'Rocket Boys' rewritten as musical: ; Story of Coalwood native became major film, now to be performed by Theatre West Virginia

First came the book "Rocket Boys." Then the movie "October Sky."

Now, the story of a young boy growing up in Coalwood, McDowellCounty, and creating a model rocket with the help of his friends hasbeen set to music and may even be headed for Broadway.

Open call for auditions for a musical version of the story willbe from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre West VirginiaAdministrative Building at 102 Spruce St., Mabscott.

The musical will run at Theatre West Virginia Aug. 26 throughSept. 4.

Homer Hickam wrote the book as a memoir about himself and sixfriends who grew up in the small mining town. It details his life asthe son of a mine superintendent in a dying town who dreams of a bigfuture. He is interested in space, and the story chronicles theboys' attempt to build a rocket.

"It's going to be high energy, very fun and funny and dramaticand all that," said Carl Anthony Tramone, associate director for themusical. "It has all the greatest elements of Broadway."

Tramone will portray Sonny, Hickam's character, in the musical.All other roles are up for grabs Saturday. The director, producersand composers will serve as judges for the auditions.

Those auditioning are asked to prepare a standard or contemporarymusical theater song, not rock music. An accompanist will beprovided, but those trying out should have monologue available.Sheet music in the proper key and a hard copy of picture and resumeare required.

The auditions offer actors, dancers and singers the opportunityto move further with the show, Tramone said. Reviews of themusical's music and script have been favorable, he said. It also hasearned several awards in New York and California.

"It's definitely moving on; I just don't know which cities it'sgoing to go to until it ends up in New York," Tramone said. "I thinkit's unavoidable at this point because of the interest it hasgarnered and the quality musical it is. Even people who are verycritical said it's an instant hit."

Tramone said the musical could continue to California and thenmake its way to New York.

"The entire story happened in West Virginia. It's great theater,but beyond that the people of West Virginia are a very, very uniqueand a wonderful breed of people that you won't find in big cities inthe country," said the New Jersey native who currently resides inNew York.

"I think to celebrate that, in the best way possible ... would beto make the musical there; to have it start there is a wonderfulstory in itself."

The production has been in the making for four or five years,Tramone said. The average musical takes about 10 years to develop.

Although Hickam was fossil hunting in Montana and could notfurther comment on the auditions in West Virginia, he said via emailhe was excited the show would be produced by Theatre West Virginia.He said he probably would attend some rehearsals.

Delacorte Press published "Rocket Boys: A Memoir" in September1998. "October Sky," the movie, premiered on Feb. 19, 1999 -Hickam's birthday.

The idea for a musical resulted from people all over the UnitedStates submitting ideas to Hickam's website, Tramone said. Themusical will focus on different aspects of the source material.

"It has to be high energy to keep interest and have choreography,maintaining drama and a story. That's one thing that transcends allmediums," Tramone said.

"The story is so powerful, about a family unit and determinationto do something even when everybody around you says you can't do it,and it can't be done."

Tramone has been to West Virginia only a handful of times. Heattended the October Sky Festival in Coalwood two years ago and saidhe was overwhelmed by the people.

"I knew it had to be done there," he said. "I think everythingcoming together at the same time, on a stage, with a show is goingto be magic."

For more information, visit www.rocketboysthemusical.com.

the associated press Homer Hickam, left, a native of Coalwood,wrote the autobiographical account Rocket Boys: A Memoir, upon whichthe film October Sky was based. Here he is seen with JakeGyllenhaal, who played Hickam in October Sky, at the films premierein 1999. The same story is now being made into a musical, which willrun at Theatre West Virginia Aug. 26 through Sept. 4.

Contact writer Melanie Hoffman at melanie.hoffman@dailymail .comor 304-348-4886.