Torso: A Musical To Dismember! An Interview With Author-Director-Producer Kedrick Parham Milwaukee - Making it's world premiere November 11 here, Torso - The Musical will come alive on stage for the first time this fall at the Hot Water Club, 818 S. Water St.. Featuring a cast of twelve, Torso was written by Milwaukee residents Kedrick Parham and Thomas Jacobsen.   Based on the most sensational crime in Canadian history, Torso is the story of Evelyn Dick, who went on trial in 1946 for the killing and dismemberment of her husband John. The gruesome tale revealed in the court proceedings was the “OJ” case of its day, making headlines all over Canada.   Torso is filled with original music evocative of that era, and filled with suspense that keep the audience guessing. Fans of the shows Chicago, Parade, Side Show or Sweeny Todd likely will fall in love with Parham and Jacobsen’s piece. Theater insiders are already calling it “Milwaukee's best secret” and some of Milwaukee's most experienced and ambitious professional actors have signed on to tell this amazing story.   Torso’s first viewings will be presented in workshop on November 11 and 16  with a 7:30 PM curtain. A 4 PM matinee performance is set for November 13. Tickets are $16 each and are on sale now at the club. For reservations and more information, call 414-467-1144.   Quest sat down to talk about Torso with Parham, an engaging African-American Kenosha native who will turn 25 just at this issue of the magazine hits the stands. Quest: Tell us a little about yourself. Parham: I’ve been (in Milwaukee) for two and a half years now. I went to school at UW-Parkside, where I majored in Education and Theater Arts. Quest: Is Torso your first effort? Parham: I've written other things in the past on a smaller level for school and things like that. But this is my first time producing. Not my first time directing though. I directed in Chicago at the Stage Two theater before. I’ve also choreographed before. Quest: What makes the debut of Torso so special? Parham: Basically its a great opportunity for Milwaukee. It’ a major thing because not a lot of original works come out of Milwaukee. I think that there’s only one other original work that came out of this city - The Spitfire Grill. Quest: What drew you to Evelyn Dick’s story? Parham: I saw the HBO movie based on her story and character about two years ago. I looked at it and thought that it would make a great musical. People like to see that stories that are full of suspense, stories that are a little twisted, that surprise you. People are intrigued by that kind of entertainment. Quest: Did you write the book, music and lyrics for the show? What was Thomas Jacobsen’s part in the process? Parham: Originally I wrote the book and the lyrics were there. Then Thomas and I met and I told him how I wanted things to sound and where the music should come along (in the show).  It’s a full collaboration with both Thomas’ and my ideas in the mix. I think its a very powerful score. Quest: How would you characterize the music? Parham: The music in Torso is very reflective of the 1940’s. Some of the ballads are sort of modern, emotional rock ballads but the music overall has a very jazzy, 1940’s big band and jive feel. The music is very true to the time, sets the mood and makes the show even more exciting. Quest: You compare Torso to Chicago and Sweeny Todd. Parham: They’re similar shows with a (choreographer Bob) Fosse style dance - that sort of drinking the brandy, smoking the cigarette, jazzy night club feeling. That what Torso is. Quest: Chicago had an almost sardonic, tongue-in-cheek mood. How would you characterize the mood of Torso? Parham: While there are those kinds of moments, the feel of Torso is a very edge-of-your-seat mysterious. All the characters are very mysterious. The show’s theme centers on how the newspapers ate this story up and how the press’ presentation altered how the public thought about Evelyn Dick. It ties in with today’s society and how press coverage has an impact on society. Quest: How big is the show? Parham: We have twelve actors and they’re all from Milwaukee. They’re some of the best known and most ambitious actors to come along. They’re all very excited to be on board with this show. Quest: Anyone who might be considered a Milwaukee “name,” that would stand out to our readers? Parham: We have Joe Dolan who has worked at the Skylight a couple of times. He plays the romantic lead to the Evelyn character. We have James Henderson who is from Seattle and has been doing work all over the United States. In the Milwaukee theater community, those are probably the most familiar names. The entire cast is great. Quest: This is a workshop production. That’s not the same as a full, mainstream theatrical production, right? Parham: Correct. However, we have many theatrical aspects - the costumes, the lighting, the band. Quest: Torso is a work in progress as well. Parham: Yes. This production will allow us to see what the audience likes and then go back to “cut and paste.” We also are bringing the show to other workshop as well, like the Steven Schwartz workshop in Chicago. We’ll probably be involved there. We also may put it up at the Skylight Theatre again this Spring (2006) if we don’t bring it to a bigger city. Quest: So this is a chance for people to get in on the ground floor, so to speak - the be the first to see what could be a really big hit. Parham: Yes, that’s correct. Usually when someone conducts a theater workshop, the general public is not invited to that. Usually its theater insiders - composers, other writers, and so on - who give feedback on the show they’re trying to put up. For this workshop I’ve invited the general public to come and basically give feedback - that’s not heard of much. Its very risky, but its also very cool: come and see something that could possibly be in New York in a couple of years. I know people are coming up from Chicago to see this show because I know the buzz is really out there. Quest: Any pre-show jitters? Parham: Well I’ve never workshopped a show before in my young life. If it flops, well - you know - I’m young, get ready for next time! But when I’m sitting there in rehearsal, having the actors read my material, sing my material or dancing to something that I was the seed of - its just an amazing feeling, whether it makes money or not. All my dreams have come true.   I added a song to Torso at the last minute. In the lyrics I basically quoted something I believe: “Right in front of my eyes, all my dreams are coming true, all my hopes are turning real.” That’s how I feel about this project. I thought that I would be into my thirties before I even started to write. But that’s the impact of Evelyn Dick and her amazing story.   I hope everyone will come out and enjoy this amazing story. We’re all really excited about this show.and sometimes I could just scream!