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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 36, Number 3 Thursday, January 23, 2020 3FJOWFOUJOH$MBTTJDT by Edmund Lawler Dan Schaaf (right) records dialogue for his latest project, “Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler,” with Sherri Waddle-Cummings. Photos by Paul Kemiel Suddenly, quite by accident, Dan Schaaf discov- ered a wildly creative artistic pursuit — breathing new life into classic silent fi lms by composing musical scores and scripting dialogue performed by local stage actors. “Channel 20 used to run silent fi lms at midnight,” Schaaf recalls of his epiphany in the late 1990s. “They ran the Fritz Lang classic ‘Metropolis,’ a 1927 sci-fi that I had never seen. I fi gured I needed to see it once in my life, so I set the VCR to record it at midnight.” He watched it the next morning and was enchant- ed by the epic work of cinema from the legendary German director. But there was one problem. “It had this dreadful musical score that sounded like it came from a Laurel and Hardy comedy, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fi lm,” Schaaf says. “I told myself, ‘I can do better than this.’” And he did. Schaaf, who fi rst began composing music as a Marquette High School student and later while studying English and electrical engineering at Pur- due University, penned a score for “Metropolis.” Un- Sherri Waddle-Cummings infuses emotion into her dialogue for the fi lm. Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 January 23, 2020 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 Beacher Company Directory e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Don and Tom Montgomery Owners email: Classifieds - [email protected] Andrew Tallackson Editor http://www.thebeacher.com/ Drew White Print Salesman PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by Janet Baines Inside Sales/Customer Service T Becky Wirebaugh Typesetter/Designer T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Randy Kayser Pressman Dora Kayser Bindery Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is Hope Costello, Cheryl Joppek, Production also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. John Baines, Karen Gehr, Dennis Mayberry Delivery act to Hollywood after fl eeing Nazi Germany. In the Continued from Page 1 3FJOWFOUJOH$MBTTJDT fi lm, Dr. Mabuse is a psychologist-turned-criminal beknownst to him, others had as well. He’s grateful mastermind who amasses a fortune through gam- for his blissful ignorance. bling and murder. The cast includes such charac- “Had I known,” he says, “I may have never done ters as a Follies starlet, Russian countess and naïve this. In a way, it’s all an accident.” American playboy. The production is scheduled to But it was a serendipitous debut in late March-early one. His musical arrange- April at venues under con- ment for “Metropolis” laid sideration. the groundwork for many of During a recording ses- his reimagined silent-fi lm sion this month for “Dr. productions to come, both Mabuse” in a studio at the staged and on video. Schaaf Franklin Arts District Art- not only wrote his own score ists building, Schaaf cajoled for “Metropolis,” but he also local actors to dramatize assembled local actors for their roles for the fi lm’s rec- a live “performance” of the reation. dialogue he wrote to accom- “I want more of the atti- pany the fi lm. It screened tude and less of the accent,” in 2000 at the Sound of Si- he instructed actor Noel lents Film Festival at Vick- Carlson, playing the role of ers Theatre in Three Oaks, wealthy American playboy Mich. Edgar Hull, who falls victim His “Metropolis” produc- to Dr. Mabuse. “You are an tion later was presented energetic, ebullient Ameri- at the University of Notre can!” Dame, Columbia College Schaaf’s wife, Bonnie, Chicago, the old State The- helped him track the script atre in South Bend and oth- to ensure no lines were er regional venues. Schaaf, skipped. He sat cross-legged who alternates between on a chair before a folding roles as playwright, director, table supporting his lap- composer, arranger, even top. Focused and intense, software engineer, named Schaaf read lines from the his operation Sudden Pro- script to provide context for ductions, acknowledging the the actors, who recited their impulse on which he discov- Dan Schaaf uses computers to tweak all aspects of his latest scripted lines as they stood ered his new-found passion production. Photo by Paul Kemiel behind a microphone sever- for scoring and scripting silent movies. al feet in front of him. In addition to composing a silent fi lm’s soundtrack As local actress Maggie Reister stepped to the mi- and script, Schaaf also provides sound effects for crophone, Schaaf coached her on how to melt into video presentations of the silent fi lms. For example, the role of Countess Dusy Told. for the 1924 silent movie “Aelita: Queen of Mars,” a “You are a countess. You are bored with life, and Soviet-produced extravaganza, Schaaf created the you are bored with your husband, so you hang out sounds of bells ringing in Moscow, footfalls on an in a casino,” Schaaf told her. “You have a certain empty street and the creak of an opening door. world weariness and an air of haughtiness.” Next up for Schaaf and Sudden Productions is Reister hit all her marks. the soundtrack for “Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler,” the Schaaf was struck by the exuberance she brought 1922 silent fi lm directed by Lang, who later took his to the role, asking as she was leaving the studio if THE January 23, 2020 Page 3 she’d be available for a future production. She re- plied she’s game for another role. Other voices in “Dr. Mabuse” include Sherri Waddle-Cummings, Carol Sullivan, Tom Catterlin, Patrick Bannon, George Maslankowski, Pamela Thompson and Mike Koss. Besides his silent fi lm work, Schaaf has long produced music for area theater companies. He was the Montessori PreK-8th Grade resident composer for Chesterton’s 4th Street The- ater in the early 2000s. He has written rock and x Accelerated Classes for Gifted Students pop operas and was the composer in residence at x College Preparatory Academic Excellence Roosevelt University in Chicago. x Expansive Enrichment Opportunities But his trade was electrical engineering and technical writing. He was Michigan City Public Private school experience, Library’s information technology director until his retirement in 2015. In the crystal hours of early morning, before reporting to his various day jobs, he communed with his muse to produce his various creative projects. “In a word, Dan is a genius,” says Rob- ert Richter, a local actor who’s appeared in Schaaf’s productions for more than 20 years, tuition-free. and who will play a role Renaissance Academy Charter School: a unique PreK – 8th in “Dr. Mabuse.” “It’s Grade Montessori school with research based, developmentally amazing what he could appropriate, collaborative, hands-on, student-directed learning. do with a silent fi lm Come learn more - like ‘Aelita.’” Renaissance Montessori Nights, 6-7 PM In the version of the fi lm that sprang from Monday, Jan. 27 Monday, Feb. 3 Schaaf’s imagination, Tuesday, Jan. 28 Tuesday, Feb. 4 Richter voiced the role Wednesday, Jan. 29 Wednesday, Feb. 5 Robert Richter has appeared Call to reserve your place. of Los, a lonely Soviet in Dan Schaaf’s productions for Daytime tours also available upon request. engineer who travels to more than 20 years. Mars and falls in love with Aelita. (219) 878-8711 4093 West US20, LaPorte, IN The role was a good fi t for Richter, himself a for- [email protected] www.rschool.net mer engineer. The ensemble did recorded and live versions of “Aelita.” “We did it with very bad Russian accents, which made it even funnier,” Richter says. Schaaf’s brand of humor is very dry, he says, adding, “That’s what PPOSHOSH makes him so fun to work with.” UUpscalepscale CConsignmentonsignment BBoutiqueoutique Sandy Young, a local actress who’s also worked 110909 NN.. BBartonarton SStreettreet with Schaaf for two decades, says he challenges ac- NNewew BBuffalo,uffalo, MMII 4491179117 tors to play multiple roles for a single silent-fi lm 2269-469-050569-469-0505 production. CCLOSEDLOSED TTUESDAYSUESDAYS OOPENPEN 112-5PM2-5PM “He pulls a lot out of you,” she says. “In a single production, I might play fi ve different characters. They can be different ages and even different gen- TTimeime ttoo RRetireetire ders. “Dan is eclectic. He is quiet and unassuming, but yyourour AAttire?ttire? he has this hidden streak of quirkiness that leads to these remarkable artistic productions,” says Young, who will play a Follies starlet in “Dr. Mabuse.” “Dan CConsignonsign PPosh!osh! is always encouraging, never demanding.” Schaaf says he looks for silent fi lms that had a PPremiumremium CConsignorsonsignors TTakingaking WWinterinter AAppointmentsppointments iintonto FFebruaryebruary Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 January 23, 2020 sic, although he did not direct the play. It was an Continued from Page 3 3FJOWFOUJOH$MBTTJDT adaptation of the tale of Cyrano de Bergerac per- major impact when they were released, such as formed in Cedar Lake, Ind., more than 25 years “Metropolis” and “Aelita.” ago. The other is “Aelita: Queen of Mars,” which his “There also has to be a narrative quality to them repertoire company has performed many times over that can drive the music,” he adds.

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