Son of a Gun
“Don Chaffer is a passionate storyteller.”
“..[Son of Gun has] grace, charm, and a kickass score that will leave you singing all the way home.”
O'Neill National Musical Theatre Conference, 2010
Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist Award
Richard Rodgers Award Finalist
Book by Chris Cragin-Day, Music and Lyrics by Don Chaffer
A quirky, darkly comic, folk/rock musical that tells the story of Danderhauler Agamenon Khrusty, the eldest of three sons of Winston and Elmadora Khrusty, and the heir apparent to the throne of the Khrusty family Appalachian band. Danderhauler’s life is dominated by the charismatic personality of his father, a highly-functioning, highly entertaining alcoholic. When Danderhauler meets the love of his life, Lucy Sunshine, they conspire to free him of the burden of his father’s addiction, but the surprising news of Winston’s tongue cancer thwarts their plans. Winston refuses the necessary surgery to remove his tongue until Danderhauler steps up to lead the family band in his father's absence. Things spiral out of control from there, and Danderhauler clings to his love for Lucy to keep him upright. When even this fails, Danderhauler realizes that to save his own life another surgical removal is required. He must find a way to confront both his dead father and his own demons. Time for an old fashioned cowboy duel.
Development
Production at:
Beckett Theatre, NYC, 2012
[photos by Angie Dykshorn, Logo by A. Micah Smith]