Video: Ben Decter & Kristin Hanggi Are De-Stigmatizing Epilepsy with IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, TYLER PRICE

Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge

The World Premier Musical, It's All Your Fault, Tyler Price, has just opened at the Hudson Backstage Theater in Los Angeles, California

where it will run through December 15. Please welcome the creators of this beautiful new musical

Kristen Hange and Ben Dexter. Welcome you to, how are you to

How are you? So good. Thank you. You catch us. Tonight is our opening night, so it's a very exciting day for us

Okay, so I was going to ask you first off, how are you and where are the two of you

Good question. We are at my house. We're in Silver Lake. Kristen has come in from New York for this project

And yeah, in the past couple months, we've been traveling back between here, back and forth here in the Hudson Theater

theater. Well, listen, you just mentioned that tonight your official opening night. I was good

So what's today like? I mean, how magical is this all? It's super magical, especially because Ben and I

met quite a long time ago. So the seed of this idea was planted in when we first met in 2007

Just to say what a long incubation time this creative project has been. And it's based off of Ben's

life. So it's a very personal project. So to do something that is so deeply personal and to get to

know his family over the past two decades as we learned how to tell this story has been an

incredibly powerful process. And the fact that now the show is up, the set is there, the cast is

there, we are opening, audiences have been coming in, they've been loving it, they've been having

in such an emotional reaction to it, it's very deeply meaningful. Ben, tell me what today means to you, your official opening night

Yeah, it's like Kristen mentioned, it's on so many levels, it's sort of surreal

So as Kristen and I sit there at this point in the audience, watching this story unfold

as Kristen mentioned, based on true events in my life. and my daughter, who is the original

where this whole thing came from, is sitting next to me, and my son is playing backstage in the band

and my wife is in the audience, as we're watching characters based on them

and with Kristen there, who I've gotten to know, of course, over these past 17 years

it's kind of overwhelming. But in the best way, like we sit there

and the show is so funny, and then it goes so emotional. So you sit there and I'm laughing and they get choked up

And then you're sort of crying and like, why am I crying? I live this

We've been working on the story for years and years. We've seen this stuff so often

It's really moving. It's really moving. And it's just so full of love

It's kind of striking to me. It's a lot. For audiences who may not know yet

please describe the musical. It sounds absolutely. beautiful. Anyone go first? To describe it. Well, I would describe it as the story based on what

happened to us when we're a young couple and we have a baby and sort of all magical and everything

feels magical. And then a medical crisis hits you. In our case, it was catastrophic epilepsy

and how the impact ricochets through the family. And in this case, in the way we chose to

tell the story some years later, when my daughter's kid brothers in middle school and realizing that this is really sort of messing with his

whole life and how he's found himself in the middle of this storm and he loves his family but it's hard

and um you know we just watch the effects on the couple and the brother and the sister and the boys

interaction with his dad and his mom um that's how i think of the story it's sort of it's a family love

story. I'd like to think with a lot of depth. And the inciting incident that kicks the whole play into gear is that there is a bully at

school who makes fun of our girl who has learning challenges and difficulties and her little

brother steps in on the playground and punches him in the face. And while we do not condone violence

the principal says that he can write a statement and present it to the school

Contrition Council to say why he did what he did and take responsibility

And instead, our young boy stages a musical. And he gets all his teachers and the principal herself involved in staging this musical

about his family's life. Because it sounds so great. You know, bullying's become such a big deal

And, I mean, it's become a big deal, of course, with social media and everything else

But I'm just glad that there are musicals out there. What must be great for the two of you is that you can use your creative energies to entertain and also enlighten people and audiences about things

And I'm sure the two of you went through that with this. Tell me what that means to you to be creative and also to enlighten at the same time

Well, I think we've had some fun playing with that. There's sort of a bit that happens, for example, later in the show

when his teachers announced that they're going to do a bit about seizure safety

And Jackson literally says, like, I told you, we're not going to do that bit. I don't want this to feel like a public service announcement

And then Principal Kackney steps forward. And I just think we took a chance

We weren't sure, are we really going to do this? And it's turned into one of the most fun, silliest, and I hate to say

but kind of educational things in the show. And even me as someone who's lived with a family member who had epilepsy

I didn't know this stuff. Like seizure first day, like who knows

It's really, for the most part, something a lot of us don't encounter

But what I think we've learned, again, even being in it, is one in 26 people has epilepsy

One in ten of us will have a seizure at some point in our lives. So sort of the whole point being, this is really, really common

And there's a lot to be said for any efforts made to destigmatize it

And as we say in the show, all of us struggle with something. Different kind of things

And epilepsy is just another thing. And we're just trying to get it out there as part of this story we're telling

Yeah. It's really about acceptance of all kinds of differences. And creating spaces where all different

are accepted and we learn how to create space especially what has been interesting is creating a theatrical space that is safe So one of the things that I learned in this process is that actually theater can be hard for people that have light sensitive epilepsy

The light cues can trigger a seizure. So with our lighting designer and an organization called Epiarts, we sought out to design a lighting safe shut

where people that have this particular light sensitivity can just know that they're safe and watch the show and enjoy it

So there's also a thing that I think we've learned about how to create more inclusive theater spaces

And then also it opens up to people of all sorts of learning differences and related challenges

See, I love that because you sort of reinvented things through this process

this process. Talk a little bit about your cast. Does some of your cast members have this? Like

how did you find the cast? Let's talk about that. Well, that would be talking about one of

Kristen Hanging's gifts, because I always think, how in the world are we going to find people who can

pull this off? In particular, this show, it has a number of kids. I mean, we have kids in the show

and adults, and one of the kids, the little boy does some heavy lifting. And I thought, okay. You

You know, and I'm, anyway, Kristen, as usual, she's like, oh, we'll figure it out

And so I'll let her tell you how we figured it up. Well, I knew that there are very talented young people, young artists, because I've gotten

to work with many of them. And so I knew there was someone out there that could really pull this role off

We had an amazing casting director, Zachary Spiegel, and he works often in this young

artist space. So he was pretty hip to some of the young people that are out

there and he did a very thorough job of looking through both young people and adults

And I think we were really excited. In fact, when we got to callbacks, we realized we could have cast it about four times over

There's just so much talent out there. And ultimately, Charlie Stover is playing our young character, Jackson

And as Ben said, it is a lot of heavy lifting. And he is brilliant in the show

And Faith Graham plays Lucy, our girl that has epilepsy and learning differences

And she's done such an incredible job, such an empathetic performance and really studying to

portray that accurately. Now interestingly enough, there's been a lot of people that have come to the show that have

epilepsy in their own lives, either they or someone next to them

So, for example, our choreographer Max Reed, his niece has epilepsy. So he spent a lifetime being around her epilepsy and just learning how to, we knew it was

important to theatricalize a seizure on stage, but his understanding of movement from real

life experience, also Ben's lived experience. It was a really powerful rehearsal space as we learned how can we convey this in theatrical

language. And there's been many others who have come up and said, oh, I want you to know I was

Jackson, this was my family, or I have this in a very close family member, or someone I love just got

diagnosed. And so that's been really interesting to watch this ripple effect. But I could go through

each member of the cast and say how spectacular every single person is. And they each bring their

own gifts and I think we just feel really blessed to have such a strong and eclectic and talented

group. Well, I think that's wonderful. I want to talk about collaborations because you are both the

co-writers of the book. Ben, you wrote the music and lyrics. Kristen, you added additional lyrics

and it's a show's director. That is some incredible collaboration. So what makes yours so special

with the two of you and why you work so well together? That's a great question

I think the only way, like any relationship, that it can work so well

is that we've developed together. And I used to joke about it, and it was serious

So it used to be that I would sort of hold the role of the chief warrior

and Kristen would hold the role of, well, the universe has things work out

And that was just like, and I think over these years, I've come to appreciate that

We've held together. I really think it wouldn't have lasted and it wouldn't have worked

I think it wouldn't get such a kick out of each other. And it's been a really moving process, Richie

I feel so lucky to have met Kristen, and I met her here

And the man, Jim Deutsch, who introduced us years ago, I think he's actually coming to the show tonight

It's just been a lot of lucky pieces. And over these years, there's times we've gone away

Kristen will go off and do another project or I'll go off and score a TV show

You take a break. And we come back. And I think we also have overlapping skill sets

So, for example, Kristen has this ability to hold the whole story in her head at all times

I'm a pretty smart guy. I can't do it. I cannot. And over the years, we'd have different drafts

And we might reach a point where, like, oh, what happens here? And Christmas say, you remember that

In 2013, in the second act, we had that scene. And I'm like, I think I remember that

She'd be like, yeah, I'm going to grab that two seconds, and then she puts it in, and it's amazing

And she could do that with the music too. I would play her a piece, and she'd say, what happens if you play that a little higher

What if that's a little faster? What? It's really amazing. And we've had some great times, too

We've been collaborated. We co-wrote a song called Just for Tonight, that I think is proving to really get deep inside

in particular to some of the women in the audience. I think we've realized just recently

again, it's been a long time, but just recently, I think we realized that many of the characters

on the stage are in fact based on us. There's parts of each of us in each of the characters

and it's been really fun to see that. I think that's the other way the collaboration has worked

is it's given us a chance to grow as people through writing these characters together

Yeah, and I'll also say, Ben is just a really beautiful human being

Like, his soul is so gorgeous. And when I first met him and his wife, Jackie

and their children way back in 2007, I was so moved by the love that is in their family

and the joy and the laughter. There was something that was so compelling about it

that it was like, oh, I want this to be on stage

But Ben models such integrity in his life and as an artist

He's so truthful. His ability to have just to be a great communicator I feel like his communication skills are incredible And in fact the show has turned into a lot about communication and what it is to have hard conversations

especially with your family of origin. Like, what is it to tell the truth to people you're related to

And how tough that can be and let them see who you really are and how vulnerable it can be to be to be seen by the

people you're related to, that has become such an important theme. But I feel like Ben models that

And I'm also amazed by his ability to sit down and convey emotion through music. He's such a deep

feeler. And he really can feel into a character's inner life. And so I'm always inspired by how deeply he

makes me feel by the music that he writes. So I think we also have deep appreciation

for each other's gifts. And I also think he's very tolerant with my shortcomings too

So I feel like he's well aware of what they are. And he gives me a lot of space and grace for my shortcomings

when they appear. Well, that's like a brother and sister. That's a perfect collaboration, seriously. Yeah

You know, I read on the show's website, which by the way, is so beautifully put together

I mean, there's so much wonderful information. There are so many organizations

when people go to buy tickets or go to the website, it's so beautifully done

You just press on something else, and it will take you to something else that deals with epilepsy and all these other things

So I think it's really quite fascinating. That must make you really proud, too, because you have an incredible sponsorship

for this show, too. I know Broadway World is one of the sponsors on this show

but, you know, it makes a big difference when different organizations come together

because, you know, you brought up earlier one in 26 people have epilepsy

I knew a few people growing up and I knew someone I worked with that epilepsy

And it's funny, it's something that's not talked about, but it should be because so many people have it

And I think when you have a show that you put together like this, it's also wonderful where people will be like

oh my gosh, you know, we can talk about this. You know, when you put a face to something

you realize it can be talked about and you say, all these people come to and say

oh, I have that in my family. My brother has this or my sister has this or I have this, you know

and they never talk about it. And now it gives them that free space to sort of deal with it, right

Well, Richard, we had, there was a Hollywood actress who came to the show last night

and I know because I had run into her husband who's a musician here in town

and he stopped me in the street weeks ago and said like, hey

I heard about this show. I just want you to know that she has epilepsy

but she's never told anyone because she's afraid she wouldn't work anymore. And he said she was so excited to come to the show

And so this just happened last night, and it was so moving to see her

And I just think that's just part of these. And by the way, I think this goes, of course, well beyond epilepsy, right

There's so many things that change over the years, whether it's talking about autism

that, you know, at some point they almost become a point of pride. It's like, oh, like, I'm sure you, we've all heard people who then all sort of self-diagnosed, like, oh, I think I'm a little bit on the spectrum

Like, it almost becomes a thing to have. But it's part of destigmatizing it

So it just becomes like, yeah, most of us have something. If we don't have it now, you'll have it later, whatever it is

And I think, like Kristen said, it's just making it okay to talk about these things

And even the people who don't have anything to do with epilepsy, but just feel like they've been

the black sheep of their family. Yeah, a lot of people from the Broadway community have sent me messages on social media

that I would have never guessed, said, I don't know if you know this, but I have epilepsy

Thank you so much for telling this story. And so that's really interesting because I definitely think when I started working with this on Ben

I was so moved by his family's story, but then to find out how many people it affected

that has been really powerful. And I think that's one of the wonderful things about telling stories is that we get to share what someone's perspective is like and also feel not alone

When you mentioned all the sponsors, I have been blown away by the power of community

And I feel like it's really where as theater artists, we need support from so many different places and learning that we can ask and we can go to many different places

and say, join our team. Your mission is aligned with our missions

Your values are in line with our values. Let's create something together. And I'm really excited

And I think we've both been blown away by how incredible it feels to be supported by your community

And then in turn, allow the piece of art that you're working on to actually reach the people that it affects directly

I mean, that has been a dream come true to get to watch that ripple effect

That's what I think art does. You look at all these other musicals over the years that have dealt with certain things

that people never talked about. And it changes everything into people can open up

And like you said, my family member has it. I have us. None of us are perfect

I don't care who's watching and thinks they're perfect. We all have something. Everybody, like you said, has something or will have something

And it may not be epilepsy in this musical, but you'll see something or realizing how to deal with a situation

if you have something like this in your family or a friend or something else. It must be wonderful like, you know, you open tonight

but you've been in the preview period. I mean, it must be wonderful to watch how your show is affecting audiences

You know, they come in with maybe not knowing anything and leave with a whole different perspective

And I'm sure you're going to get that tonight and during the rest of this run must make the two of your feel

feel really wonderful. It sure does. And I think one of the things that has also made us feel so good

is all the laughter, that we really intended for the show to also be joyful and uplifting

And it feels like people are walking out and they're feeling that sense of connection with each other

And that feels great is to be able to show both. I did some sort of post on social media where I talked about

I've just been impressed, we kind of, you know, knowing Ben and his experience that it contains some of the heaviest things you can go through in life

And there's so much joy and laughter in his family and with his children and to be able to create a musical that holds both

And someone wrote a comment that was like, yes, that's what it feels like for me to have a child with these challenges

Is it feels like both poles are always present every day. Yeah, and I think Richie, I think it's

or I feel it's important to note, of course, there's so many different outcomes

even with the serious epilepsy So for example so my daughter she still has her certain struggles but to be she living independently She a brown belt and jujitsu

She helps run the children's ranch, which, as you see in the show

like a real life thing, it's unbelievable. Yet, as Kristen was mentioning

there was a young woman with the same condition, but who has, the drugs didn't help

And so she came to our show, this mom with her 24-year-old daughter in a wheelchair who can't talk, can't walk

And this mom, after the show, besides saying that she went through a whole box of Kleenex

just couldn't stop hugging us because she said she just feels so joyful and so full of hope

And that, to me, if she, like Kristen likes to say, he's just feeling all the things

You just feel all the things. Well, my final question of both of you is, what have you

enjoyed the most, the two of you, working on this and creating this beautiful musical

Well, the lighthearted answer would be our commitment to snacks, because we have torn through

everything. The deeper, it's changed my life. And I think Kristen, it's such a huge part of that

it's really I guess I used so I've done a lot of work in scoring television shows

and as you know most television shows come and go this has been a many year process

and in doing it I have Kristen's alluded to this that we've grown we've changed

so I think the most rewarding thing is just seeing how we've grown as people how it's given my family a chance

to an opportunity to grow and you know that open communication, like it's great, but also careful what you wish for it, because it

can be tough when your kids are like, hey, you know, that thing you said, that didn't feel so

great. Like it's, I can see the appeal of like, let's have no communication. Let's just

here it is and case closed. So it can be challenging. But is then Chris and I do that to each

other sometimes like, hey, you know that thing you said, that didn't feel so great. And then

you're like, oh, like, I'm sorry I didn't mean that. And then you talk about it. And that has

ricocheted through people we've worked with in the cast and people on the creative team

It's just that that's been really rewarding to see that no one has broken

In fact, we've all gotten stronger. That is true. Yeah. There's been so many rewarding things

I feel like it's hard to pinpoint. One of the first things also that pops up is the cast, just creating the community

cast in the designers, the power of people coming together to create something larger than themselves

But also the, how intimate this process has been, getting to know Ben and his family so deeply and watch their lives transform over the years and watch how a really hard thing became something that they've all turned into so much beauty and so much community

It's so inspirational. Well, this is great. Well, once again, everyone watching

it's your fault. Tyler Price is currently playing at the Hudson Backstage Theater

in Los Angeles, California. Now through December 15th, tickets are available at Tylerpricemusical.com

And like I said, the website itself is a beautiful website. The sampling of your songs that are there

The score is so beautiful to this show. You will learn so much

and I guarantee you that if you go see, this show, you will not only be entertained, but you'll be enlightened. I want to thank the both of you

for dropping by today at Broadway World and sitting with me. Thank you so much, Richard. We appreciate it

I want to give a quick shout out to Scott Morris, who designed our website. Nice. We love Scott

Go to the theater. We'll see you soon. Bye-bye. Bye. I do, don't you

Well, they take their time Cause they can't move Fast on the ground, they hide under leaves

Slide through my yard, escape into trees Coaxing them out of their beautiful shells

They come out for me because I love them so well I think snails deserve a song

I do What is this slime all over my walls? I think snails deserve a song

I do Is that what I think is staring at me? Well, they take their time

I don't have time to clean out this crap And they look to

Take me from this Oh my house is a mess poke out antennas to check for distress

Look at this slime I wish it would end Dad can't you see they like being my friend

I think snail to serve a song Yeah, says who Well I do

I think snail to serve a song Well I think you're wrong

As long Oh they look so Weird But they make me smile

Dad, hold her, her name is Fana Oh, Lucy, I really don't think, oh, okay, fine

I need, hold it. Don't you love that she feels on your skin? Warm, bubbly

It kind of tickles, right? Yeah, it tickles. Hold on, I'll get some more

How did my life come to look like this? Puppy dogs and kittens, for typical kids

I try to relax Dream in bed Open my eyes I see you instead

I like to hide Just disappear Inside a shell Far away from here

No wanna talk to no big surprise But I can't deny The joy inside her

Eyes open wide I love watching them shine Her lightness of spirit

I wish it were mine How can we open so trouble-free? What I wouldn't give for that to be me

I think sails deserve a song. Yes, I was wrong. Sing it drunk

Snails deserve a song. Snails deserve a song. Sales deserve a song

Sales deserve a song. Sales deserve a song. Sales deserve a song

Snails deserve a song. Yes, it's true. So do you

So do you. So do you. Dad, can I get a tarantula

Huh