Tune town

As a composer, lyricist and director, Charles Gilbert has worked on numerous musical productions. But participating in the Prince Music Theater premiere of Gemini, the Musical marks a unique first in his career.

Based on the Broadway play of the same name, this new version also is set in South Philly in the 1970s, with the music capturing the flavor of this setting and the times. Gilbert, who composed the music, is a South Philly resident.

"It was a constant inspiration, the fact that I live in this environment," says the 49-year-old composer. "It’s so rare that an artist can do that."

Indeed, the inspiration for many of the tunes came from his knowledge of the neighborhood. For instance, the barbershop he patronizes not far from his rowhouse on 12th Street right off East Passyunk Avenue.

"The radio there is always tuned to WPEN," Gilbert explains. "Hearing Frank Sinatra and that type of ’70s music gave me an image to draw on."

One musical number was based on the concrete backyards that are typical of South Philly rowhouses — including Gilbert’s own home. The song is even titled Concrete. It’s sung by the father in the play, Fran Geminiani.

Fran’s backyard has a hole in the concrete with a fig tree growing from it. The hole dates to the night his wife left him. In his anger, Fran broke a hole in the ground and planted a tree. Gradually, he reveals his emotions as he sings this heartfelt song.

"He’s a macho man struggling with his emotions," Gilbert describes. "This is just what my neighbors are like. They’re very emotional, but very guarded about how they show it."

Gilbert, who composed the music for 24 numbers, collaborated on the lyrics with playwright Albert Innaurato, a native of 19th and Fitzwater.

Innaurato’s play Gemini was a long-running hit on Broadway, and then enjoyed an off-Broadway revival in l999. It’s a coming-of-age story that focuses on two generations of the Geminiani family.

The father, Fran, is played by Robert Picardo, Broadway and TV actor (and Philadelphia native), who made his Broadway debut in Gemini playing the role of the son, Francis. This time, the 21-year-old son — home from his first year at Harvard — is played by Barry James.

As soon as Gilbert heard that a version of Gemini was in the works, he was eager to work on it. He was awarded the commission as composer last October.

Sometimes the songs came about almost spontaneously — for instance, a key number near the end, which father Fran sings to his son Francis.

"Albert and I just sat in a room and made it up sitting across a table," says Gilbert, who marvels at the "magic" of this creative moment.

But Gilbert also worked alone on the music. "I’d think about the show all the time — you just can’t turn it off," he says. "Sometimes, the music came to me when I was walking the dog or drifting off to sleep."

Once the ideas came, the composer would sit in a small recording studio in the basement of his home, using a computer to write the music out, and then play it back with all the different voices and parts.

The completed score reflects varied moods of South Philly and the ’70s. Because the show touches on two generations, so does the music. "The father’s music is jazz, swing and Frank Sinatra crooner music," says Gilbert. "It sounds like what you’d hear in a jukebox in an Italian restaurant in South Philly."

But for the younger generation, the score also includes funk music and other pop styles of the era. And there’s opera because Francis, the Harvard student, is an opera lover, the only one in the family.

"We have some actual Italian opera excerpts, and some original music that sounds like Italian opera," says Gilbert, who notes that Innaurato is a devoted opera lover and expert.

Creating a score with so many musical styles was a welcome challenge, the composer says.

"That was especially exciting for me," he says. "The challenge was taking all these styles and weaving them into a total creation."

Then came four weeks of strenuous rehearsals — seven hours a day, six days a week.

But Gilbert still talks with enthusiasm about Gemini, for which he keeps the entire score in a hefty loose-leaf binder that’s always with him. Despite his hectic schedule, he’s relaxed and low-key. But the composer admits that won’t be the case on opening night.

"I’ll be there biting my nails," he predicts. "It’s kind of nerve-racking when these are your tunes and songs. You feel the pressure."

But as a longtime musical theater pro, Gilbert can certainly handle the stress. Besides working with the Prince Theater, he’s also worked with National Music Theater Network, Gretna Theater, Arden Theater, Delaware Theatre Company, Opera Delaware and other companies.

A native of Chester County, Gilbert majored in music and theater at the University of Delaware and then earned his master’s degree in directing at Carnegie Mellon University.

The versatile composer and director is also a professor of theater arts who heads the Musical Theater Program at the University of the Arts.

He’s not the only musical theater talent in the family. His wife, D’Arcy Webb, is a singer and actress who also teaches at the University of the Arts, and recently performed a one-woman cabaret show, Just One Step, which included four original songs by her husband.

Son Alex, 19, who lives in Bella Vista, is a junior at the university and plays electric bass. Son Kerry, 13, is a singer who’s performed at Upper Darby Summer Stage and at the Prince Theater. He and his father even worked together on one musical, The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe. Kerry was in the cast and his father was the conductor.

Another novel experience for Gilbert came in the fall of 2002. When the film Jersey Girl, starring Ben Affleck, was shot in Philadelphia, he served as musical theater coordinator for a talent-show scene. He taught the actors the music for this scene and coordinated two major scenes involving the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd.

"It was hugely fun," he says.

Gilbert even had the clout to hire his wife as one of the singers. His mother and stepfather were extras in the scene, and so were a number of his students.

Gilbert also had a role on screen, albeit a very small one.

"I played the part of Sweeney Todd — for all of five seconds," he says.

Soon after Gemini ends its run, Gilbert will start work as music director for the Arden Children’s Theater production, A Year with Frog and Toad. Then in January and February, he’ll be stage-directing the Prince Theater production of Anyone Can Whistle.

"It’s a crazy year for me," the composer says cheerfully.

And the highlight is Gemini, the Musical.

"It’s undoubtedly the most important project in my career," he says. "Ever since I was a student, I’ve wanted to write and produce a major musical. So this is the realization of a longtime dream."

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The Prince Music Theater presents Gemini, the Musical, at 1412 Chestnut St. through Oct. 31. Tickets ($38 to $52) are available by calling the box office at 215-569-9700 or online at www.princemusictheater.org.