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Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of ‘The Sugar Bean Sisters’; opening Friday, September 8 at Playhouse 615

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Alien encounters, a reptile woman, a bird-lady, a little romance and a lot of laughs, playwright Nathan Sanders’ Southern Gothic comedy, The Sugar Bean Sisters has it all, and it’s all coming to Playhouse 615 (11920 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet) Friday, September 8 thru Sunday, September 24 under the direction of Diane Bearden-Enright. Earlier this week I had the chance to pose a few questions to four of the cast members of The Sugar Bean Sisters to delve a little deeper than the sensational headlines for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q.

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Rapid Fire 20Q with the cast of Playhouse 615’s The Sugar Bean Sisters

Rapid Fire Questions for Breonna Parker, The Sugar Bean Sisters’ Videllia

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Videllia Sparks?

BREONNA PARKER: Videllia is quite the sneaky, manipulative type. She thinks she’s clever and smart but she’s really just goofy and not the sharpest tool in the shed. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: This is your first show with Playhouse 615, right? What’s the experience been like so far?

BREONNA PARKER: Yes, this is my first show with Playhouse 615. This experience has been wonderful. It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to be on stage, sometimes going into a community theatre is hard when you don’t know anyone. I was nervous going in wondering if I’d be accepted or if they may tend to stick with each other and not be welcoming. This group of people have been nothing but supportive, encouraging and loving. I really feel like I’ve found a home and look forward to future shows. I will for sure miss not being around my cast and crew everyday when the show ends. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Videllia’s wardrobe is, shall we say…interesting. What’s something in your own personal style that others might find questionable?

BREONNA PARKER: Videllia outfit has been fun, I love it. I’m pretty much a T-shirt and jeans kind of gal, and a cap so I don’t have to fix my hair…haha! I’m not very stylish or lavish. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Videllia has secrets. Are you good secret keeper or do you just need to tell somebody when you know some juicy tidbits?

BREONNA PARKER: I’m pretty good at being a person someone can confide in. I’m not going to spread anything that someone wants to be kept private. Now, I am terrible at keeping gifts a secret. Once I buy something for someone I want to immediately give it to them, it’s hard to keep that a secret. I guess a better word would be I’m not good at keeping surprises. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your director, Diane Bearden-Enright actually starred as Videllia at The Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, Florida back in 1995 in the Southeastern premiere of The Sugar Bean Sisters, working with the playwright, Nathan Sanders. During the rehearsal process for this production, has Diane shared any insights from her time in the role or having worked alongside the playwright?

BREONNA PARKER: Great question. Diane has been a fantastic director, she has been really good at letting me connect with Videllia in my own way, I just want to make her proud of how I’

m portraying Videllia. It’s a little intimidating knowing that I’m playing a character that I know she mastered! One thing I love about Diane is she asks questions, she’ll say things like ‘why do you think Videllia does this or that.’ I like that it gets you to thinking on a deeper level of the character and helps connect more to Videllia. I’ve heard a couple of story of her working with Nathan Sanders. 

Rapid Fire Questions for Ann Street-Kavanagh, The Sugar Bean Sisters’ Faye Nettles

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Faye Clementine Nettles to you?

ANN STREET-KAVANAGH: Faye is a simple woman who had an extraordinary thing happen to her. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Though presented as completely absurd and hilarious, at its core, The Sugar Bean Sisters is about just that…sisters. Is there anything more important that the bond of friends or family?

ANN STREET-KAVANAGH: No, there isn’t. The bond you have with family and friends is your true legacy. Their thoughts of you and, hopefully, sharing stories of you is the best way to live forever, so to speak. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In spite of her wacky ways, is there an aspect of Faye’s character that you might try to incorporate into your own life?

ANN STREET-KAVANAGH: I love how Faye puts it all out there and she doesn’t really care what other people think.  I find myself getting to be more that way as I grow older and I’m pretty darned happy about it!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Faye’s alien encounters are some pretty tall tales. What’s something unbelievable that has happened to you or someone you know?

ANN STREET-KAVANAGH: First, Faye’s encounter isn’t a tall tale. It’s fact. I’ve had a lot of unbelievables, and, of course, I can’t think of anything good right now. When my daughter was about 2 years old, she would see people who’d passed on. They would speak with her and sometimes scare her a bit, though usually not. It was quite unnerving at first. Battery operated toys would sometimes start playing in the middle of the night, etc. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Of you and your costars, who’s most likely to be abducted by aliens…and who would be sent right back down to earth?

ANN STREET-KAVANAGH: I don’t think any of us would be abducted. But if we were, Linda Speir would be the first to be sent back. She is an absolutely lovely person, but she will tell it like is. If she wanted to go back, they’d have no choice. She would tell them what was what and what was about to be!

Rapid Fire Questions for Abby Waddoups, The Sugar Bean Sisters’ Willie Mae Nettles

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I saw your name among those I’d be chatting with, it reminded me we’d chatted before…almost exactly a year ago when you appeared I the cast of Blithe Spirit at The Keeton. So, from ghosts to aliens, right?

ABBY WADDOUPS: There have been some things between the two- but yes. Doing shows close to Halloween is always fun. Ruth and Willie are very different characters, and I love a challenge.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Willie to you?

ABBY WADDOUPS: Willie is a bit selfish, but overall strives to be a good person. She’s desperate to find a good Mormon husband and to get into the highest level of kingdoms in their heaven. She relies very heavily on her sister, Faye, and they are all each other have, and have known for quite some time. They are grown women who still live together in their childhood home. She isn’t who I ever expected to play onstage, but thanks to Diane’s vision and belief in me, here we are.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s your favorite aspect of Willie Mae Nettles as a comedic character?

ABBY WADDOUPS: Willie Mae is very much a straight character in the comedic routine. Keeping a straight face sharing the stage with Ann and Bre will be a test for me. I’ve tried to find intricacies within her quarks to add more fun.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I love that in the first scene, Willie Mae warns her sister Faye not to lie to her, likening lying to other sinful acts like stealing, fornicating and…drinking Coca-Cola! Growing up, were there things relatives warned you against as wrong that you now just laugh about?

ABBY WADDOUPS: My parents were pretty down to earth and we weren’t raised in a specific church. I was born and raised in Memphis in a very urban environment, so the southernisms and certain religious beliefs are pretty foreign to me. I always had family in the Nashville area and I’ve been in and out of middle Tennessee for a long time so I’ve picked up a little over the years, but not like this. This is Deep South Florida swamp and the culture is so different. Their tales and strong beliefs have a place on the stage, a way to tell their stories in other regions.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The fact that Willie Mae wears an Eva Gabor wig is hilarious to me, having been a fan of the Gabor sisters since I was a tiny child. Were you familiar with the reference or did you have to google to get the joke?

ABBY WADDOUPS: I am older than I look, so I am familiar with the Gabor sisters and I love classic tv shows. It was definitely a reference that reminded me of my childhood. I also remember seeing the wig advertisement included in our faux Weekly World News cover. It’s a nice throwback to the 80’s. I am taken right back to seeing the tabloids on the magazine racks at the grocery stores as a kid.

Rapid Fire Questions for Linda Speir, The Sugar Bean Sisters’ Reptile Woman

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about The Reptile Woman, your role in The Sugar Bean Sisters?

LINDA SPEIR: It is bizarre to say the least. I’m only in two short scenes but I make the most of them. Reptile Woman in my mind is a swamp witch. She is also a seer and may speak in tongues!!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, I’m just gonna say it…you are among my “theatre crushes” in that I absolutely adore everything I’ve ever seen you do onstage. I’ve seen you in simply heart-wrenching performances like Steel Magnolias and Driving Miss Daisy and sinisterly charming as Arsenic and Old Lace’s Aunt Abby. Now you’re playing The Reptile Woman…is she the strangest character you’ve ever encountered? 

LINDA SPEIR: Thank  you!! This is definitely the strangest character I’ve ever played discounting my brief stint as a werewolf YEARS ago at Opryland during the Halloween season. Reptile Woman is definitely a strange and mystifying character.  Her babies are her gators and her snakes!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with the script prior to auditioning for the show?

LINDA SPEIR: Yes I read it beforehand. I always read the script before I audition for a show. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While there’s mention of The Reptile Woman about midway through Act One, you don’t take to the stage until Act Two. So basically you’re the Special Guest Star, like you see as the last credit on tv shows. How fun is that?

LINDA SPEIR: This role has been a great deal of fun as our director gave me free rein to create this spooky character. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Is there a line or a scene, yours or someone else’s, that makes you giggle every time?

LINDA SPEIR: Many lines! This is a funny play with no socially redeeming qualities.  It’s a bit of deep South folklore. Faye (played to perfection by Ann Kavanaugh)  singing It’s a Small World always gets a laugh from me.   

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The Sugar Bean Sisters opens Friday, September 8 at (11920 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet) Friday, September 8 thru Sunday, September 24. Performances are Fridays/Saturdays at 7:30p.m. and Sundays at 2:30p.m. Tickets are $18 and are available for purchase through Eventbrite, by calling the box-office at 615.319.7031, or at the door an hour before each performance. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Next up at Playhouse 615 is the Middle Tennessee premiere of The Woman in Black, a spin-chiller touted as the scariest stage experience ever, running October 20-November 5. For more on these shows and to keep up with Playhouse 615, check out their website or find them on Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of ‘Move Over Mrs. Markham’; onstage at Playhouse 615 August 4 thru August 20

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Recently, during their final days of rehearsal, I had the opportunity to chat with cast members of Playhouse 615’s latest presentation, Move Over Mrs. Markham. A British farce written by Ray Cooney and John Chapman as directed by Playhouse 615’s Joel Meriwether, the show opens Friday, August 4 and running through August 20. Among the cast are Beth Henderson as Miss Olive Harriet Smythe, Craig Hartline as Henry Lodge, Eric Crawford as Phillip Markham and Lindsey Patrick-Wright as Joanna Markham. What follows are my conversations about their characters, the show, company and more.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF PLAYHOUSE 615’s MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM

RAPID FIRE WITH BETH HENDERSON, MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM’S MISS OLIVE HARRIET SMYTHE 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Not being all that familiar with Move Over Mrs. Markham myself, I got my hands on the script. Move Over Mrs Markham seems like its somewhere between Billy Wilder’s The Apartment and the bed-hopping farce within the farce of Noises Off. Do you think that’s a fair assessment?

BETH HENDERSON: It definitely has elements of both. It has The Apartment’s plot line of the flat being used for multiple trysts. And it shares Noises Off’s farcical elements of slamming doors and ladies in nighties. But, what really makes this show funny is everyone pretending to be someone else in order to persuade a very prudish and clueless author that they are just the wholesome upright publishing company she wants to sign with.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of said author, what can you tell me about Miss Olive Harriet Smythe?

BETH HENDERSON: She’s a rather prudish and proper children’s book author who is outwardly appalled by sex (although I think she secretly relishes in it, at times). She’s also pretty flighty and constantly saying things that come across in a completely unintended way. Oh, and she’s completely obsessed with dogs.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Audiences will surely recognize you from you most recent role as Mrs.Wingfield in Playhouse 615’s The Glass Menagerie, or perhaps 2022’s Trip to Bountiful, two classic dramatic roles. Now, with Miss Smythe, you’re fully immersed in farcical comedy. Do you prepare differently for comedy as opposed to a more dramatic role?

BETH HENDERSON: I can’t really say that I prepare for them differently. For me, whether it’s a comedy or a drama, the first and most important thing to do is get to know the character beyond the covers of the script: their history, what makes them tick, how they feel about things, etc. However, I will say that in comedy, more often than in drama, finding my costume can really help create the character. That was 100% the case in this show.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’ve not only been part of several productions at Playhouse 615, but you’re also on the company’s Board of Directors. How long have you been on the board and what does that entail?

BETH HENDERSON: I’ve only been on the board for about five months, so I’m pretty new. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been on the boards of several Nashville theaters over the past 15 years, so it’s nice to bring that experience to a newer theater that’s just starting to take off. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you weren’t playing Miss Smythe, what other role would you enjoy, whether you’re “right for the part” or not, and why?

BETH HENDERSON: They’re all such fun roles, so it’s hard to say. Maybe Alistair, because of his cheekiness. And Linda pretending to be Helga would be such over-the-top fun.

RAPID FIRE WITH CRAIG HARTLINE, MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM’S HENRY LODGE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Henry Lodge to you?

CRAIG HARTLINE: Henry Lodge to me is a bit of a spoiled little boy, pretending to be a man. He has had some success in the children’s book business, but he spends his time and money, pursuing women for his own pleasures. He’s a bit of a cad, lovable, but a cad.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Henry is a children’s book publisher. If you were to write a children’s book, what  would it be about?

CRAIG HARTLINE: Wow, that is a tough question. It would probably be about a puppy who grows up with two smart parents who try to teach him about the world around him. However, he is more interested in chasing butterflies and playing in mud puddles to listen. It’s only when he moves into the real world, that he discovers, he should have listened more. In the end, he finally achieves the life his parents wanted for him after remembering what lessons they tried to teach him.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You were last seen onstage at Playhouse 615 in Sex Please, We’re Sixty, and now, just two months later, you’re back for your second production with the company. What is it about the company that brought you back so quickly?  

CRAIG HARTLINE: I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Playhouse 615. The Board Members are determined to achieve what actors in Nashville and the surrounding counties have been looking for, a place where actors can stretch their wings, so to speak and build on their craft. The actors I have had the privilege to work with are hard working and dedicated to their craft. I look forward to the chance to come back and work again with this production company.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Henry Lodge, you have two leading ladies. Anne Street-Kavanagh plays Henry’s wife, Linda, while Em Genovese plays…um…how shall I put this?..NOT his wife, Miss Wilkinson. How much fun are you having sharing the stage with these two?         

CRAIG HARTLINE: These two lovely ladies are a thrill to work with. Anne is a funny and talented lady who brings out the best in each and every role she is in. Her dedication to her craft inspires me to be better. Anne and I created a chemistry together in Sex Please, We’re Sixty, that brings a smile to my heart. I believe we bring the same chemistry on stage in Move Over, Mrs. Markham.

This is the first time I have worked with Em, but I surely hope it is not the last. She has been acting for many years, and despite her young age, she is a true professional. Her ability to understand the character, taking the words written on the page and bringing it to life, is a true testament to where I believe her career will go. If I were the audience, I would make a strong mental note of the name, Em Genovese, she well may be the next name you see on the “telly”.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is it about slamming doors and farcical comedy?

CRAIG HARTLINE: The action of slamming doors is a large part of the action in this comedy. The chaos of characters coming in and going out of each scene adds to the rapid fire action from the actors. The timing of those opening and slamming doors is crucial to the play. Without that action, the play would be rather tame and loose that rapid fire of lines between the actors.

RAPID FIRE WITH ERIC CRAWFORD, MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM’S PHILLIP MARKHAM

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do we need to know about Phillip Markham?

ERIC CRAWFORD: Philip is the antithesis of farce.  He would be totally appalled at the thought of being involved in any shenanigans. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Move Over Mrs. Markham marks your Playhouse 615 debut. Was it the role or the company that prompted your interest in auditioning for the role of Phillip?…Or a combination of the two?

ERIC CRAWFORD: A bit of both. I’m in an online theatre group and a couple of folks had been in different productions and all had a blast. I’m new to this theatre company but Nashville is a pretty small acting community so I already knew a couple of folks that were auditioning and had done multiple performances with 615. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The show is set in a posh top floor London flat, so let’s talk about accents and dialect. One of my pet peeves as a theatre reviewer is when the accents don’t ring true. Was a dialect coach brought in to assist the cast with honing their accents?

ERIC CRAWFORD: Yes, we were very fortunate to have a wonderful dialogue coach. A first for me. We had some online group and private coaching sessions. I like performing with accents, so a coach was a real treat. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is it about a farce that keeps audiences interested?

ERIC CRAWFORD: Two things. Never a dull moment and the unpredictability of where the wrong turns will lead you. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Has there ever been an occurrence in your own life that you think might make for a good farcical comedy?

ERIC CRAWFORD: Well it started at birth…. I grew up thinking Lucy Ricardo had the right idea attitude towards life so I think all of the ironies of growing up in the Missouri boot-heel, getting a doctorate in genetics, and  having a deep seated need to perform is somewhat farcical in itself. 

RAPID FIRE WITH LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT, MOVE OVER MRS. MARKHAM’S JOANNA MARKHAM

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is your favorite aspect of Joanna as a character?

LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT: Joanna has been so much fun to play because she has truly been thrown into the madness of this evening through no fault of her own and she continues to just roll with the punches. I think Joanna is a genuinely caring person and wants the best for the people around her even when their behavior is less than admirable. Also, Joanna’s willingness to lie for her friends while being really lousy at it, has been a particularly juicy part of the role!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Move Over Mrs. Markham is set in the late sixties/early seventies, which usually indicates some groovy fashions. Who’s the costumer for the show and do you have a favorite look, whether it be your own or that of a fellow cast mate?

LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT: I think we were all so excited about costuming, we all just dove into finding costumes for our characters. Denese Evans helped us fill in any gaps for hard-to-find items. Since I spend most of the show in various stages of undress, I would have to say that Alistair’s (Jonathan Wilbur) suit is “really with it” as Joanna says in the show, so it is probably my favorite!  I personally LOVE this time period and would say that at least half the set is made up of furniture and decor from my own home – including the Big Eye Girl painting in Joanna’s bedroom.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I have a confession…I had never heard of this play before Joel told me it was coming to Playhouse 615, but I had heard of Ray Cooney, who, along with John Chapman wrote the script. Cooney having written nearly twenty plays including Run for Your Wife, which ran for many years on The West End. Were you familiar with the show before auditioning?

LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT: No! Not at all! I was able to get my hands on a script before auditioning and I believe this is exactly what I said to Joel after reading it “This show is absolutely ridiculous. I love it!” 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Typical for farces, the laughs usually run the gamut from subtle to outlandish. I’d imagine rehearsals have been quite fun. Who’s the biggest cut-up among the cast?

LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT: While we all have our moments of cutting up, I think that Eric Crawford and Craig Hartline, playing best buds Phillip and Henry respectively, cut up the most. They have been known to continue on, in character, after the scenes end doing their own two-man improv show for us. I think even Ray Cooney himself would admit their behind-the-scenes, in-character antics are hilarious. Everyone in this cast has such great comedic chops that we have had a blast during rehearsals.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is it about farces, and Move Over Mrs. Markham in particular that you think will appeal most to Playhouse 615 audiences?

LINDSEY PATRICK-WRIGHT: Having just come from acting in Playhouse 615’s last show The Shadow Box (a moving play about death, dying, and the stages of grief) this play is a very different kind of catharsis. Move Over Mrs. Markham, like other farces, is fast-paced, energetic and just pure FUN. I told my family and friends to BYOT (bring your own tissues) to this show, too, because if they are anything like me in rehearsals, they will be crying from laughing.

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Move Over Mrs. Markham opens Friday, August 4 at Playhouse 615 (11920 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122). The show runs through Sunday, August 20 with 7:30pm performances Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets are $18. Call the Box Office at 615.319.7031 to reverse tickets or CLICK HERE to purchase them via the company’s Eventbrite page. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the theatre just prior to showtime.

Next up at Playhouse 615 is The Sugar Bean Sisters, running September 8-24. For more on these shows and to keep up with Playhouse 615, check out their website or find them on Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast members of Piedmont Players’ ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, onstage at The Meroney July 14-30

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When my friend Bradley Moore told me he’d be directing the July 14-30 run of Bye Bye Birdie for Piedmont Players Theatre at the Meroney Theatre (213 S. Main St, Salisbury, NC Salisbury), I knew I’d want to chat with members of his cast. Partly because I just love the show, but mostly because, aside from a kindergarten production of Chicken Little (I played Turkey Lurkey), Bye Bye Birdie was the first full-fledge stage musical I was a part of, having been cast in a high school production back in the last century. What follows are my conversations with Bye Bye Birdie’s Caroline Monroe, who plays high-school Birdie superfan, Kim McAfee, Bailey Daugherty, the show’s title character, pop idol, Conrad Birdie, Daniel Keith, overwrought music agent, Albert Peterson and Leslie Roberts as Rosie Alvarez, Albert’s beautiful secretary, the true brains behind the publicity stunt that brings them all together.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF PIEDMONT PLAYERS’ BYE BYE BIRDIE

RAPID FIRE WITH CAROLINE MONROE, KIM McAFEE IN BYE BYE BIRDIE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Bye Bye Birdie was my first time to appear onstage, having played Kim’s brother when I was in seventh grade. What was your first theatrical experience?

CAROLINE MONROE: I actually got a little bit of a late start to theatre! My junior year of high school, the theatre teacher asked me to be in the ensemble of The Wiz. I will forever be grateful to her for helping me get my start on stage!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Tell me about Kim McAfee, the character you play in Bye Bye Birdie.

CAROLINE MONROE: Kim McAfee, is a typical 15 year old girl who was just “pinned” by her boyfriend Hugo. She, like all of the other girls in their town of Sweet Apple, is infatuated with Conrad Birdie. When chosen to be Conrad’s final kiss before being deployed, Kim explores what it truly means to be a woman and tries to act more mature in order to be desirable to Conrad, who is much older than she. When things don’t go the way she had planned with Conrad, she decides to finally settle down with Hugo. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Kim, you’re chosen to share One Last Kiss with her rock star crush, Conrad Birdie before he joins the army. When you were younger, who was your first celebrity crush?

CAROLINE MONROE: Justin Bieber was 100% my first celebrity crush! I can remember decorating my room with posters that I got out of magazines and listening to his, My World 2.0 CD on repeat. Would I really have been a true fan if I didn’t regularly wear my Justin Bieber t-shirt? If Justin Bieber were to have been in Conrad Birdie’s shoes, I would have definitely hoped to be his last kiss! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The plot of Bye Bye Birdie, at least in part, drew inspiration from Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army in 1957. Just for fun…among current pop singers, who do you think would join up and who would dodge the draft?

CAROLINE MONROE: I can’t imagine the press if this were to happen today, so this is a really intriguing question. Currently, I think that Shawn Mendes would join up, but Drake would absolutely dodge the draft. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How’s it been sharing the stage with Bailey Daugherty as Conrad?

CAROLINE MONROE: It is such an honor to share the stage with Bailey. He has such undeniable talent that he is so humble about and puts his all into his role. I think it’s even more special to share the stage with Bailey because he is one of my best friends offstage. It is such a joy to watch him truly embody Conrad Birdie and to have seen him learn the ins and outs of this character. I cannot think of anyone else I would rather play Kim opposite of. You are in for a treat when he takes the stage! 

RAPID FIRE WITH BAILEY DAUGHERTY, CONRAD BIRDIE IN BYE BYE BIRDIE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I just chatted with Caroline. I ended our conversation by asking her about sharing the stage with you, so I’ll start my chat with you by asking the same…How is Caroline as a scene partner?

BAILEY DAUGHERTY: I feel so blessed to work with Caroline. She is incredibly talented and truly lives in every moment on-stage. Working with her is always a gift, because she gives so much to work off of. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How familiar were you with Bye Bye Birdie prior to auditioning?

BAILEY DAUGHERTY: I actually didn’t know about the show until a few years ago, when I saw the 1995 movie with Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams. I remember thinking that my favorite number was One Last Kiss, and that I wanted to sing it one day.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play the title character of Conrad Birdie, a pop star who finds himself in the middle of a publicity stunt in the days before he’s drafted into the army. Has there been anything surprising that you’ve discovered while developing your take on the character?

BAILEY DAUGHERTY: Yes! I believe Conrad’s most interesting facet is his love for the music, but disdain for the social expectations of fame. In the show, he deals with a lot of feelings on how he should act and how he just wants to live; which has been really interesting to explore during this creative process.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Since Bye Bye Birdie premiered on Broadway in 1960, Conrad Birdie’s look has traditionally been pure Elvis…pompadour hair, sideburns and showy gold lamé stage costumes…your director, Bradley Moore has opted to forego the traditional portrayal and present a more modern feel and look for Conrad. What’s your favorite aspect of Bradley’s vision?

BAILEY DAUGHERTY: Bradley is such a wonderful director and always brings a fresh take to each of his shows. My favorite aspect of both this show and all of his other shows is his want for depth. It doesn’t matter what the show is, he always strives to dig deeper into the music and acting to extract those human truths that hold us together. I think that is really shown in the Overture of this show, which is so simple and small, yet communicates a moving message.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Tod Kubo is choreographing the show. Is there a favorite dance sequence, whether you’re involved in it or not, that you are particularly fond of in Bye Bye Birdie?

BAILEY DAUGHERTY: Tod has done amazing work on this show, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I love all of his numbers. I think that the number of his that I am most fond of is the last number in the show, Rosie. It is so sweet and simple.

RAPID FIRE WITH DANIEL KEITH, ALBERT PETERSON IN BYE BYE BIRDIE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Albert to you?

DANIEL KEITH: Albert always looks for the best in someone, which is where I think we relate. He is a self-proclaimed “mama’s-boy” and very oblivious to the people and relationships around him. I like to think of him as a pretty neurotic character, but he’s always loyal to those around him and I think that’s most important. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Albert, you get to perform one of the show’s most well-known numbers, Put on a Happy Face. I have to be honest, until doing a little research to chat with you and your co-stars, I didn’t realize this iconic song was indeed written for and introduced in this musical. Taking a cue from the lyrics, what do you do in your personal life to “put on a happy face”?

DANIEL KEITH: What personal life? Haha. Theatre always puts a smile on my face. This will be my third full-production musical this year, so I stay pretty busy in the Theatre scene. I’m sharing the stage with my beautiful fiancée (She plays Ursula Merkle). She always keeps me smiling. We have a dog, two cats, and a bunny and they keep a smile on my face a majority of the time. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The role of Albert is among the show’s most iconic, in part thanks to Dick Van Dyke having originated the role on Broadway, then again in the 1963 film adaptation. How much fun are you having in the role?

DANIEL KEITH: I am having a blast! This cast is super talented and Bradley is a creative genius. I’m super excited to open and while I know I’m no Dick Van Dyke, I hope I can bring a smile to the audience, much as he did.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this is your first PPT show. How has your experience with the company been so far?

DANIEL KEITH: This is indeed my first PPT show. I’ve had friends that have done shows here and actually my first show I saw at the Meroney was Kinky Boots earlier this year, which a close friend of mine (Michael Fargas) played Lola. After seeing the production quality, I instantly knew I needed to meet Bradley and make sure he knew who I was. Since then, the experience has been amazing. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I spoke with Bailey, I noted that director Bradley Moore has opted to offer a more modern take on Conrad Birdie’s aesthetic. I understand the set and props are also more minimal than what audiences might be expecting. Do you think these creative decisions will enhance the audience experience? 

DANIEL KEITH: Absolutely. It’s funny because I was just discussing this with Bradley last night but having a minimalist approach to the set leaves so much more freedom for characterization. The audience doesn’t have to find something to focus on, because the focus is always towards the character. The set, while minimal, is still quite large and the amount of levels and stairs that Bradley chose to incorporate really make the visualization that much more interesting. 

RAPID FIRE WITH LESLIE ROBERTS, ROSIE ALVAREZ IN BYE BYE BIRDIE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Rosie. What can you tell me about Rosie as you see her?

LESLIE ROBERTS: I see Rose as a strong, intelligent, and independent woman for her time. She knows what she wants and she isn’t afraid to go for it even when there are obstacles in her path. She perseveres and she knows her worth. So many women of the late 1950’s-early 1960’s were trying to find their voice in a male dominated world and it was even more difficult for women of color in those days. I feel honored to get to portray her and hopefully bring dignity and resolve to her character.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: PPT audiences will surely recognize you from previous productions including Ragtime, Legally Blonde and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. What is it about Piedmont Players that keeps you coming back?

LESLIE ROBERTS: I think it is the welcoming atmosphere. I like that I can come into the theater and know that I get to work and play with other people who just really want to be there. I feel like our director, musical directors, and choreographers encourage us in a very motivating way to be the best we can be and I like that they aren’t afraid to try new things or cast someone that others may overlook.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I chatted with Daniel, I mentioned Dick Van Dyke, who originated his role. As for Rosie, you’re following in the perfectly choreographed footsteps of legendary performers Chita Rivera, who originated Rosie on Broadway and in the 1963 film, Ann Reinking, who did a 90s National Tour and Vanessa Williams who starred as Rosie in the 1995 telefilm. How exciting to bring your own interpretation to this storied role?

LESLIE ROBERTS: Yes, I am excited. Like many people, I first fell in love with the story when I saw the original movie as a kid. I remember falling in love with the music and of course the love stories involving Rosie and Albert, and Kim and Hugo. Years later, I was in the ensemble of a highschool community theater production of Bye Bye Birdie. My character didn’t have a name so we jokingly created a character (Harvey Johnson’s mom). It was a lot of fun! I am excited to get to play Rosie this time around. I look up to the women you mentioned. I could never live up to those performances, but what I do hope is that our audiences will be able to feel what I put into the story with my interpretation and that they can relate to her on some level. I hope that they can see how important it is to be yourself, and love yourself as Rosie does.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of the 1995 telefilm, Bradley tells me he’s including a few musical moments from the various productions of Bye Bye Birdie, including Rosie’s number Let’s Settle Down, which the original songwriting team of Charles Stouse and Lee Adams penned specifically for the 1995 TV broadcast. How cool that you’ll to be performing a song that even some Birdie fans might not be that familiar with?

LESLIE ROBERTS: Yes! I like how the ’95 film added to the original. The new song is not only beautifully written, but it gives the audience some more insight to Rosie’s point of view. Bye Bye Birdie is one of those shows that is a time capsule and unfortunately, sometimes there are things about it that just don’t age well in our modern era. What our production seeks to do is to bring the story so many know and love to a modern audience. I think Bradley liked the direction the 1995 film was going in and so we are continuing with that with a fresh take on a classic. Including the song Let’s Settle Down.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like many of your co-stars, you’ve appeared in previous shows with PPT and at the historic Meroney Theatre. Do you feel the 100-plus years of history of the venue whenever you return to the stage for each new show?

LESLIE ROBERTS: It’s cool to be a part of something that has such a long history! I think that’s part of the appeal to being in that theater. Perhaps100 years ago, there weren’t any actresses that looked like me on that stage, but it’s cool how there is a growing diversity in the arts in our area. People love hearing stories and that includes many different voices. I am proud to be one voice in that history and am excited to see what kinds of stories get told on the Meroney stage in the years to come!

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Piedmont Players Theatre’s Bye Bye Birdie opens Friday, July 14 and runs through Sunday, July 30 at the Meroney Theatre with 7:30p.m. shows Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday Matinees at 2:30p.m. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Check out Piedmont Players Theatre online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook.  Then #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of Studio Tenn & CPA Arts’ ‘The Sound of Music: on stage at Soli Deo Center June 22-July 16

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Since opening on Broadway in 1959, Rodgers and Hammerstein‘s The Sound of Music has been an audience favorite. 1965’s film adaptation simply solidified the musical’s universal appeal, so it makes perfect sense that Studio Tenn, one of the Mid-South’s favorite regional theatre companies, would round out their current season by presenting their take on the classic. Produced in conjunction with CPA Arts and presented on stage at Christ Presbyterian Academy‘s gorgeous Soli Deo Center, The Sound of Music opens Thursday, June 22 and continues through July 16. With just days before show’s open, I recently had the chance to chat with The Sound of Music‘s Laurie Veldheer, John-Mark McGaha, Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva and Brian Charles Rooney for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q interview feature.

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF STUDIO TENN AND CPA ARTS THE SOUND OF MUSIC 

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LAURIE VELDHEER, MARIA IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While you might be a new name to Studio Tenn audiences, you’ve a connection with Studio Tenn’s Artistic Director, Patrick Cassidy, having shared the stage with him a few years back in a production of A Little Night Music at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre. Did Patrick reach out to you about auditioning for the role of Maria and what’s it been like to work with him again with this production?

LAURIE VELDHEER: Yes, Patrick reached out to me several months ago asking if I’d be interested in auditioning for Maria in his production of The Sound Of Music at Studio Tenn. I told him I’d love to audition! Over the last few years I’ve really been yearning to play this role! It’s been so wonderful getting to work with Patrick again but this time seeing him as the artistic director of a theater – he is so kind, caring, generous, enthusiastic, just such a great guy and good friend, I’m really proud of him. And so happy to be playing Maria in his production at Studio Tenn and CPA Arts!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your theatre credits include Broadway (Mamma Mia, Newsies, Plaza Suite), National Tours (Fiasco Theatre’s Into the Woods, Hairspray) and several regional productions, but I want to talk about a certain 1998 production of The Sound of Music at Grand Rapids Civic Center in which you played Brigitta von Trapp. Another two-part question…What do you remember most about that time and how cool is it to now be starring as Maria?

LAURIE VELDHEER: I would love to talk about this, because I truly have the fondest memories! YES! I did play Brigitta and my sister was Louisa at a theater in our hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. I REALLY wanted to be Brigitta, I loved the movie so much, loved that role, I was the right age, I kind of looked like the young girl from the movie too as I had super long dark hair. So I was THRILLED when I was cast. And the children were also double casts in our production! I just loved everything about being in the show – I loved the role, all Brigitta’s special moments like entering reading the book, her little solo in Do Re Mi, and her moments with Maria in the party scene, plus all the kid’s songs, I just had a blast! I think some of my favorite memories were some of my costumes actually – I loved our uniforms, wedding dresses, and my favorite was my curtain/play clothes outfit – I also remember loving the party scene because of all the little moments I had with the actors playing the Captain, Max, and Maria. Very very special memories. 

And now, I love playing MARIA! It’s a little crazy for me at times because I actually remember auditioning for Brigitta, I remember rehearsals, all my lines, pretty much everything, so now to be the adult and looking down at these little faces, especially the little Brigitta’s, and seeing them learn the show and having them watch Maria teach them, only now I’m Maria, is pretty wild! And now I’ve fallen in love with the character of Maria! I think she’s amazing – wonderful, complex, filled with so much spirit, and dealing with complicated feelings and emotions like the arc of going from being a Postulant to a wife and mother of seven children – has been a wonderful challenge and I’m truly loving every moment getting to play this amazing role.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: One of the show’s most-loved tunes is My Favorite Things. In your real life, what makes that list?

LAURIE VELDHEER: Oh my gosh what a great question! I’m not sure I’ve ever thought of this for myself. Let’s see, my favorite things … well, first thing that comes to mind is cake, my favorite food! But other things I love would have to include – spending time with my family and friends, singing, being in a show, seeing theatre, New York City, listening to live symphonies, going to church on Sunday mornings, walking on the beach looking for shells, sunsets, walking through parks in the Fall and seeing all the leaves changing, watching the snow fall, baking, a yummy meal, all the desserts, napping, comfy clothes, my first cup of coffee in the morning. I mean this list could literally go on forever because I have so many favorite things!!!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: They say never to work with animals or children. In this production there’s a song about a Lonely Goatherd, but as far as I know, no actual goats. You and your cast are working with kids of the other kind, and lots of them, as there’s dual casts of the six von Trapp children. What’s the rehearsal process like with dual casts?

LAURIE VELDHEER: Haha yes! Well I was one of those little theater kids growing up, so I think that has really helped me connect with them. It’s been so fun getting to know each of the kids and what they bring to their role. I think they bring so much life and joy and spontaneity to the show, I love it! The biggest aspect of the dual casts is that we have to make sure we’re going through everything twice because each cast of kids really needs to go through each scene and song, but everyone else in the scenes with the kids needs to go through everything with both casts because it’s slightly different with different kids!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Can’t think of the von Trapp kids without recalling that moment made famous by Julie Andrews and company in the film version when the whole lot show up in matching outfits courtesy of Maria and some cleverness with the bedroom drapery. All that silliness to ask about this production’s costume designers Devon Renee Spencer and Lauren Terry-McCall’s handywork. Do you have a “favorite thing” among the wardrobe, yours or someone else’s?

LAURIE VELDHEER: Oh my gosh I LOVE my costumes! Devon and Lauren have done such an amazing job!! This is a cast of almost 40 people and most people have at least two costumes or more, I myself have eight different costumes in the show, and the kids have at least six costumes each and there are seven kids and two casts! I think my favorites are my green dress, which is the one Maria makes once given new material, and my honeymoon/festival outfit, especially the green jacket! Every time they give me something to wear I love it – I really do love all my costumes in this show so much – they work so hard and have put so much time and thought and effort into each costume – I know the show is going to look amazing!

 

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH JOHN-MARK McGAHA, CAPTAIN von TRAPP IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Fans of Studio Tenn will no doubt recognize you from having wowed audiences with your voice as part of The Ray Legacy, The Cash Legacy & The Sinatra Legacy, their former tribute concert series  highlighting the music of Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra. You also headlined Studio Tenn’s NewYear’s Eve Celebration. What is it about Studio Tenn and their level of artistry that keeps you coming back?

JOHN-MARK McGAHA: Studio Tenn was not only the place where I fell in love with theatre again, it’s the place where I got to know and fell in love with Nashville. This beautiful city appropriately named the Music City has a uniquely concentrated amount of talent, professionalism, and passion. Studio Tenn has capitalized on the amazing culture of this city and in addition to that pulled on the strengths and talents from all stars talents from other places to produce a level of work that has been unlike anything I’ve ever seen. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In The Sound of Music, as Captain von Trapp, your big musical moment happens with Act 2’s Edelweiss, a fan favorite interestingly added for the film adaptation, then worked into the stage version thereafter. What’s it like performing such a beloved classic?

JOHN-MARK McGAHA: It’s an amazing experience. Truly. The Sound of Music was the first musical that I ever saw, and has been my favorite show for all of my life. Playing this role, and singing this song is truly a dream come true.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The role of Captain von Trapp has minimal musical moments, instead depending more on dialogue. Other than the obvious musical accompaniment, is there a difference in memorizing dialogue vs lyrics?

JOHN-MARK McGAHA: Absolutely! It’s a huge difference for me. He is such a complicated man. One that I have had to truly get to know in order to assume this role. He’s grieving in the wake of his beloved wife, and now preparing for the loss of his beloved country as the rise of the Nazi regime has literally come to his front door. All this while trying to raise children he has to prepare to live in a world that is one he himself isn’t sure of, and that’s just the beginning. All of his words are coming from a very deep place. Memorizing his words, and more than that, communicating his intentions through those words has been very challenging. The songs on the other hand are so well written that the marriage of notes and lyrics do so much of that work for you. The songs bring a beautiful simple clarity to this beautifully complicated man. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Expanding on that, what’s your favorite aspect of Captain von Trapp?

JOHN-MARK McGAHA: He’s not confused about good and evil and where he stands. As confusing as his world was during that time, and as many things as he was attempting to sort through, he was yet relentless and unyielding to what was right and true even in the face of danger. He was a true hero. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand two of your children are also in the show. Have you shared the stage with them before? And what does this experience mean to you as a father?

JOHN-MARK McGAHA: No, I have never shared the stage with them, and this experience is something above and beyond anything I could have ever even prayed for. 

 

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA, SISTER BERTHE IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Sister Berthe, the role you’re playing in Studio Tenn’s The Sound of Music?

JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA: Sister Berthe is one of the nuns in the Nonnberg Abbey. She is the right hand of Mother Abbess. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When researching to chat with you, I love that the character descriptions of Sister Berthe frequently included “quick of tongue”. Knowing you as a friend for quite a few years, I’d say that aspect of the character might come easy to you as you and I both often have plenty to say, and aren’t afraid to do so. What other aspects of the sister do you look forward to bringing to the stage?

JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA: I remember watching this film as a child. It always came across that she was kind of mean. She’s not really. She’s just very stern. I think she takes her job very seriously, and loves God deeply. So she’s very matter of fact, and only wants what’s best for the the Sisters. Which does not equal, Maria. She has a dry sense of humor. Which I have been enjoying immensely. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I was trying to remember how many shows you’ve done with Studio Tenn. You were in their debut production of The Battle of Franklin, as well as their Cinderella, A Christmas Carol & Steel Magnolias. Have I missed any?

JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA: I was also in Big River and The Miracle Worker.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I spoke to Laurie, I asked her about the shows costumers, but I gotta ask…what’s the best and not-so-great  aspects of wearing a wimple and habit while singing and dancing?

JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA: The Habit is roomy and free flowing. It’s been quite a while since I have been in one. I keep forgetting there aren’t any pockets! I love a good pocket. I’m not sure if nuns are allowed to wear makeup in real life or not. But let me tell you.. those white bands across the forehead are not make up friendly. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Among your musical moments with the Sisters of Nonnberg Abbey is the song Maria, with its tuneful query “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” so, I gotta ask…How DO you solve a problem like Maria?

JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA: I feel like Sister Berthe would say..remove the problem. Everyone knows Sister Berthe is not a Maria fan, because she’s “Not an asset to the Abbey.” So.. I don’t know. Great question. Put her in arts and crafts? 

 

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY, MAX DETWEILER IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, I just gotta start by asking…you received such high praise for your role as Lucy Brown in the 2006 Broadway revival of Threepenny Opera. How did that ‘hot outta the gate’ reception affect you as a performer?

BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: I think it was a wonderful opportunity, for a number of reasons, not the least of which was having the chance to work with several extraordinarily talented people like Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Jim Dale, and Cyndi Lauper. It was also a chance for me to show my versatility as a singing actor. I particularly loved the designs for that show and working with the designers; Isaac Mizrahi created the costumes, and he was very interested in collaborating with each actor to convey character through clothing. He cared about how comfortable we were, or weren’t, and he wanted to know as much as he could about what we were developing for our characters. It was wonderful!  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: From the reviews I read in preparation of our chat, I understand you’ve got quite the vocal range, having performed as a male soprano as well as a tenor in previous roles. So, a bit of a technical question…what is your vocal range and what to you find is an advantage of such a range?

BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: My voice has, perhaps, best been described by a critic who once described it as having “multiple personality disorder” (it was a positive review)! My vocal range is unusual, and technically, I am a Tenor-based Sopranista, with a consistent span of four octaves. The difference between what I do, and what a countertenor does is that my soprano, (a first soprano tone vs the mezzo soprano tone of a countertenor) is produced with a full hit of the vocal folds. Countertenors sing in falsetto. Falsetto is a term that has come to mean something different, colloquially, than what it actually indicates. When a person sings in falsetto, it means the vocal folds are fluttering against each other, rather than completing a full contact hit. The term has less to do with the tone/sound, and more to do with how the sound is produced. Regardless, I am capable of singing in various styles, in various ranges, while sounding like different people. For example, I was part of a hit off-Broadway show, in which I had to sing in the range and style of Celine Dion. However, when I performed on the national tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I sang the Phantom’s songs from The Phantom of the Opera, in a more classical tenor, and Jesus’s songs from Jesus Christ Superstar in a rock tenor. On Broadway, in The Threepenny Opera, I sang first soprano as Lucy Brown. So, I am grateful for the versatility I have, because I’ve been able to play so many different and interesting roles, and to help create a lot of new characters in new shows, that I might not otherwise have been able to create.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Directing you in The Sound of Music is Emily Tello Speck, whose husband Jake co-founded Studio Tenn. How is Emily as a director?

BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: I’ve enjoyed working with Emily so much! This show is not easy to direct, especially because the story is emotionally impactful, and there are so many people in the cast! Its Director needs to be able to move people through the story swiftly, and gracefully, in order to clearly communicate the story of the main characters. However, the director also needs to be able to create the correct mood and tone, in coordination with the set & lighting designers; and to reinforce any subtext the supporting characters help to reveal. She has been able to accomplish all of this, while being generous with the cast, providing each of us the room to explore and take chances.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Max and what aspect of his character would you like to carry on into your daily life long after the show ends?

BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: Max is an intelligent critical thinker, who cares deeply about the people who matter to him. He also knows how to survive. He understands the power of art, and the value of supporting those with talent and potential. He also understands the power of humor, and he often uses humor to deal with the incredible stress of impending danger.  I feel akin to him because of all of this, which is one of the reasons I am glad I’m playing the role.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Most of your professional career has taken place in New York, but as of late, Nashville audiences have gotten the chance to experience your gifts, having previously starred as Buddy in Nashville Repertory Theatre’s Elf this past holiday season. Are you a full-fledged Nashvillian now and what drew you to Music City?

BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: My family and I have been able to spend a lot more quality time with extended family members who are based here, since setting up a home base in Nashville. One of the great things about being here has been the opportunity to work in the theater, and with multiple companies in the area. I’ve met so many talented, kind, and creative people! I still have strong ties to New York City, and I grew up right outside of it. I am also still called to work there regularly, so I get the best of both worlds!  I would love to see even more collaboration between the various theater companies in Nashville, and their supporters. There is so much substantive, beautiful work going on in Nashville because of companies like Studio Tenn, Nashville Rep, CPA Arts, Street Theatre Co, Verge, TM Productions, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Theater School, Nashville Children’s Theatre, The Theater Bug, etc.  I hope anyone coming to see The Sound of Music will be encouraged to support all of these companies and their efforts over the coming season!  If you do, you’ll run into me again; it’s going to be an exciting season across the board!

 

 

Studio Tenn and CPA Arts‘ The Sound of Music opens at Soli Deo Center Thursday, June 22 and continues through July 16. Tickets range in price from $35-$70. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

Up next for Studio Tenn, not only does their 23/24 Season, dubbed A Season of Icons, open October 19-29 with Million Dollar Quartet, that production also marks the inaugural presentation in Studio Tenn‘s new state-of-the-art home at the newly constructed The Turner Theatre at The Factory at Franklin. CLICK HERE for tickets to Million Dollar Quartet as well as the rest of the coming season, including: It’s a Wonderful Life, Driving Miss Daisy and Cabaret. In the meantime, be sure to check out Studio Tenn online at StudioTenn.com or on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook. Then #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with ‘Listen to Your Mother cast’; on stage at Gadsden State Community College’s Wallace Hall Saturday, May 13

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On Saturday, May 13, Gadsden, Alabama’s own Joy Tilley Perryman and a cast of locals will take to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center on the campus of Gadsden State Community College (1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903) to present Listen to Your Mother, an evening of storytelling celebrating motherhood. Back in 2010, Ann Imig debuted Listen to Your Mother. In the years since, Listen to Your Mother has become a nationwide favorite with more than 60 local theatre companies not only performing the original stories shared, but often times presenting new and unique monologues on the subject of mothers and motherhood. As Perryman and her fellow Gadsden-area storytellers fine-tuned their monologues and readied themselves for the May 13 one-night-only event, I had the opportunity to chat with members of the cast for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST MEMBERS OF GADSDEN’s PREMIERE PRESENTATION OF LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those not familiar with the show, what do audiences need to know about Listen to Your Mother?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN:  That this event is so so very real and true. We have real people from all walks of life telling their true stories. It relates to and resonates with everyone. You do not have to be a Mother to enjoy this event and it is most certainly not just for women. It is a great night of entertainment for everybody!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While this is a Gadsden premiere, it not your first time being part of a production of Listen to Your Mother. What keeps you revisiting this show and how excited are you to be bringing it to your hometown?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: So, I was part of the original Nashville, TN cast and that show worked the same way this show is working. In other words, these are true stories being read by the people who wrote them. Then, when I did the show at Chaffin’s Barn Theatre, I used the actual licensed scripted show and had actors performing stories that were written by other people. It is a delicate balance finding the rhythm of the stories and the order in which they need to go. That is what brings me back, it is always changing and becoming something different. I am over the moon to bring this show to Alabama and to my hometown. I think people are going to be blown away by it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of Gadsden being your hometown, I understand you won your first acting award on the very stage where Listen to Your Mother is being performed. What was the award and what was the performance that garnered you the accolade?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: The stage at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center located on the campus of Gadsden State Community College is like home to me. I saw my first play there and when it was over I did not want to leave. My Daddy had to pry my fingers off the armrest and carry me to the car. But to answer your question, it was Best Actress for my portrayal of Elena in Checkov‘s The Boor, for the Etowah County Schools annual skit competition.  The next year we did Moliére.  Did I mention I had some great theatre teachers in high school?

JHPENTERTAINMENT: They say you can’t go home again, but you have. What’s been the most rewarding aspect of returning to Gadsden and what’s next for your new performing arts organization, Joy’s Jubilations after you close Listen to Your Mother?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: As most people may know, I lost my beloved Dean very unexpectedly last July, so the most rewarding thing has been being here with my family. I could not have gotten through this time of life without them. Next up, is going to be a murder mystery dinner theatre event, some summer kids programming and then late summer/early fall, a recounting of the Minnie Pearl story, All the News from Grinder’s Switch.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Listen to Your Mother is a one-night-only event. Is it too early to ask if you’re planning to make it an annual event?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Never too early, and yes. You can’t get rid of me that easily! We will be back!

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s ROBIN WALLACE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with this show prior to Joy revealing she was bringing it to Gadsden?

ROBIN WALLACE: I was not familiar with the show, but once I learned of it, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your bio mentions that Listen to Your Mother is something you felt compelled to be part of. What drew you to the project.

ROBIN WALLACE: My story is one that I’ve not shared in the 45 years since it occurred and I hoped it would be cathartic for me, and it most definitely was.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this performance is also special to you because you’ll be taking to the stage for this one-night-only event on the anniversary of your own mother’s birth. Whether part of what you’ll share onstage or not, what’s a piece of advice, or a saying you remember from your mother?

ROBIN WALLACE: She always stressed that my brother and I were to protect and take care of each other. We listened. We have always been each other’s protectors and still are best friends today.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A portion of all Listen to Your Mother ticket sales for this performance will benefit New Centurions, a rehab facility for women located in Gadsden. How rewarding is it to not only be part of a show that will entertain audience members, but also benefit women in need?

ROBIN WALLACE: This will be a very emotional night for me because of my story. I’m glad to share it if it helps just one woman.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like Joy, you’re also an Alabama native, though you hail a bit further south, from Montgomery. Just between us, is there a difference between Northern Alabama folks and Montgomery Alabamians?

ROBIN WALLACE: I absolutely love this area and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else! The Montgomery I knew as a teenager is no more, so I’m extremely happy I wound up in North Alabama after my Army career.

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s TABITHA BOZEMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with Listen to Your Mother prior to joining this production?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: I was not.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A little social media peek as I was researching to chat with you revealed both you and your husband are educators. Is there any advice that’s helped you in your interactions with students?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: We are! I think the most important part of being an effective educator is having empathy. You can have all the knowledge of your field, but if you can’t empathize with how students learn, and the challenges they face, you will not be an effective teacher.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Further stalking of your social media revealed you’re involved in Gadsden State Community College’s Cardinal Arts Journal, so shameless plug time…What can you tell me about that?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yay! I love chatting about this! Yes, I am the editor in Chief for the Cardinal Arts Journal, which is an arts journal that Gadsden State produces, and that is open to the community, students and employees at GSCC, and to the public in general. That means we accept submissions from pretty much anyone, anywhere, and those submissions are considered for publication by our board of editors. Our editors are community writers and artists, GSCC employees and students, and writers and artists from all over the United States. There are 3 issues a year, published at the end of each semester, and we are always looking for new writing and art to publish! We accept creative writing, art, photography, music, performance, and digital art and music, as well. The Cardinal Arts Journal is an online publication. That is also the address to visit if you are interested in submitting your work. We accept submissions from all ages, as well, and there is usually a theme posted on our Facebook page and Instagram for each issue. This Spring’s issue has the theme Telling Our Stories: Fairytales, Myths, Legends, and Folklore, and will be out soon!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Listen to Your Mother will mark your return to the stage after a lengthy absence. What was the last show you were in and how are you feeling about returning to the stage?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Wow. It has been so long since I’ve been onstage for anything other than academics, I honestly am not sure what my last performance was—I believe it was either Arsenic and Old Lace or The Man Who Came to Dinner, with Theatre of Gadsden, and probably 25 years ago. I have, however, stayed somewhat involved as a theatre parent . My girls have grown up backstage because my husband, Jason teaches theatre.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Quite often productions of Listen to Your Mother use monologues written for the show’s original mounting. For Gadsden’s premiere presentation, and given the fact that you’re a writer, yourself, I’m guessing you will be performing an original monologue?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yes, I have written a brief piece about how motherhood helped teach me to listen to myself.

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s BILLY JENKINS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’ll start with an obvious question. It would appear you’re the sole male storyteller in this presentation of Listen to Your Mother. How’s that going for you?

BILLY JENKINS: LOL… it’s going well.  Although I don’t share the same sex as the other performers, we all have something in common: we all have a mother. I’m used to being the lone male because I was an elementary school teacher and male elementary teachers are few and far between, so being the only male is not a big thing.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While doing a little digging to chat with you and a few of your cast mates, I couldn’t help but be moved by a mention of your late mother in the bio Joy provided to me. Being a proud and self-professed Mama’s Boy myself…she’s 81 and going strong…I totally get it. What do you think your Mom would tell you about taking to the stage and sharing your memories of her for Listen to Your Mother?

BILLY JENKINS: First of all, my mom would be so proud of my life accomplishments. She passed when I was just 21 years old and a lot has happened since then.  As far as sharing memories of her, she’d probably tell me not to make her sound bad and to not tell any stories of her whipping me when I was a child. She’d also be excited that I’m participating in this because she always said that behind every great man is an even greater woman.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You teach both Psychology and Philosophy at Gadsden, so a two-parter…what’s the craziest excuse you’ve heard from a student on why they missed class or an assignment deadline? AND…just because I’m curious…What’s one thing Psychology and Philosophy have in common?

BILLY JENKINS: The craziest excuse that I’ve encountered about missing class or missed assignments would have to be the dead grandmother excuse. Often times, she’s died twice during the semester and the students forgot they already used that excuse.

Psychology and philosophy share the same roots: both of them study human conditions and behaviors. Philosophy revolves around WHAT the human condition is, while Psychology revolves around the WHY the human condition is. Psychology arose from the discipline of Philosophy. The word ‘psychology’ refers to the study of souls and the word ‘philosophy’ refers to the study of wisdom.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: From your bio, I understand your first show was a 1990 production of A Chorus Line, and you readily admit you still have trouble remembering your lines. What’s a bit of dialogue from A Chorus Line that you still remember?

BILLY JENKINS: Really? Ok here goes:  “I was in the back seat with Sally Ketchum and I was feeling her boobs and feeling her boobs. She said, “Don’t you want to feel anything else?” and I suddenly thought to myself, “No, I don’t.”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: It’s sort of become my sign-off while doing these Rapid Fire Q&As to close with some version of the following…What do you hope the audience remembers about the Alabama premiere performance of Listen to Your Mother?

BILLY JENKINS: I hope the audience will listen to the different stories that are onstage and realize that although our stories are totally different, we all share the good and the bad about our mothers and those have shaped us into the people that we are today.

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This Mother’s Day weekend, the Alabama debut of Joy’s Jubilations’ presentation of Listen to Your Mother takes to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center at Gadsden State Community College for a one-night-only performance on Saturday, May 13. The show begins at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $23. All tickets are general admission. CLICK HERE or HERE to purchase your tickets. To keep up with Joy’s Jubilations and find out what’s next, follow them on Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire Q&A with Ballet Hispánico dancers Amanda del Valle and Chris Bloom; the company’s ‘Doña Perón’ on stage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre April 28-29

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On Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, Tennessee Performing Arts Center will host Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón as part of TPAC’s inaugural International Dance Series. Based out of New York and founded in 1970, Ballet Hispánico is the largest Latinx/Latine/Hispanic culture organization in the US and widely recognized as a leader in bringing the message of cultural history and inclusivity through dance.

As the company prepares to bring Doña Perón, the story of iconic Argentine First Lady, Eva Perón to Nashville for the Music City debut at TPAC’s Polk Theatre, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to chat with two of the company’s lead dancers, Miami Native, Amanda del Valle, who’s dancing the titular role of Eva Perón and Virginia-born Chris Bloom, the ballet’s Juan Perón for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire Q&A.

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RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH DOÑA PERÓN’s AMANDA del VALLE AND CHRIS BLOOM

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH AMANDA DEL VALLE, EVITA in BALLET HISPÁNICO’s DOÑA PERÓN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I just have to begin by saying I’ve been a wee bit obsessed with all things Eva Perón since I was a kid and my favorite aunt took me to see the Broadway musical based on her life. Prior to taking one the role of Evita, how familiar were you with her story?

AMANDA DEL VALLE: I actually had not heard of Evita Perón until a few weeks before the choreographic process. I remember when we found out we would be performing a new work based on Eva’s life; I called my family to tell them and they informed me a little bit about who she was and what she was so famous for. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: From what I know, you first became interested in ballet at a very young age. What memories do you have of your time training with Marielena Mencia and Yanis Pikieris at Miami Youth Ballet?

AMANDA DEL VALLE: I was about 10 years old when I took my first ballet class, and it’s where all my dreams began.  My favorite memories are the ones where we would be in the studio rehearsing until 10 o’clock at night, sometimes later, because we were so focused and driven that we would lose track of time. Our moms would have to come upstairs to get us out of the studio. It was home and we never wanted to leave. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this is your second season with Ballet Hispánico. How did you come to join the company?

AMANDA DEL VALLE: I was introduced to Ballet Hispánico through my mentor and role model Melissa Verdecía. I watched her dance with Ballet Hispánico and knew I wanted to be a part of an organization that allowed me to not only grow in my artistry but also allowed me to grow closer to my roots and culture with dance.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about working with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, the show’s choreographer?

AMANDA DEL VALLE: Working with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa was very exciting. I love how she caters to each dancer and what they are capable of, and pushes you to go further than what you think you are capable of. I have always admired her work and individuality as a choreographer and person. Also working with a female choreographer on a piece about a female icon is a very empowering experience.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of the creative team behind Doña Perón, costumer Mark Eric has created dozens of costumes for the show. Exactly how many costume changes do you have, and what are your favorite costumes among them?

AMANDA DEL VALLE: The role of Evita Perón consists of exactly seven costume changes that happen on and off stage, with a total of 6 costumes. It’s hard to pick a favorite costume because they are all so beautiful and show the many different parts of Evita but I would have to pick the last dress that she changes into on stage for her final duet before her death. I love how it combines the classy, business, and strong regal essence of Evita. 

 

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH CHRIS BLOOM, JUAN PERÓN in BALLET HISPÁNICO’s DOÑA PERÓN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As I mentioned when I chatted with Amanda earlier, I’ve been interested in Evia Perón story since I was a kid. In Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón you play Juan Perón. What can you tell me about the character and how you prepared to portray him in movement?

CHRIS BLOOM: This character is interesting because he is a mix of things. Annabelle wasn’t interested in telling fairy tales but the stories of actual people. Real people are flawed and complex and that makes rich ground for storytelling. Juan Perón was many things and not nearly all of them were good but I do believe he loved Eva genuinely. I try my best to play him like a real person. The real man had many political ideas in common with the fascist governments/leaders of the day but he cared about helping Argentina’s disadvantaged people. He came from wealth and was driven in his pursuit of power to the point of ordering the hostile takeover of his country’s newspapers and is known to have ordered the imprisonment of journalists and other people that opposed his agenda. Was Evita a conduit for gaining power? She was. Did he love that about her? I imagine he did. But I also imagine he loved her as a person as well. I try to play all of this each time I perform in Doña Perón. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: This year marks your tenth season Ballet Hispánico. What is it about this dance company that keeps you excited to perform?

CHRIS BLOOM: It is the stories we tell and how we tell them on stage that keeps me coming back year after year. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I asked Amanda about her early ballet interest. How old were you when you discovered ballet and began considering it as a career path?

CHRIS BLOOM: I was 15 years old when I took my first ballet class. I had always known it was a possible career as there was a great deal of art in my home growing up. I fell in love with the aspirational rigor of the art form and honestly never looked back. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Near the end of 2022, Doña Perón was presented at The Kennedy Center and just earlier this month, on Friday, April 14, PBS aired one of those performances as part of their series Next at the Kennedy Center. So a two-part question for you: What’s it like to dance at the famed performing arts venue and how do you feel about being part of a broadcast that will allow people who might not otherwise get the chance, to see such a spectacular piece?

CHRIS BLOOM: Performing at the Kennedy Center is always an incredible experience! I grew up about 60 miles due west of DC in Frederick Co, VA so I can remember seeing many dance companies there as a kid. Performing there is evidence of a dream fulfilled. The chance to reach a larger audience through the broadcast of our work on PBS is as exciting as it gets. There is nothing better than getting a text from a friend saying “Hey! I saw you on TV!”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those who do get the chance to see Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón, whether via the PBS special, or live as the tour continues, what do you hope audiences take from the experience?

CHRIS BLOOM: I hope that audiences take culture away from the experience of seeing the company in action. Latinx cultures are a multiplicity not a monolith and through our performances audiences get to see complexity and authenticity rather than stereotypes. My greatest hope as a performer is to leave audiences with a sense of curiosity and an appreciation of beauty. 

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Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón can be see live onstage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29 at 8p.m. each evening. Tickets rang in price from $45 to $95. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets. To learn more about Doña Perón, Ballet Hispánico, del Valle, Bloom and the rest of the company’s dancers and creatives, CLICK HERE or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Vimeo.  Not in Nashville? CLICK HERE to see where Ballet Hispánico will be performing next.

Doña Perón marks the second in three productions visiting TPAC as part of their first-ever International Dance Series, MOMIX Alice being the first. In case you missed my chat with members of MOMIX dance company, CLICK HERE to check out those conversations.

Next up for TPAC’s International Dance Series is Scottish Ballet’s The Crucible, onstage at TPAC’s Jackson Hall May 19 and 20. CLICK HERE for more info. Be sure to check out TPAC online and on socials by clicking any of the following:  TPAC.org,  TPAC on Instagram,  TPAC on Facebook, TPAC on Twitter and TPAC on YouTube.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

RAPID FIRE 20 Q WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST OF PIEDMONT PLAYERS THEATRE’S ‘KINKY BOOTS’; on stage at Meroney Theatre in Salisbury, North Carolina April 21-May 7

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While I typically feature productions originating from-or National Tours visiting-the area near JHPEntertainment’s home base of Nashville, Tennessee, for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20Q, I’m thrilled to venture a little further out to feature the Salisbury, North Carolina-based theatre company, Piedmont Players Theatre as they prepare for their April 21 Opening Night of the regional theatrical premier of Kinky Boots at the Meroney Theatre (213 S. Main St, Salisbury, NC). There’s a couple reasons I wanted to feature this particular company and this show. One, I absolutely love Kinky Boots, and Two, it’s being directed by PPT’s Executive Director, Bradley Moore, who just so happens to be one of my favorite humans! What follows are my conversations with Bradley, as well as Kinky Boots’ cast members Nick Culp, Michael Fargas and Taylor Kroop, who play Charlie, Lola and Lauren, respectively.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST OF PIEDMONT PLAYERS THEATRE’s KINKY BOOTS

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS DIRECTOR BRADLEY MOORE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As I’m sure you know, Kinky Boots is based on a true story. In fact, years before it was a Broadway sensation, it was a non-musical film. I myself saw the movie back in 2006. When were you first aware of the Kinky Boots story? AND…What was it about the show that piqued your interest as a director?

BRADLEY MOORE: Man, you were on top of it! I actually never saw the film when it was first released, but was very aware of the musical from its inception. I mean, Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper, and Jerry Mitchell?!? That combination is going to make any Broadway baby’s ears perk up. I was also very aware of Stark Sands (Charlie in the Broadway debut) because of his previous involvement with the Broadway production of American Idiot. I was living in Nashville when the first Broadway tour came through in 2015, which is when I saw Kinky Boots for the very first time. It was an instant love affair. Between the killer music, the positive messaging, and the choreography – it was all just incredible. It immediately went on my “MUST DIRECT ONE DAY” list. I am very happy that we have reached that day. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the time since the show was chosen to be included in your current season, the subject of drag has become quite controversial, especially in your former home state of Tennessee. I’d imagine that’s been on your mind from time to time as you’ve rehearsed your cast?

BRADLEY MOORE: Absolutely. At one of our first rehearsals, we all sat around and dissected the show – discussing characters and connections and themes. The collective “us” already believed that this show was more important than ever, but even more so because of the current political and hate-fueled climate. In fact, that rehearsal was just days after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the bill that would restrict drag performances all over the state. I even remember saying – “I am not sure this show could be performed in Nashville right now.” Of course now, a month or so later, we know a little differently and thankfully Judge Thomas Parker has put a delay on the bill going into effect. However, artistic expression is under fire, in many ways. Kinky Boots IS more important than ever. It’s a show that boasts the message – JUST BE; that can be hard to do when some people feel they need to get in the way of the First Amendment. Artists need to unite now, more than ever, to secure their freedoms. And we are much stronger together.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Since the 2013 Broadway debut of the musical adaptation, Lola’s boots have becoming an instantly recognizable bit of musical theatre iconography. Who’s your costumer and what can you tell me about Lola’s looks and the infamous thigh-high footwear that’ll be seen in production?

BRADLEY MOORE: Our costumer Colleen Smiley is just fantastic. She and I have worked in conjunction to secure all the boots for the show from a large variety of sources. From purchasing a few to utilizing our theatre friends whose theatres have performed the show recently, we have used our resources very wisely. A big shout-out to Heather Levinson and Theatre Alliance in Winston-Salem, who have allowed us to borrow an array of footwear from their production from last summer. Several cast members have also contributed by purchasing their own boots. I never thought I would say “it takes a village” about boots, but it did take a whole big village to make it happen. And honestly, they are all pretty fabulous. It is definitely Bootapalooza.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s been the most challenging aspect of bringing Kinky Boots to life on stage with Piedmont Players?

BRADLEY MOORE: I think there is always a level of pressure when you get to do something first. As far as the Charlotte area goes, this is the first fully-staged production of Kinky Boots that the local community will have the opportunity to see. I actually don’t mind that pressure. I love being the first to do things. It is also a show filled with a million logistics, which has been interesting to navigate. Thankfully, I have an incredible crew around me that are helping to make all the magic happen. To me, as with any show, we have to make sure that we are all honest storytellers who embrace the heart of the story. As long as we are doing that, I believe audiences will really love what we are putting on that stage. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’m about to chat with members of your cast. What’s been the biggest/best surprise about working with this particular cast and crew?

BRADLEY MOORE: This cast has not only wildly embraced the material, but also each other. With so many elements of drag and acceptance within the show, it has been wonderful to see how much love and support is present at every rehearsal. We are an honest-to-goodness Kinky family. It is a smaller cast than would usually be needed to bring Kinky Boots alive. We have 16 cast members, whereas the show usually requires anywhere from 22 to 28. Therefore, everyone has had to work a little harder to bring it all together, and they are WERKING.

Nick Culp, who plays Charlie, is a freak of nature. One of the most talented humans I have ever worked with. This is our 6th show together and I hope we have many more in our future. Michael Fargas, who plays Lola, is making his Piedmont Players debut. When he walked through the door at auditions, I knew he had many special gifts that only in a role such as Lola could be fully appreciated. Taylor Kroop and Caroline Forrester, as Lauren and Nicola, respectively, are powerhouse vocalists with an attack and energy that is unmatched by most. The rest of the cast – Kristina Blake, Dakotah Chelgren, Austin Dantzler, Jonathan Lodgek, Keilen McNeil, Aidan Melton, Johnathon Stribling, Kristin Swilley, Dale Waters, and Wendy Weant have all settled into their roles beautifully. There are truly 16 superb performances in this production And if you come for nothing else, Thierry Agnant, as Young Lola, and Asher Pethel, as Young Charlie, are pure theatrical excellence. And I would be nothing without the brilliance of our choreographer, David T. Loudermilk, and our Music Director, John Stafford. They have been my rocks throughout this entire journey. I am just beyond grateful for all the humans involved with this production, including Colleen Welday and Tara Melton who make some surprise appearances throughout the show. 

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS’ CHARLIE, NICK CULP

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Area theater patrons will no doubt recognize you from multiple shows with PPT. What can you tell me about Kinky Boots’ Charlie and what drew you to this role?

NICK CULP: The script’s character breakdown describes Charlie better than I ever could: he’s “a bit confused, a bit unfocused, a hero hiding under a victim’s mantle.” When we first meet Charlie, he’s pretty aimless and doesn’t know what he wants out of life – the only thing he knows for certain is that he doesn’t want to run a shoe factory the rest of his life, like his father. But after some plot twists and turns, Charlie finally finds his purpose in the last place he ever thought he’d find it – that factory, his home, the very place from which he’d been trying to escape. Not only that, he finds his passion thanks to the help of a very unlikely source: a drag queen in need of some heels that won’t break! It’s that classic Odd Couple relationship that just works so well in any comedy. 

I was drawn to the role because I see a lot of myself in Charlie. His father dies in the first ten minutes of the play; my dad passed away unexpectedly about 4 months ago. So art is quite literally imitating life at the moment. I used to think that the show’s central themes were love and acceptance. And while that’s still true, I’ve found that what resonates with me the most after losing my dad are the themes of grief and finding joy, healing and purpose through loss. Both of the central characters have lost their fathers in different ways, yet they both deal with this balancing act of honoring the life their fathers built for them while forging their own path. That common ground is really the foundation of their friendship, as well as the catalyst for Charlie’s journey to a more purposeful life. To put a finer point on it, I was drawn to the role because when Charlie heals, I get to heal a little bit too. This experience has been very cathartic.      

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Earlier, I spoke with the show’s Director, Bradley Moore. I’ve known Bradley for years, from his time in Nashville. How is Bradley as a director and in particular, what’s been the best aspect of having Bradley direct you in Kinky Boots?

NICK CULP: Bradley has been with PPT for a little over a year now and in that time, I think I’ve been involved in all but two productions that he has directed. So I like to think I’ve got a pretty good understanding of how he works and vice versa. As an actor himself, he knows how to give his actors the space and freedom to make their own choices without micromanaging, which I’ve always appreciated. He also cares about how you’re doing in regards to the show. I can recall moments in every production we’ve worked on together where he pulls me aside to ask how I’m feeling about everything and to check if there’s anything I need. He wants everyone to succeed and do their best. The best aspect of having him direct me in Kinky Boots, aside from everything I’ve already mentioned, is that this show feels personal for him. He’s put a lot of heart into this particular production and treated it with the care it deserves. This story is more important now than ever and so I think that’s a responsibility he takes seriously.    

JHPENTERTAINMENT: With words and music by legendary 80s Pop Goddess, Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots’ soundtrack is filled with such great music. Among my favorites…and not just because I’m talking to you…is Charlie’s Step One. Are there certain musical moments in the show, whether yours or someone else’s that just ‘get you’ every time?

NICK CULP: There really is some fantastic music in this show and I agree – Step One is definitely a bop! So two songs come to mind that “get me” every time. The first is singing Soul of a Man. It’s the lowest point for Charlie: that overwhelming feeling of not being enough; the culmination of all of this frustration, stress and unexpressed grief. I’ve been there. Like, recently. So it feels good to release those feelings every night when I sing it. If I look emotionally drained afterward, it’s because I am! The second song that comes to mind is Not My Father’s Son. It’s impossible to listen to Michael Fargas (our Lola) sing that song and not feel something. So the fact that I get to have a front row seat to it every night has been very special and my tears are real every night. I’m so proud of what he’s done with that song and getting to join him for a little duet at the end of it is the cherry on the top. Bring tissues.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those unfamiliar with the show, it takes place in Northampton in the East Midlands region of England. To that end, the majority, if not all the characters speak with an English accent. Did the cast have a dialect coach working with you all to fine-tune your accents?

NICK CULP: Yes, Bradley had a contact that he made available to us for dialect coaching and I believe some cast members worked with them. I have actually been using an English accent off and on for the better part of a year with other shows I’ve worked on so it wasn’t much different than what I’ve already been doing. But this dialect is definitely less proper than the received pronunciation I’ve been using. More Beatles and less Royal Family. I think the most challenging part for me was finding my own voice within the accent, finding the cadence and inflection that worked for my Charlie. What helped me the most was memorizing my lines as soon as possible, so I spent the first couple of weeks doing that, speaking the lines slowly out-loud and figuring out the placement of my mouth to shape those words. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Another vital aspect of this show is the choreography. I understand David Loudermilk is choreographing Kinky Boots. For those unfamiliar with the behind-the-scenes of theatre, what’s an average rehearsal like, compared to choreo rehearsal?

NICK CULP: Well, at an average rehearsal, I don’t sweat. At a David Loudermilk choreo rehearsal, I do sweat. In all seriousness, a choreo rehearsal is focused on learning the dance for any given song. In an average rehearsal, we learn the blocking of a scene – where we stand onstage, where we cross and when, etc. We also learn the music – the correct notes, rhythms, etc. So when we get to choreography rehearsals, we are using the things we’ve learned from blocking/music and adding dance into the mix. We learn it in pieces and/or there are some songs that feature smaller groups of the cast, so we each learn our own part and then combine it all together to get the final look of the dance. In a nutshell, choreography rehearsal is really a matter of becoming a moving puzzle piece. We have numbers that run along the edge of the stage so we can glance down and know where we’re standing. It’s important to be standing on the correct number so you aren’t out of place with the overall formation that David has created. David’s choreography is high energy and all about telling a story. 

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS’ SIMON/LOLA, MICHAEL FARGAS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Kinky Boots marks your PPT debut. I guess if you’re gonna make an entrance into the Salisbury Theatre community, THIS is THE role to do it, right?

MICHAEL FARGAS: Absolutely! I feel like this role, it’s such a powerhouse role and it’s the best way to make an entrance back into the world of theater. Especially given our current climate and the issues that have arisen. It’s a statement being made for sure.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While this marks your PPT debut, you’re definitely no stranger to performing arts having done community theatre, worked at theme parks and as a performer with Carnival Cruises. What’s your favorite part of doing community theatre?

MICHAEL FARGAS: Yes, I’m no stranger in the performing arts world, but community theater brings a new element that is sometimes forgotten and that is EDUCATION. My favorite part has been the educational standpoint;. Being able to meet other people that are new to the arts, and come together and deliver a message of acceptance, authenticity and love has been amazing. That’s including providing some sort of education to the audience and the actors themselves. Compared to a lot of traditional other source of entertainment, community theater allows you to push the boundaries of perception and ideas in a local level.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I admit it, I did a little social media stalk in preparation of chatting with you. To that end, what can you tell me about Summer Camp with the Peanuts Gang during your time at Valleyfair Amusement Park? (I can’t help it, I’m a Snoopy nerd from way back)

MICHAEL FARGAS: It always tickles me because I get asked about this frequently. There is definitely a childlike excitement when it comes to being able to stand on stage with Some of your friends that you have watched since you were a kid. From watching Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving as a kid, to spending the summer with the Peanuts and bringing the same happiness to other children is an irreplaceable feeling. Memories that I will carry forever.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your promo photo as Lola is just flawless. So much so, I suspected this might not be your first time in drag. Further Insta stalking/research proved my suspicions correct. Who is Sassi and how much of her can we see in Lola?

MICHAEL FARGAS: You’ve done some really great research. This is not my first time in drag but it is my first time combining something that I love such as theater and drag in one setting, which was hard to do based on being a queer Afro Latino male in the world of performing arts. Sassi is an Afro Latina Theatre queen who loves attention but also authentically lives her life unapologetically and she encourages others to do so. Lola and Sassi have so much in common. They both find happiness in bringing joy to other people laugh and bravery. Lola is as much Sassi as I am to Simon (Lola’s male presenting persona). Many of the experiences that Lola/Simon face, I relate to in my own life. Obviously not the same exact storyline but similar lessons, such as parent expectation and living authentically and in peace.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: RuPaul famously says, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag”. Do you agree? AND what’s a quote you, yourself reflect on from time to time?

MICHAEL FARGAS: I agree and disagree. In this world we are raised to fit into the societal norms. Though some people conform, others venture outside that realm. Drag is an art form that allows you to express certain areas of yourself that you normally wouldn’t get to in an everyday routine, and can teach you so much about who you are. It allows you to step in someone else’s shoes and understand and admire what it is to be a queen or king in our world. But the goal is to apply what you learn in drag and implement it outside of your drag persona to live authentically. Sassi will always be part of me and I’m grateful for her, but she allowed me to learn to love who Michael is, no matter his past. And I don’t want to be anyone else but me, without “the glitter, the feathers and the hot glue gun…” (a line from the show). I think my favorite quote that I go back to is what my mom said to me one time and that was, “Be the best you that you can be and do it to your full capacity”.

RAPID FIRE WITH KINNKY BOOTS’ LAUREN, TAYLOR KROOP

JHPENTERTAINMENT: This is your second show with PPT, having been a member of the ensemble of their production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in the fall. In that production you played a myriad of supporting characters throughout the show, now you’re playing Lauren, a factory worker who develops a close relationship with Nick Culp’s Charlie. How is Nick as a scene partner? 

TAYLOR KROOP: Nick is an awesome scene partner. We actually go way back to when we performed Little Women together back in 2018. He was Laurie and I was Jo so we already had some established chemistry. It’s so fun to be back on the stage with him and getting to just play!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who walks better in heels, you or Michael?

TAYLOR KROOP: As much as I would love to say me, it’s probably Michael! Haha 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Much of the action of Kinky Boots takes place at the factory. I understand your director, Bradley and Jennifer O’Kelly designed the set for PPT’s production. What’s your favorite aspect of it?

TAYLOR KROOP: Yes, Bradley Moore and Jennifer O’Kelly designed the set! My favorite aspect of the set is all the visible staircases and the exposed brick at the back of the stage. I think it really adds to the factory aesthetic. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Lauren, your big musical number is The History of Wrong Guys. So spill it…Do you have a history of wrong dates, too?

TAYLOR KROOP: To be honest, my history of wrong guys is a pretty short story because I’m getting married in 2 months…to my college sweetheart! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I often like to end my chats with the same basic question, and since you’re the last of your costars I’m chatting with, this time, it falls to you…What do you hope audiences come away remembering after having seen Kinky Boots?

TAYLOR KROOP: I hope the audience walks away seeing that people who do drag or people who are involved in the arts are just people trying to make it like the rest of us. It’s a form expression that gives them joy. I hope everyone can see the humanity in what we do and through our acting, especially in todays political climate. To quote our finale song, “Just be who you wanna be

Never let ’em tell you who you ought to be. Just be with dignity. Celebrate yourself triumphantly. You’ll see…Just be.” 

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Piedmont Players Theatre’s Kinky Boots opens Friday, April 21 and runs through Sunday, May 7 at the Meroney Theatre with a 7:30p.m. showtime Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday Matinees at 2:30p.m. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Check out Piedmont Players Theatre online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook.  Then #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q With Cast of ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’; Opening April 14 at Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre

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Since its Broadway debut back in 1941, and thanks largely to the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant as directed by Frank Capra, playwright Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace has been a fan favorite. While the Cary Grant film is indeed a classic, I gotta admit, I prefer the 1969 tv adaptation starring Bob Crane, but mostly because Helen Hayes and Lillian Gish co-starred as the hilariously murderous Brewster sisters in that one. When I heard The Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre was mounting a production of the show, I knew what I’d feature in the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, RAPID FIRE 20Q. To that end, what follows are chats with Matt Smith, Linda Speir, Adele Akin and Brad Morgan as the prepare for opening night of Arsenic and Old Lace, on stage at The Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre (108 Donelson Pike, Nashville, TN 37214) Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 30.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF KEETON THEATRE’s ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

RAPID FIRE WITH MATT SMITH, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’s MORTIMER BREWSTER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Mortimer, the character you play in The Keeton Theatre’s Arsenic and Old Lace?

MATT SMITH:  Mortimer was raised in Brooklyn by two elderly aunts who adore him and who he adores. But given his family’s checkered past and his view of Brooklyn as old-fashioned and stifling, he leaves for the excitement and possibility of New York City and eventually becomes a prominent theater critic. This is ironic, as he “loathes” the theater and considers it to be on its last legs. Still, it pays the bills much more handily than his passion for Henry David Thoreau ever could and lends him a bit of big-city arrogance when he returns to visit his humble hometown. When he falls for the local minister’s daughter, who lives next door to his Aunts, his visits become more frequent. He ultimately discovers that the Brewster family has more dark secrets than he could have possibly imagined, which sets him on a frantic but entirely earnest course of action to protect the ones he loves…and all manner of hilarity ensues!

 JHPENTERTAINMENT: Written by playwright Joseph Kesselring, the work became more widely known thanks to the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant as Mortimer as directed by Frank Capra. In preparing for the role, did you revisit previous incarnations?

MATT SMITH:  Although I have seen the film, I try not to let any previous incarnation of any role inform my approach to creating a character. I find that especially important if the role is as iconic as this one. Meisner said, “Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” and I believe that may be the best bit of acting advice I’ve ever heard. I think it’s impossible for any person to behave truthfully on stage while letting the choices another actor has made inform their own. It creates too many layers between you and the character if that makes sense. And besides, I don’t walk talk or look like Cary Grant, so there’s certainly no reason to try to!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As mentioned above, the ’44 film adaptation was directed by Capra. Michael Welch is directing this production. How has it been working with him on this project?

MATT SMITH: Michael is a dear friend, but one of the things I admire about him is that once he arrives at the theater he’s there to work. Period. No wasted time, no messing around, no favoritism. We’re here to put on the best show we can for everyone who’s gracious enough to part with their hard-earned money to see it. This is my first time working with him as a director and I’ve been impressed with his commitment and clear vision for the project, his work ethic and his attention to quality and detail. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For a play that’s been produced around the world for some eighty years, what do you think keeps audiences dying to see it? (See what I did there?)

MATT SMITH: The simplest answer is, it’s really freakin’ funny. It’s well-written and plays like a freight-train on fire as it races to its hilarious climax. And while I’m no deep thinker or psychiatrist, I think it’s pretty clear that there’s a long-standing precedent in the history of human art-making that death and darkness make for the best and most popular comedy. Murder kills! (See what I did there?)

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, since I won’t be chatting with Tim Bush, Let’s give a little shout out to him. After all, he plays Jonathan Brewster, and since the character shares my first name, and has been played by some pretty iconic actors including Boris Karloff, Raymond Massey and Fred Gwynne, and you yourself recently played Jonathan just last year in Playhouse 615’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace, I gotta ask…how does Tim’s take on the creepy character measure up?

MATT SMITH: I’ve had the opportunity to play different roles in the same play a few times before and it’s a fascinating experience to have “your” lines given to you, as I’m hearing Tim do in the current production. Jonathan Brewster is a role he is physically perfect for, as he towers over everyone else on the stage (and no Tim, I’m not implying that you look like Boris Karloff). I’m a pretty big Tim Bush fan. We were in “I Hate Hamlet” together several years ago and I’m sure it’s not hard to imagine how great he was as Barrymore. Beyond that, he’s a damn fine actor and a wonderful human being. As to his take on the role, I find his approach to Jonathan to be refreshingly non-one-dimensional, by which I mean that he’s not just menacing. He is that and I’m really enjoying the psychological warfare we’re engaging in during the show. But he’s also done a wonderful job of discovering the comic opportunities “hidden” in the role. I’m very much looking forward to our game of cat and mouse as well as the opportunity to finally face Mortimer’s fears in our standoff. I think his Jonathan is going to be a lot of fun for audiences to experience.

RAPID FIRE WITH LINDA SPEIR, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’s ABBY BREWSTER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When you and I chatted about me interviewing some of the cast, you noted that Abby is described a “plump little darling” in the character description in the script. You’re darling, but hardly plump…Was there ever any discussion of making your more dowdy in the role?

LINDA SPEIR: There was no discussion of how I would play the role.  I just looked to the script  for my character and played my version of Aunt Abby.  I may have played her a little stronger in spots than the script intended but I always play a bit of myself in all of my roles.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I chatted with Matt, I mentioned the fact that Arsenic and Old Lace has been around for 80-plus years. In that time, some of Broadway and Hollywood’s greatest leading ladies have played the Brewster sisters, among them: Josephine Hull, who originated the role of Abby on Broadway and revisited the role for the Cary Grant 1944 film; Dorothy Stickney and Helen Hayes, who each played Abby in mid-century TV adaptations. Heck, even All in the Family’s Jean Stapleton stepped into the role in a late-80s national tour. How much fun are you having making her your own? 

LINDA SPEIR: I’m having a great deal of fun playing Aunt Abby.  We do have to remember she is  somewhat crazy!  She (in my interpretation) is just a wee bit flirtatious with her “gentlemen”.. Think the spider and the fly.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s your favorite aspect of playing Abby?

LINDA SPEIR: She is a lovely, gracious lady but underneath there’s a layer of insanity.  After all Arsenic is a dark comedy. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT:  I understand the show is being costumed by Donna Driver. What can you tell me about the wardrobe choices in the show?

LINDA SPEIR:  There were some difficulties in finding clothing that looked period; however, Donna did a good job. The Aunts are not very up to date or showy.   Of course I have my own “old lady shoes”  that I ordered sometime back as I have done other period shows.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As one half of the Brewster sisters, you share much of your stage time alongside Adele Akin as Martha Brewster. I understand this isn’t your first time to appear onstage with her. How is she as a scene partner?

LINDA SPEIR: I’ve known Adele for perhaps 25 years.  We’ve been on stage together several times at several theatres including ACT 1, Boiler Room and more recently at Pull Tight Theatre.  We were in Waiting in the Wings at Pull Tight in January-February 2020 before the world shut down due to Covid.  We interact well with each other both on and off stage.  She is a delight as the slightly addled Aunt Martha. 

RAPID FIRE WITH ADELE AKIN, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’s MARTHA BREWSTER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Martha Brewster to you?

ADELE AKIN: Martha is a sweet caring woman. She lives to do good for others.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Longtime Keeton patrons might recognize you from previous roles, including appearances in productions of The Spitfire Grill and A Scattered, Smothered & Covered Christmas and more. How much fun are you having being back on the Keeton stage?

ADELE AKIN: It’s like coming home! I was in the inaugural season which began with Nuncrackers in 2004. I know there are ticket holders who have seen every play in the last almost 20 years. It will be a great reunion!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I chatted with your fellow Brewster sister, Linda, I asked her about sharing scenes with you, so it’s only fair to get your response to sharing the stage with her. How is Linda as a scene partner?

ADELE AKIN: The best! We have known each other for probably 30 years and have been in several productions together but never opposite each other as we are in this show. I’ve been hoping for this for a long time. I respect Linda’s work immensely and I’m so happy to be working with her! The entire cast is terrific but Linda holds a special place in my acting heart. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For a show that features multiple murders, it’s dang funny. What’s your favorite line or scene whether it’s yours or someone else’s?

ADELE AKIN: Actually, my favorite line is spoken by Officer O’Hara played by Jenna Salb. She says “Where else would you eat?”  I will not explain that.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the spirit of the play, IF you were to do it, how would you get away with it?

ADELE AKIN: What a great question! I guess I’d have to live in a small cabin somewhere in the woods where the only witnesses would be the deer and the foxes with a couple of skunks thrown in there.

RAPID FIRE WITH BRAD MORGAN, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’s TEDDY BREWSTER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand you’re a recent Nashville transplant. What drew you to the area and how has your experience in Nashville and with the Keeton been thus far?

BRAD MORGAN: Yes, I just moved here in November. I had visited Nashville several times over the last two years to help a friend move to the area and found that I really liked Nashville. I am a musician and what better place to relocate to than Music City. Also, being involved in Theatre for the past 45 years, I thought auditioning for a local  theater group would help me acclimate to the area and make some new friends. The Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre is close to my house so I decided to audition and was lucky enough to get cast. I had never done Arsenic and Old Lace and so far it’s been a great deal of fun.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Teddy Brewster, who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt. You’ve actually played Roosevelt before, having appeared in Cider Mills Playhouse’s Tintypes back in 2012. Did having played Roosevelt in the past influenced your character in Arsenic and Old Lace?

BRAD MORGAN: Not at all. Two very different characters. First of all Tintypes is a musical and an Ensemble cast that play multiple roles. Teddy Roosevelt was one of multiple characters I played, and was only in two or three scenes. Also, that character was more of a historical depiction of Teddy Roosevelt. Whereas, Teddy Brewster is more of an impersonation of Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy Brewster’s interpretation of Teddy Roosevelt, but still very much Teddy Brewster.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of your previous acting experience, your credits include quite a few well-known shows, including The Rainmaker, Death of a Salesman, Man of La Mancha and more, but what caught my eye…you appeared in One Life to Live and Another World. I can’t lie, I still watch Days of Our Lives…so, its the soap credits for me…what do you recall from your appearances on those two classic soaps?

BRAD MORGAN: Well, at first, it was very exciting but ultimately it just turns into another job. I really don’t like camera and film work. It’s very tedious and boring. A great deal of waiting around for the technical aspects like lighting, camera angles, sound and reshooting of scenes. I much prefer acting on stage and the process of creating a character for a live audience.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Kevin Driver has designed the set. What can you tell me about the Brewster home as envisioned by Driver?

BRAD MORGAN: I am not a designer, so I have a great deal of admiration and respect for designers, scenic, lighting, costumes, etc.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences will recalling after having seen Arsenic and Old Lace?

BRAD MORGAN: That they had a good laugh at the crazy world of the Brewsters.

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Arsenic and Old Lace opens at The Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre Friday, April 14 with performances Friday-Sunday, April 14-16, Thursday, April 20-Sunday, April 23 and Thursday, April 27-Sunday, April 30. Thursdays are Show Only. Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees offer Dinner/Lunch and Show tickets, OR Show Only Tickets. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets or for more information.

Following Arsenic and Old Lace, The Keeton Theatre closes out their 2022/2023 Season with Memphis: An Original Story of Love, Soul & Rock ’N’ Roll onstage June 9-25, 2023. CLICK HERE for tickets or more info. Season Subscribers may purchase tickets to Memphis beginning April 13. General Public tickets available beginning April 20.

In the meantime, to keep up with the latest from The Larry Keeton Dinner Theatre, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook.

Rapid Fire 20 Q with cast of Nashville Rep’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ on stage at TPAC’s Johnson Theatre thru April 2

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Directed by Micah-Shane Brewer, Nashville Repertory Theatre’s inspired and inspiring production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time moves into its second and final week with performances Friday, March 31 at 7:30p.m., Saturday, April 1 at 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 2:00p.m. at TPAC’s Johnson Theatre, I recently had the opportunity to chat with four the company’s incredible cast members for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20Q. Kindly taking time out of their performance schedules for these conversations are Lauren Berst, Nat McIntyre, Eric D. Pasto-Crosby and JR Robles. Berst and McIntyre play Judy and Ed Boone, parents of 15 year-old Christopher Boone, a young autistic math wiz who finds himself at the center of the titular mystery. Pasto-Crosby and JR Robles play a multitude of townsfolk who meet young Christopher along his journey. What follows are my conversations with the cast.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST MEMBERS OF THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CURIOUS INCIDENT’s NAT MCINTYRE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re no stranger to Nashville Rep, having appeared in Good Monsters and Shakespeare in Love and having directed their production of A Streetcar Named Desire. What keeps brining your back to the company?

NAT McINTYRE: Since moving to Nashville, starting a family, and taking a full time professorship at Lipscomb I have had to be more intentional with the work I choose.  It’s very important to me that the work challenges and excites me and audiences.  The Rep has been doing that work.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Ed Boone?

NAT McINTYRE: He’s trying really hard

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand you had read Mark Haddon’s novel upon which the play is based. What’s most surprising about the way the story has been brought to the stage?

NAT McINTYRE: I read the book so long ago.  I mostly was surprised they would try to make it into a play because I thought it would be REALLY hard.  But, it turns out Simon Stephens and bunch of curious artists that don’t take themselves too seriously make it possible.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In preparation of our chat, I discovered among your many credits, you appeared in a season 2 episode of Devious Maids, playing a police officer. Just gonna say it. I loved that series. Bringing the question back to Curious Incident…What’s an advantage of performing in theatre as opposed to film or television?

NAT McINTYRE: Film and TV is fun.  It also pays a lot of money.  But nothing can replace the pulse and breath of a live audience.  The best actors let them be an extra character in the play I think.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How has your experience been working with Curious Incident director, Micah-Shane Brewer?

NAT McINTYRE: This play is hard. I had never worked with Micah-Shane.  I was nervous ;).  But, that dude has stepped up big time. He is a prepared artist who makes room for his actors, doesn’t need to have all the answers, and does not take himself too seriously.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CURIOUS INCIDENT’s LAUREN BERST

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Last time I saw you onstage, you had invited me to attend a performance of Nashville Story Garden’s thought-provoking production of The Welkin. Now you’re playing Judy Boone in Nashville Rep’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Two vastly different shows, but with the common thread of drama. Do you find yourself typically drawn towards more dramatic roles?

LAUREN BERST: Thank you for supporting and promoting Nashville theater, Jonathan! I love comedy and drama equally and am jazzed by the challenges they each present. I am primarily lured to the story being told rather than the genre so if that’s in a comedy or drama, I want to go on the journey. For the The Welkin, we were compelled to tell that story, and getting to tell it with 12 amazing women on stage with me was a huge draw. For Curious Incident, I loved the book and the play and was excited about the idea of exploring the story as an ensemble. The opportunity to return to Nashville Rep was an added bonus so I jumped at the chance. I am grateful to get to do this show with this wonderful group of people.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is it about Judy Boone that attracted you to the role?

LAUREN BERST: I love Judy. And what’s interesting about this play is that most of what we learn about the characters comes from Christopher’s vantage point so finding a through line or heart of a character is a fun challenge. I enjoy finding the sweet, strong, rule-breaking parts of her and expanding or contracting from there. She is an ill-equipped force to be reckoned with.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You mention the character of Christopher, which leads to my next question…How has it been sharing scenes with Ben Friesen, who’s at the center of the action playing young Christopher Boone?

LAUREN BERST: It’s wonderful to work with Ben. Ben is a champ! His exploration of Christopher is open, honest, and spot on. He’s a great collaborator. This show is a lot of responsibility and he handles it with confidence and excitement which is a testament to his ability. And his eagerness is infectious. Ben has created a well-rounded, and heart-wrenching character. Audiences will be rooting for Christopher.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Also at the center of the story is the titular dog. You yourself are a pet-owner, so I gotta ask…how’s Ms. Roxie? AND…I’ve seen a few rehearsal posts giving a first look at the puppy involved in the show. Has that pup become everyone’s emotional support dog, considering the seriousness of the piece?

LAUREN BERST: Oh thank you for asking about THE MOST important parts of my life and this play! First of all, Roxie is the spoiled rotten dachshund I adopted six years ago and she’s amazing. In fact, she is curled next to me as I type this so any spelling or grammar errors can be blamed on her.

Scottie, the sweet puppy in the play, (the *actual* star of the play – don’t worry Ben thinks so too) is precious, smart and adorable. When she comes into the room everyone melts a little bit, our shoulders relax, our dopamine and serotonin levels skyrocket. I have to sit on my hands sometimes because it’s all I can do not to put her in my bag and take her home with me. And I’m not exaggerating. You’ll see. She’s too cute. It is impossible that something so cute exists in real life.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’ve seen a few behind-the-scenes images of the set, designed by Cody Stockstill with lighting by Darren Levin and sound by Gregg Perry. What has impressed you most about the way the creative team has brought this production to Nashville Rep’s intimate stage at TPAC’s Johnson Theater?

LAUREN BERST: What HASN’T impressed me?! The creative team has pulled out all of the stops to make this show an intimate spectacle in the Johnson Theater. Cody, Darren, and Gregg tell this story in ways that go beyond the script. They have designed, composed, and programmed each moment of this play to enhance the story telling, conjure a little magic, and help us get a peek into Christopher’s mind. And they’re so dang good at what they do. It would be a very different play without their designs. I’m excited for audiences to experience the world they’ve created.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CURIOUS INCIDENT’s ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As a member of the ensemble of Curious Incident, you take on a multitude of roles. What’s the most fun aspect of this as opposed to portraying a singular character?

ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY: I thoroughly enjoy coming up with fully realized characters, and I get to do that for about six different people in the show. Both how they move how they talk how they interact with people. And also structuring just how they interact with the plot, do they influence the main characters for good things or bad things that’s always just a fun fantastic journey that we get to go on. If I’m being really honest, it’s the multiple different accents that I get to do for the show.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the flip side, what’s most challenging about playing more than one character in a piece?

ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY: I would say the most challenging aspect of playing multiple characters is figuring out how they are different, but not distracting. It’s very easy to come up with different characters but sometimes those characters don’t work with the world of the play or help tell the story as well as other choices would. So making sure that you make the choices that helped tell this version of curious incident is the most important.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who all do you play in Curious Incident?

ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY: I play Roger Shears, the Duty Sergeant, Mr. Wise, man behind counter and Voice two.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Of your Curious Incident roles, do you have a particular favorite?

ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY: It’s kind of a tie between Roger Shears and the Duty sSergeant. Roger Shears is pretty despicable and gross, which is kind of fun to play. I know that probably sounds wrong. But the Duty Sergeant is probably one of my favorite accents and characterizations, since he’s honestly stolen from a Guy Ritchie movie.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In addition to your onstage duties, you’re also the show’s fight choreographer. You’re a member of the Society of American Fight Directors. What can you tell me about that organization and how you became involved in the art of fight choreography?

ERIC D. PASTO-CROSBY: yYou can join the SAFD by paying membership. It is a training organization that brings everyone up to speed on how to safely perform fights on stage. I thoroughly enjoy multiple aspects of this organization. I love what they have done to bring safety and realism to violent moments on stage. If you are looking for training there are  workshops, I will be teaching at the A Town Throwdown in Atlanta. The society has a workshop every other month all over the US for you to train in multiple weapon disciplines for three or two days.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CURIOUS INCIDENT’s JR ROBLE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this is your first time working with Nashville Rep. How’s the experience been thus far?

JR ROBLES: I’ve had a blast! I’ve always wanted to do a show with Nashville Rep. This experience has been so gratifying and revelatory for me. I’ve had a chance to make some great new friends and work on an important piece of theatre with some of the most talented people around. In that process, I think I’ve grown a lot in my own artistic practices, and I’m so grateful for that. It’s been really challenging too—there’s a lot of movement and physicality in the show, and I’ve had to reactivate some of my choreography and dance training to remember how to do that. Mostly, I’ve felt so happy coming to work every day because I get to be part of this wonderful story with some amazing artists. It’s been wonderful.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Prior to our chat, I spoke with Eric Pasto-Crosby. Like Eric, you’re also playing numerous roles within the show. What roles are you playing?

JR ROBLES: So, I’m playing Voice Three, which includes a couple of policemen, a salty train passenger, a drunk train passenger (different guy), and Mr. Thompson, who is an oddball neighbor of Christopher’s (the play’s main character). Aside from that, I get to be a part of constructing the world of Christopher’s memory and mind where the play takes place. I really have fun with these kinds of roles because I can step into different people in different scenes, which is such a fun challenge. Much of that work, by the way, has been aided by Katie Cunningham, our dialects and accents coach. She’s worked very closely with us as we’ve made choices about these characters and giving them very specific voices that help color the world of Swindon and London that Christopher explores.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Is there a particular scene you’re involved in that you find most challenging?

JR ROBLES: Overall what has affected me most, and maybe what I love most about the play, is the very true-to-life depiction of how complicated family dynamics can be when there are flawed human beings trying to do their very best for themselves and each other in their lives. In general, the scenes I’m featured in are fun and help move the story along to get to the places where the challenging stuff in the play really is. The very dynamic relationships between Christopher, Ed, and Judy, and Christopher and Siobhan are the ones I think about the most. And most of those scenes I just get to sit and watch Ben, Nat, Lauren, and Sejal work magic on stage.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s the most fun role you’re portraying and why?

JR ROBLES: I have the most fun with Mr. Thompson, the goofy neighbor Cristopher interacts with in Act 1. I’ve gone through about 7 different iterations of this guy, trying to figure out where he came from, what accents he has, what he is up to when he’s not in the play, and even what kind of glasses he wears. Honorable mention goes to a character called “Drunk 2” (Eric Pasto-Crosby is Drunk 1) who literally has two drunken lines of dialogue. Each rehearsal so far, Eric and I have tried to out-drunk each other, and it gets crazier every time.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: So much of the show seems to encourage audiences to step out of their comfort zone and take time to consider what life must be like for the central character. Do you think that’s a fair assessment? AND…what other themes of the show have you found yourself contemplating during this process?

JR ROBLES: Yes, I think that’s an appropriate way to frame the experience of the play and also the vision that Micah-Shane has for the show. From the beginning, Micah-Shane has shared with us the idea that when we are performing the show, we are welcoming the audience into the mind of Christopher and, as much as possible, creating for the audience a unique world of what Christopher’s experience is like. I hope that people who come to the show will appreciate the efforts we’ve made to celebrate Christopher’s curiosity, bravery, and desire to lead the life he wants. I think the theme that resonates with me even more is the importance of personal growth. I love how the play presents that not just with Christopher, but also with Ed and Judy. Each of these characters has their own journey that is really powerful and complicated. And where they end up is so poignant and true to life.

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Nashville Repertory Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time continues with performances at TPAC’s Johnson Theatre thru Sunday, April 2. CLICK HERE for tickets. Next up for The Rep as they close out their 2022/2023 Season it’s Violet with Book and Lyrics by Brian Crawley and Music by Jeanine Tesori, on stage at TPAC’s Johnson Theatre May 12-21. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information.

In the meantime, check out Nashville Rep online HERE and follow them on Facebook,  Twitter,  YouTube and Instagram.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter. Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF STUDIO TENN’s ‘SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN’ ON STAGE THRU April 2

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As they were preparing for this week’s opening of Smoke on the Mountain, I had the chance to chat with four members of the cast of Studio Tenn’s current production for my latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20 Q. Those conversations follow:

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF STUDIO TENN’s SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

RAPID FIRE WITH MATTHEW CARLTON, STANLEY SANDERS IN SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In preparation of chatting with you about your latest role, I stumbled upon the fact that you attended Spartanburg Methodist College in South Carolina…Smoke on the Mountain is set in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina at a Gospel Singing, and for Studio Tenn’s presentation, will be performed at Franklin First United Methodist. Given all this, have you experienced a feeling of familiarity and deja vu of your younger days at college?

MATTHEW CARLTON: More with the hymns and gospel music from growing up in the Baptist church.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Stanley Sanders, what can you tell me about him?

MATTHEW CARLTON: Stanley is kind of the black sheep of the family. Still very connected but managing the dynamic of rejoining. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As a founding member of Studio Tenn’s company of actors, audiences no doubt recognize you…Smoke marks your incredible twentieth show with Studio Tenn, right?

MATTHEW CARLTON: Yep, and I hope I’ll be lucky enough to do more in the new space when it opens this fall.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s been you favorite aspect of returning to Studio Tenn for this production?

MATTHEW CARLTON: We have a wonderful cast with some long time and newer talented friends, that makes putting this together a pure joy.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Stanley has a bit of a dark past. Was that part of the appeal of taking on the role?

MATTHEW CARLTON: Reclamation and acceptance are core Sanders Family values , in this play. I can relate to that need and I think most of us can.

RAPID FIRE WITH MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS, VERA SANDERS IN SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, before we get going, I just have to express again my absolute disappointment with myself for completely spacing and not attending your recent one woman Belcourt show, Funner…and by all accounts it was. Are you already working on your next one?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: Number one, I’m so sorry you missed it, and I’ll be at your house shortly to re-enact it for you. Number two, my kneejerk response is to say “no way, not yet”, but the truth is that my brain pretty much never stops when it comes to possible joke or bit or music ideas, and the Google Doc is always in play.  So. no specific plans at the moment, but I’m still riding the high from Funner and can’t wait to get cracking again!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: But for now, you’re playing Vera Sanders. From what I know of the character, she’s the matriarch and task master. Do you share those traits in your real life, or behind the scenes with your fellow actors?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: I am type A all the way, so Vera’s need to keep a tight grip on the proceedings feels natural to me 🙂  This group of performers is so delightful and so dependable, all I have to do is show up and enjoy myself (but I’m still their mom and will ground them for the weekend if they don’t stay in line).

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Within the context of the show, it’s largely Vera’s desire to return to performing with the family after a five-year hiatus. Is that something else you share with the character, the desire to perform? I mean, if ever the adage “born to entertain” were applicable, I’d say you fit the bill. You light up not just the stage, but any room you’re in.

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: Well thank you very much!  There’s nothing I love more, so it’s lovely to hear that my enjoyment translates to the audiences.  I can absolutely relate to Vera’s excitement about being back on the road – we all endured an unexpected hiatus awhile back, and my gratitude for being out of mothballs hasn’t diminished one bit.  Every opportunity to get out there and offer people a little escape and entertainment is a gift, so Vera, I feel you.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Throughout the show, we get to know the family via monologues and their featured songs. Is there a particular song, you’re of someone else’s that you could see as your personal theme…at least at the time of this interview?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: I’m not a religious person, so the words on the page don’t resonate with me in the way they do for some.  But, the experience of making gorgeous music with people I love, and interpreting material that will (hopefully!) make lots of people laugh and think, is tremendously meaningful to me.  Every character has lines and moments that I look forward to hearing with each run, and the themes of acceptance and gratitude hit me every time.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Everett Tarlton is directing Studio Tenn’s Smoke on the Mountain. What’s it been like having Everett at the helm?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: In short, it’s the best. Everett’s been a treasured friend for years, and watching him thrive  in a leadership position like this is fabulous.  He brings such a collaborative and fun energy to the room, while also having a super clear vision for the show.  For my money, it’s an ideal balance, and I look forward to walking in the room and seeing him every day.  He’s doing a beautiful job, and I hope we’re making him proud!

RAPID FIRE WITH DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN, DENNIS SANDERS IN SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Has it really been a decade since you appeared amongst the ensemble of Studio Tenn’s Guys and Dolls? What’s it been like to return to the company?

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN: Yes, it’s hard to believe! My first appearance with Studio Tenn was in Guys and Dolls back in 2011. I then got to play Rolf in The Sound of Music (’12) and The Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof (’14). I am so thrilled to return to the company now as a Williamson County resident.  My wife Annabelle and I always dreamed about living and performing in Franklin as a place to put down roots.  We were living in New York City for about seven years but with the shutdown in 2020 we decided that it was time to make our move to Franklin!  Now we have a 10 month old baby Oliver and we are so proud to be a part of this community making music and theatre for our neighbors!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Dennis Sanders, the family’s fiddle player. As an actor and musician, is it complicated, or comforting to combine two of your talents in one role?

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN: I started playing the fiddle and acting both in my 4th grade year of public school.  It has always been my goal to put all of my talents together in my performances.  It’s just what I love to do.  I have actually performed the role of Dennis twice before and every time I love to get to fiddle and sing my heart out!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Dennis being a twin, you share some on-stage time with Charlotte Myhre Shealy, who plays Denise. How has it been to share scenes with her?

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN: It is such a joy to get to share the stage with Charlotte and build a twin relationship with her. We have a lot of fun! She is so talented, I mean, the whole cast is and I am just so honored to be a part of this all star family.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Doing a little research before our chat, I discovered you’re no stranger to bluegrass or musicals, having just wrapped a hugely successful premiere engagement of Johnny and the Devil’s Box, which you and your wife wrote and starred in. What was that experience like, and when can we expect another presentation of it?

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN: Thank you so much for looking into JOHNNY!  Yes we had an amazing sell out run at the Cumberland County Playhouse and won the First Night Award for Original Work.  The production was truly a dream come true. We have been developing this show for several years now and to get to see it come alive and witness such an incredible audience response was incredibly rewarding.  We are currently working to develop another concert here locally and can’t wait to share more details with you soon!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Back to Smoke…the show features nearly two dozen mostly traditional hymns. Do you have any favorites?

DOUGLAS WATERBURY-TIEMAN: Getting to sing and play “Life’s Railway to Heaven” is definitely a highlight.  The Sander’s family may be a gospel group, but we really get rockin’!

RAPID FIRE WITH MELISSA SILENGO, JUNE SANDERS IN SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about June Sanders, the character you play in Studio Tenn’s Smoke on the Mountain?

MELISSA SILENGO: June is the oldest child in the Sanders family, and she sometimes plays second fiddle to the twins, her younger siblings. But that doesn’t bother her… too much. She loves her family, and she is devoted to their family band. She doesn’t sing, she signs, and she is a very good listener. June is very earnest in everything she does, and she is just generally content to be her unique self.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: This isn’t your first time playing June, having first played her in a production at Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre back in 2017, if memory serves me right. What has changed in your approach to the character 

MELISSA SILENGO: Yes! I did play June at The Barn and again at Three Rivers Theatre out in Harriman, TN with Martha Wilkinson directing, and I enjoyed it so much both times! As I approached her this time, I definitely remembered many of the choices that I made before and kept them or built on them. But since most of my castmates are different in this production, June has slightly different relationships with her family members this time, as I tried to play off of the new energy and choices of my wonderful castmates. I must say she is still one of my favorite characters to play because she is so pure, and as an actor, I get to sign and play percussion, rather than sing and dance. It is such a fun challenge.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While doing a little homework before chatting with you, I was reminded that Smoke was written by Connie Ray, an actress many would recognize for her numerous TV and film roles, including NBC’s early 90s Disney-produced family sitcom, The Torkelsons. She also created the role of June, having played her on stage during the premiere run of Smoke on the Mountain in 1998, making this year the twenty-first anniversary of Smoke. In those twenty five years, Smoke is frequently cited as one of the most popular and frequently performed musicals. What aspect of the show do you think contributes most to that ongoing success?

MELISSA SILENGO: In a word – pickles. But really, the show is family-friendly; it has familiar music, touching monologues, and a feeling of acceptance and love that people can relate to, whether they were brought up in church or not. It is a simple show that allows the beauty of the sentiment to shine through.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The promo photos of the cast, shot by Keoni Keur and Company, on location in the sanctuary of Franklin’s historic First United Methodist are simply gorgeous. What was it like to step foot into the sanctuary, which will also serve as the venue during the show’s run?

MELISSA SILENGO: The sanctuary is simply lovely. It just felt right to walk up to the beautiful church building and step inside to view the stained glass and the old pews. We had the chance to rehearse in the space, and we could not have asked for a more appropriate setting for this production. I feel honored to get to perform there, and I think the audience will really feel the spirit of the show in the space.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Many hymns are included in the show, among them The Church in the Wildwood. Written in 1857 and recorded over and over again, my personal favorite version is by another June…June Carter Cash. Another favorite hymn featured in Smoke on the Mountain is I’ll Fly Away…warning: If I’m within your line of vision during Opening Weekend’s Friday night performance, avert your eyes, because I can guarantee mine will be “sweating’ during that number. Are there any songs in the show, that truly move you emotionally?

MELISSA SILENGO: I’ll Fly Away is one of my favorites too. I also tend to tear up during There is a Fountain Filled with Blood, sung in this production by the talented Megan Murphy Chambers. I enjoy it because it talks about losing all your “guilty stains,” and that feeling of being forgiven brings me such peace and freedom, sweet relief. June is particularly touched by I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now, and I agree with that sentiment too. I am so thankful for my journey in life and with this show!

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With that my conversations with the cast of Studio Tenn’s Smoke on the Mountain ended, but as I like to say…that’s just the beginning. Smoke on the Mountain will be presented in the Sanctuary at Franklin First United Methodist with shows through April 2. CLICK HERE for tickets. Following Smoke, Studio Tenn will present Here You Come Again with book by legendary comedy writer, Bruce Villance, Gabriel Barre and Tricia Paoluccio and featuring songs written and recorded by Dolly Parton and more. Here You Come Again will take the stage of The Franklin Theatre from May 17-28. CLICK HERE for tickets and more information.

Be sure to check out Studio Tenn online at StudioTenn.com or on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook. Until then, #GoSeeTheShow!