Hello! And welcome into the world of a new theater project: The Butcher Boy! This musical started as a collection of some of my favorite original songs and folk songs. For some of the songs I’ve written, I noticed that certain situations or vague vignettes always come to mind when I sing them—and they sound like they should be in a musical. In more recent years, Irish folk songs and Wisconsin folk songs (particularly dramatic ones) have captured my imagination. I could hear the original (unknown) songwriters who lived hundreds of years ago connecting with me through the melodies and words they wrote. These songs are both inspired and unflinching, written by real people for the purpose of expression—not publication or commercial success. I have long dreamed of writing a musical, so I decided to take a stab at writing one that would bring these stories to life with all of the depth and energy they deserve. This show is all about connecting with ancestors and navigating love and loss through the magic of great songs and vocal harmonies.
I’m thrilled and overjoyed to announce that The Butcher Boy will be produced for the first time as a part of the Chequamegon Theatre Association’s (CTA) upcoming season in Ashland, WI!!! Auditions will be January 25 & 26, and the show will be performed April 2-11. Please visit CTA’s website to learn more about this production. I offer my heartfelt thanks to CTA for bringing this show to life for the first time.
This web page is intended as a platform to share additional information about the show, share updates, and show the soundtrack to people. I will be posting updates and snippets of the show in the next few months. If you represent a theater and might be interested in producing this show in the future, please email me at spoonsforthepeople@gmail.com and I can provide more information. Thank you for your interest!
Sincerely,
Vince Schueren
SAVE THE DATES:
Auditions: January 25 & 26
Show dates: April 2-11
Cover image by Michele Tegan
Show description by Kara Hakanson
SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Who will help this seed to grow...? It is the mid-1800s in a struggling Ireland. To do well by his lover, Pádraig, a poor butcher boy, turns his eyes to America, the Land of Possibility. Farewell, sweet Dublin’s hills and braes...Little does he know, America has its own struggles and hardship brewing that will ensnare him all too soon. If faeries went to war, would you join the fight? Or, for fear of death, escape by flight...? The war brings not just death however. An adopted family, hope and growth also find and embrace Pádraig. You can cry if you want, but remember, the world will circle back to us in may...
Narrated by a bitter ghost, filled with laughter and magic, love and loss, The Butcher Boy is a romantic tragedy, a folk musical, and a deep dive into the hearts of those who came before us. Featuring moving original music by Vincent Schueren, traditional folk songs from Ireland and Wisconsin and a wondrously enchanting and haunting choir, The Butcher Boy will transport you to another time and place that feels leagues away from our modern times and yet intimately familiar. It is a show unlike anything produced in the Chequamegon Bay region and shouldn’t be missed! We will help this seed to grow...
PG-13
Content warning: suicide
SOUNDTRACK:
If you’d like a taste of what to expect, please check out some of the songs in the show, which I’ve recorded myself! You can listen to all of them by clicking on the Youtube video, or click on individual songs by clicking on the song names on the right.
