That's Just The Way Life Goes
Dean Solden in a one-man show
And intimate portrait of life, growing older, and
moving forward.
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I wrote “That’s Just the Way Life Goes” after the Covid Pandemic of 2020 and 2021. We all went home and were experiencing so many new things; political upheaval, racial turmoil, the newness of not going out, zoom dates with our friends. At the same time, people in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and more continued to get older and were going through transitions in their lives – retirement, semi-retirement, health issues, and so much more.
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Now post-Covid, for many of us, things are just not the way they used to be. We are in a new stage of life, in a new time.
That’s what “That’s Just the Way Life Goes” is about. It’s about living, loving, loss, and the journey we are all going through. It’s about remembering old times, falling in love, starting new careers, as well as the inevitable issues that interrupt all of our lives. We all know that there are some things that we can control, and even more things we can’t.
But we just get up, keep moving, and find that new glimmer of life – through a beautiful sunset or wonderful person, as we start thinking about tomorrow.
I’m Gonna Take You Home Tonight
A Musical Memoir by Dean Solden
“I’m Gonna Take You Home Tonight” is a one-man, “musical memoir” written and performed by musician and composer, Dean Solden. In it, he addresses the history-old existential dilemma of why bad things can happen to good people, and why sometimes good things happen, even when you make mistakes.
“I’m Gonna Take You Home Tonight” has two 50 minute Acts. It is about the four important women in the life of Danny Shapiro - the alter ego of Mr. Solden – his sister, mother, daughter, and wife. Act One takes place on the New Jersey shore where Danny grew up as a child and teenager, and focuses on the special relationship between Danny’s sister, Judi, who became severely mentally handicapped at age one, and his heroic, tap dance-teaching, risk taking mother, Luci, who cared for her with unflinching devotion.
Act Two takes place in California and Michigan during Danny’s adult years, and parallels the drama of Act One, except this time Danny is the adult, as he and his wife Susan deal with another special relationship. Act Two portrays their incredible adventure adopting a nine-year-old daughter, Tasha, from Siberia.
In “I’m Gonna Take You Home Tonight””, Mr. Solden plows deep into his own psyche and pulls out twenty melodic songs, exciting jazz piano playing, memorable characters, belly laughing situations, and most of all, teaches us all that despite tremendous adversity in one’s life, when you love people and take them home with you, sometimes good things really can happen.
CONTACT
For questions about shows, music and booking, please reach out!
734-260-3600
