Q: Why should we see Runaway Home?

Darren: It's a beautiful show about found family with an incredible cast. I leave rehearsals energized. I've been working on this story on and off since 1998 when the idea first popped into my head. Over the years, there have been workshop productions, readings, and tons of revisions.  It finally feels right. The story. The music. All the puzzle pieces of the show have fallen into place.  Now, I want to share it with everyone. And, it's being performed by an amazingly talented cast. Judy and I both are just incredibly grateful for this cast. Seriously, their talent is jaw-dropping. 

Q: Tell us about the music and co-writing with Judy Rodman -

Darren: Judy is the best. A complete class act. The music is a mixture of pop and musical theatre. It's truly incredible, and we have a talented cast that brings the music to life. When you come to the show, you're gonna love all the songs. They get stuck in your head the way a good song does. Judy has been great to co-write with too. She's very collaborative and well, let's face it, she's an award winning artist and it shows in her work.  

Q: What's next for Runaway Home?

Darren: After the run at The Gulf Coast Rep, we will make revisions based on the feedback from the audience, cast, crew, and potential producers/investors. Our next stop is London. We're working toward a concert in London of the music later this year, and we are hopeful for a fully staged production there in early 2026. We're aiming for those goals, but honestly everything is dependent on the steps we're taking right now - the Concert Reading and the Regional Premiere at The Gulf Coast Rep. That's why we need the support of our community. We need you to buy tickets, show up, and give us our report card.  It boils down to this - do we have a viable piece of potential commercial theatre or not? 

Q: So, this is a huge part of the mission of The Gulf Coast Rep, isn't it?

Darren: It is our mission. We want to give playwrights, composers, lyricists from all over the country the opportunity to develop their work. It's only through the development process that you find out if you have a viable product or not. I don't think the average person realizes how important the "audience" is to the decision about moving forward. So, we hope that our community and our tourists will come be a part of the process. I mean think about it - you'll be able to see shows like Runaway Home that you can't see anywhere else. And if the show makes it to Off-Broadway, Broadway, or the West End, you can say - "I saw that at The Gulf Coast Rep!"