Photos
“I have a special emotional connection to Olympia,” said Schalchlin, a lyricist, composer, pianist and actor who’ll perform this weekend at two benefit performances for Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays.
Also on the bill: The Righteous Mothers, known for their social consciousness and even more for their humor. The funny folkies plan an updated version of their “Hawaiian Lesbian Honeymoon Holiday” to reflect the news that Washington state Legislature has the votes to pass a marriage equality law.
Schalchlin’s work includes the song cycle “New World Waking” — about the search for peace in a violent world — and the musicals “The Last Session” and “The Big Voice: God or Merman?” and also blends serious subject matter with humor.
“The only way to be able to survive tough stuff is by laughing at it,” he said.
And he knows. He’s been living with AIDS since the early ’90s, when a diagnosis of the disease was still assumed to be a death sentence.
He’s been making regular trips to South Sound since the late ’90s because of his friendship with Gabi and Alec Clayton of Olympia.
In 1995, the Claytons’ son Bill committed suicide after he was assaulted for being bisexual. Gabi put up a website about Bill’s life and death, and Schalchlin found it.
That discovery led to a fast friendship and to his penning of “Gabi’s Song,” which he performed along with John Lennon’s “Imagine” on Lennon’s own piano at the Claytons’ home in 2007. It was part of a project in which the piano was played at places where violence had occurred.
That performance led Schalchlin to compose the song cycle “New World Waking,” about a search for a song of perfect peace. He performed the cycle in July at South Puget Sound Community College and will perform songs from it tonight and Saturday.
“I’m a strong believer in music that details personal problems and problems in society,” he said, “but I don’t stop there. I believe in trying to write music that proposes a solution and that inspires people.”
Asked whether he’ll perform “Gabi’s Song” this weekend, Schalchlin said, “I will absolutely sing that song.”
The concert also will include songs from Schalchlin’s musicals, both off-Broadway hits written in collaboration with his partner, playwright Jim Brochu. The plays have won multiple awards and received critical praise. In a New York Times review, Honor Moore described “The Big Voice” as “a hilarious and utterly enthralling evening of musical theater.”
“I don’t want people to think they’re coming to something like taking medicine,” said Schalchlin, who grew up competing to be the funniest kid in his family. “We have a joyful time together even as we’re dealing with hardship.”
He’s excited to be back in Olympia, he said, and even more so to be performing with the Mothers. “We are going to do some things together and really rock the joint out.”
Music from the heart
What: Award-winning lyricist and composer Steve Schalchlin teams up with Olympia’s The Righteous Mothers for a pair of benefit concerts for Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays – Olympia.
When: 8 tonight and Saturday
Where: Traditions Cafe & World Folk Art, 300 Fifth Ave. S.W., Olympia
Tickets: $25 donation suggested
Information: 360-705-2819, traditionsfairtrade.com
More about Schalchlin: bonusroundblog.blogspot.com, gabiclayton.com/steves_page.htm
“Gabi’s Song”: See Schalchlin perform the song he wrote for Gabi Clayton of Olympia at youtube.com/watch?v=_jpJ4IBit90
