Author: Charleston Stage

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

I grew up in McMinnville, TN. I was active in all clubs at school and the community theatre near my town, the Arts Center of Cannon County in Woodbury, TN. I also took as many art classes as possible in high school.

 

Q: Where did you receive training? How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

I first went to school at Middle Tennessee State University, but then transferred to University of Memphis, known as Memphis State to some. There I obtained my B.F.A. in Theatre with a double emphasis in Scenic Design and Musical Theatre. Along with my education, I received my training through various internships and Summer Stock throughout the country. I have painted in five different states. By doing this I got to experience professional theatre faster than most of my colleagues.

 

 

Q: What is your full-time position with Charleston Stage?

I’m currently the Scenic Charge/Scenic Design Associate. Last year I was a Resident Actor for the company and got the chance to paint for Charleston Stage and design along side Julian during Shakespeare in Love and design BILLY, GOAT, GRUFF The Musical myself. This year I will be painting everything you see on stage, and set designing Of Mice and Men, Number the Stars, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley.

 

Q: Please discuss your process and what was involved with set designing for the classic play Of Mice and Men.

When I started the process I wanted to do something different, and really transform our space. The show is very intimate, so it’s designed around that along with the feeling that came from the Great Depression and the work force during that time. When I started, I drew multiple sketches that eventually transformed into draftings and elevations on my computer after many talks with the director and design team. Then when all was done I created a miniature scale model of the set.

 

 

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for Of Mice and Men?

It really is something different we have done with the space. I’m excited for the audience to experience some vibrant color and the use of real metal in the set. And I’m hoping that the story will be a bit more intimate with the way we use the set.

 

 

Performances of Of Mice and Men run Oct. 17 – Nov. 4 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. To purchase tickets online, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

I grew up in Minneapolis, a city with a vibrant arts community. There seemed to be a little thread of creativity in the family as one of my many aunts was a dancer, another was a skilled caterer, flower arranger and craftswoman, and a cousin was a visual artist. Most of our very large extended family were not artists, but we few dedicated our careers to our various creative pursuits. I always loved to draw, loved to read, loved acting, and eventually learned to sew. If you put those things together, you pretty much have a costume designer.

 

Q: Where did you receive training? How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

I went to college at the University of Minnesota. It is there, working as a mime for the Peppermint Tent Summer Children’s Theatre, that I discovered how much more interesting it was to design costumes was than it was to perform. The costume designer that summer was having difficulty producing the costumes required for the show, so I volunteered to go home and make something that would fit into the designer’s color scheme. I found this so inspiring that I decided that I wanted the costume designer’s job next summer. I no longer auditioned and I took my first costume design class. In the end, I designed costumes for all five of the University of Minnesota’s theatres before graduating. I also built gigantic full body masks for an anti-Vietnam War protest on the steps of the state capitol in St. Paul. It was all too much fun to do anything else.

I went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Fortunately for me, Wisconsin had assembled a team of top designers to teach their MFA program. There was no one to teach costume construction, so it was a good thing that I arrived with sewing skills. My fellow students and I didn’t have much time for anything other than attending class and working in the costume shop, so homework was often squeezed into exam periods or overnight writing or drawing sessions. It was a serious trial for the jobs that came after, because there is never enough time, enough labor or enough money.

 

Q: What other companies have you most recently designed for?

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, The Clarence Brown theatre, Playmaker’s Repertory, The Barter Theater, The Arkansas Repertory, Syracuse Stage, and The Peccadillo Theater.

 

Q: Please discuss your process as the Costume Designer for Of Mice and Men.

The best research for this period is in the photographs from the Works Progress Administration like Dorthea Lange and Walker Evans. The photos are a moving testament to the hardships of ordinary people during the depression.

 

 

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for Of Mice and Men?

In a play like Of Mice and Men, I will feel like I have succeeded if the audience doesn’t think of the clothes as costumes, but as a natural extension of who each character is. They should be virtually unnoticeable.

 

Q: Tell us a little more about yourself.

I live in Knoxville, Tennessee, where I have just retired from my position as professor, resident costume designer and head of the MFA design program after 44 years at the University of Tennessee. Having left my first teaching job midway through a two year contract at the University of Colorado (a beautiful place but a terrible job), I decided that I had to stick out at least two years at the University of Tennessee or I might get a reputation for being flighty. That ship sailed.

Part of my job at the University of Tennessee was developing enlightening travel programs for the M.F.A. students. I arranged opportunities for master classes and cultural immersion in England, Wales, Germany, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Mexico, India, Thailand and Cambodia. Through this I developed a delight in travel and I continue to pursue travel on my own and with friends.

 

Featured (from left to right): Costume rendering for George and costume rendering for Lennie by Marianne Custer.

 

Performances of Of Mice and Men run October 17 – November 4 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. To purchase tickets online, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?

I’ve been working with Charleston Stage for 7 seasons now, my first being in 2011 as a Resident Actor. Some of my favorite past roles have been Princeton/Rod in the 2012 production of Avenue Q, Franz in The Producers, Eddie in Shear Madness, and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid.

 

Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?

I play the role of Bill Austin, one of Sophie’s “Maybe Dads.” I like to describe him as the “fun dad” – he’s a writer, an adventurer, and isn’t afraid of have a good time!

 

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia?

To be honest, I was never in to the original ABBA music. But 10 years ago I was on tour with a theatre group and we happened in to Las Vegas for a few days. I pulled $20 out of my bank account and told myself that was all I was able to gamble. I ended up winning $100 and decided to buy a second row seat to the production of Mamma Mia playing there. It was an absolute blast! All I remember was having a great time and enjoying every moment. So when the opportunity arose to be in the show here at Charleston Stage, I didn’t even think twice.

 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?

The band is absolutely STELLAR! Sam Henderson, our Resident Music Director and Director of Music Education, has put together an amazing group. From the Overture to the Exit Music, I’m completely enthralled with every sound that comes from the pit.

 

 

Q) Share a little bit about yourself.

My husband Ryan (playing Harry Bright) and I live in West Ashley with our amazing family of three cats – Hermes, Apollo, and Gypsy. I’ve been a theatre teacher for the Charleston County School District for the past 5 years, and just started this year at Cario Middle School.

 

Q) What’s up next for you? Will you be performing in another role with Charleston Stage or outside of the company?

Later this season I’ll be playing Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and I’ll also be appearing in Vanity Fair at the Woolfe Street Playhouse this winter.

 

Final Performance is tonight (Sept. 23) at 7:30pm at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Ticket sales available in person at the Box Office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. As a kid, I would play Barbies with my sisters, and I would do their hair, make up their “houses,” and give each of the dolls a background story…and then I would quit. I found that setting up the story was far more interesting than living in the story itself. I drew pictures a lot as a child, wrote a play, and designed the scenery on sheets in my grandparents’ backyard, etc. When I got to high school, I participated in activities like Odyssey of the Mind – again, designing scenery and costumes for our performance/problem solving session. I also got into theatre in my sophomore year, where I helped with set construction. In fact, until I took a Set Design class in college, I thought that the set designer was just the high school art teacher – not an actual profession where people paid you money to draw pictures!

 

 

Q: Where did you receive training? How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

A tiny liberal arts school in Ohio named Ashland University, where I received my B.A. My M.F.A. was earned at Kent State University, also in Ohio. I have also worked under and with amazing designers, prop artisans, and scenic artists at some pretty incredible theatres. These people believed in and invested in me, and I try to pass that on to younger artists and designers where I can. For what it’s worth, I still feel as if I am in training. There is always more to learn and ways to grow, and every person I work with helps me develop as an artist and a human just a little bit more. I am grateful for everything I have been taught in school, on the job, and in life.

 

 

Q: What other companies have you most recently designed for?

It’s been a busy spring and summer! I opened Eclipsed at Southern Repertory Theatre in NOLA and The Revisionist at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston in April. This summer brought Hello, Dolly! starring Dee Hoty and Mamma Mia! at Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City in July, as well as a remount of an earlier set design of Iolanthe at Ohio Light Opera.

 

Q: Please discuss your process as the Set Designer for Mamma Mia!

Actually, this is second of three productions of Mamma Mia! for me this summer/fall but before this, I hadn’t even seen it! It’s a pretty popular show this season. There has to be enough room for some excellent dancing, so putting a lot of architecture in the way of movement was not going to work. That being said, it was important to the whole team to make sure the beauty of the architecture and landscape of Greece was present in the design. The question was how many elements did we need to accomplish this feat? What was going to evoke enough of a sense of a vacation destination that was also separate and distinct from the beauty of the Charleston beaches and vacation spots? Over the course of working on the production, I have fallen deeply in love with the music of the show (as has much of the world), so the design was also about finding moments to incorporate some disco elements into the mix, as an homage to an ABBA concert. (They’re currently making another album, and I couldn’t be more excited!)

 

 

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for Mamma Mia?

I think, if our plans work, the scenery, costumes, and lighting (along with the music, of course) will coalesce to allow the audience to dance in their seats and just ENJOY themselves. I secretly hope everyone sings along, too…mostly so that I am not the only one doing so!

 

Q: Tell us a little more about yourself.

I reside in Fayetteville, AR, with my husband and almost 3 year old son. I am currently working on shows at Lyric Theatre again, as well as TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, AR; Casa Mañana in Ft. Worth, TX, Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose, CA; and Orlando Repertory Theatre in Florida – with more to be added soon! I have a couple of small murals in the works as well. I try to fit those in as I have time, along with freelance scenic art. My work may be viewed at
www.kvpowersdesign.com.

 

 

Performances continue running Sept. 20 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase tickets today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?

I was worried when Marybeth and Julian asked me to do this show that I WOULD be seen as a stranger! Because of “life” I realized last year, when I came back to return to perform at the 40^th Anniversary Gala, that my last show I did with Charleston Stage was The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. That was such an amazing experience playing Vice Principal Panch. Prior to that, I had not been on stage with Charleston Stage since before my med school days, as a Resident Actor. In those years I was lucky enough to play Sancho in Man of La Mancha and Marley in A Christmas Carol, among other roles. But Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls will always be my favorite. That was my first show at the Dock Street and is still one of my favorite musicals of all time.

 

Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?

I play Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia. I LOVE playing Sam. In a sea of big characters, big outfits, and BIGGER music, Sam is a real human being who has been through something very difficult we all can relate to (divorce) and who is making that one last leap at his dreams. You know, so often characters like Sam, in musicals and plays, are young dreamers who are fighting for their dreams. Sam is different. He is taking that chance later in life, and I think that is a message that resonates with a lot of people. That it is never to late to live “happily ever after”.

 

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia?

Since I went to medical school I have been doing the majority of my performing at Theater 99 doing shows there with my ensemble. We do mostly comedy improv, but there are shows that I do there that are also very deep and can be emotional, like Moral Fixation a 2 person improvised one act play that I have been doing for 14 years with Greg Tavares. But those shows have always been high quality with low production. We do the show month after month with just two chairs on the stage. When I performed at the gala last year, and got up on the Dock Street Stage again, it felt like it was time to come back to a “big production”…you know, partly to be a part of the spectacle again…and a little part of me to see if I still “had it”.

 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?

I think that the audience will get everything that they expect with this show. The ensemble is amazing. We have Broadway quality singers in the cast and excellent dancers. The sets are amazing, the crew (though many are under 16) are super professional and tight with their transitions. The lighting, sound, and orchestra are all as good as anything you will find in the Southeast. The music is fun and timeless and there are tons of laughs. What I think audiences will be surprised at is how relatable and real the central stories are. Sure, there is the Shakespearean Comedy of Errors component of fatherhood that the plot is built around, but the real story is about what it means to be a family, and what it means to be in love.

 

 

Q) Share a little bit about yourself.

A native South Carolinian, I have lived in Charleston since 2000 after finishing Wofford College. After my Resident Actor year at Charleston Stage, I went back to medical school at MUSC where I specialized in Psychiatry and then did a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I currently am a Professor of Psychiatry at MUSC and run the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training program and develop the Psychiatry curriculum for all of the medical students in the College of Medicine. After living in the old St. Jasper apartments during my acting residency, my then fiancée (now wife) Amy and I swore that we would never move off of the downtown peninsula (I think knowing that if we left we wouldn’t come back). So, for the last 18 years, we have slowly increased our living space downtown and now we have a nice little home for our family (Son Charlie (12) and daughter Grace (8)) in Radcliffeborough.

 

Q) What’s up next for you?

Starting back in October I will be back at Theatre 99 performing in my monthly shows Moral Fixation, Doppelganger, and Not Your Momma and Daddy. I will also probably do a few weekend shows with The Have Nots, as is my normal schedule. I hope to be back on the Dock Street Stage sooner rather than later, and you never know where (or when) I may show up again!

 

Performances continue running Sept. 19 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase online today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?


I have been fortunate enough to perform many dream roles with Charleston Stage. If I had to pick a few, I’d probably say Lord Wessex in Shakespeare in Love, Chef Louis in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Carmen Ghia in The Producers.

 


Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?


I play Harry “Headbanger” Bright, the uptight, British, potential father of Sophie. I love him because he’s kind of a wet blanket, but he’s still holding on to those golden years…

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia?


I have to be honest. I had never seen Mamma Mia! when Charleston Stage announced that it was opening the season. And I was jumping at the chance to try another role played by Colin Firth after Wessex in Shakespeare in Love.




 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?


I cannot wait for audiences to see these costumes. They start out so beautiful and just get bigger and bolder as the show continues. They are stunning!

 


Q) Share a little bit about yourself.


I am a Third Grade Assistant Teacher at The Cooper School and a Charleston native. I am the middle child of three boys, and I think that’s probably what drove me to performing.

 


Q) What’s up next for you?

I will be reprising my role as Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol this December and am so thrilled to be closing Charleston Stage’s 41st season in my childhood dream role, Lumière in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

 

Performances continue running Sept. 19 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase tickets today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?

I was an acting intern with Charleston Stage’s 2005-2006 season. That season I was in a production called Beehive: The 60’s Musical (Wanda). It was my favorite show that season because that musical is based on 60’s music, which happens to be my favorite! I’ve been blessed to return and be in other productions. Of those, my favorites were The Seat of Justice (Ruby) and Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle).

 

Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?

I have the privilege of playing Rosie in Mamma Mia. Rosie is the voice of reason and the life of the party. She’s the one you go to when you need sound advice, a shoulder to cry on and a laugh to follow.

 

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia? 

I’m actually a replacement Rosie.

The original Rosie had an injury and I was called in. I knew coming in I would have big shoes to fill and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be apart of this amazing cast.

 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?

Charleston Stages production of Mamma Mia is sincere and present. The entire cast gives 100% every night! Audiences will enjoy the commitment to storytelling as well as the fantastic lighting and set design, dancing, and costumes. It’s a great all around production!

 

 

Q) Share a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in the outskirts of Memphis, TN, but I have lived in New York for nearly 11 years.  That makes me a Southern New Yorker!  I’m the daughter of a Preacher and an educator. My values, love for people and welcoming demeanor are mostly based from my southern roots. I’m a wife of 9 years to a fantabulously handsome and supportive man and an auntie to 4 of the most warm-hearted children the world will ever know. When I’m not auditioning for the gig, I’m a nanny, a murder mystery actress, an Autistic technician for children with Autism or on the spectrum, and an ESL teacher for children in China.

I’m a natural born storyteller with creativity and a vigor for life. My motto is to live life like you’re dying- with no shoulda, coulda, woulda’s. My authenticity is what sets me apart and my love for people is what invites them in. Life is as fun or as boring as we make it. My desire is to inspire people to see the glass half full and consistently refillable.

 

Q) What’s up next for you?

I’m currently awaiting my next contract and excited about what that will be. Until then, I’m living life fully in the present moment with gratitude and open arms for life’s about the journey, not just the destination. 💛

 

Performances continue running Sept. 7 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase online today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with the company?

I loved playing Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act!

 

Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?

I play Donna Sheridan, Sophie’s momma and the owner of the Summer Nights Taverna. I love that Donna is a strong and independent woman. She works hard and can accomplish anything she puts her mind to!

 

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia?

I love the music and it’s just such a fun show. I also went to the ECC (Equity Chorus Call) a million and a half times when I lived in NY. I figured it was about time to actually get to dance the show!

 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?

The energy is contagious!! There is no way to see the show and not dance/sing along.

 

 

Q) Share a little bit about yourself.

I co-own a music, movement, and drama program for kids called Dance.Laugh.Learn. as well as teach private voice lessons. I live on James Island with my husband, Ben, and our 1-year-old daughter Vivian.

 

Q) What’s up next for you? Will you be performing in another role with Charleston Stage?

I will be playing Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time as well as Mrs. Potts in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

 

Performances continue running Sept. 6 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase online today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

I grew up in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, just outside of San Juan. While other kids did sports, all I wanted to do was crafts. I also loved to sit and watch my Mom sew. Classic film musicals like West Side Story, The Sound of Music, and The Wizard of Oz mesmerized me. I knew from a very early age, after seeing a school Christmas play, that theatre was what I wanted to do.

 

 

Q: Where did you receive training? How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

After my freshman year at The University of Puerto Rico, I transferred to The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I immediately gravitated toward the costume shop where I met Marianne Custer who became my mentor, inspiration, and now, dear friend (Marianne will be designing our upcoming production of Of Mice and Men). Working in costumes was safe for me because English was not my first language. By graduation I felt confident enough with my English to pursue my passion, so I attended The University of Utah where I got my M.F.A. in Directing Musical Theatre. Still, I designed many shows. I was very lucky to have attended two great universities, both with resident professional companies, working alongside these professionals gave me a great foundation to be who I am today.

 

 

Q: Where have you worked previously before designing/working with Charleston Stage?

I have worked all over: Salt Lake City, Park City, Phoenix, Little Rock, and New York City, where I worked my way up from crafts person to General Manager of Izquierdo Studios Ltd.

 

Q: What is your full-time position with Charleston Stage?

Production Manager. I hire, supervise, and work alongside our team of technicians and artists that comprise our production staff. The easiest way to summarize my job is that my main responsibilities are to make sure it gets done. I am involved from the moment the show is selected to the moment a show closes, from the first conversation, the designing of the shows, rehearsals, openings, and the run of the show to insure a smooth and, hopefully, successful process and production.

 

 

Q: You are also the Costume Designer for Mamma Mia! Please discuss your process and what is involved with designing for this musical sensation.

I saw Mamma Mia! on Broadway, then most recently was the Production Manager for a production and first time as a designer. It is very important that I am designing the show the director wants, yet give her (Marybeth Clark) things she never expected. I start with the text and the music. I close my eyes and then imagine it. And if I can please myself, be excited about it, then I know I am on the right track because I am my own toughest critic.

 

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for Mamma Mia!?

I don’t want to spoil the surprises but I can say with certainty that our audiences will be transported to a different world and that there are many surprises in store all the way to the end of Curtain Call. So stay in your seats until the lights go up!

 

Performances continue running Sept. 6 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase online today by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a few of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?


It’s fun to be the villain, so I loved playing Velma von Tussle in Hairspray. All of the shows have been a joy to be a part of but my other favorites would probably be Cabaret, Legally Blonde, and Young Frankenstein.

 


Q) What is your role in Mamma Mia and what do you like most about your character?


I’ve wanted to play Tanya since I first saw the show as a teen, so I am very grateful for this opportunity! Tanya is one of Donna’s best friends and a member of Donna and the Dynamos. She’s wealthy, cultured, fun, fashionable, and confident, and she loves to let loose with her friends.

 

 

Q) What drew you to performing in Mamma Mia?


I have always loved this show! It is pure fun, and the songs are so catchy! I think the way ABBA’s songs are worked into the plot is very clever, and I like the show’s multi-generational appeal.

 

Q) What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with Charleston Stage’s production of Mamma Mia?


I think they will love the music and the costumes, and I hope they will get up and dance at the end!!

 




 

Q) Share a little bit about yourself.


I am originally from Virginia. I went to school in NYC and moved to Charleston soon after. I work with Storytree Children’s Theatre, East Cooper Montessori, Dance Laugh Learn, Village Kids on Woolfe, and Curiouser Entertainment. I love kids and theatre, so it’s a blessing to make a living by combining the two. I recently got married and moved to West Ashley with my husband, Ian, and our shih tzu, Fozzie Bear.

 


Q) What’s up next for you?

Up next I’m playing Jerusha in Daddy Long Legs at the Woolfe Street Playhouse and Babette in Charleston Stage’s Beauty and the Beast.

 

Performances continue running Sept. 13 – 23 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Purchase online today by clicking here.