Month: August 2023

Jhonika Wright, second-year Resident Actor in our 46th season and last seen as Ti Moune and Erzulie in ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, has been leading the cast in the role of Emma Nolan in our season-opening production of THE PROM! Get your tickets here before it closes on September 17, and read on to hear about how she’s prepared for this special role.

Please introduce yourself! What are you looking forward to with Charleston Stage as a Resident Actor this year?

Jhonika Wright here! I graduated with my BFA in Musical Theatre in 2020. I’m from Maryland, and this is my second year as a Resident Actor with Charleston Stage. I’m so happy to be back for another year in Charleston! My favorite aspects of being a Resident Actor are not only getting to know my fellow “RAs”, but also seeing how we all grow and transform through this company’s mentorship. I came into this job thinking I was only one “type” of performer, and while working here I have been cast in a wide range of roles! I love that I’m being challenged and trusted to take on these characters, and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for me this year.

What do you love about theatre as an art form?

Theatre has remained a constant creative outlet and form of expression for myself, and has shaped me into the person I am today. I discovered a love for myself through my love of performance. As a performer who is a woman of color and plus-size, it has allowed me to be comfortable in my own skin and to live my truth authentically. In theatre I discovered my voice and my want to connect and impact those around me through storytelling and representation on and off stage. 

How have you been preparing for your role in The Prom?

I started my table work for this show very early, and have kept a notebook with me to write down any thoughts or discoveries I’ve had about Emma through the rehearsal process to contribute to my previous thoughts. The very first time I met with Gracie (Alyssa Greene) to talk about Emma and Alyssa’s relationship, it resulted in a 2+ hour conversation! We also discovered a book adaptation of The Prom that was so helpful to read.

I gave myself time to deeply examine who Emma is as a person from her likes, dislikes, how I imagined she would decorate her room, what kinds of things she does at school, what her coming out experience was like, how she navigated being in an interracial relationship in a small town, etc. Once I felt that I knew who she was inside and out, I then looked at Emma’s relationships with everyone that she does and doesn’t interact with on stage, and broke down all of her songs to discover the true meanings behind them. It’s very easy to miss the real message to these songs when they all sound so upbeat.

It was very important to me to get Emma right. She has so many layers, so I wanted to make sure I explored that instead of playing to her surface level of what people might think they know about her. I wanted her to be represented in the best way possible, especially for queer teens and people of color to feel seen through her experiences.

Tell us more about Emma. What do you want us to know about her?

“Emma Nolan is the bravest and strongest person on the planet, but she has no idea.”

Emma keeps her head down in an attempt to keep a low profile, going through the motions to get to graduation day so she can finally leave Indiana. She has lost her parents, friends, and now Prom all because she wants to be her authentic self. When we see Emma around other students and adults, she displays a hard exterior and wall to protect herself. However, when we see Emma around Alyssa and Principal Hawkins, people she feels safe around, her gentle side is revealed – it’s a drastic shift.

Emma is extremely creative, smart, a fighter, and has a big heart for those that are close to her. I admire her courage to advocate for what she wants and fight for change, especially in a small town surrounded by people who claim to hate her. It has been an adventure of a lifetime as an actor getting to explore who she is down to her core.

What has come easily in preparing for this show? What has been more difficult?

I always knew that this show would challenge me in the best way possible. The Prom is demanding vocally, with dancing, and acting. I took extra dance classes so that I could get back into the swing of picking up choreography quickly and to build the stamina needed to sing and dance simultaneously. My vocal warm up became more extensive for this role; how I take care of myself vocally has changed a lot.

With this story carrying a more intense weight, I started my table work and acting process much earlier than I have for other shows. The plan of preparation to take on this show was easy, but executing and sticking to these new regiments was sometimes difficult. I had to push myself to not give up and to stick to what I had planned so that I could give this show the absolute best of me. It’s so nice to feel and see that my hard work is paying off!

What do you hope audiences will receive and ponder after seeing this show?

We live in a country where the rights of POC and LGBTQIA+ are threatened daily, and this show is just a small glimpse into what queer teens go through. I want The Prom to leave our audiences more open-minded about these issues. At the end of the show we see a divided community come together, and I can only hope that this production gives us an optimism to hope that in despite such polarizing beliefs in our country, we can come together to accept and protect the rights of one another.

What is your favorite show of all time?

HADESTOWN! I saw it on Broadway for the first time in 2022 without knowing anything about it, but I walked out of the theatre speechless and so moved. It’s a show that gives me the giddy feeling of hearing and seeing it for the very first time anytime I listen to it.

Jhonika Wright is thrilled to be returning to Charleston Stage for her second year as a Resident Actor! Originally from Maryland, Jhonika spent most of her life in Arkansas where she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her favorite roles include Ti Moune and Erzulie (Once On This Island), Wendla (Spring Awakening), Cairo (We Are the Tigers), Grizabella (Cats), and Yertle the Turtle (Seussical the Musical). Sending all the love to her incredible family and friends for their endless support, “This one is for you!” To keep up with all things Jhonika, you can visit her Instagram: @jhonikaaaa

THE PROM performs at the Historic Dock Street Theatre until September 17th. Get your tickets here before they’re sold out!

We spoke with Adam Jehle, our Resident Scenic and Projector Designer, bringing his skills to the Dock Street Theatre once again in designing our set for THE PROM. Get your tickets to the show here, and read on to learn about his artistic process in creating the sets for this special musical!

Share with us your artistic background. How did you get into theatre and set design?

I have been doing theatre since middle school, always acting at first. It wasn’t until college that the world of scenic design was expanded for me, and I absolutely fell in love with it. The creative expression and the seemingly endless amount of ways to create a show differently was all incredibly exciting and fascinating to me. I’ve always been a visual storyteller, but scenic design really felt different. I eventually graduated from Missouri State University with a BFA in Design, Technology, and Stage Management and immediately started at Charleston Stage doing what I love. 

Which styles of theatre do you gravitate towards the most? Why?

I have always been a modernist and an expressionist when it comes to the theatre I enjoy designing. I like to create things that have never been seen before and are emotionally story driven. I want the audience to be immersed in the world I create – not just because it is beautiful, but because I want them to empathize with the characters, feel what they are feeling, and be inspired by the journey. It’s one of the many reasons it’s so fulfilling if I’ve done my job right.

What has inspired you as you create your set designs for The Prom? What are your dreams for Charleston Stage’s visual presentation of this special show?

For The Prom, there are two I really jumped into. One was this idea of “openness.” All the characters, whether they want to or not, experience or need to experience an open mindset in order to grow. So to translate that visually, I wanted to keep the set very open and spacious, leaving literal room for the characters to grow. It’s like they are plucked out of their fully realistic world and placed in this abstract open space where they are forced to open up to each other and grow.

The other concept we chose to focus on is the idea of “assumptions.” Again, almost everyone in the show has strong assumptions about those unfamiliar to them. The Broadway stars think the Indiana folks are backwater hicks, and the Indianians think the Broadway stars are narcissistic. Scenically, that means making the set and props almost stereotypical. What does Indiana look like stereotypically? Corn fields, disheveled schools and ghost towns. What does New York look like? Broadway signs, neon lights, and a more liberal atmosphere. So I tried to make all the scenic pieces recognizable – something you have seen before and would say, “oh yea that’s exactly what Applebee’s looks like.”

What has come easily as you design this show? Which aspects have proven to be more challenging?

The easiest part for me was creating the school. I made it look and feel like my own high school I grew up in. The hardest part for me, as it is for any big musical nowadays, is the large number of different locations. Musicals nowadays are like movies – every scene is in a different location that is very distinct from the others. The challenge is to create a set that weaves in and out so the audience can follow what is going on.

What are your favorite shows of all time?

My favorite shows are Macbeth, M. Butterfly, Titanic, Cabaret and Hamilton.

THE PROM, Charleston Stage’s MainStage opening musical, runs August 25 – September 17 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, visit click here.

Adam Jehle, originally from Nixa, MO, is the Resident Scenic/Projections Designer and Assistant Technical Director for Charleston Stage. His credits include Projection Design for Murder on the Orient Express and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Scenic Designs for The Addams Family – A New Musical, Native Gardens, Charlotte’s Web, Black Pearl Sings! and Kinky Boots for Charleston Stage. Technical Direction for all of Charleston Stages’ 45th Season. Other credits are scenic designing shows such as Cinderella and Mamma Mia! at Crane River Theatre in Nebraska, and Titanic, Cabaret, and Groundhog Day at Stagedoor Manor in upstate New York. He received his B.F.A. in Design, Technology and Stage Management from Missouri State University in 2020. Adam is excited to be Designing other shows for Charleston Stage this season including The Prom, Clue: On Stage, A Christmas Carol, and The Trip to Bountiful.

We spoke with Cara Dolan, longtime friend and choreographer for Charleston Stage bringing her skills to the Dock Street Theatre once again with THE PROM. Get your tickets to the show here, and read on to learn about her artistic process in creating the movement for this special musical!

Share with us your artistic background. How did you get into theatre and dance?

I’ve been doing theatre since I was a kid – I started taking dance around 5 and never stopped! I was really lucky to grow up near Flat Rock Playhouse in NC and train there for the majority of my childhood. I then went to Florida State University where I got my BFA in Musical Theatre. 

Which styles of theatre do you gravitate towards the most? Why?

I tend to gravitate towards musical theatre. Doesn’t everyone love it when people break into song and dance?!

What has inspired you as you create choreography for The Prom? What are your dreams for Charleston Stage’s presentation of visual movement for this special show?

The movement in The Prom is really energetic and fun. It’s more contemporary than many of the previous shows we’ve done at Charleston Stage, which has been uniquely fun to work on. I hope our audiences will feel how much fun the actors are having dancing to this score. 

What has come easily as you choreograph this show? Which aspects have proven to be more challenging?

So much of the choreography in this show is more contemporary and not your typical “music theatre” style of dance. That has been challenging, but also the most fun part. 

What are your favorite shows of all time?

My favorite shows are West Side Story, Crazy for You and A Chorus Line.  Dance shows for the win!

THE PROM, Charleston Stage’s MainStage opening musical, runs August 23 – September 17 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, visit CharlestonStage.com.

Cara Dolan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from Florida State University and has danced and performed at a number of leading theatres, including The Flat Rock Playhouse, Central Piedmont Summer Theater, The Papermill Theater in NH, as well as Charleston Stage. She has taught dance and theatre for more than 9 years and has choreographed numerous professional productions including Charleston Stage’s Chicago, The Wiz, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Anything Goes, 9 to 5: The Musical, Annie, Next To Normal, Gershwin at Folly, Pinkalicious the Musical, Young Frankenstein, Catch Me If You Can: The Musical, The Producers, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, White Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Elf The Musical, and The Addams Family – A New Musical. Cara would like to thank her boys Chris, Gavin, and Brody for all of their love and support.