BD Wong’s lifelong dream comes true in Ogunquit

Interview by Gwen Thompson

Longstanding Law & Order regular BD Wong wrote the book and lyrics—and now directs—the world premiere of the musical Mr. Holland’s Opus at the Ogunquit Playhouse through September 10.

In your collaboration with composer Wayne Barker, who received a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score for the play Peter and the Starcatcher, was there ever any thought of adapting Mr. Holland’s Opus as a straight play with music rather than as a musical?

There wasn’t for us. We were looking for a property to make a musical out of, so we went chasing this all over the place because it was the perfect vehicle. Sometimes movies get bought up by other movie companies and people don’t always keep track of them, so there was a bit of an Easter egg hunt to locate it.

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