Rock Out with 'Devils in the Details:' A New Rock Musical

Devils and angels are everywhere you look, but the true devils are in the details.

Hello, North Reading and beyond! Get ready to rock out with Devils in the Details, an original rock musical. Set in 1989, the story follows Pastor Wilson, a TV evangelist, who’s invited to tour with the band “My Pal Satan,” a heavy rock sister duo. His first intention is to save the musicians, but he soon learns that there is more to the rock group than meets the eye.

The cast and crew are excited to present Devils in the Details, an original production that has spent six challenging years getting to the stage. As described by all involved, Devils in the Details is a darkly funny rock musical with colorful characters, unexpected twists, and themes of empathy.

Devils in the Details was written by Travis Byram of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Inspiration for Devils in the Details sparked when he listened to an episode of his beloved series, “This American Life,” on NPR.

Due to all the downtime in the COVID-19 lockdown, Byram was able to continuously write the play from March to August 2020. In his own words, he said that it’s a play about finding common ground.

Byram always felt that his play would be a musical. With a lack of musical writing himself, he turned to collaborate with Matthew Garlin. The pair met through a Facebook group for musical theatre writers, and through video chats, they enjoyed creating their vision of the show together.

North Reading resident Matthew Garlin immediately fell in love with Byram’s play when he first read it. “I saw the story as a coming-of-age story about a man who was always fighting against something and just living life,” Garlin said.

He mentioned that since his father’s passing in September 2024, Garlin also feels a personal connection to the father-son angle in the story.

Garlin is the show’s composer/lyricist. Throughout rehearsals, the music has evolved, originally influenced by Jim Steinman/Meatloaf, and later changing to sounds inspired by Alanis Morissette, Heart, and Bonnie Tyler.

“Music is the biggest focus,” said cast member Michelle Faith (Isabella Keeve). “Some of the songs are vocally demanding, fast, and belty. It’s a lot of music, but it’s so exciting to bring something new to life!”

The cast comes from all different theater backgrounds. Auditions for Devils in the Details consisted of cold readings, singing songs, or sending self-tapes. Stephen Nedell said he auditioned with “Sweet Transvestite” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Devils in the Details is directed by Paul Gymziak, who is an actor, a choreographer, and the director of several shows. Gymziak actually saved Devils in the Details from cancellation when he stepped in to direct. Drawn to the story, he revamped the music and reshaped the sound on the original demos to make the rhythm easier to follow. Thanks to him, the show was back on its feet.

The cast has called working with Gymziak an incredible experience. Rehearsals consist of music, blocking, and character work. Together, they have been making a cast album. One cast member virtually attends from Fredericksburg, VA, and will join for tech and the show weekend.

Performing an original show has been the best part of the experience for most of the cast members. “Ultimately, it’s a story about letting go of fear, listening more deeply, and realizing that sometimes the people we think we need to save are the ones who ended up saving us,” said Gymziak.

For cast member Olivia Cate, she said, “I hope the audience walks away feeling seen and heard with a character or musical number.”

Devils in the Details is at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Reading, from Sept 26-28. Tickets are available online for $15 and $20 at the door. For anyone who cannot make the show, a recording of the performance will be uploaded to YouTube.

Ticket Link: https://allevents.in/north-reading/devils-in-the-details/200028569476531