RADIO LISTENERS MIGHT TUNE IN TO HEARA MUSICAL PRODUCTION BASED ON COMEDY,ROMANCE, OR DRAMA. But few would expect to comeacross a one-hour musical drama commemorating the tragedyof Sept. 11. Yet, that is what Lubbock attorney CharlesMoster wrote about when he penned the script for “Taken:How Will They Be Remembered?” Like many people whotried to grapple with the tragedy, Moster used writing as ameans to cope and transcend the events of that day.

Some of Moster’s other productions include “My DearKitty,” a one-act musical based on the life of Anne Frank,and “A Different Engine,” based on English mathematicianCharles Babbage.

Over the past 25 years, the prolific playwright has writtenwork that has been produced for National Public Radio, off-Broadway theater in New York, and other theatre venues nation-wide. These days, Moster’s work is accessible via streaming audio.He says it’s a perfect vehicle for delivering his type of work.“It’s old technology delivered on a new technology,” he says.

Moster also creates music to accompany his written work.Interestingly, Moster admits that he does not know how towrite or read music. He says the logistics are quite simple. “Ihum and a music composer turns it into a beautiful score.”

His humming career began in 2006 while driving in traf-fic. At that time, Moster had a private law firm in Austin.

“There were never any short drives,” he says. “So I alwayshad a digital recorder in the car.”

Four years ago, Moster and his wife moved to Lubbock,where he currently practices law. The transition proved tobe quite problematic. “It only took six minutes to get any-where,” says Moster. “I couldn’t write anything in that shortamount of time.”

Moster believes there is a real connectivity between the-atre and law. He says, “Some lawyers are beautifully trainedand present an argument in a way that tells a compellingstory that the judge and jury will remember.”

In regard to his own storytelling, Moster thinks radio pro-ductions give the audience a unique experience. “As a lis-tener, you can hear the songs and also the noises that actorsmake, such as walking, but then you have to integrate thatinto the story and you get to use your own imagination.” Headds that music can tell a memorable story as well. “You cantell an inspirational story with a song because it sometimesreaches a wider range of emotions.”

Moster’s current project is a collaboration with TimEaton, who was the visual effects editor for the movie Titan-ic. The story centers on Nikole Tesal, the famous engineerwho is credited with inventing modern radio.

Tune in to some of Moster’s award-winning plays and songson prx.org and reverbnation.com/charlesmoster/.

LUBBOCK ATTORNEY CREATES

Memorable Stories for the Air

97 Texas Bar Journal • February 2013 texasbar.com

Lubbock attorney Charles Mosterhas worked as a playwright andlyricist for more than 25 years.His most recent play, “The ChristmasCurmudgeon,” aired on Texas TechUniversity’s KTTZ Radio (89.1 FM)over the recent holiday.

IN RECESS

texasbar.com/tbj Vol. 76, No. 2 • Texas Bar Journal 98

T E X A S P E O P L E

Richard L. TateTate Moerer & King, L.L.P.,

Richardson

Honored with the Arthurvon Briesen Award for hisvolunteer contributions insupport of civil legal aid.

Tammy TranThe Tammy Tran Law Firm

Attorney at Law, L.P., Houston

Named one of the 10 mostinfluential Vietnamese-Amer-ican women by the Viet-namese American Chamberof Commerce of Houston.

Lisa Atlas GenecovLocke Lord, L.L.P,

Dallas

Presented with the 2012William B. Finkelstein Car-doza Society Member of theYear Award by the Jewish Fed-eration of Greater Dallas.

Judge Randy Shelton279th District Court,

Beaumont

Honored by Texas CASA asthe 2012 Big Voices for LittleTexans Judge of the Year.

“TO BE A GOOD ATTORNEY, YOU NEED MORETHAN CODE BOOKS,” SAYS RICHARDSONATTORNEY ISAAC SHUTT. He believes having ahobby outside of the practice of law is helpful for attorneys.One of his main hobbies is pen turning, making pens outof wood, which he began a few years ago.

Shutt uses a 300-pound, second-hand lathe to make thepens. It is big, heavy, and noisy. He says part of the fun ofthe process is seeing the transformation — starting with thebig, ugly machine and ending with perfect, blemish-freepens. Shutt uses all kinds of wood, including an olive woodfrom Bethlehem, but most commonly uses a Mexican woodcalled bocote. Many of the wood types are fragrant, whichmakes the pen-turning process even more enjoyable for him.

Shutt does not sell his pens. He believes he gets moremileage out of them by making something his clients willenjoy and giving them as gifts. Some of his clients haveeven broken down into tears upon receiving such a thought-ful gift. He enjoys seeing people’s eyes light up, and he wantsto give them something they will be proud to use.

Shutt is always looking for ways to improve his pen-turning process — honing his problem-solving skills andincreasing the fun of the process. In addition to pens, healso makes bottle openers, ice cream scoopers, and winecorkers out of wood. He always asks himself how he cando better both with his woodworking and for his clients.

Shutt has learned that having hobbies makes him amore well-rounded person, which in turn makes him abetter attorney. It helps him to structure his thinking andshape his thoughts. His other hobbies include ridingmotorcycles and fixing motorcycles and cars, hobbies that

help him relate to clients. Shutt says, “If you can relate tothem, you will be better at helping them.” He also playsclarinet and serves as president-elect for the RichardsonCommunity Band, which he says adds to his people skills.

It’s easy to get tunnel vision when focusing only on lawpractice, Shutt says. He feels being relatable to his clientsthrough hobbies outside of the practice of law and caringabout his clients’ perspective helps expand his vision andperception. Shutt does all of his hobbies because heenjoys them, but he says, “It is icing on the cake that itmakes me a better attorney.”

Hobbies Have Far-ReachingImpact on Attorney

Richardson attorney Isaac Shutt

IN RECESS