WHISPER HOUSE

February 26, 2009

By Kyle Jarrow

Grammy and Tony award-winning songwriter and composer Duncan Sheik returns with his new
album WHISPER HOUSE, which hit stores on January 27 on the Victor Records/Sony label.
WHISPER HOUSE marks Sheik's first solo album since 2006's critically-acclaimed White
Limousine and comes on the heels of the success of Spring Awakening. The idea for WHISPER
HOUSE came about when actor Keith Powell (30 Rock) approached Sheik about developing a
musical theatre piece with him.

Following a trip Powell took to New England, a story began to emerge centered around a
lighthouse, and up-and-coming young playwright Kyle Jarrow, already an Obie winner for A
Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, signed on to create the book.
BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you Kyle's exclusive WHISPER HOUSE Blog, so without
any more delay, journey to WHISPER HOUSE!

The early stages of creating the new musical WHISPER HOUSE were not so different from
Weekend at Bernie's. Which is to say: they involved a beach house and three men. However,
unlike Weekend at Bernie's, no one died. Back in January 2008, Duncan Sheik (music & lyrics),
myself (book & lyrics), and director Keith Powell (who some may also know from his work as
an actor playing Twofer in Thirty Rock) holed up for ten days in a beach house outside of
Charleston, SC while I worked on a second draft of the script and Duncan started writing the
songs for the piece. That was a little over a year ago. Now the record of the songs from the show
has just been released and we're moving toward a first production. And luckily, still no one has
died. Unfortunately, some of the characters in the play aren't so lucky.

WHISPER HOUSE is set in 1942 at a rickety old lighthouse on the New England coast. The
protagonist is eleven-year-old Christopher, an imaginative but melancholy child whose father
recently died in the war. While his mother copes with her grief, Christopher is sent to live with
an aunt he's never met: Lilly, the reclusive woman who serves as the keeper of this remote
lighthouse. It doesn't take long for Christopher to realize his aunt has little experience with or
patience for children. To make matters worse, the lighthouse is also home to Yasujiro, a Japanese
immigrant who works for Lilly and whom Christopher suspects may be a spy.

Soon after his arrival, Christopher worries that his new home may be haunted - and, in fact, it is.
The story is presided over by a band of ghosts that only Christopher can see. They serve as a
spectral Greek chorus: only singing, never speaking. The ghosts are the only people in the show
who sing. They represent Christopher's subconscious thoughts, articulating his fears and doubts
with a cheerfully macabre wit. Using the ghosts as a chorus, like this, also provided an
opportunity to approach the musical theater form from a slightly different angle-we looked back
to Brecht for inspiration and chose to have the music stand separate from and as commentary on
the action.

The show draws inspiration from two true pieces of history. First, that German U-Boats were
active off the East Coast during 1942, sinking several ships and engaging in battle with US
Naval forces, suddenly making lighthouses an important part of the war effort. Second, in
February 1942 President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, instructing the military to
create high security zones in which no foreign nationals from Germany, Italy, or Japan were
allowed to live.

In addition to its nontraditional integration of music and dialogue, WHISPER HOUSE went a
nontraditional route by releasing the songs as a concept album before the first production. There
is a precedent for this kind of thing-shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Chess were also
released as albums before they were staged. Randy Newman's Faust is a more recent example.
WHISPER HOUSE seemed like a natural choice for this treatment, even moreso than those other
shows, because of the fact that only two characters sing: a male ghost with female backup. On
the record, Duncan sings the male ghost's parts, with backup vocals from the awesome Holly
Brook. Duncan, Holly and a full band are currently on the road touring the record, with Lauren
Pritchard & Friends (including Holly Brook, Louis Schwadron, and Ben Kalb) opening. You can
find tour dates and more information at http://www.duncansheik.com and you can purchase the
Whisper House record at www.duncansheik.com/whisperhouse . And keep checking back here
for more blog entries in the coming weeks!
 Cedar Rapids, IA

BROADWAY SHEIK: SINGER-SONGWRITER

DUNCAN SHEIK FLYING HIGH AFTER SUCCESS
OF ‘SPRING AWAKENING’
March 1, 2009
By Eric Clark

Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, who found fame on the pop charts in the ’90s and Tony awards
for the Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” will perform Tuesday at CSPS in Cedar Rapids.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik never thought he’d be in the position to
win a Tony Award.
Especially not for a musical.
“Living in New York, I’d go to a fair amount of theater, but mostly plays,” Sheik says. “To be
honest, musicals never were my cup of tea.”
Until recently, Sheik primarily was known for “Barely Breathing,” the hit single from his self-
titled 1996 debut album.
But Sheik’s career as a singer-songwriter took a turn toward Broadway in 2006, when he
composed the music for “Spring Awakening,” a rock ’n’ roll musical that went on to win Tony
Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.
“It’s been an amazing couple of years,” says Sheik, 39, calling from a tour stop in Fort Worth,
Texas. “It’s crazy to know that ‘Spring Awakening’ now is being performed in 18 languages all
over the world.”
Sheik isn’t done with musicals, either. He just released his sixth singer-songwriter album,
“Whisper House,” which doubles as the soundtrack to an upcoming musical of the same name.
Sheik performs Tuesday at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. His set, with a nine-piece band, will consists
of three segments — one for songs from his studio albums, another featuring selections from
“Spring Awakening” and a third dedicated to “Whisper House.”
“I decided to bring along a bigger band than usual so we could do orchestration from the
musicals,” Sheik says.
With “Whisper House,” Sheik is collaborating with writer Kyle Jarrow to create the musical.
Jarrow wrote the story — about a boy whose father dies in World War II and is sent to live with
his grandmother in a haunted lighthouse — and Sheik is handling the music and lyrics.
Sheik says the songs on the “Whisper House” album will remain mostly intact when the musical
is staged for the first time next year.
Although the album tells the “Whisper House” story, Sheik says the record still can be listened to
on its own terms.
“I made the album so you can pop it into your car stereo and just enjoy the songs,” Sheik says.
“But the story provides a deeper layer of meaning that should slowly reveal itself over time.”
The packaging of the “Whisper House” album makes it obvious there’s a story involved.
Illustrator Klaus Lyngeled drew the album’s cover and contributes an additional 10 drawings to
the booklet. The illustrations are accompanied by snippets of text from the musical’s book.
At this point in the production of the “Whisper House” musical, Sheik says he has no idea if the
finished show will be as successful as “Spring Awakening.”
“It’s hard to gauge how well a musical-theater production will do until it’s been shown to an
audience,” Sheik says. “‘Whisper House’ isn’t being conceived as a Broadway show, but, then
again, neither was ‘Spring Awakening.’”
Even though Sheik didn’t get much credit for “Spring Awakening” until its 2006 premiere, he
actually had been working on the musical since 1999. As Sheik mentioned earlier, he had no
intention of parlaying his status as a popular singer-songwriter into a Broadway career.
But when a friend pitched him the idea for “Spring Awakening” and asked for his musical
assistance, he decided he should at least give it a try.
“A light bulb kind of went off in my head and I realized there wasn’t much music in musicals
that was similar to what young people listen to,” Sheik says. “I thought I might be able to change
that.”
“Spring Awakening” is based on an 1891 play of the same name by German playwright Frank
Wedekind. The musical, also set in 1891 Germany, is about teenagers going through the process
of sexual discovery in a society so strict it practically forbids it.
Sheik says it was surreal to accept so many Tony Awards for “Spring Awakening.”
“I was kind of late getting to my seat, so I sat down for about four seconds and then I had to go
up and accept an award,” Sheik says. “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. It was one of
those moments I’ll never forget.”
As for Sheik’s work outside of musicals, he says he now plays crowd favorite “Barely
Breathing” again in concert. For a long time, he refused to play the song because he was uneasy
with its level of popularity.
“Now that ‘Spring Awakening’ has happened and I have a new lease on my creative life, playing
‘Barely Breathing’ isn’t as much of a cross to bear as it used to be,” Sheik says.
SHEIK LETS LOOSE A MIGHTY
‘WHISPER’
March 6, 2009
By Mary Houlihan
On his new album, "Whisper House," Duncan Sheik manages to bring together the two sides of
his successful career -- pop singer-songwriter and Broadway composer.
The Grammy- and Tony Award-winning songwriter mixes chamber pop with narrative
songwriting for a haunting song cycle that revolves around a child's grief and a spinster's
longing.
Sheik, of course, is part of the gang that created the Broadway smash "Spring Awakening," for
which he wrote the music for Steven Sater's lyrics.
"I've learned that I really enjoy having a larger narrative arc on which to hang songs," Sheik said,
before a recent show in Portland, Ore. "It allows for a greater richness and depth of character,
and that's very satisfying."
In 10 songs, "Whisper House" tells the story of 11-year-old Christopher, whose mother is sent to
a sanitarium after his father is killed during World War II. He is sent to live with his Aunt Lily in
an isolated Maine lighthouse, a bleak and spooky setting haunted by musical ghosts.
"It's a whimsically malevolent story of overcoming fear and learning to trust others," Sheik said.
"It's all done with a bit of a wink."
Sheik's current touring show is broken into three parts -- songs from his pop catalog, songs from
"Spring Awakening" and songs from "Whisper House." It boasts, in addition to Sheik, singers
Holly Brook and Lauren Pritchard backed by a rock band with flourishes from a French horn,
clarinet and cello.
The concept for "Whisper House" began when Sheik's friend, actor Keith Powell (Toofer on "30
Rock"), approached him about developing a musical theater piece. Obie Award-winning
playwright Kyle Jarrow ("A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant") came
on board to write the book.
About a year ago, during a writing retreat in Charleston, S.C., Jarrow polished the book while
Sheik wrote "the lion's share of the songs."
The "Whisper House" songs mark the 39-year-old singer's first return to writing music and lyrics
since 2005's "White Limousine."
"When I jumped back in, there was a lot of subconscious material waiting to bubble up," Sheik
said. "I think that's one of the reasons the songs came together so quickly."
Sheik's manager and label convinced him the songs were good enough to be his next album.
Perhaps it's a strange path for the record to follow, but it's no less strange than Sheik's career. In
1996, his intimate hit single, "Barely Breathing," spent 55 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100. But
further attempts at pop success were met with indifference.
It was the collaboration with Sater on "Spring Awakening" that helped Sheik find a new creative
outlet for this talent.
Sheik and Sater are currently working on two new musicals. "Nero (Another Golden Rome)" is
about the Roman emperor; "The Nightingale" is an all-ages fairy tale based on a Hans Christian
Andersen story.
• • Duncan Sheik, 8 tonight, Morse Theater, 1328 Morse. Tickets, $35 (773) 654-5100;
www.themorse.com.
THIS WEEK IN THE ARTS
March 1, 2009
By Aaron Beck

Breathing easy: Adult-contemporary singer Duncan Sheik -- known for his 1996 light-rock hit
Barely Breathing and touring to promote his Whisper House album -- will perform at 8 p.m.
Saturday in the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St. Tickets cost $27 and $32 at the Ohio Theatre
box office (614-469-0939) and Ticketmaster outlets.
BEST ENTERTAINMENT BETS FOR
MARCH 1-4
March 1, 2009
By Ross Raihala
MARCH 4 – POP/DUNCAN SHEIK
Wednesday: Singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik probably would have been forever consigned to
the one-hit-wonder bin after he struggled to match the success of his 1996 breakthrough single,
"Barely Breathing." Until, that is, he was tagged to write the music for the stage sensation
"Spring Awakening," which went on to win eight Tony Awards. Rhino Records issued a
compilation of his early work in 2007, and Sheik recently followed that up with "Whisper
House," his first studio album in three years. Lauren Pritchard opens. 7 p.m.; Varsity Theater,
1308 Fourth St. S.E., Mpls.; $25-$21; 651-989-5151.
DUNCAN SHEIK TONY-WINNING SONGWRITER
WILL BRING HAUNTING LIGHTHOUSE STORY
TO PORTLAND
February 24, 2009

PORTLAND- Singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik hit Top-40 pay dirt with his 1996 mega-hit,
"Barely Breathing." He then conquered the musical theater world with his Tony- and Grammy-
winning Broadway show, "Spring Awakening." His new CD, "Whisper House" (RCA Victor)
combines his talents for haunting melodic songwriting with theatrical storytelling - and it all
takes place in a Maine lighthouse.
Sheik will perform all the songs on that CD Thursday, March 12, at the Port City Music Hall.
"Whisper House" began as a collaboration with director Keith Powell, perhaps best known for
his role as Toofer In NBC's hit comedy "30 Rock." The storyline, told through a series of 10
songs, follows a young boy named Christopher who is sent to live with his Aunt Lily in a
lighthouse in Maine during World War II. He becomes convinced that the lighthouse is haunted
by those who have perished over the years in ships driven up on the rocks near his new home.
Sheik recorded the grippingly ethereal songs as demos over an intensive 10-day period after
which his record label expressed interest in releasing the songs as a completed disc. "I actually
didn't mean for this to be the next Duncan Sheik record," the songwriter said. "It's just, I made
the demos, and then everyone said, 'Oh, this is your next record, so now we're putting it out as
the next record.' And that's just what happened."
On the "Whisper House" tour with Sheik are singer-keyboardist Holly Brook, who plays a
prominent role alongside Sheik on several of the songs; and Lauren Pritchard, the actress and
singer best known for her Grammy-winning role of Ilse in the Broadway production of "Spring
Awakening."
Looking ahead, a stage production of "Whisper House" is in the works with Keith Powell
directing. Sheik is also at work on two other projects - a chamber piece based on Hans Christian
Andersen's fairy tale "The Nightingale," and an '80s tribute disc including acoustic reworkings of
songs by Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, The Smiths and New Order.
The concert, a 21-plus event, will begin at 9 p.m. at the music hall at 504 Congress St. Also
performing will be Lauren Pritchard and Holly Brook. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the
door; they are available online at www.portcitymusichall.com and at all Bull Moose music
stores. For more information, call 899-4990.
COMPOSER DUNCAN SHEIK PERFORMS THE MUSIC
OF “SPRING AWAKENING” AT TRIPLE DOOR
February 27, 2009
By Misha Berson

Duncan Sheik, who wrote the music for the Broadway hit "Spring Awakening," will be at
Seattle's Triple Door performing music from that show and other compositions on Feb. 27 and
28.
A pop artist who has embraced theater in a big bear hug, Duncan Sheik won a Tony Award and a
Grammy for his music for the Broadway hit "Spring Awakening," a rocking/lyrical teen-tragedy
blowout, seen here last year at the Paramount Theatre. And Sheik has just recorded an album of
new compositions, "Whisper House," from an upcoming show of the same name.
Sheik will dip into the scores of both shows in an intimate two-night gig at the Triple Door that
starts tonight. Joining him is singer Lauren Pritchard, an original cast member of "Spring
Awakening" — with some other alums of that galvanic show possibly on hand, too. The show
starts at 8 tonight and Saturday night at the Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $25-$28 (206-
838-4333 or www.thetripledoor.net).
DUNCAN SHEIK + LAUREN PRITCHARD
February 28, 2009
By Areif
Morse Theatre
1328 W Morse Ave (at Wayne Ave)
Far North Side, Chicago | Map
773-654-5100
El: Red to Morse. Bus: 96, 147, 151 (24hrs), 155 | Directions
http://www.themorse.com
Prices
Tickets: advance $30, day of show $35
Description
Any pop star can win a Grammy, but how many have won a Tony, too? Duncan Sheik picked up
both for scoring the musical Spring Awakening, and his follow-up, the new Whisper House,
features songs from an upcoming stage musical as well. He’s joined this evening by original
Spring cast member Lauren Pritchard, who opens.
When
Fri 8pm .
SHEIK TO BRING ‘SPRING
AWAKENING’ TO ANN ARBOR
February 26, 2009
By Vicki Kroll

Duncan Sheik doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he does find spirits entertaining.

“When I was a kid growing up in South Carolina, we used to go on camping trips to Daufuskie
Island, and my friends’ parents, you know, we’d sit around the campfire roasting marshmallows
and they would tell ghost stories and try to freak us out,” he recalled. “I have fond, spooky
memories of that, but I never really bought into it 100 percent.”
Duncan Sheik

He did find inspiration from those nights for “Whisper House,” an upcoming theatrical project
and his new disc released in January.

Sheik’s friend, Keith Powell, an actor on “30 Rock” and director, asked the singer-songwriter to
work on a musical theater piece. Then playwright Kyle Jarrow came aboard.
The trio worked on “Whisper House,” which tells the story of a boy, Christopher, whose father is
killed in World War II and his mother ends up in a sanitarium. Christopher goes to live with his
aunt in a Maine lighthouse, which is haunted.

“It was nice to be able to write from this persona of a musician who drowned off the coast of
Maine in 1912 and then haunted this lighthouse during World War II, and having this little bit
cynical and whimsically malevolent point of view,” Sheik said during a tour stop in Fort Worth,
Texas.

“I wasn’t thinking of [‘Whisper House’] as my next album. It turned out that there were people
who made a convincing argument that it should be,” he said. “It’s kind of become this strange
hybrid of a theater-oriented cast album and ‘normal’ singer-songwriter record.”

While the 39-year-old may be best known for his self-titled 1996 debut, which featured “Barely
Breathing,” his collaboration with Steven Sater on “Spring Awakening” lit up Broadway. The
2006 musical won eight Tony Awards, including two for Sheik, and a Grammy Award.

“I think musical theater, and actually just using music in the context of any narrative form, it’s
what’s really creatively interesting to me these days,” Sheik said. “It can actually make the songs
more powerful when you have this kind of story there and, conversely, the music really makes
the story kind of land emotionally for the audience.”

He said “Whisper House” should make its stage debut in early 2010 in San Diego, but fans can
enjoy his performance at his interactive Web site.

Sheik will perform songs from “Whisper House,” “Spring Awakening” and his solo career when
he plays a 7:30 p.m. show March 8 at The Ark in Ann Arbor.

Lauren Pritchard from the original Broadway cast of “Spring Awakening” will open the concert
and join Sheik for songs from the musical. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Duncan Sheik, ‘Whisper House’
Once a one-hit wonder (remember “Barely Breathing”?), Duncan
Sheik made his name known in the gay community for his later
theatrical leanings. Album number four, his first since the award-
winning “Spring Awakening” musical production and 2006’s LP
“White Limousine,” is rooted in lite pop and mild folk, with faint
traces of theatrical flourishes. Laying the groundwork for a stage
show later this year, about a boy living with his aunt in a haunted
lighthouse, the 10-song story is an earnest outing, and several tracks
zing with ear-pleasing harmonies from Holly Brook. But it’s the
whimsical vaudeville-ish “The Tale of Solomon Snell” that
should’ve been the foundation for the album, which, with a sleepy
execution, might fare better when paired with visual elements. By
itself, though, “Whisper House,” sounds sometimes as dead as the
ghosts in it.
Grade: C+