MUSIC FOR THEATER
I have been writing instrumental music for theater productions for about 20 years, mainly at the Warehouse Theatre, where I have also served as a Sound Designer, Actor, Director, and Board Member. Writing music for theater has been a great way for me to stay involved whenever I get too busy with other stuff. Many of these projects have been recorded and/or mixed at Sit n Spin Studios, under the iron fist of Matt Morgan.
Any of the music below can be licensed for use in film, television, radio, theater, or any other application you might think of. Most of the clips below are perfect length for commercials or incidental music in film and theater. I can also write music for any occasion. Just email me HERE and let's talk about your project.
Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
The Warehouse Theatre, 2019 Touring Production
Directed by Libby Hawkins
Guitar & Auto Harp: David Sims
Additional guitar: John Martin
I had already written a few pieces of music for this show once I learned that it was to be set in the South and feature a rustic tone. While looking downstairs in the prop room for objects to use for practical sound effects, I happened upon an old beat up auto harp. It was missing all of its pieces, but the strings were still producing sound, albeit a gross, atonal sound. I've always thought of Macbeth as a play that has prickliness as one of its main textures, so this nasty discovery led to one of the key elements of the design, especially for the witches and ghosts.
Uncle Vanya
by Anton Chekhov
The Warehouse Theatre, 2016
Directed by Roy Fluhrer
Guitar: David Sims
Piano: Marc Gwinn
This song was originally written for solo guitar, then fleshed out with the help of Sound Designer Marc Gwinn.
Marc and I went on to co-compose the music for the
following show, "Vanya, Sonya, Masha, & Spike", by Christopher Durang. Marc also wrote two additional songs for this production.
Angels in America
by Tony Kushner
The Warehouse Theatre, 2014
Directed by Jayce Tromsness
Percussion, Bass: David Sims
Saxophone: Tony Kennedy
Jayce came up with a great idea for how to treat music in this epic 2 part play. Each of the main characters would have music by a different composer. I got Roy Cohn and decided to go heavy on the percussion and saxophone.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?
by Edward Albee
The Warehouse Theatre, 2011
Directed by Roy Fluhrer
Piano, Bells: David Sims
This was my first collaboration with Dr. Roy Fluhrer, one of my mentors from the old days. I don't usually write for piano, so this was a lot of fun to work on. The opening track also has the sound cue of a party in the background. The main theme was inspired by the idea that George and Martha's child would have a song, which left it kind of hollow, unfulfilled, and tired sounding.
August, Osage County
by Tracey Letts
The Warehouse Theatre, 2014
Directed by Roy Fluhrer
Guitars: Matt Morgan, David Sims
Viola: Charis Burger
Another chance to work with Dr. Fluhrer, which is nothing but a good time. I also did the sound design for this one. We wanted to go for an open and simple sound, running parallel to the region. Since the play has a lot to do with lineage and cyclical behavior, I used repetitive phrases with the viola in a few of the pieces. Matt Morgan and I collaborated on this show, so he played most of the tracks (a far superior guitarist to myself) and wrote one of the tunes.
by Tennessee Williams
The Warehouse Theatre
Directed by Chip Egan
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Piano, Bells: David Sims
Trumpet: Matt Morgan
This is the first classic I had ever taken on. A little too influenced by Bernard Hermann with the horns.
I had probaby seen Taxi Driver a few days before.
by Amy & David Sedaris
The Warehouse Theatre
Drums, Guitar, Mandolin, Accordian: David Sims
This play was produced along with another one-act play "Brilliant Traces" during the summer of 2006.
I directed the show and wrote these songs in my first real foray into composing for theater. These were written pretty much in the studio, recording as I went along.