How Glory Goes: The Music of Adam Guettel

From an Interview with the Director, Bill Buddendorf

Bill Buddendorf first worked with Adam Guettel as an undergrad student at the University of the Arts, when ten students and five professional actors were assembled to workshop his musical Floyd Collins. “This was my second workshop under Tina Landau’s direction,” says Budendorf. “The experience consisted of many artistic revelations. Most importantly Adam and Tina set a high standard of what artistic collaboration can and should be. With painstaking attention to detail and truth, a true story became larger than life and expressed ideas and asked questions in a way I had never experienced as theater artist.” Buddendorf’s experiences with Guettell’s music did not stop after his University training. “I was fortunate to be in the wings during Teresa McCarthy’s performance of Through the Mountain in the black box of the long gone 313 building. Every night of the run I watched, mesmerized and moved. Some years later I was lucky to assistant direct the Prince Music Theater’s production of Myths and Hymns. Director, Eric Rosen, brought an unexpected clarity to the production that I will never forget.