In the strangely intimate Steve: A Docu-Musical Colin Summers paints a melodic portrait of a man he's never met, but with whom he's written hundreds of songs. For almost a decade, Summers has been musicalizing lyrics he receives from an Australian writer who goes simply by "Steve". Ranging from playful songs about Halloween to  odes to Microsoft Windows, Steve's lyrics can oftentimes be deceitfully complex, or is it that we're just trying too hard to find meaning? The nature of artistic creation and interpretation is at the center of the show, which as staged by director Nessa Norich, brims with hyper-aware touches, from video cameras to audience participation via karaoke. Are we too contributing to Steve's and Summers' art by attending the show? Is Steve up to playing the ultimate prank on us all? To clear up this, and other doubts, we had an email exchange (what else?) with the insightful Summers...

How would you feel if Steve stopped communications completely? Would you worry and try to find out what he's up to?

Absolutely I would try and find out what was up.  If a month went by and I didn't get a single email I would definitely look into it.

What are the craziest ideas that have popped in your mind about his real purpose?

I can't say that I've suspected too many ulterior motives.  Friends of mine do sometimes.  I remember a friend of mine thinking that perhaps he was some big-time music producer looking for a cheap way to get melodic hooks.

Also, what are they putting in Australian water?

Fluoride I hope for good teeth.  And maybe something that makes Aussies come up with adorable abbreviations for everything?

In a way your work with Steve reminded me of the industrialized music-making of the Tin Pan Alley era where people were cranking out songs 24/7 trying to deliver hits. You mention that Steve is clearly trying to have success and your enterprise began as a way of making money, can you comment on the historical relationship between commerce and art, and why some people feel the two should never go together?

Hmm...well.  I think the best art comes from a very personal and honest place, sometimes that's marketable and sometimes it's not, but if it's true to the artist, and there's some talent and thought behind it, it's good regardless of whether it's a hit.  Mainstream/Pop Culture/Mega-hit art is really quite narrow in the stories, sounds, and points of view it allows for, at least for my taste.  In my mind where business and art clash is when the art is specifically made for marketability.  When you've got people thinking about demographics in the creation process, its going to take a little of the soul out unless the artist is super protective of their art.

In this creative process do you find Steve to be more of a muse or a collaborator?

For the songs he is a collaborator.  For the show it's more muse, but of course there's 10 original Steve songs in a 60 minute show so if you break it down he's collaborating on quite a bit of the show.

I'm curious as to how you determine the tempo/genre and style of the songs you do for Steve? Has he ever asked you to do certain things in certain specific styles (other than the Halloween special effects)?

Steve figured out the kinds of styles that Andrew does best and the styles that I do best.  We work separately so after the first few he was pretty direct about who he wanted to do which songs and sort of dictates the style that way. Andrew does songs on piano and I do songs on guitar.

What other strange instruments do you play other than the stylophone?

I play an Omnicord in the show, and in my band I play a Peruvian instrument called a Charango as well as Baritone Ukulele.

One of the songs you perform mentions something about "prom" and Australians don't have proms. Am I reading too much into seeing this as a clue of some sort?

I've always been surprised by how influential American culture is on the rest of the world especially when it comes to making art.  I don't think it's anything more than that.

Have you found that Steve's writing has adjusted more to fit your own style?

I'm not sure, but I do think that I've gotten better at finding ways to accompany the lyrics.

What has Steve's reaction been to the videos you've sent him of the audience?

At first I think he forgot that he asked me to do that.  His reaction was something like "I know what applause looks like".  But I think he liked it when I explained that it was for him.  But I don't send him every show...he might get annoyed by all the emails, know what I mean?

Steve: A Docu-Musical runs through August 22. For tickets and more click here.