Jessica Stanley, Director and Melaine Janssen and Debi Zahn, the Leads for the next Community Theatre production, “Never After Happily” talk about the production that will be performed the end of September and the beginning of October. They talk about how the production satirizes the traditional fairy tale, but also pushes characters to face real-world problems.
Transcript
And today on our program, we’re going to take time and talk about Boone Community Theater and the next production or the first production of the new season is coming up, Never After Happily. See, I got it down because I could read it right in front of me. It makes it real easy. Jessica Stanley’s directing and so last time we visited with you, you had just gotten your cast together and now we’re getting very close to performance time. Oh, don’t say that, no. But yes, we are in the month of production or the month of opening night. So we’re getting there. End of the month. You have time. We have a few weeks, yes. And I think we’re doing pretty good. Okay. You brought your leads for this, right? Yes, my leading ladies. Okay. So we have two leading ladies in it. We have Cindy, who is kind of our fairy tale version. And then we have Ella, who is our real world version. So we have Mel Jansen here and she is playing Ella, who was our real world. Hello. Hello. And we have Debbie Zahn, who is playing our Cinderella. I’m not sure whether to just say hi or go, hi. Like Cinderella. Be in character. You can be in not too far. I’ll behave. So did you guys know about this production or what made you want to try out for these parts? Well, actually, I have twin daughters who are 16 and they decided to audition and they needed a ride. So my husband was going to drive them and I was like, you know what, I want to go too. And then we got there and started hearing the script and I was like, yeah, I’m totally auditioning for this. And then there’s this one particular scene that the play is like very fun and a little bit campy and kind of a mashup of a bunch of different fairy tales and nursery rhymes and stuff. And super fun. But there’s this like underlying, really poignant storyline that’s going on. And when I heard the scene where that kind of comes to a climax, I literally was in tears. I was like, wow, this is really beautiful. Like this isn’t just a silly fun, which would be great. But like, it is actually more than that. There’s this really beautiful storyline going on. So as soon as I heard that, I’m like, oh, I’m going for it. You just sucked her right back. Yeah. That was the key scene. Oh, man. Here she thought she was going to get a production off. Take one off. It doesn’t that happen though. So often we’re, okay, the kids are going to try and our younger people are going to be trying out for parts. And hey, you just, once I was there, just threw me right. We get so many adults that way. I was one of those with Matilda. The same thing. I ended up in Matilda and we have so many adults that end up being very involved. And I know you’ve been very involved in the past too. So this was bringing you back in. Yeah. Yep. Yep. I was, um, I was an Annie. I had a small part in that, but it’s been a while since I’ve had, you know, a larger part and it’s, it’s really fun. It’s really fun. Now what about you? Um, she’s going, somehow they pulled me in there. They did. They pulled me in a couple of years ago and I’ve tried out for stuff every season since then. Okay. I saw the script or the parts of the script and I really thought it was fun. And I said, why not? I’ll shoot my shot and see how it goes. And yeah, like Debbie says, it’s a really fun production, but it’s also, it has some deepness to it. It’s, it’s got heart and I think probably all three of us can connect pretty well with it. Yeah. So, and that’s why your leads are, you know, your, your normal, um, you know, key audience is usually, it’s younger or it’s, it’s kind of more general, but this is definitely kind of middle of your adult life. Your kids are getting older. Um, that’s kind of where the heart comes in. Um, but at the same time, we’ve got so much fun that, you know, it really brings everyone in. Yeah. So as I understand it, okay, you guys, good friends, except for when you’re on stage. Well, we had never met before. Yeah. I had seen, yeah, before the read through, I had seen her in rumors. Um, I Facebook stalked her to figure out who I was, I was doing this with and I was like, oh, I know her. Okay. Um, so it’s been just such a fun surprise. Like we just have so much fun, a lot of the play. We are just sitting next to each other while the fairy tale scenes are going on and we’re having a hard time like behaving ourselves, just sitting up there. There’s your challenge. You know, but it’s a great challenge. So it’s, I actually had the same thing happen with me with Ms. Holmes. And that is a great chemistry to build. Um, because you keep playing off of it. Right. You can tell. And that’s, that’s the audience is going to love that part of it because they do. There’s certain parts that we’re, they’re just sitting there. Yeah. But, um, their interactions and all are, have become so natural. Um, that it’s really fun to watch. Yeah, that’s true. Yeah. Like when you and today were doing this, you know, you played off each other all the time. So yeah, there’s, there’s a lot more than just the lines, um, when you really get going with play. And so there’s, there’s a lot of little things that you kind of pick up in rehearsals. And these guys have gotten that down. It’s great. It’s like, uh, what was it? Oh yeah, the first what Christopher and, uh, John, when they did odd couple, they had not been on stage together. I don’t, which is really easy. I think that was their first, I think that was their first time. I think it might be that’s amazing. Yeah. And but, you know, well, anyway, now you do have a sizable cast for this. And a lot of young people involved as well. So, uh, is everything coming together? I mean, where are we at and how well is it progressing? Because you started early getting the cast, everything because a couple of opportunities before we have school going. Yes. We, we actually wanted to start a little bit earlier than maybe we would have, because we knew summer vacations would come up, um, in different things, school starting, um, you know, life is unpredictable and we want to make sure we had time because the youth is such a huge part of this play. Um, we wanted to make sure we had the flexibility so that they could, they wouldn’t have to stop their lives for the show. Um, but then we could still make sure that they, they, uh, they got in as much as we needed to. But, um, honestly, we have been almost ahead of schedule. We’ve been doing really well. Um, we’re about ready to start our full runs where we do the whole play together, which we haven’t done yet. Uh, Mel and I are shaking at our boots. It’ll be great. And then, oh, all of us are ahead of schedule. We have, um, eight days when they’re off book and eight days, ladies. So then after that point, no scripts in the hands. And honestly, I have full confidence. I think that this is going really well. And you know, with being at my, my first time directing, um, I was really nervous, but honestly, this cast is amazing. It’s, I feel like we’re just doing great. Yeah. You’re getting what you want. Yes. Very much so. And it’s, I’ve been very open with the beginning of, Hey, if you got an idea, throw it out there. Like I, I have a vision, but I also am very open and we’ve had some great things come up. Um, that’ll be kind of thrown out during rehearsal of, Oh, love it. Let’s do it. Um, and so we’ve had so much that then the cast gets more invested and, um, you know, it becomes much more of a group project. Sure. Well, and that’s, it is, uh, you, you take it, there are no bad ideas whether something that just don’t quite fit. No, but it’s been great working with Jessica. Like I haven’t felt like, um, like she’s not handling it like she’s a newbie. Like she’s, she’s doing a great job. She’s, she’s keeping things like running and under control and moving forward, but also like she talked about just super open to ideas and our silliness. And, um, it’s just been really fun to go to work with different directors in the past and kind of have an idea. And if she’s, if she’s the one you’re going, you’re it, she’s doing great. She’s doing great. It’s been, it’s been a lot of fun. Performances come up the end of the month, September, uh, and we have, it’s busy. It’s end of this month, beginning of next month. How’s that? We’re just getting started here. September 25th, 26, and, uh, what, you have two performances on the 26, right? Yes. And then again on October 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Yes. We’ve got six. All right. Yeah. We’ll have it done. Tickets on sale yet? Or what’s the, where are we at? Yes. Tickets are up on sale now, so you can go to our website, um, to get them purchased. And I know that that’s one thing that they, they mentioned on there, but I want to make sure that everyone knows, um, make sure and get there early. So instead of being a normal 630 open, me and Erin show starts at seven. We actually have a kind of pre-show thing. The cast is going to be out mingling with everyone. Okay. In character, we’re going to have concessions open, um, because we don’t have an intermission. Oh, okay. So, but what we’re going to do is we’re going to have a lot of fun interactions before, and then that’s going to lead us to our curtain show, which kicks it off. And every night that will be different. So a little bit different. Yeah. Cause, you know, if you want to come get, um, unofficially married on stage, or if you want to be crowned king or queen, um, that those are all things that we can do for you. Or if you want to hear Ella be snarky and make fun of you, she can do that too. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. I don’t have to ask for that. So, um, but we have every night will be different. Um, so we want to encourage the audience to get there as close to six 30 as possible. Um, and we’ll get things officially rolling at seven, but there just will be a lot of fun interactions that we’re, we’re hoping to have. So really, uh, yeah, when we say seven, well, you’re saying seven o’clock, but really we’re starting at six 30. Yes. Yes. Get there beforehand. Yeah. No intermission, folks. It’s going to keep things going. Yeah, absolutely. It’s a very interactive with the audience play. Um, so that’s where we started right off the, before the show even starts. All right. Well, we do know that, uh, after you, then it’s Madeline Mancha. Susan was here last time. So auditions for that have been held and, and that comes up in November. So it does. Neither one of you tried out, did you? No, no. You’re busy enough with this. That’s always tough. I think it is because you’re kind of looking at what’s happening and stuff. Let’s talk a little bit just standard theater stage and everything outside of this early start. Uh, what it is pretty standard. There’s, you know, there, it’s, um, not a completely flat front. It would be what we called a little bit of a thrust, but, um, otherwise we do have some really cool new elements to the stage. I’m not going to reveal them. You got to come and see. Um, but our set designer has, um, some fun tricks up his sleeve. Oh, yes. It’s going to be super fun. Yes. It’ll be done for the first time at, um, at Boone Community Theater with our play. All right. Yeah. Looking forward to that. Uh, one thing I did want to ask, because you do get some sponsors for things too. So, uh, do you have some sponsors for the? We do have sponsors. Um, I know that we have Kasey’s. Kasey’s is one. And then we, um, that was our first one. And then we did get another one, which is Burns Repair LLC. Um, and that one, I believe is actually through one of our, um, cast members. I believe that’s a relative of, of our Godfather in the show. We pick this up every once in a while, but those, that’s appreciated. Oh, very much so. Couldn’t do it without them. Yeah. It’s, it’s that kind of stuff that allows us to be able to keep going on with these shows every year. Um, and so we’re very grateful for those sponsors. So that happens. And I know we’ll have more coming up too. And we really like sponsors for musicals. Yes. Definitely. Those are, yes. If the audience doesn’t know, musicals are always a little bit pricier. Um, just because you have a little bit more involved. So, but we love them. Yeah. So, uh, never after, never after half. Okay. I know I got to keep working on this. Get it down by the end. I know, but it’s, it’s, it’s, you know, it reminds me of, as soon as you say this, I’m thinking fairy tale. Yeah. And again, here we are. It’s, it’s a great opportunity. So your first time is solo directing and stuff, but liking that. Uh, Manel LaManche is coming up. You didn’t try out for anything, did you? No. Okay. No. I just thought she’d be busy doing that. She would be. Yeah. No, that would have been impossible. But, uh, we can’t wait to see it though. Yeah. We do have other, uh, the other productions that are coming up too. What we’re going to have, uh, uh, what? Charlotte’s. Charlotte’s Web. And then, and then the one that, I think people are standing in the, oh yeah. So much excitement for Mary Poppins. Uh, quickly. Some of the other things, do you have other things that are going on at community theater? I mean, you’re pretty focused right now. Yes. But, um, I also hope out with the special events. And I know we just had an open mic karaoke night, which was a huge success. Okay. Yeah. Cause we were going to do karaoke. Yes. Um, I mean, yeah. Jenae had that idea and, um, honestly, it went so well. We’re going to be trying to do it monthly now. Um, but I know coming up on October, I think it’s 23rd. Let me check my calendar real quick. Um, yes. October 23rd is actually our spooky trivia night. Uh, so if you’re looking for your next trivia night, we’re going to kind of have a spooky season themed one. Um, Jenae and I are putting that together and we’re going to have a lot of fun. We’re going to have treats and bring your spooky knowledge. We’ll have all kinds of fun stuff. Absolutely. I love that. Uh, again, never after happily, and I should pass along the price of tickets, $15 for adults, children are 10 and get them online. Or if you happen to be by while people are in there, yeah, doing things, gladly stop in. Absolutely. We’ll, uh, get sell your tickets right off. Yeah. That would be wonderful. Uh, again, that’s September 25th, 26th, two performances on Saturday, the 26th. And then again, October 1st, second, seven in the evening, each evening, and then a matinee on Saturday, the third. Yes. Got it done. Yeah. So come, come and check out our, our fairy tales and, uh, maybe a little bit of reality. Okay. So now that you’ve done your, you’re in the midst of your first directing, another one coming up, baby. I mean, I mean, we know this, you guys, community theater, you, you kind of select four for your season. And we have people that want to step up and direct and do things like this. This one, you wanted to do something. Absolutely. And so, yeah, I mean, I, I’ve had a blast. Um, I definitely will be, we, we have to submit them and we’re selected by the committee, but I, I can see myself definitely submitting more next year. And if I get selected, then I’ll be, you know, very excited to do it. And if not, then I’ll maybe act in a few. Maybe, maybe be a part of it. Yes. I’ll be a part of it somehow, no matter what. So you guys, are you ready? Yeah. Ready to go off? Are you ready? Absolutely. Yeah. For sure. We’re not winking at each other here or anything like that. It is a sizable cast with a lot of young people and stuff like that too. Uh, do, do you scare or do they scare you? I mean, some of the young people that are performing, you got daughters. I do. Yeah. Um, I have a daughter playing Rapunzel and a daughter playing, um, both Snow White and she’s a goon, um, in the Godfather scene. So that’ll be super fun. Um, and it’s really, it’s so, actually my husband is in the play as well. Um, and so it’s so much fun doing this as a family and, um, a lot of the kids who are in the play, um, I haven’t been in anything with them before. So it’s really, it’s just incredible. The, the talent they have, the energy they have, they’re doing an incredible job and it’s so much fun to watch them. Cause I was of course in theater, like in high school and it’s so like, it just reminds me of, you know, back in the day when, when I was playing these roles in high school and, uh, it’s just super fun. I love working with the kids. I go back and look at all the young people that were involved with Annie and just how, I mean, that really, there was a handful of them in our cast. Yeah. I was going to say, and there are, there, you have a number of them that are, uh, busy doing this and going to school and everything else. Absolutely. Yeah. Yes. I’m very impressed with the quality of acting that these kids are doing. Yeah. The number of kids that are doing it, you know, in all aspects of all the roles, you know, lights back stage, um, on stage. Um, I just wish I had a community theater like this when I was growing up because I didn’t do anything till high school. Yeah. Sure. You know, but these kids, it’s just, this is phenomenal. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. Well, I think a lot of this gets back to what you did this summer. That’s, yeah, it’s just what I was thinking. You know, a lot of these kids are, are youth theater kids and, um, you know, they’re, they’re acting ability, their professionalism, that’s them. That is absolutely, they’re just wonderful kids. But I also think there’s something to be said for the opportunity that we’re able to give them, um, to get on stage in very much different pressure, low pressure situations. So when it comes to these full main season productions, they’re comfortable. They’re ready to go. And, and a lot of these kids, they do the middle school plays, they do the high school plays. Um, this is kind of their, their sports. This is their thing. And they get as involved as possible. They have fun, but they are very professional. And they do take it very seriously. It’s a wonderful way to have kids involved. And we know at least at the high school level, yes, we do have number of them that pursue the thespian. Yes. Yes. And I, I think we’re, we’re feeding into that system directly, which is good. It helps the company gives them, gives them all that. It’s always been the big thing. Uh, you know, I go back so many years, getting them on stage, getting them comfortable. Once they’re comfortable, who knows. Yeah. Even if they choose that they, you know, they don’t want to do theater later on, getting that confidence to be in front of a group is such a huge thing in life. That these are skills they’re building. Yeah. So it’s, you know, and they’re having fun doing them.
The adrenaline hits you in a lot of different situations. You know, job interviews, not just theater. Like there’s all, even taking a test, right? That adrenaline hits you. And when you’ve already learned how to handle that, how to use that instead of being crippled or paralyzed by that adrenaline being like, Oh yeah, this is the juice that I used to get me going. Right. It, it really benefits you in all kinds of situations, not just, um, in theater. Yeah. The production never after happily again, performances, September 25th, 26, two performances on the 26th, a matinee and a seven o’clock performance. And then again, on the first, second and third of October, tickets are available now. That’ll be the next production coming up. And thank you, ladies, for joining us. Thank you. Looking forward to a great production. And then we’ll follow that up with Manu LeMange. Yeah. We’ll move on to a different type of play. Again, it’s another classic. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for joining us. Thank you.