Meet James McHale (James/Eric/Helen) 
What excites you about Celtic music?
The blend of instruments. I love blending the guitar, violin, mandolin, percussion, bass, piano, etc, in really interesting arrangements.
Since the band is also the cast, what are the challenges of doing double duty?
A lot more time, a lot more work. Instead of just coming into the play and learning a role, we had to create the music, create the arrangements, work on drafts of the script, and then work on creating the characters and rehearsing the way you normally would on top of the creation process.
How was the process of being part of the creation of a new show?
I love to write music, and have been writing music and lyrics for years but this was the first time I had to write music specifically for a show that needed to fit the story, incorporate themes and motifs from the script, and create arrangements that set the right tone for that point in the story and that ultimately strengthened and added to the storytelling. That process was challenging but very rewarding.
David was a dear friend and an incredible example as an actor, musician, father, and man. After he was diagnosed with cancer he wanted the band to continue while he battled the disease so he and Jocelyn asked me to join the band. I told Jocelyn that I would be honored to fill in for David but that I could never replace him. That’s as true today as it was then. I have been honored with the opportunity to write a song dedicated to David in this show, and will always play and sing for him. I’ll never replace him, but I’m honored to fill in.
What excites you about this story and why should people come see it?
This play is exciting because of the layers of storytelling that are being interwoven. It’s a concert by our band where we tell a story and within that story is a Celtic tale that relates to the characters’ story. It’s a fun concert, a drama, and a comedy all rolled into one original theatrical event. I think this play asks questions and deals with themes we all deal with at some point in our lives. How difficult and wonderful going home for the holidays can be. How do you deal with the loss of a loved one? How do you find the words and spirit of a loved one you lost and let them live through you?
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I spent 6 formative years in the Nor Cal redwoods when my family ran a retreat center. It was practically a farm. We had vegetable and flower gardens, we had chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, and a cow. I’m part city slicker, part country boy.
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