07/07/2026
The Way Way West is an original American musical and theatrical storytelling piece that blends contemporary folk/Americana music with a sweeping historical narrative. It was created by Dan Sharkey, Mike Eldred, Chris Roberts, and Ross Bridgeman and is designed to be performed either as a fully staged musical or as a concert with narration.
The story follows five interconnected narratives inspired by real historical figures whose lives ultimately converge at the Mountain Meadows Massacre in the Utah Territory in September 1857. Rather than focusing solely on the massacre itself, the musical explores the ripple effects of one man's ambition, narcissism, and violence across many lives and hundreds of miles, asking how individual choices echo through generations.
Musically, the score is rooted in:
Contemporary Americana
Folk
Country
Rich four-part vocal harmony
Character-driven storytelling
The show moves between exuberant pioneer songs, intimate ballads, and dramatic ensemble moments, using music to reveal the emotional journeys of its characters.
One of the unique aspects of the piece is its flexibility. It has been presented in concert, featuring the composers performing selections from the score and discussing the work with audiences, while also being developed as a fully staged theatrical production.
The Way Way West's central themes include:
The consequences of power and fanaticism
Family and belonging
Faith and doubt
Redemption
The enduring hope that can emerge even from tragedy
It's a work that uses a significant historical event as the backdrop for a deeply human story about the choices people make and the lives those choices shape.