Apparently, Santa is getting a reworking in the upcoming “XMAS!7: ApocaChristmas.” Spectator talked to Ben Russell, CC ’13, one of two composers of the musical, about what it was like to work with the XMAS!7 cast and crew. The performance is being shown fittingly on the last day of classes, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Roone Arledge Auditorium. Tickets are $2 with CUID.
Josephine McGowan: How did you get involved with composing music?
Ben Russell: Two years ago, I did “Jamboree,” which was a showcase of student composers and I submitted a song. I had not done much composing for musical theater beforehand. I have always composed for myself. After that showcase, Eli [Grober, CC ’13], one of the writers for XMAS!7, asked me to audition for the composer of XMAS!7, and that’s how I got started with them.
Q: What interested you in the XMAS!7 concept and how did you start working with the cast?
A: I really liked the idea of making a musical with a theme. I had always been very open with composing and just allowing a situation—usually personal—to be the inspiration for a song. This was a much more focused, skill-driven type of writing that I was not familiar with, and so I did not have a lot of experience with it before.
