Gaschen, David 2001-04-19

This interview features David Gaschen as he discusses his career in the music field. In this interview Gaschen describes how he got into music and how he knew he wanted to be a singer on Broadway. He then moves on to discuss living in Chicago and Switzerland, and performing in Switzerland. The interview concludes with him discussing living in New York and being on Broadway and his future goals.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: David Gaschen

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: April 19, 2001

Location:

Interviewer: Leslie Dutton

Length: 01:09:39

Abstract

Short Abstract: Introduction and his early life; Living in Chicago; What living in Switzerland was like; Gaschen’s personality and disciplining himself; Lesson’s he’s learned from living and singing in Switzerland; Moving to New York and comparing shows; Making a CD; Future goals and dreams

Long Abstract: April 21, 2001 Show, Concert with the LSO, Ann Sanders and Brian McKinney, Kenneth Davis conducting, Angeloid Webber to Rogers and Hammerstein music, Role as Phantom, Background, Very large family, Last of 8 siblings, 5 sisters, Terry Gaschen, Julie Gaschen, Mimi Gaschen, Cathy Gaschen, Diane Gaschen, 2 brothers, Paul Gaschen, Jack Gaschen, Father: John Gaschen, Mother: Helen Gaschen, now deceased, Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, David Graschen was born in Kansas City, Missouri, Moved in 1971 when Graschen was 9 months old to Lubbock, Texas, Went to Christ the King Cathedral School K-9, Went to Monterrey High School, Graduated in 1987, Texas Tech, Auditioned for the musical “Carousel” in 1987, Started majoring in music during his sophomore year, Graduated in 1993, Moved to Chicago, Met wife Jeanie on a blind date at Texas Tech set up by their roommates, Started dating in 1991, Became engaged in 1993, Wife: Jeanie, they married in June of 1995, Moved to Switzerland to do Phantom of The Opera for 3 years, Moved to New York, Singing, Was either singing or humming all the time since he could speak, Knew he wanted to sing during his sophomore year, Took choir as an elective, Became a member of the show choir, Played baseball as well, Ran for sophomore class president, Auditions for “Grease”, Received the lead for the play, Played Jesus in “Godspell”, Did 17 musicals at Texas Tech, Dr. Sorenson “Closer Than Ever”, Performing the shows, Was very nervous at first, Thought he was way in over his head, Fulfilling, Helped him make a lot of friends, Highlight was playing Jesus, Sophomore year Gaschen performed at a wedding in New York, Parents took him to see the Phantom of The Opera, Family is extremely supportive, Chicago, Drove up September 8, 1993, Did not want to go straight to New York, Light Opera, The Student Prince: Carl Franz, Penzance: Frederick, Worked 3or 4 jobs to pay the rent, Schlotzsky’s delivery boy for a year, Chicago lyric opera: phone operator, Sang at weddings at his church, Secretary at Church, Had a friend from Chicago, Stayed in the Vincencen Rectory for a month, Lived in Lincoln Park in an apartment, Gaining the position in Switzerland, Auditioned a lot in Chicago, Was a top 5 finalist for a part for John Bon John, Was to young, Free agency got him an audition, Had to do the show in two languages, Ron who was a casting director from the previous audition was at the Phantom auditions and requested that Gaschen sing the same song he sang before which was “Bring em home”, Music director Christen Blodge asked him to audition for phantom after hearing him sing “Bring em home”, Hired him as a swing which is covering all the core parts of the show (16) and then the phantom, The play was done in two languages: English and German, Swing allowed him to play new characters each night, Switzerland, An adjustment, Different landscape, Everyone smoked, Blackout apparatuses on the windows, First night in Switzerland Gaschen slept for 19 hours because he couldn’t see the light, Great experience, Beautiful City, Could walk 2 miles and be in France, Could walk 1 mile and be in Germany, River, Shopping in France or Germany to save money, Didn’t have a car their entire stay there, Fluent in German, Couldn’t learn Swiss German, Growing up, Greatest family, Lots of love, “Girls ruled the roost” until the boys were bigger than the girls, Oldest sister was like a second mom, Team effort, Learned how to not be selfish like many of the Broadway stars, Sisters humbled him, Difficulties on Stage, Arrogant personalities, Not much conflict, Mom taught him to just be nice to everyone, Starting a family, Not 8 children, Plan on having two children, Jeanie did not want to have kids in Germany, Wanted her mother to be able to be there, Wanted to get settled down in the U.S, Achieving Discipline, Dad is extremely disciplined, If you don’t go on, you don’t get paid, Resting your voice, Has a huge moral guilt complex, Wants to do his best every night, Mr. Gillis the director was like a second father to him, Mr. Gillis and David still keep in contact, Lessons Learned, The lead for phantom was usually sick 3-4 times a week due to smoking, drinking and partying, The longest he had done was 8 shows in a week, Had to learn the technique to keep going, How to sustain endurance, How to stay healthy, Diet, Grilled chicken and green beans every time he went on, Rarely drinks alcohol, Caffeine isn’t a problem, Balanced Diet, Lost weight, Broadway job, The same music director from phantom, August second sang for Peter Vanmeyerhouser, Sang “Music of The Night” and was hired two weeks later, Differences between casts, Cast in Bozell was the best cast he has ever worked with, Everyone came together, Everyone would go out together, Not cost effective, Great administration, Cultural differences, Misses the easier, less rushed lifestyle, Easy to travel, 6 weeks paid vacation, The cast in New York, people were more separated, Very cost effective, Great administration, 2 weeks paid vacation, Not enough time, New CD, Joe Thalken was the conductor and composer, Joe Thalken played for his CD, Worked for 3 months on the songs, Once they were recording it was a performance, 3 songs at a time, Takes about an hour a song, Very prepared, David Lice: producer of phantom helped with the CD, First week in February and was done by the 4th of March, Great experience, Mostly music theatre songs, Dedicated a lullaby to a friend whose baby passed away, Bought the royalties to all the songs, Expensive, “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy”: name of the CD, Bring em home, Soliloquy from Carousel, Don’t ask me not to sing, Music of the night from phantom, Almost like being in love, Lullaby, Old Irish hymn finished the album, Future goals and dreams, Keep God number one, Do his will, Wants to be John Bell John, Do as many shows as possible, TV or film, Comedy, Start a family, To be happy, To make good memories, Symphony tours

Access Information

Original Recording Format: mini-disc and audio cassette

Recording Format Notes: access copy available in reading room

Transcript: available on dspace <https://hdl.handle.net/10605/363341>

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