We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time

Written and Performed by David Cale, Songs by David Cale, Arrangements and Underscoring Composed by Matthew Dean Marsh and Directed by Robert Falls

WORLD PREMIERE: September 15 – October 21, 2018

We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time is a musical memoir told with humor and wit in Cale’s unique style. Growing up in an industrial English town, Cale escaped his parents’ fraught marriage by singing in his bedroom and tending to birds in the animal hospital he built in a garden shed—until a tragedy changed everything. Lushly arranged songs and an intimate portrait of his mother—a charismatic woman trapped by her circumstances—unite in a vivid testament of connecting to life when adversity is suddenly everywhere. We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time was developed, in part, at SPACE on Ryder Farm; Weston Playhouse Theatre Company (Weston, VT); the 2018 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at MASS MoCA; Under the Radar Festival at The Public Theater; and Goodman Theatre’s New Stages festival.

For more information about the show, including cast head shots and bios, please visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Alive.

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For more information about the show, including cast head shots and bios, please visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Alive.

Press Items

Download File	David Cale, Writer, Composer and Performer DAVID CALE (Writer, composer and performer) previously appeared at the Goodman in the premiere of his musical Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky, for which he wrote the book, lyrics, co-composed the music and played Floyd. The work was also commissioned by the Goodman. Cale’s additional Goodman shows include the premieres of the solos Lillian, Somebody Else’s House (Goodman commission), Deep in a Dream of You(Goodman commission), Smooch Music and The Redthroats. Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky went on to a run in New York at Playwrights Horizons, receiving an Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical. Lillian also ran at Playwrights Horizons, receiving an Obie Award, and Deep in a Dream of You ran at The Public Theater, receiving a Bessie Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. Lillianwas recorded live at the Goodman Studio Theatre for National Public Radio’s This American Life. Mr. Cale’s other solo shows include The History of Kisses, Palomino and A Likely Story. His duet works include The Blue Album (in collaboration with Dael Orlandersmith) and Betwixt. He composed the songs for 600 Highwaymen’s Employee of the Year (Under the Radar Festival at The Public Theater, Bessie Award nomination) and has written lyrics for songs sung by artists including Debbie Harry and Elvis Costello. A show of his songs Nightclub Dream, performed in collaboration with Matthew Dean Marsh, is ongoing. As an actor, Mr. Cale’s film and television credits include The Slaughter Rule, Pollock and The Good Wife. He has performed in plays on Broadway and off, most recently The Total Bent (Public Theater). A work-in-progress of We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time was recently part of the 2018 UTR Festival (Public Theater). His new solo work Harry Clarke starring Billy Crudup premiered off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, was recorded by Audible and is currently running at the Minetta Lane Theater.
Download File	We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time 8×10 Poster Art for David Cale’s We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time 8×10 Poster Art for David Cale’s We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time
Download File	Robert Falls, Director ROBERT FALLS (Director/Goodman Theatre Artistic Director) Most recently, Falls directed the world premiere of Jim McGrath’s Pamplona, Rogelio Martinez’s Blind Date and adapted and directed a new production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. He remounted his Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni for the Dallas Opera this past spring. In the 2015/2016 Season, Falls directed the Chicago premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s Soups, Stews, and Casseroles: 1976, and partnered with Goodman Playwright-in-Residence Seth Bockley to direct their world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 (Jeff Award for Best Adaptation). Recent productions also include The Iceman Cometh for the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Rebecca Gilman’s Luna Gale for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, Measure for Measure and the world and off-Broadway premieres of Beth Henley’s The Jacksonian. Among his other credits are The Seagull, King Lear, Desire Under the Elms, John Logan’s Red, Jon Robin Baitz’s Three Hotels, Eric Bogosian’s Talk Radio and Conor McPherson’s Shining City; the world premieres of Richard Nelson’s Frank’s Home, Arthur Miller’s Finishing the Picture, Eric Bogosian’s Griller, Steve Tesich’s The Speed of Darkness and On the Open Road, John Logan’s Riverview: A Melodrama with Music and Rebecca Gilman’s A True History of the Johnstown Flood, Blue Surge and Dollhouse; the American premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s House and Garden; and the Broadway premiere of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Mr. Falls’ honors for directing include, among others, a Tony Award (Death of a Salesman), a Drama Desk Award (Long Day’s Journey into Night), an Obie Award (subUrbia), a Helen Hayes Award (King Lear) and multiple Jeff Awards (including a 2012 Jeff Award for The Iceman Cometh). For “outstanding contributions to theater,” Falls has been recognized with such prestigious honors as the Savva Morozov Diamond Award (Moscow Art Theatre), the O’Neill Medallion (Eugene O’Neill Society), the Distinguished Service to the Arts Award (Lawyers for the Creative Arts), the Illinois Arts Council Governor’s Award and induction into the Theater Hall of Fame. Category: Headshots
Download File	WOA_Reh1 Playwright and performer David Cale (center) and his quintet of musicians for We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21). Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh2 Playwright and performer David Cale and Director Robert Falls in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh3 Composer and Music Director Matthew Dean Marsh in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh4 Composer and Music Director Matthew Dean Marsh and playwright and performer David Cale in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh5 (L to R) Playwright David Cale, Director Robert Falls and Composer and Music Director Matthew Dean Marsh in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh6 Cellist Desiree Miller in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh7 Trumpeter Jered Montgomery in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	WOA_Reh8 Composer and Music Director Matthew Dean Marsh in rehearsal for the world premiere of We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Rehearsal Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro01 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro02 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro03 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro05 Playwright and performer David Cale and a quintet of musicians—Jered Montgomery (trumpet), Anna Najoom (clarinet), Michelle Campbell (Harp), Dave Belden (Viola) and Desiree Miller (cello)—in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro06 The production set designed by Kevin Depinet for the world premiere of David Cale’s solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro07 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro08 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	Alive_Pro09 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro10 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	Alive_Pro11 Playwright and performer David Cale in his world premiere solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre (September 15 – October 21, 2018). Goodmantheatre.org/alive Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos