When Coleen Rand reconnected with David Zimmerman through Facebook, the longtime friends and colleagues had no idea their rekindled friendship would lead to The Theater Company’s production of Glory Days. Opening this Thursday and running through Saturday, Glory Days, written by Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner, takes the audience through a coming of age story as four best friends transition from their adolescent years to adulthood.

Assistant Director Coleen Rand discovered Glory Days after reconnecting with David, Assistant Artistic Director at TTC, and working with a group of young actors. “I was spending some time just working on some musical theater pieces with a group of very talented young actors, really just for fun. These young and incredibly talented kids started doing some cabaret workshops and performances at TTC, and then somehow, through some brainstorming, we decided to try to make something happen as far as some productions with these fabulous youngsters this summer.”

Last fall three of the four actors fell in love with the score of Glory Days and took it upon themselves to learn the score for the musical. Coleen says it originally started as a “fun sort of, ‘let’s see where this takes us’” and ended up leading to the full on production of the musical. After hearing the actors perform at one of TTC’s cabaret workshops, David and producer of the musical Margaret Leone knew they had to help make Glory Days come to life. Says Margaret, “They prepared selections from Glory Days to perform. It was clear that not only had they invested time in the score, they had connected to the story.” Not only was Glory Days an “excellent fit for the actors”, as Coleen put it, but it also coincided with TTC’s plan to focus on younger performers this summer. Margaret felt they “already had the talent- these remarkable singers who carried this story in their hearts. Now they want to send it to the masses...we had to make it happen!”

TTC and the actors have been dedicating all of their time and energy into making Glory Days happen ever since. Beginning the second week of June, the actors have been rehearsing three to four times a week, including all day Saturday rehearsals. The actors are clearly committed to making Glory Days an unforgettable production, and Coleen can’t sing their praises enough. “Production has been a wonderful trip, and an amazing collaboration with so many incredible people. But mostly it’s about the cast. These four young men with incredible voices, and each with a special spark, rocking the Monroe Center this weekend. It really is something to behold.”

What makes Glory Days so unique and relatable is the blend of rock music backing a story of coming to terms with adulthood and the inevitable changes that come along with it. Margaret believes the musical “delivers an important message for teens, and for anyone young or old who has ever felt ‘different’.” For Coleen the production means, “a musical celebration of the special charm of young adults as they navigate their way into adulthood. The piece sort of asks the question of ‘can you go back’ to the ‘good old glory days’, and explores the concept of ‘I may be different, but I’m still me, I swear’.”

Glory Days will be showing July 14th, 15th and 16th at 8PM at TTC’s Studio, C-413 in the Monroe Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. In the words of Coleen, “We have four very cute boys who sing really well, a bangin’ rock band, an interesting story/glimpse into the lives or four 19 year old boys, and some fierce lights. What’s not to like?” Be sure to catch this inspiring production, only showing this weekend.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAYMOND SMITH