Shirley Robertson

Writer & Producer

Shirley Robertson brings a lifelong passion for the arts to her debut musical Harmony's Edge as writer and producer—proving it's never too late to start a rock band, at least on paper.

Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to singing (enthusiastically and often), and for the last four years has led Sisters in Song, a no-audition women's singing group in Pasadena, California—because she firmly believes you don't need perfect pitch to raise your voice, just a little courage and a willingness to show up.

Shirley has also collaborated with her husband, Don Robertson, and son, Damon Robertson, on the indie rock album One Life (2016)—a true family affair where creative differences were settled the old-fashioned way: by writing more songs. Their music blends traditional folk-rock with a secular humanist perspective, exploring what it means to live fully, intentionally, and with a good soundtrack.

Born in Los Angeles in 1948, Shirley is a retired clinical social worker who spent more than 20 years with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. She now brings that same compassion, insight, and deep commitment to community into her creative work—only with better lighting and occasional applause.

David Vernon

Director

I grew up with musicals — raised in an eccentrically artistic family and exposed to more art than I could possibly process. I became fascinated by people who burst into song when emotions became too complicated for ordinary conversation.

Some people ask, "Why are they singing?" My response is: "Why aren't we all?" I mean, admit it — wouldn't Death of a Salesman be a teensy-eensy bit more fun with a power ballad or two? Musicals happen because emotions exceed language.

I became associated with the ridiculously talented Robertson family (who have more musical skills than the Von Trapp Family rolled into one) when I directed a staged presentation of Don Robertson's musical, Family Reunion. With our current show, Harmony's Edge, I became fascinated with Don and Shirley's wonderfully complex concept about legacy… and what happens when we finally tell the truth. And the question of "how do you make a musical about characters who are already singing." Perhaps it exists in the difference between what they are singing… and what they aren't really saying — to each other, and to the world.

Now, onto my credits and life skills. Here are three facts. One of them is not true. I was a writer/producer on the movie Berlin, I Love You, which starred Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Luke Wilson and Diego Luna, among other German actors whose names I still can't pronounce. My father was the voice of the Rankin/Bass animated TV show Frosty the Snowman and I still melt everywhere when I watch it. I wrote The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, a gay screwball comedy based on a famous gay comic strip. Actually, those are all true. The fact that one of them was not true, was the part that was untrue.

Why should you see Harmony's Edge? Because it has more than 15 totally original songs and has a theatricality that aligns with our fabulous Cat's Crawl Theater — the theater becomes part of the show. The audience is part of the show. It's a concert! It's a play! It's theater!