The phenomenon of a crisis and rebirth at age 33 is known at the Jesus Year. For Broadway alum Matthew Scott’s father, this meant writing a letter to his four young sons about everything from communication to relationships to spirituality. The letters were found after his death when Scott was 13-years-old. The letters became Scott’s guide for life as he grew up and navigated his own life, including fatherhood, relationships, his career, and mental health struggles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott began compiling these letters from his father into a production, intermixed with songs and stories about both his and his father’s life. The end result was a production called The Jesus Year: A Letter From my Dad. Read my full interview with Scott and learn how he created the piece here.

Scott performed his piece during a one night only concert as part of the TR in Concert series at Theatre Raleigh, taking audiences on a journey through his life as he shared stories, memories,and tidbits of the letter that have shaped who he is. In a room full of flickering candles, this intimate space was packed on one of the first chilly fall nights of the year, creating a homey atmosphere as Scott spun stories of love, loss, and family. 

Each story in Scott’s piece is presented as a sort of scene, followed or preceded by a song Scott selected to go with it, mirroring the themes or messages he discusses on stage. As he sings the music of artists like Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, and Harry Chapin, each song punctuates the points in the scene, creating a sense of relatability and universal understanding, be it love, tragedy, or the daily struggles we all must face. 

Scott’s story begins with his childhood, reminiscing about being cast in his school play and fishing with his dad before he passed away. Next up is the tale of his parent’s love story as teenagers and how his mother grew up in the same town as Bob Gaudio, who rose to fame as a member of the band the Four Seasons. When Scott was cast in the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys (a jukebox musical based on the formation, rise to fame, and success of the band), he had the opportunity to introduce his mother to Gaudio. “She flirted and turned into a puddle, but her heart still belonged to the boy across the brook,” Scott says in his piece, referring to his father and the romance his parents shared as they crossed the brook separating their two towns. 

As he moves on from sweet tales of childhood to more difficult subjects like addiction and loss, Scott effortlessly manages to transition to a jazzy sort of rock star in his rendition of Billy Joel’s “Captain Jack.” It is here that Scott’s self proclaimed love of sarcasm is on full display. The middle chunk of his story is full of snarky one liners, often at his own expense as he describes meeting his wife in college, falling in love, and the importance of communication. Pouring out the dreamy notes to Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home,” his love for his wife shines in his eyes, telling a story once again. 

Each story Scott tells is interwoven with one of the lessons his father shared with him in the letter. As he pulls it out and directly reads from its well loved pages, he manages to add another layer of authenticity to an already emotional performance. Hearing his father’s words can only be described as a hug, so full of genuine care that it doesn’t matter if it's not your story - it’s relatable just the same. 

As his father’s advice washes over the audience, we are reminded we are not alone. Scott shares his own struggles with anxiety and panic attacks with an honest kind of vulnerability, intermixed with a little bit of humor and just the right amount of swagger. And then the intro to Ben Fold’s “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You” begins. 

It is here that Scott truly embraces his Theater Kid roots. Dancing around the stage and hamming it up for the audience, he manages to strike the perfect balance between totally cool and totally dweeby (in the most lovable way, of course) as he exudes showmanship and fun. When paired with his silky voice, he once again picks the perfect song to accentuate his tale. 

The rest of Scott’s performance follows a more traditional theater arc, building in frantic, desperate energy as his father’s story ends and Scott’s newborn son’s life begins. His big belt number “When the Earth Stopped Turning” by William Finn commands the stage with a protective, paternal energy as he fills the room with the anguish of loss, building in passion and intensity as he says goodbye. 

From start to finish, Scott’s performance is a lesson on showmanship and storytelling. While still catering to his theater-loving audience with clever quips (“I thought I had girl dad energy! Will a boy be embarrassed by his singing daddy? What if he doesn’t like Sondheim?!”), he creates a cozy atmosphere, like sitting around the fire having a chat with dad. Which I suppose is the point, isn’t it? 

Next up in the TR in Concert series is Norm Lewis, performing at Theatre Raleigh on November 3, 2023 at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

All photos courtesy of Theatre Raleigh.