WANT TO GO?

'Movin' Out'

Musical based on the music of Billy Joel

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Clay Center

TICKETS: $39.25, $55.25

INFO: 561-3570 or http://www.theclaycenter.org/

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rob Cookman doesn't remember when he heard his first Billy Joel song.

The 36-year-old Romney native grew up on the man's music. Billy Joel was a staple of top-40 radio from the late '70s to the early '90s, with hits like "Allentown," "Uptown Girl" and "We Didn't Start The Fire."

 A piano man in his own right, Cookman is touring with "Movin' Out," a musical created by choreographer Twyla Tharp from the songs of Billy Joel. Sponsored by Broadway in Charleston, the show comes to the Clay Center on Wednesday.

Cookman, the touring show's music director, says "Movin' Out" tells a story about Brenda and Eddie and their friends as they grow up in Long Island in the 1960s. The tale is told through Joel's songs and the dancers' movements.

WANT TO GO?

'Movin' Out'

Musical based on the music of Billy Joel

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Clay Center

TICKETS: $39.25, $55.25

INFO: 561-3570 or http://www.theclaycenter.org/

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rob Cookman doesn't remember when he heard his first Billy Joel song.

The 36-year-old Romney native grew up on the man's music. Billy Joel was a staple of top-40 radio from the late '70s to the early '90s, with hits like "Allentown," "Uptown Girl" and "We Didn't Start The Fire."

 A piano man in his own right, Cookman is touring with "Movin' Out," a musical created by choreographer Twyla Tharp from the songs of Billy Joel. Sponsored by Broadway in Charleston, the show comes to the Clay Center on Wednesday.

Cookman, the touring show's music director, says "Movin' Out" tells a story about Brenda and Eddie and their friends as they grow up in Long Island in the 1960s. The tale is told through Joel's songs and the dancers' movements.

"It's really pretty easy for the band," he said. "We just show up and play every night."

It's not so easy for the dancers, however. They deliver no lines. The music and lyrics performed by the band offer a kind of narration while the dancers' motions fill in for the dialogue. Cookman is in awe of what they do.

"The dancers have to do all of this athleticism," he said. "The dancing is unbelievable. They do what they do, then go get back on the bus do it all again the next night."

Cookman says he fell into musical theater late. He grew up in Romney and got interested very early in piano. By age 7, he started lessons and managed to stick with it. By seventh grade, he'd joined a rock band.

"When I got a little more serious, I started taking lessons at Shenandoah Conservatory. I learned more about how to read and how to improvise - all that stuff."

Later, he went to West Virginia University, where he played in several local bands. He played solo piano at restaurants, jazz in bars and accompanied singers at weddings. He got his degree, then went on to Western Michigan University for his master's. He taught there and at Kalamazoo College.

"I got a call from an old friend I hadn't seen in 10 years," he said. "She was the musical director for 'Mama Mia,' and she needed a couple of keyboard players. I did that for eight months and the guy in charge of the hiring asked me if I wanted to be the musical director for 'Movin' Out.'"

The tour schedule is hectic, but he likes the travel. He spends about eight months of the year with the show, and then is off for four months. Sometimes, he plays music on his own, falls back into weddings and bar shows around Kalamazoo. Other times he jumps on another show for a few weeks. This last time he was off, he did a seven-week tour of Japan in the band for the show "Swing."

"It was tough switching gears," he said. "Getting back to "Movin' Out" shouldn't be a problem."

Cookman says he gets back to West Virginia often. He still has family in the state and recently came in to play for a cousin's wedding. While he's moved out, Cookman hasn't moved on. 

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 348-5195.