Beacon Falls actress pieces together broken dreams

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Beacon Falls resident and actress Erin Moffat is starring in the original musical she wrote ‘Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams: Erin K. Moffat the Musical’ this weekend at the Strand Theater in Seymour. The show is based on her life and her broken dreams of becoming an actress.

Growing up, Erin Moffat’s dreams of becoming an actress were shattered.

“I wanted to be an actress as a kid, and it didn’t work out,” Moffet said.

This weekend, those broken pieces will be put back together on stage at the Strand Theater in Seymour.

“Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams: Erin K. Moffat the Musical” will premiere Friday night at the Strand with a second showing on Saturday. Moffat, a Beacon Falls native who still calls the town home, wrote, stars in, and directs the original musical.

The musical is based on Moffat’s life. It follows her pursuit of her acting dream, and the setbacks along the way, from her childhood up to the present.

“I think the show’s core is really about beating the odds,” Moffat said.

Moffat can’t recall what exactly sparked her love of acting, but it’s a fire that has burned inside of her since she was a young girl. As a child, Moffat adored musicals, especially “Annie.” While other girls played with Barbie dolls, Moffet would spend her time pretending to the spunky redheaded title character who overcame the odds to go from living in an orphanage to calling a mansion home.

As the years passed, Moffet’s acting dream didn’t fade. When it came to deciding where to go to high school — at the time Woodland Regional High School didn’t exist — Moffat chose Masuk High School in Monroe because of the school’s musical theater department.

Things didn’t work out as planned, however.

“I got cut from every single musical,” Moffat said.

While she never graced the stage at Masuk, as a teenager Moffat found a home with the Talent Hut Players at the Strand and performed in, but never starred in, a handful of shows. After graduating high school in 1996, Moffat worked to hone her craft and went on to study dance and theater at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Four years ago, she took matters into her own hands and began writing a one-woman comedic show.

“I said, ‘I might as well create my own destiny and create my own show,’” Moffat said.

Over those four years, the one-woman show evolved into “Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams,” which features a cast of 12 and 11 new original songs of varying styles from show tunes to hip-hop.

Although the show shines the spotlight brightest on Moffat, Friday’s premiere wouldn’t be possible without the help and sacrifice of her family, friends, the show’s cast and some new friends she made in the course of bringing her show to the stage.

To help narrate the story and fulfill some more of Moffat’s acting dreams of starring in TV shows, the musical features several short movie interludes shot and edited by the digital media class at Woodland Regional High School. The class, especially teacher Ralph Riello and student Anthony Cuda, went above and beyond to make the movies, Moffat said.

As for the show’s 11 original songs, those were composed by Bradley Scoville of Terryville, who Moffat met through a mutual friend during the development stage of the musical.

“The show would not be possible without him,” Moffat said.

Then, there’s her family and friends who have always supported her dream chasing.

“They sacrificed a lot for me,” Moffat said.

As the premiere of “Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams: Erin K. Moffat the Musical” approaches, Moffat described her emotions as a “mixed-bag.” However, one feeling in particular rose to the top of the bag.

“It’s exciting,” Moffat said. “I’ve been waiting a long time.”

“Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams: Erin K. Moffat the Musical” will be shown at the Strand Theater, 165 Main St., Seymour, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. For tickets visit www.unbrokendreams.com or the box office at the Strand Theatre.

The Rundown

What: “Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams: Erin K. Moffat the Musical.”

When: Jan. 13 and 14, 8 p.m.

Where: Strand Theater, 165 Main St., Seymour.

Tickets: $15, www.unbrokendreams.com or the box office.

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