaker Breaker.
After working on it whenever I could as a screenplay for almost seven years, it dawned on me that before I eventually told this story as a movie, I needed to bring people into the characters’ journey in the most intimate way possible: on stage. I’ve been chasing that dream ever since, and now thanks to my close friend and frequent collaborator Matthew Gilliam, our awesome cast and team, our incredible families and friends, and countless people who have made this play possible in a variety of ways, it’s all happening! This is truly a dream come true, and you will always be a part of that dream. THANK YOU.
Breaker Breaker has been a very intimidating and at times completely terrifying project to take on, but my need to always try to set the best example that I can for my kids has compelled me to power through my fears and share this play with you. My hope is that just by virtue of the fact that I staged this show, my kids will feel more emboldened to really put themselves out there and let their light shine.
-Allen
