Interview
Lloyd J. Schwartz
The Brady Producer Talks about A Very Brady Musical
Set to Open in its World Premiere at Theatre West

Lloyd J. Schwartz and his father Sherwood Schwartz produced a multitude of TV megahits in the 60s and 70s including Gilligan’s Island, Harper Valley P.T.A. and later Baywatch and The A-Team. But the most memorable of all stays The Brady Bunch, which may just live on forever as an ode to the big, yet normal happy family of that era. It was never a critical success, but was and still is one of the most popular, having spawned 2 theatrical movies and now: a stage musical A Very Brady Musical, about to open in its world premiere at Theatre West. This family had its share of problems, but the whole scene is a delightful look - at times silly - at family living before the term dysfunctional became a household word. This family stayed close to one another, and by today’s standards this is highly irregular. Lloyd J. Schwartz, director of this, his latest Brady creation, took time out of his busy schedule, to tell us about the show.

Q:  Why a stage musical of the Brady Bunch at this point in time?
LS: The Brady Bunch has been just about everything: The original series, cartoon series, variety series, movies-of-the-week, dramatic series, feature films, a stage play, trading cards, board games, toys...and maybe even galoshes. So, why not a stage musical? Our creative team has already done a musical of Gilligan’s Island and really enjoyed working on it together. A musical with the satirical slant felt like so much fun we couldn't resist. Also, several of the theaters where Gilligan has played kept asking for The Brady Bunch Musical, so we figured instead of telling them there wasn't one, we'd write it. Why now? High School Musical has had a real influence on what people want to see, so a singing dancing Brady Bunch gives us a chance to answer some questions everybody always asks us like:  "How did Mike and Carol meet?" In addition, this musical also is a salute to other musicals...in a distinctively Brady way.

Q: Why at Theatre West? Explain your association over the years with this theatre.
LS: For over twenty years, my wife, Barbara, and I have produced musical plays for children as The Storybook Theatre of Los Angeles. After a while, Hope and Laurence Juber  (my sister and brother-in-law) joined us in writing and composing some of the shows. Then Sherwood Schwartz decided to do a couple of his plays locally (The Trial of Othello and Rockers), and I suggested Theatre West which has a wide-ranging talented group of actors. I guess you could say that Theatre West is basically the family's theatrical home  Another reason for doing A Very Brady Musical at Theatre West is the talent pool fits the play.  In looking at the membership, the individual roles of A Very Brady Musical coincide with members of the company. It was serendipity at this exact moment in time. I don't think I could have cast it better if I had the entire membership of Actors Equity from which to pick. 

Q: Is The Brady Bunch your favorite TV show? If you had to pick a runner up, what would it be?
LS: That's a pretty unfair question. Whatever project I am doing is my favorite. But in looking at the shows I've worked on in some capacity, I guess I could see where a musical satire of Baywatch might be fun. And I did work on Loveboat...that could be a musical. The reason that Brady and Gilligan translate to the musical form is that they are classic themes with scope. I think it would be more difficult to do a musical of Laverne and Shirley or What’s Happening. I didn't work on The Addams Family, but I understand that is heading for Broadway. That could work, and I am anxious to see how it turns out.

Q:  How will this project be similar to the TV series and the films? How will it differ?
LS: In tone, the play is much more like the movies than the series...an affectionate satire. One important difference is the music. Whereas the movies used songs from the series, the play consists of all original music and lyrics. A Very Brady Musical satirizes the types of songs that were used in the show. The theater is its own medium. It calls for a willing suspension of disbelief on the audience's part, and the live presence of the audience adds to the fun.  

Q: Talk about your creative team.
LS: Any Brady project begins with my father, Sherwood Schwartz.  He and I produced the series and the movies, and... since he was the creator of the original  Brady Bunch, I always respect his taste and vision. Surely, this is more adult than the original series and it is a satire, but it is an affectionate satire since we are all affectionate when it comes to the Brady Bunch. My co-author and sister, Hope, and I have written many things together: plays, movies, children's plays, TV series. She is very talented, and she shares my sense of humor...which is either a good thing or bad thing depending on how you look at it. At any rate, we laugh through the writing process and definitely agree on how we see the show. I don't think Hope married Laurence Juber so that we would have a gifted composer and musician in the family...and in the creative family...but that's how it turned out. Laurence has a terrific sense of fun in what he composes, and when he teams up with Hope as a lyricist, they fit beautifully together...almost like husband and wife. Funny about that! My wife, Barbara, is associate producer of A Very Brady Musical, and she has a great sense of pace. All of the other people...producers, publicity, stage manager, props, sets, lighting, etc. are gifted, Theatre West members and/or people with whom we've worked for a long time. When you see the acting, scenery and costumes, you'll appreciate just how talented the members of Theatre West are. In this case, I love having the confidence to turn over the work load to people who are artistic and enthusiastic and allow me to concentrate on directing.   

Q: Are you looking at a potential New York run at some point in the future?
LS: We've already had some offers from other theaters around the country, but New York is now so family friendly and has an appetite for shows based on movies and pieces of Americana, and The Brady Bunch fits. Why not try it?  The Los Angeles run ....opening at Theatre West on June 6...will certainly be a test to see if it's as much fun for the audience as we are having in putting it together. 

Q: Tell me about your other theatrical ventures in the past few years.
LS: I grew up in TV and went to theatre in 1975 with my first play, The Nearlyweds, which I co-wrote with Wendell Burton. Everybody else I knew started by taking theatre arts courses.  Anyway, after doing The Nearlyweds...which was the first play specifically written for dinner theater...I was hooked on theatre, and I have managed to have 33 plays produced. They are all kinds and genres. I co-wrote and directed An Evening with John Wilkes Booth, I've written, co-written, directed and and/or wrote the lyrics and music for all seventeen of the Storybook Theatre musicals...humbly (I might add) picking up a lot of awards and commendations. I've written high school plays and one man shows and dramas and comedies and musicals. My most recent stage work is a country version of The Phantom of the Opry called The Country Phantom. It uses twenty-five of the most famous country songs. It debuted in Birmingham Alabama last year. A play I wrote about Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson called The Great Adventure has just been taped for KLCS, the education station, and will be telecast this summer. My guideline is to ask myself what an idea cries out to be...and that will pretty well lead me into the form...either in theater or movies or TV. I've been fortunate enough to do all of them.

Q: Were you happy with the Brady films?
LS: Dad and I produced the two movies. We were more actively involved in the first one. When asked to do a Brady Bunch movie, it was our idea to do it as a satire, and the tone was exactly right. We were happy with The Brady Bunch Movie. The sequel was too much like the first movie, so it didn't apply the Brady family to a new situation, so we weren't as happy. In some ways, this musical takes the Brady Bunch in a new direction...and we are always happy when that happens.

Q: Is the original TV cast the ideal cast for this show?
LS: Some of the original cast could sing; some couldn't.  But the original cast were fabulous and just right for their roles. This group of performers at Theatre West are able to capture the essence of the original Bradys and sing and dance and make the roles their own. We're thrilled, and I advise casting directors to rush to the play. These are extremely talented actors/singers who deserve to be stars.   

Q: Do you prefer directing, writing or both equally?
LS: I like directing and I like writing, but I think I'm really in my element as a producer. That's odd since I find myself mostly writing and directing. 

Q: Anything you’d like to hear from Brady fans?
LS: I hope they like what we're doing, and I hope they let us know.

For important info regarding reservations and playing times, go to www.theatrewest.org or phone 323-851-7977 to reach their main box office. Remember opening date: Friday,
June 6! Break a leg!