Robert Poole and Jacob Fjeldheim
"Riding in Cars with Boys"
- When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?
ROBERT: My grandmother took my sister and I to see a show at the Alhambra Theatre in St. Augustine when I was ten years old. I don’t remember what the show was, but distinctly remember leaving the theatre angry that I hadn’t seen a play sooner! This led to my first performing role in middle school as Jacey Squires in the Music Man. I’ve been hooked ever since.
- When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?
ROBERT: Thanks to my mom’s love of movies, I grew up learning life lessons from a variety of good stories. I have always been inspired by the power of stories to move hearts and minds, from classic Disney films to Nora Ephron’s timeless collection of work and everything in between. After the life changing experience of performing in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Festival of the Lion King, I knew I wanted to be a part of crafting these types of deeply stirring tales from their inception. The magic inherent in the process of shaping an original thought is truly unlike anything else, and I feel lucky to collaborate with so many great artists to bring these creations to life.
- How do you describe your style/work?
ROBERT: As a Stanford engineering grad and full time STEM educator, I apply my unique professional background and analytical problem-solving skills as a part of my creative craft. I’m passionate about applying these skills and my experience as a performing artist to champion black, brown, and primarily queer characters telling universally transformative narratives. A proud member of the Musical Theatre Factory community of innovators and the Actors’ Equity Association, I strive to dismantle the gatekeeping that keeps undiscovered and underrepresented storytellers from sharing their stories.
- What is most rewarding to you about writing music?
ROBERT: Growing up listening to Barbra and Celine, Luther and Patti, Basia and Barry Manilow, I am always amazed at the one-of-a-kind language of music, able to communicate emotion and feeling across differences in experience. Like any fantastic Nora Ephron romcom, I want my musical theatre work to embody that spirit of vulnerability and connectedness.