Category: Back Stage Blog

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I’m M’lynn. You called the role iconic and I suppose it is, but I can see how easy it is to take that idea and create this caricature of a southern lady with big hair and snappy one-liners… but what I love about this story is, at its heart, it’s true.  “M’lynn” was a mother who had a daughter and these close friends and it’s a story about how we love and how we hold each other up.

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

I saw the movie first when I was living in Europe at the time and I remember how heartsick it made me for home. Southern women and big hair and all.

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

Every woman can find themselves in one of these characters.  It’s the “Sex and the City” of the 80’s.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

Pretty much anything Ouiser says.

 

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

Waiter, I’ve tried Blush wine, but what is bashful?  ha ha ha ha

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

It’s no different for me whether it’s all male and female. It’s all about giving and listening and really being present in your role that makes ensemble acting so fun… but for this show, several of these women are already my friends and the affection you all will see is so real. THAT has made this show really special for me.

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 21st – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I am playing Clairee Belcher. I love the humor Clairee brings to the show. Also, I played Annelle, M’Lynn, and Truvy in past productions so this was a natural progression. I just need to play Ouiser and my life will be complete!

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

I saw the movie before I read the play.  I loved that the characters were so well written.  I can relate to all of the characters.  I grew up with every one of these ladies!

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

The importance of female friendships. I think as a younger woman, I didn’t realize how important it is to have a close group of female friends. I learned how important it was once I reached my 40s. Steel Magnolias represents the importance of those friendships.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

Annelle’s line “I promise my personal tragedy will not affect my ability to do good hair”. Tells you everything you need to know about Annelle!

 

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

Are those team colors?

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

This cast has been a joy to work with. I have worked with Liz, Samille, and Teralyn in the past, so it has been fun to reconnect with them. The RAs, Sara and Mary Kate, fit right in. And who doesn’t love working with Jesse Siak?

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 21st – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. There is now a newly added performance at 7:30pm on March 24th with plenty of great seats! For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I am playing Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie and am so excited to bring this character to life. The most exciting part to me is that it is all based off a true story. Robert Harling wrote the play because he wanted his sister to not be forgotten. Shelby is such a strong woman and I feel honored to portray her.

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

I actually had not seen the movie until we started this show! (I know- I’m terrible). And then I put it off for a while because as an actor sometimes watching the “original” content can affect how you portray the character without even knowing it. So once we were in rehearsals for a while, and I felt like I had a good grip on what I personally thought about Shelby’s character and I decided to watch it! And I just sobbed. For two hours I cried my eyes out, and it was great!

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

I think the main thing to take away from Steel Magnolias is to live life to the fullest. That’s what Shelby did, and yes it cost her her life, but she wouldn’t have wanted her life to be any other way. One of the lines that impacts me the most is in the last scene when M’ylnn says “Shelby, as you know, would not want us to get all mired down and wallow in this. She would look on it as just one of life’s occurrences”. It is so simple but so wise. Shelby could have not gotten pregnant and maybe would have survived, but that wasn’t what she wanted in life. She wanted to be a mother- that’s what made her heart full. The beauty of life and love will always resonate with people and that is what makes this show great.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

My ABSOLUTE favorite line is Clairee’s when she says, “As somebody always said… if you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody… come sit by me.” It just perfectly sums up the type of shade these ladies throw! It is like that person that always speaks in backhanded compliments but they are so charming you can’t help but laugh. All these ladies in the show are strong, sassy, and unapologetically themselves.

 

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

OH don’t even get me started. Blush and Bashful are two very different shades of pink, one being much deeper than the other 😉

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

It is truly incredible. The ladies and I were kinda joking that we thought it was funny how even though the play was written by a man. He captures the essence and vibe of that close female relationship so well. It is just another reason why this show is so special and resonates with people of all ages. That kind of womanly love is proudly on display in every second of this show. From day one I felt bonded and connected to all the women in this cast, and being on stage with them is an honor!

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 15th – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I’m playing Annelle! It’s exciting to play a woman with so many layers, who perseveres through awful situations with so much joy and hope. Also, we are rarely given the opportunity to play characters who make as many bizarre and delightful choices as sweet Annelle.

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

I was late to the party and watched the movie for the first time last year. I was on a flight from LA to Philadelphia (in the middle seat!) and had no idea what I was getting myself in to. I was crying (and laughing!) so hard that the man next to me offered me a tissue. I couldn’t contain my reactions. I think I watched it twice more that week.

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

Women are resilient, powerful, gracious and loving- and we are stronger together. I think every woman has been there, in their version of Truvy’s Salon- there is magic in these rooms. I feel personally formed by the wonderful group of female friends and neighbors that rallied around my mother during trying times, and part of that magic was just sitting in the kitchen and observing while the women talked and gossiped and helped each other. It’s what we do, and it’s beautiful.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

“I’d rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”

This gorgeous line reminds me of why I wanted to be an actor in the first place. It’s pretty terrifying sometimes, but it’s also pretty wonderful. I’m going to enjoy every second I get to do it.

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

Annelle would say, “The lord loves all shades of pink.”

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

It’s a rare and lovely opportunity. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like acting at all- we are playing and enjoying each other’s company and insights, on stage and off. This story is such a roller coaster. It’s impossible to not to form a bond with each other.

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 14th – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I am playing Ouiser. I have played MyLynn and Clairee in previous productions. Growing up in a small Southern town , I relate to all of these ladies.

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

When I saw the movie I felt like I was back in my hometown.

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

I think the bonds of friendship and love these women have for each other and their resilience in the face of great loss touches so many people who have had similar experiences.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

“I love you more than my luggage.” – Clairee to Quiser

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

I grew up going to the beauty parlor (Rosa Lee’s) with my mom. There was always a pot of coffee, sweet tea and soup going in a back room. This feels the same and those same friendships are there. Laughter on and off stage. Poking fun at each other and sharing our daily lives in the dressing room. What memories we have!

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 8th – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)   Who are you playing and what excites you most about performing this iconic role?

I am playing the role of Truvy, and I am thrilled to dive into a role I’ve always wanted to play. I saw the movie Steel Magnolias when I was a kid and I remembered being mesmerized by the relationship between the women. I wanted friends like that. In college, I discovered it was a play. I about fell out after reading it. There were even more wonderful moments and connections! And Truvy leapt off the page. She is a true romantic who loves everyone (faults and all) and works to be the rock her friends can depend on. I mean, who doesn’t want to be that kind of person on stage and off stage?

 

 

 

2)   What’s your first memory of Steel Magnolias?

I watched the movie with my mom. We laughed and cried. It was one of those moments where I understood the power of stories in the human experience and knew I had to be a part of it. Oh goodness, does that mean Steel Magnolias is the reason I became an actor? I think so!

 

3)   What do you think is the important message of Steel Magnolias and why does it still resonate with audiences today?

It shows us the power of our relationships in our every day moments as well as the worst days of our lives. It reminds us how the tiny, mundane, routines of our relationships are what make us strong and that it’s important to cultivate and nurture those relationships that are dearest to us. It reminds us that we actually do need each other. It reminds us to get out of our own lanes and share time with other people because humans need humans. And it resonates with us because we humans enjoy being reminded of our humanity and our need for relationships–we especially like this reminder through laughter.

 

 

4)   There are so many famous one-liners from Steel Magnolias. Which one is your favorite and why?

I can only pick one?!?!? From Ann Boleyn’s fingers to one-armed paper hangers, there are just too many. But today, in this moment, I will have to say, “Honey, there’s so much static electricity in this place that I attract everything but boys and money” It’s just one of those perfect one-liners that reminds me of my bestest friend in the whole wide world, Emilee. She can always turn a phrase.

 

 

5)   If your character had to distinguish between whether something was “Blush” or “Bashful”, what would their response be?

Oh honey, I never was good at figurin’ out complicated things like this, but you can and that makes me smile and love you more, you sweet thing.

 

6)   Please share your thoughts on performing with an all female ensemble.

The opportunity to play strong, iconic women with women I love and respect in our community is truly a dream come true. There is a magic that happens when women get the opportunity to collaborate and create. When you couple that magic with a wonderful script and a clear vision from the director, it becomes an artistically fulfilling experience. I am rediscovering the passion that drives me while sharing space and time with these women, and I am forever thankful for that.

 

 

Performances of Steel Magnolias run March 6th – 24th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, 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 Midlothian, VA, a suburb of Richmond. I did all kinds of things as a kid, but I would say girl scouts probably had the biggest influence on leading me towards a career in the arts.

 

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

I did my undergrad at Longwood University, a small liberal arts college in Farmville, VA. Though a small school, the B.F.A. program for technical theatre was pretty intense. It put me on the prop path. I continued my training at Ohio University where I earned a M.F.A. in Props Technology and Costuming Crafts. With all my formal education I was propelled into some high quality circles of theatre.

 

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

I am the Properties Master here at Charleston Stage. Basically if it’s part of the structural set, and an actor isn’t wearing it – it’s a prop! For all of the shows I am collecting, altering, and building from scratch to enhance the show.

 

Q: Please discuss your design process and what was involved with designing props for The Curious Incident.

With any design process, the main goal is to achieve the director’s and designers’ vision, while creating props that are functional and actor friendly. Working on Curious Incident was a process centered around cubes and a model train. The cubes were the first and most important props to nail down. They function like furniture pieces and storage bins, and they shift and transform the location for each scene. As for the moment involving the model, the design was a product of functionality and story telling. This moment literally represents a journey for our protagonist, so we had to make it special. I connected with The Charleston Area Model Railroad Club and they were able to collect track pieces and an English-style model train. It’s always cool when we can collaborate with members of our community. Furthermore, with the set angled on a rake, which is visually stimulating for the audience; however, it presented science-related challenges that we needed to overcome.

 

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for The Curious Incident?

I’m very excited about having the opportunity to share this show with the community. My youngest sister is autistic and I think this show really highlights how hard it is to be a person who doesn’t have the ability to communicate the way everyone else does and also how straining it can be on family members. I think all of the design elements, not just scenic and props, combine to give the audience a glimpse into what things are like for Christopher. I hope the audience walks away feeling moved, empathetic, and wanting to learn more about it.

 

Q: Tell us a little more about yourself.

I’ve lived in Charleston for 2 years, I have a toddler that lights up my world, and I play roller derby for your local Lowcountry Highrollers.

 

Final 4 performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time run Feb. 21 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: What is your position with Charleston Stage?

I am the Resident Sound Designer and Audio Engineer at Charleston Stage. This position encompasses two jobs, one of which is primarily creative and the other primarily technical. As the Sound Designer, I am responsible for everything you hear in a show. I find, create, and arrange sound effects. I compose incidental music for most of our non-musical plays. I am also responsible for designing the physical sound system – what microphones are used, how they are used, where speakers are placed, etc. As Audio Engineer, I implement that design. I program the computer that plays back the sound effects. I prepare, set up, and maintain all of the microphones and speakers. And I set up, program, and operate the mixing board. I also teach a sound design class for high school students as part of our TheatreWings program.

 

Q: Charleston Stage has officially moved into the West Ashley Theatre Center. What are you most excited about that this new facility offers?

I am excited that we are able to bring a performance and rehearsal space of this size and capability to West Ashley. We are able to provide the space and technical capabilities for community groups of all types to present performances that they may not have been able to do before, at least not easily or affordably. More than that, I am excited for the opportunities this space gives us to expand our educational offerings. The education program is one of the main things that distinguished Charleston Stage for me during the job search that brought me here. In this building, not only do we simply have more space for everything, we have a fully functional theatre space that will allow me to give my students direct, hands-on experience with the kinds of theatrical sound equipment that is in use throughout the professional theatre world.

As a Sound Designer, this new space has allowed me to have my own office/studio where I can compose and create sound effects in a comfortable, professional environment without bothering my coworkers! In the past, all of my work had to be either at home or in the office using headphones. Now I have all my equipment, including keyboards, microphones, and high-quality monitoring speakers, in one place with a door I can close.

 

Q: You are also the Original Music and Sound Designer for The Curious Incident. Please discuss your process and what is involved with writing music for a production such as The Curious Incident.

My main goal with the sound design and music for The Curious Incident is to help the audience understand how Christopher, the main character, experiences the world. The first challenge with this, of course, is that I personally don’t have the same experiences that someone like Christopher would. Fortunately, the script and the novel both give ample clues in their descriptions and writing styles.

Christopher is very talented in math, and in large part he uses math to interpret the world around him. When he begins to get overwhelmed, he calms himself by reciting complex sets of numbers like primes or “the cubes of the cardinal numbers.” As a composer this gives me the opportunity to highlight the math that is inherent in music, in particular through complex rhythms created from many simpler patterns set against one another.

Christopher is also very interested in science, technology, and computers. To reflect this, not only am I using largely electronic instruments but there will also be certain aspects of some of the music that are computer generated. In particular, I have created a computer program that converts text into chord progressions. I can give the program a line or two from the script and it will convert the letters into numbers. From there, the numbers are fed through an algorithm, or set of rules, that generates a series of chords that follow traditional Western compositional guidelines. I can then use those chords as a base to build upon. For all of this I am also drawing on inspiration from a number of artists such as Radiohead, Aphex Twin, Olafur Arnalds, and Boards of Canada.

The sound effects design for The Curious Incident will be integrated tightly with the music. It mainly consists of atmospheric sound that will give the audience a sense of what Christopher’s surroundings are. The realism of the surroundings will be slightly heightened to reflect Christopher’s hyper-awareness of everything around him. When Christopher gets overwhelmed, I want the audience to experience the same thing. To achieve this, there will be speakers placed all around the theatre for true immersion in Christopher’s world.

 

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time continue running Feb. 14 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

Putting the Mind of a Brilliant and Challenging 15 Year Old On the Stage

By Director and Scenic Designer, Julian Wiles

 

The wonder of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is that the story is told from the perspective of Christopher Boone, a brilliant, but socially challenged 15 year old. He loves order, numbers, math, (or maths as the Brit’s say) and yet, he finds the ordinary everyday world chaotic and difficult to navigate. Showing this order and confusion became the first issue to consider when I began work on the set design. And in many ways, the set is a representation of Christopher’s mind and how it works in the most interesting and curious ways.

 

 

Often a design begins with a really rough pencil sketch. Above is what I sketched out for The Curious Incident. The floor is an ordered grid and as you will see. The grid lines light up. The set pieces are mostly cubes and are rearranged by the cast to represent everything from chairs to seats on the London tube to a spaceship! One of the real challenges of this script is that often, within seconds, we jump from one location to another. This precluded the use of realistic furniture and set pieces. In the end however, this design mirrored the ordered but often imaginative and abstract way in which Christopher’s mind works.

 

Though Christopher is at home in the world of numbers, but often lost in verbal and written communication, I surrounded the set with a sea of floating numbers and letters—generously created by Southern Lumber and Millwork Corp, one of the show’s sponsors. Interspersed among the letters are dozens and dozens of bare light bulbs representing stars. Christopher loves astronomy, and of course, the show begins with a curious incident in the night-time so these seem to make sense. They also will be used later to show how Christopher sometimes experiences anxiety and meltdowns from sensory overload. The sensory overload comes from crowds, too much noise at train stations, or just from a simple touch of someone. At that point, these and other lights become a firestorm, much like neurons firing in the brain.

 

 

And so from a simple sketch, we have this completed design. Making this sketch into a reality fell to our terrific production crew. Cody Rutledge, our scenic artist created a scale model of the set, did all the drafting, and supervised the actual construction. All of the wooden blocks and cubes and a wonderful desk were created by Courtney Gomez Odom, our Properties Master. Many elements were finished by Alex Odom, our new Master Carpenter. Jamie-Brooke Ruggio took charge of creating the “star lights” as well as the floor lighting for the grid. And Joshua Bristow assisted in creating the projections that appear on the screen upstage throughout the show.

 

 

In the end, we have a wonderfully realized, imaginative set. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not given the set design from the playwright nor the producers in New York. But that makes it fun to create our own inventive take on each show we produce. The Curious Incident was a challenge, but in the end, one of the most rewarding sets I’ve had the privilege to design.

 

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time run Feb. 6 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For ticket, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

I’ve been with Charleston Stage for nearly two years now and my favorite role would definitely have to be Ethan in Helium. This was my first role with Charleston Stage and it was a really great learning experience and all around great time! I made a lot of strong bonds with the cast and crew and I gained a home away from home. I also had the privilege of playing Albert in Bye Bye Birdie which I had a great time with because I love musical theatre and all music in general. My time with TheatreWings has also provided me with a variety of roles and growth opportunities.

 

Q: Where are you from? Are there any special subjects you are studying or activities you do that fuel your passion for the arts?

I am from Goose Creek, South Carolina, and I am sixteen years old. I attend Goose Creek High School. I am majoring in Theatre with Berkeley County Center for the Arts and this definitely fuels my passion for the arts because I am able to do what I love every day.

 

Q: You are playing the iconic role of Christopher Boone. How would you describe this character and what is your favorite part of performing this role?

Christopher is a highly intelligent kid with a beautiful mind full of creativity and brilliant ideas. He has a great passion for the things he loves and he is very brave. My favorite part of performing this role is the accent because it really helps me stop being myself and go into the character of Christopher Boone. Some challenging elements of this role would be staying true to Christopher himself and not falling into the clichés that people have about people on the spectrum. Christopher is a unique person and doesn’t fall under any labels. He is his own person and that person is magnificent.

 

Q: What has drawn you to this story and what are you hoping audiences will take away from this production?

This is such an incredible story about the world and how people see it and take it for granted. I want audiences to see the world through the eyes of Christopher and see the many things in daily life that people might not think about and may glance over.

 

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to play my instruments and practice music. I love music! I like to hang out with my friends and spend time with my family.

 

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time run Feb. 6 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.