Roughly 10 years ago, Andrew Harvey picked up his first guitar. He was a freshman in high school, and he wanted to audition for The Wedding Singer at a community theater in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.
Self-taught and immediately drawn to the rock and roll style, Harvey’s 9th grade self was thrilled to land the lead role. Still, despite his excitement, it’s unlikely he fully understood the kind of passion his newfound hobby would ignite —a passion that would eventually lead to being cast as the title role in Tuacahn’s production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.
Sharing the life of a rock and roll legend whose flame burned brightly, but was snuffed out all too soon, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story features more than 20 of Buddy Holly’s songs
and a talented cast playing all their own instruments live on stage in a production that is part biopic, part rock concert and full professional musical theater at its finest.
“I am thrilled!” Harvey said of the chance to perform in the indoor Hafen Theatre at Tuacahn this summer. “I’m excited to bring some rock and roll to the people of Utah.”
And while Harvey’s own rise through the ranks may not be as epic as Holly’s infamous trajectory, Harvey said he certainly looks to Holly as an inspiration for his own aspirations in both music and theater.
“I just loved singing and playing music, I love doing it live…”
~Andrew Harvey
“I’m very much inspired by his drive,” Harvey said. “He accomplished so much in such a short amount of time and so much of his music has persisted. I wish I could say it was my goal to match that, but I think I would burn out trying to keep up. He was so prolific.”
From the beginning, Harvey’s interest in music and theater went hand in hand.
“I may have started theater a little earlier than playing guitar, just some musicals in middle school and high school,” he said. “But the attraction to theater was always about the music.”
In essence, Harvey said he saw theater as a chance to perform live music since nobody his age was ready to start a band.
“I just loved singing and playing music, I love doing it live,” Harvey said.
Fast forward only a few years, Harvey is wrapping up a degree in musical theater at Marymount Manhattan College before revisiting a role that earns the distinction as being his initiation into the world of professional theater.
“It was a few years ago, but Buddy was the first show I ever did professionally,” Harvey said. “I would hope I’m an even better performer, a better guitarist than I was back then. I can’t wait to take another crack at it and really dig into the music.”
In preparation for his time at Tuacahn — and just because he enjoys it — Harvey has a Spotify playlist going on repeat that features many of Buddy Hollys’ songs, as well as hits by Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and more.
“I’m definitely into the musical style of this show,” Harvey said.
Among his favorite Buddy Holly hits is the tune, “Blue Days”, which he said gets stuck in his head every time he hears it. Another favorite from the production itself is the scene featuring the song, “Every Day,” when Buddy is trying to convince the rest of the band to do one more take of the song, despite having been recording all night.
“Basically, hilarity ensues as he tries to rouse the rest of the band,” Harvey said. “It’s such a cool scene. And you get to see the magic of the sun coming up after this crazy night in the studio and the result is this amazing take of this super cool, serene song.”
When he’s not gearing up to portray Buddy Holly, and finishing classes in time for college graduation, Harvey also plays drums in a local band, so he can relate to his fellow cast members, many of whom play multiple instruments throughout the show.
“Most people will be on their feet by the end of it…”
~Andrew Harvey
That’s where expertise from people like Musical Director Angela Howell comes in.
“The show was originally written for a cast of 32, but often its produced with 14-18 people,” Howell said. “The actors have to be capable of telling the story and comfortable playing cello in the first act and drums in act two, for example.”
Finding that kind of talent can be difficult, but Howell said she is thrilled they’ve done it for the Tuacahn production.
“It’s really one of the best shows,” Howell said. “Most people will be on their feet by the end of it if we do our job.”
That’s the part Harvey can’t wait to see.
“Any time I can stand up on stage and sing my heart out and play guitar, I’m a happy camper,” he said.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story runs June 24 to Aug. 13 in the indoor Hafen Theatre. Get your tickets online at TUACAHN.ORG or calling the box office at 435-652-3300.