Jim Territo is preparing for next Wednesday as he makes his New York debut as Bryan Campione and Jacob Langfeld present “New Standards: Songs for the Stage by Jim Territo.”
“It’s very exciting,” Territo said about the showcase which features an array of work from the 1997 Clarkston High School graduate.
“It is 15 of my songs I have written for music theatre,” he said, adding they are songs he has written for movies, productions and web series.
He added he chose songs he thought were the most fun to listen to out of his repertoire.
“I was trying to select a wide spectrum of different styles,” Territo said. “I have some jazzy numbers, some pop numbers, some classical sounds as well and country tunes. I wanted a mix of songs for men and women. But all songs which told stories.”
“It is one of the gifts Jim has is to be able to show emotion and tell a story in a short amount of time,” explained Chris Morrisroe, his sister. “One of the songs, ‘The Black Hole’ is about the last man on Earth and he is in space. He is trying to figure out what is there left to do. Just within that one song you get one picture of someone and you feel the emotion this guy is going through.”
Territo explained his inspirations come from his love of stories.
“I love good stories. I love twisted love stories. I love telling stories about people who have to make hard choices,” he added. “I love exploring popular styles that really make you want to tap your feet and sometimes you get a song stuck in your head and you just have to write it out.?
Territo will also feature a few songs from “Justice in Dusty Junction.” He wrote and composed the production which premiered and was performed by the Clarkston High School Drama Club in 2012.
“One of the most exciting things for him up until now was ‘Justice in Dusty Junction? that he did with Jeff Tice in Clarkston,” said Morrisroe. “The first run through for him was just exciting for him. With it I think it really brought out what he wants to be doing. He is such a creative kid.?
Tice was excited to receive the email on Feb. 27 about Territo’s showcase.
“He is quite a performer,” he said. “It’s pretty neat. I can remember he was an unbelievable standout and dominated the stage since then. He is a huge success story for the program and the community. He touched so many lives through music and just being himself.”
Territo chuckled as he remembered being Randolph in “Bye Bye Birdie” and was also in “Guys and Dolls” and “The Music Man.”
“I was Nathan Detroit in my theater training with Tice. Those were some good times,” he said. ‘I am thankful for my musical training from Clarkston High School with Cliff Chapman and Grayce Warren back in the 1990s.?
Territo added other songs featured are ones he has written since he moved to New York last summer.
“I am trying to make a statement about myself as a theatre composer as someone who can stir up an emotion with a song,” he explained.
The music is performed by a band of New York musicians and eight Broadway singers, actors and actresses which include performers who have appeared in a number of shows including ‘Rock of Ages? and ‘Rent.?
“I am very excited to be working with them,” he said. “I just got finished working with the band the other day. I’ve never heard my songs sound so hot.”
He added the singers are outstanding talent.
“I can’t wait to put it all together,” Territo said. “It is really quite satisfying to hear your songs come to life in such a colorful way. I am looking forward to sharing it with the audience. I think the people who come will have a good time.”
Industry professions including actors, directors and producers are invited to the showcase and Territo hopes after experiencing his creations they will want to collaborate with him in the future or use some of the songs to perform on their own. He is also recording the event so he has a digital reel of his work.
“I am putting this on to add my voice to the canon of modern music theatre – that is kind of the goal,” Territo added.
The showcase is March 25 at 42West at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.jimterrito.com.