Diving into Friendship: The Cast of THE SWEET DELILAH SWIM CLUB at TheaterWorks Reflect on Laughter, Life, and Lasting Bonds

Amy Garland, Bridgette Martinez, Vanessa Nelson, Carrie Ellen Jones, and Stephanie Vlasich 
photo by Carly Weekley

by Gil Benbrook

The Sweet Delilah Swim Club is a heartfelt and humorous play that explores the enduring bond of friendship among five women who first met as members of a college swim team. Set over the course of several decades, the story follows their annual reunions at a North Carolina beach cottage, where they navigate life’s triumphs, heartbreaks, and unexpected turns together. Filled with warmth, wit, and poignancy, the play beautifully captures themes of lasting friendship, the passage of time, and the resilience of the human spirit.

To delve deeper into these themes and the process of bringing this touching story to life, we asked the cast of  TheaterWorks' production, which was just recently extended through August 10th, to sit down and answer some questions about the roles they play. From their answers, it's easy to see how each actress brings a unique perspective to her role, revealing the layers of humor, love, and vulnerability that make these characters feel so real and relatable. Their answers also provide insights into their characters’ journeys, how they relate to the strong bond portrayed on stage, and the ways the play resonates with their own lives.

We also asked the cast about the challenges they face in balancing the play’s comedic moments with its more emotional beats, as well as how they approached portraying characters over such a long span of time. Their reflections shed light on the collaborative process, the joys of working on an ensemble piece, and the rewarding experience of telling a story that celebrates friendship in all its messy, beautiful complexity.

Amy Garland

Amy Garland

What can you tell us about the character you play, and how you connected with her on a personal level?

"I play Dinah Grayson, who sort of runs on sarcasm and vodka. She is an accomplished lawyer, career driven, but prioritizes her time with these four women that she loves fiercely. Sarcasm is definitely my love language! I really connect with Dinah's ability to find the humor in a situation, to find the lighter side even in the midst of some enormous challenges."

This play explores the lifelong bond between five women- did you have any prior offstage relationships with your castmates that helped influence the onstage chemistry? 

"I have the great fortune of being friends with Carrie Ellen Jones, who plays Jeri Neal. Carrie and I became fast friends when we did a production of God of Carnage a few years ago and I could not be more grateful for having her in my life. Being friends and having worked onstage together gives us a kind of short hand that I feel enriches our characters. I also have to say that every single one of these women is an absolute rock star and they give everything they have every show. It's amazing to feel so safe and supported onstage."

What was the most challenging scene or moment for you to perform, and how did you prepare for it?

"I have a serious exchange in Act II with one of the characters and I really want it to feel genuine every single time. I don't have any real preparation, we're all sort of in a mad dash to change costumes and hair and makeup for most of the show. For me, this prevents getting too in my head. I just have to (literally) pull on my big girl pants and get onstage, then really listen to all the beautiful, hilarious stuff everyone is sending my way."

How did you approach balancing the humor and emotional depth that the play requires?

"When doing a show that has so many wild, funny moments, it can be challenging to trust that it's ok to slow down and let a scene breathe. The freedom I feel to do this is built on the talent and engagement of the other actresses - we're all taking this leap together."

What message or theme in the play resonates most with you, and why?

"This show for me is about the power of friendship, female friendship in particular. It really moves through different stages of these women's lives and presents them with honesty, humor and so much love. We have had a number of audience members tell us that they see themselves and their friends reflected onstage and for me that means we are really doing our jobs."

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the play that you feel really captures its spirit?

"Every entrance by Vernadette is my favorite moment. There's always a story behind it, it's always nutty, and there's always an element of 'this is why coming together every year for this sacred weekend is so important'. "

Carrie Ellen Jones

Carrie Ellen Jones

What can you tell us about the character you play, and how you connected with her on a personal level?

 

"I play Jeri Neal who became a nun right after college graduation. Jeri Neal is sweet and supportive. Though Sheree is the team captain, I find Jeri Neal to be its own little cheerleader. She is the peace seeker in the group and deeply devoted to the friendship. While Jeri Neal has a very different personality than I do :) I relate to her in her desire for peace between people and in her embracing of God's voice in her life and her ability to embrace change. "

This play explores the lifelong bond between five women- did you have any prior offstage relationships with your castmates that helped influence the onstage chemistry? 

"I did! I have worked with Virginia Olivieri, our director before as a director and stage partner in 2018... albeit in a VERY different role! Amy Garland, who plays Dinah, is one of my real-life off-stage besties! I became her fan after seeing her in a 2015 production. We officially met at an audition within a year and in 2018 did a show together. She's been stuck with me ever since! We are both really busy wives, moms, daughters, employees...all the things and very much wanted to do this summer show together. We did the journey of auditions and callbacks together, ultimately being excited to both be cast. I have enjoyed getting to meet the other amazing women in this show, but it has definitely been a special experience for me doing it with Amy. "

What was the most challenging scene or moment for you to perform, and how did you prepare for it?

"Bwahahahaha. Jeri Neal is full of surprises in this show! But...overall....just being Jeri Neal was a challenge for me. I typically play very dramatic, serious, and strong roles with long speeches and/or big devastations and tears. Jeri Neal is so sweet and innocent overall. She has a softer type of strength and is really different yet fun to play! I prepared for her by trying to dig into the most patient, most sweet parts of who I am and thinking about what I feel like around people who have similar personalities to Jeri Neal because those people are precious unicorns!"

 

How did you approach balancing the humor and emotional depth that the play requires?

"This part wasn't too hard for me. I think life is made up of ALL the moments. Laughter and tears, hate and love, trial and triumph....the two sides of the coin are always only a breath away from each other. Just embracing this reality helped to bring that to our Sweet Delilah story. "

What message or theme in the play resonates most with you, and why?

"This show reminds me of the beauty found in relationships with people who aren't just like you. If you have a shared core value or a shared bond, other differences should never break that. The way these women love each other for who they are, even in spite of who they are :) is really special. "

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the play that you feel really captures its spirit?

"I have two! One is my own Jeri Neal's line when she says "I look at you and see the 18 year olds I met at the pool that day in Winston Salem". It's so sweet how she returns to where their friendship began in a difficult moment and reminds them all of how they started and where this current relationship stemmed from. Sometimes we need to be reminded of our "roots" when the plant is shaking! 

 

The second is a line of Lexie's when she says near the end Oh my goodness! "If these walls could talk...." There is a sense of home in that cottage for these women. The walls hold a treasure trove of memories both shared there and created there. Sweet Delilah lets the audience hear the walls talk for four moments in time so that line resonates with me. "

Bridgette Martinez

Bridgette Martinez

What can you tell us about the character you play, and how you connected with her on a personal level?

"My character Vernadette is a (barely) walking disaster. Everyone loves Vernie and just wants the best for her. Unfortunately for her, every turn is one more unlucky catastrophe. Beyond the physical and emotional insanity, she always shows up for her friends. I connect with Vernie because I also tend to trip, spill, and cause chaos while maintaining intense loyalty to those I love."

This play explores the lifelong bond between five women- did you have any prior offstage relationships with your castmates that helped influence the onstage chemistry? 

"I did not know any of the women when I first auditioned, but within that audition room I knew they had to be the ones. Ever since we have laughed, cried, shopped, and screamed (there was a bug in my hair) together. "

What was the most challenging scene or moment for you to perform, and how did you prepare for it?

"The most challenging scene to prepare for was scene 3.  This scene has laughter, anger, dry wit, and quite a bit of lines to get through. It also happens to be the scene that I became most proud of in the end. I prepared with repetition, repetition, repetition."

How did you approach balancing the humor and emotional depth that the play requires?

"I love using physical humor and dry wit on a daily basis so the hard part was not the humor. The emotional depth took more practice, but these ladies made it easier than ever because of how real they are. I constantly feel like I’m on set of a sitcom/drama."

What message or theme in the play resonates most with you, and why?

"Friendship. I started the year off knowing I wanted to invest more in my friendships with women who I have common values with. This show gave me excellent girl friends and taught me the value of keeping those valuable friendships."

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the play that you feel really captures its spirit?

"My favorite line is a spoiler so I’ll keep that one to myself! Bring those tissues."

Vanessa Nelson

Vanessa Nelson

What can you tell us about the character you play, and how you connected with her on a personal level?

"My family will be the first to tell you that Sheree and I are very similar. We both love a plan, and organized fun. She is Type 'A' through and through and takes being a team captain to a whole new level. She loves to be needed and loves to do things for the people she loves. She can come off as intense but it is truly all out of love. As someone who has been called 'intense' on multiple occasions I instantly felt a kinship with Sheree. We can be a lot but we love fiercely and are the first to go to bat for the people we love. Selfishly, I think having these people in your life is not only a privilege but a necessity. "

This play explores the lifelong bond between five women- did you have any prior offstage relationships with your castmates that helped influence the onstage chemistry? 

"I am so lucky to have known our Lexie, Stephanie Vlasich, from one of my other favorite shows with five women, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche. Knowing Stephanie definitely helped our onstage chemistry. Lexie and Sheree have a crossroads in scene 2 and we were able to perform that scene with such honesty from the beginning. Me and Stephanie both also lost our fathers late last year and having someone going through something like that at the same time as you brings you together on another level. 

I was also so honored to have known our director, Virginia Olivieri, for over 10 years. This is actually the third, all-female show I have had the pleasure of doing with her. First, Love Loss and What I Wore, then 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, and now The Sweet Delilah Swim Club. There is a reason I have worked with Virginia so many times. As a person, she is amazing and a joy. As a director, Virginia is unmatched. The trust I can put in her, and the trust she puts in her actors leads to magic onstage."

What was the most challenging scene or moment for you to perform, and how did you prepare for it?

"Scene 4 for sure. It is the accumulation of a lifetime of friendship between these women. I think I can speak for everyone when I say we not only need, but want to do that justice. The best thing I can do before preparing for this scene is to sit and listen and really be in the moment, and not let my mind wander. Our incredible sound team set up waves that continue through the entire show to establish the beach house, the speaker is right where I enter so I stand and I listen to the sounds of the waves and let me mind settle, then I think about my friends and relationships that mean as much to me as these women do to each other. "

How did you approach balancing the humor and emotional depth that the play requires?

"I think this is something you learn just going through life, and as actors, we may just be more aware of it since we are so used to telling human stories. As I mentioned before, I lost my dad late last year, and I think my family and I did an excellent job honoring him and taking the time to be sad, but also laugh about everything he used to do that would make us laugh, or even drive us crazy. The emotional depth gives you the opportunity to see the humour. Its okay to laugh, and its necessary. Not to 'hide' your emotions, but just because it is human nature to feel conflicting emotions, even if they are opposite. "

What message or theme in the play resonates most with you, and why?

"Life has no schedule, the universe doesn't match your 'plan', but if you have the right people to go through life with you, you can get through anything. And to enjoy every moment, because it will be over before you know it."

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the play that you feel really captures its spirit?

"For me this is scene 2, we have people roaring with laughter and, without giving anything away, it comes to a head where we are all having an honest conversation about aging. I have seen audience members nodding in their seats and I even heard a woman finish my sentence at one point. That is what this show is about, telling real stories about five women, their friendship, and the thief of time. "

Stephanie Vlasich

What can you tell us about the character you play, and how you connected with her on a personal level?

"Lexie Richards is such an amazing character to play. She’s more complicated than she seems, and she is spicy and sweet at the same time. I connect with Lexie in that way - I am sweet and loving, but I can be a spicy pepper when I need to be!"

This play explores the lifelong bond between five women- did you have any prior offstage relationships with your castmates that helped influence the onstage chemistry? 

"Yes! Vanessa and I shared the stage in a previous TheaterWorks show, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, and Virginia also directed that show. That was a cast of 5 women, too - so of course we all bonded. That bond with Vanessa is really what makes that on stage chemistry shine. 

Virginia and I met a little over 10 years ago when we did Wizard of Oz together and we have been best friends since. Virginia is part of my 1% crew - someone I can tell anything to without judgement. I know I can always count on her to be supportive, but also call me out on my BS. We already know that we are going to have a Golden Girls living situation when we are older, and I can’t wait!"

What was the most challenging scene or moment for you to perform, and how did you prepare for it?

"I struggle with the final scene. Without giving anything away, it’s a heartwarming and emotional moment. Preparing for that emotional/mental state comes easy to me as I am an emotional gal who loves hard."

How did you approach balancing the humor and emotional depth that the play requires?

"It’s always a fine balance between humor and deep emotion. I try to not be too serious and find the humor, even in the worst situations, so I try to bring that real life to the stage in this beautifully written production."

What message or theme in the play resonates most with you, and why?

"Value the time that you have with your loved ones. Hold them close, be there, show up, support and love them fiercely. Those are the ones who will always be there for you, no matter what."

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the play that you feel really captures its spirit?

"It’s so hard to pick one, but my favorite scene would have to be Act 1, Scene 2. The scene shows the real bond between friends who have known one another for decades. It shows that through ups and downs, friendships like theirs can never be torn apart."

CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase tickets

Good, Evil, and Gender Issues in Arizona Opera’s production of THE MAGIC FLUTE

Katrina Galka

from our friends at Arizona Opera:

Soprano Katrina Galka shares her perspective, playing The Queen of the Night

 

The Magic Flute, a fantastical tale rich with comedy, enchantment, and fantasy, will come to Arizona Opera’s stage this April, inviting the audience along a journey of darkness and light. One of Mozart’s most popular and family-friendly operas, The Magic Flute is often presented as a story about finding one’s way through the opposing forces of good and evil in search of truth, reason, love, and enlightenment.

 

Soprano Katrina Galka, will make her role debut as The Queen of the Night with this production, with performances taking place at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, April 7-9 and The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson, April 15 and 16. Galka, who will share the role of the Queen with soprano Emily Misch, said she relates The Magic Flute’s storyline of traveling from darkness to light with her own story as a performing artist, unable to perform during the pandemic.

 

“I don't think I'm unique in saying that the pandemic, especially the first six months or so, was an extremely challenging time,” said Galka. “For me, it felt unjust, cruel, and deeply disappointing that the opportunities I had worked so hard for wouldn't come to fruition.”

 

During the months when the performing arts sector was shut down, she continued to work on her singing voice and pursued her entrepreneurial desires, turning a life coaching certification into a flourishing business, coaching and mentoring opera professionals.

 

“It was hard because, as it turns out, starting a business from scratch is not for the faint of heart,” she said. “Many of the feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and frustration over not being seen that I had faced as a singer, I faced again as I worked on selling coaching for the first time. But I did believe that it was a dark time that could deepen my life if I chose to let it, and that kept me going.”

 

In The Magic Flute, the forces of The Queen of the Night are pitted against her enemy, the high priest Sarastro, who has allegedly abducted the Queen’s daughter, Pamina. The Queen of the Night’s Act II aria, one of the most famous opera arias, is sung in rage as she orders daughter Pamina to kill Sarastro. Full of virtuosic vocal fireworks and peppered with rare high Fs, the role was written especially for Mozart’s sister-in-law.

 

What excites Galka the most about the role? The challenge. And how every time she works her pieces, she discovers another way to make it easier, more fluid, more vibrant, more exciting, and more expressive.

 

“I love doing things that stretch me and ask me to master parts of myself in the process, and this role is absolutely an example of that!” she said. “Sometimes you prepare music that you can sing right from the beginning without a second thought…this has not been one of those pieces for me. The role feels more like the Olympics of singing.”

 

The Queen of the Night sings pieces that not only require extraordinary vocal technical ability, but are also incredibly well-known, and the anticipation from the audience is high. Galka said the role requires that she be bold and highly energized in her approach to the high F’s and the rest of the piece, while also finding a certain amount of groundedness, calm, and release.

 

“It’s what I would imagine it would feel like to do backflips on a balance beam—it takes play and finesse to find that artful balance,” explained Galka.

 

Appreciating that there are still significant cultural challenges in terms of equal treatment of women today, The Magic Flute premiered in 1791 during an era when women were far less recognized and treated less equally in society, and as such, the original libretto is embedded with now problematic material in regards to issues of gender roles, sex, and causal misogyny, which Galka showcases in her role.

 

While some modern-day opera-goers have claimed The Queen of the Night is one of opera’s most deranged mothers, Galka disagrees with this quick judgment, claiming it is one that reflects the very real historical oppression of women, who when dealing with emotional and mental trauma, were gaslit and diagnosed with hysteria and other mental ailments.

 

“From the Queen's perspective, she's suffered some pretty intense losses,” said Galka. “Her daughter was kidnapped right from under her nose, and she lost all her power to Sarastro through an act of betrayal by her own late husband. She's basically lost all control, and her sense of safety and identity in the world has been violated. People do extreme things when they're pushed to extreme places.”

 

Galka admits, the demand to murder Sarastro was not justified nor did the Queen think about the position she put her daughter in when she asked her to kill Sarastro.

 

“To say that she's deranged diminishes her power, and the thing is, she is entirely led by and motivated by power,” shared Galka. “So, for me, in my embodiment of her, it is important to not just write her off as ‘crazy’ or ‘deranged,’ if I really want to understand her. There is a fire and a spontaneity and so many quick turns in her music that I think show how extremely passionate and motivated by her emotions she is. But the music is never without sense. Everything she does makes perfect sense - most importantly to her - and I think if we're being empathetic, we can make sense of it as well - even if we don't agree.”

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which plays Symphony Hall in Phoenix on April 7th, 8th, and 9th and  In at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall Tucson on April 15th and 16th.

Talking to the cast of Theatrikos Theatre Company's THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

The cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 

by Gil Benbrook

Nominated for six Tony Awards and winning two, including one for its hilarious book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee took Broadway by storm in 2005. It's a quirky, witty musical comedy that oozes charm but also offers many introspective moments concerning the difficulties of being an outsider or having parents who don't quite understand you.

The show takes place at the fictional Putnam County Spelling Bee where a group of adolescents (all played by adult actors) are competing for the top prize and the bragging rights that go with it. While none of them hope they'll hear the sound of the bell that signifies they made a spelling mistake, at least they'll get a hug and a juice box as they're escorted off the stage.

Theatrikos Theatre Company presents this crowd pleasing musical from March 31-April 23 and four members of the cast sat down between final rehearsals of the show to answer some questions about the show, their characters, and their favorite juice box flavor.

Scott Seaman, Nathan Henderson, and Piscilla Howell

Scott Seaman

What can you tell us about the character you play? 

"I play William Barfée. That's Barfée with an accent. It's French for all you idiots out there who can't pronounce a name correctly!  He is the ugly, grumpy, fat kid. The kids call him "Barf." He's very competitive. Very smart. He knows most of the words--definitions and all--and let's people know it. He uses an unusual technique though for spelling at the microphone: He spells the words on the floor with his "magic foot" so he can visualize the word before he spells it. He is out for blood this year as he was disqualified last year after an unfortunate incident involving his peanut allergy. He struggles making friends as he is pretty awkward and abrasive around the other kids. He has a passion for science...and spelling...and competition. " 

The musical focuses on a group of young, middle school students who are competing in their annual spelling bee. What difficulties have you encountered in playing someone who is much younger than you are? 

"I am the oldest person in the cast in real life, so I REALLY had to stretch! I actually had to spend some Saturdays early on really trying to find the character of Barfée. It was an exercise in going back and remembering. He is a beloved character by those who are familiar with the musical, and I really want to do justice to such a wonderfully colorful character. I had to think back to my own childhood and kids I've seen growing up over the years to really identify some of the awkwardness and abrasiveness I wanted to portray. Most of us had an ugly duckling awkward phase at some point, and it's hard because we feel so awkward that we put up these walls as a defense mechanism, but it can come across as harsh and mean, and people are afraid to get close to us, and we are afraid to get close to other people. I really wanted to tap back in to some of that for my portrayal of this kid...and make it funny and over the top and loveable, all at the same time."

You each come to this show with unique experiences and perspectives. Scott, you performed at BYU and at Black Barts but are also a dentist with a practice in town. What have you taken from your own unique perspective and experiences to flesh out your character to make them realistic and not caricatures? 

"This is actually my first major role in almost 20 years. I did a lot of performing in high school and college, but I only recently got back into theater during this past year. I love being a dentist, but I also really love performing on the stage. I love the magic and energy of live theater, especially musical theater. It is seriously so much fun! I was involved with the Theatrikos production of Nunsense in 2022 as assistant music director, and it was a blast. When I heard Theatrikos was doing Spelling Bee this year, I knew I wanted to audition for a part, even though it had been a long time. I fell in love with the music by William Finn. I knew the show had a very unique setup with the improv aspect. And I believed in the message of the show and I really really wanted to be a part of it. I was beyond thrilled when I got the part of Barfée--and intimidated. I knew I would have to dig deep and get way out of my comfort zone to play a character as crazy and cooky and silly as Barfée. I had to let go of a lot of inhibitions with this character. I had to find my loud annoying "Barf" voice. I had to loosen my hips and shake my booty. And I had to learn to spell some hard words! People who see the show will see a very different side of me from the normal serious professional I usually inhabit--especially when Barfée lets loose with some seriously ridiculous and zany dance moves!"

How good of a speller are you and were you involved in any spelling bees when you were in school? If you were, any memorable stories from your experiences? 

"I actually am a very good speller. But like anyone, my brain can go numb up in front of an audience. And I might be a little dislexic. My one and only spelling bee was in 5th grade at Sechrist School. My very first word in the very first round was 'formula.' I knew how to spell it, but I spelled it f-r-o-m-u-l-a. That was the end of my spelling bee career."

The characters in the show are all very competitive. There is also this notion of pressure and how it makes them try to live up to the expectations from others, and even from within themselves. How competitive of a person are you and how has that impacted your portrayal of your character? 

"Barfée is extremely competitive. He has a chip on his shoulder from last year. And he has a unique advantage with his "magic foot." We don't know much about his parents. Very little is revealed in the script. But he wants to be a winner, and is ready to take down anyone in his way. But this extreme competitive spirit can lead to loneliness and isolation. I would say I am a competitive person. I like to play games that I know I can win. Losing or failing at something is can be very hard for me. I have been driven my whole life. In my older years, I have come to realize the joy of being a human, even as we sometimes struggle, fail, and don't always live up to expectations. Watching some of the other parents portrayed in the show, and portraying a neglectful and absent parent myself in one of the dream sequences, I have certainly had some thoughts and feelings about our intereactions with kids and the pressures we put on kids. I have three teenage kids of my own. Today's kids have so many pressures on them. Plus their world is still pretty upside down in a semi-post COVID era. I would hope our portrayal of the parents and adults in the show can give us all pause and nudge us to think about how we might be better at seeing, accepting, encouraging, and being a friend to the kids in our lives. Every kid deserves to have adults in their life that have their back and love them no matter what. "

This musical incorporates a few volunteer audience members to also participate in the "bee." What have you, and as a cast, done to prepare for the unscripted, improvisational moments that having audience members on stage with you can entail? 

"Again, this aspect of "improv" and letting go and being silly no matter what happens, can really be a stretch--especially for me! Those who know me will tell you that I am normally a "scripted" and "by-the-book" type of guy. To leave all that behind and just roll with the unpredictable parts of this show is actually terrifying, liberating, and exhilarating all at once! I would say we have really had to come together as a cast and work as a team, really trust each other, and almost develop an unspoken communication system to keep things moving forward during those unexpected twists that have happened so far. Some of our funniest moments so far have actually been during the unforeseen. This cast and crew is amazing, by the way. What a joy it has been to work all together to bring this show to life."

While the show is a comedy it also has many moments that are quite touching. What songs, scenes, or moments in the musical resonate most with you, and why? 

"One character, Marcy, who is very driven and excels at everything, and even speaks six languages, has a moment where she hears God tell her that He will love her whether she wins or loses...and that He doesn't care that much about spelling bees. That always speaks to me. It took me a long time to come to that same realization about God myself. In another scene, Olive has a dream sequence where she imagines her parents, who are actually absent in her life, doting on her and expressing profound love for her. It's a tear jerker for sure, as we realize it's all just a fanciful illusion, and not the true reality she experiences. It makes me want to go home and tell my own kids how much I love them and how incredibly awesome they are."

Favorite juice box flavor? 

"Fruit Punch. Hands down."

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatrikos? 

"I hope anyone seeing the show has a chance to look back at how we all face the challenges of life and the social pressures that affect us all, and maybe step back and see if we might need to grow or change in some way. My character, Barfée, comes to the realization that friends and connection with others are more important than winning. That's a big message for myself. I also hope we can all have a good laugh at ourselves. I think any of us can find a piece of ourselves in one of the characters, if we're honest. And really we're all just a little bit crazy and silly deep down. "

Priscilla Howell

What can you tell us about the character you play?

"I play Rona Lisa Peretti, a former Spelling Bee Champion (3rd annual) and current host. Rona is hosting for the 9th consecutive year, and the bee is the absolute highlight of the year for her. She really wishes she was competing!"

What difficulties have you found in portraying an authority figure in the show when the majority of the cast are also adults but playing young characters?

"The most difficult part of the show is not breaking character when the other characters are funny or sad. All of the actors in this show are incredible and it seems like every rehearsal brings out a new bit that we hadn't seen before. Rona and Panch, while adults, seem to be focused on themselves and lack a bit of self awareness, and therefore lack the authority they should be displaying. "

The characters in the show are quirky and eccentric. What have you taken from your own unique perspective and experiences to flesh out your character to make them realistic and not caricatures? 

"Rona is a Pollyanna of sorts, and a bit of a caricature of herself when she's at the bee. She's endlessly positive, because the bee is the highlight of her year and brings back so many memories for her. She, just like parents of the spellers, lives vicariously through the children. She has a tendency to make the bee about herself, and her positivity comes across as disingenuous and insensitive to the children that are competing. We don't learn much about Rona during the show, and I think that is purposeful. I think Rona is lonely and a little sad, and she takes the bee as her yearly opportunity to shine. She refuses to be anything but smiling and positive, and doesn't let down that guard, and that's really sad to me. While I'm so fortunate to have an amazing family and support system, I can certainly relate to putting a smile on my face even when I'm having a hard time. It's honestly one of the things I love about acting, that I can set aside any sadness and be someone else for a while. I think that's what Rona does for the bee. "

How good of a speller are you and were you involved in any spelling bees when you were in school? If you were, any memorable stories from your experiences?

"I was the 5th grade spelling bee champion at Shadeville Elementary School in Crawfordville, FL! I am a pretty good speller, and have always loved it. That said, I never excelled beyond that level, but I'm truly fascinated by the children who compete at the national level. This show has also made me consider the individual children, where they come from, and the pressure they're under. "

The characters in the show are all very competitive. There is also this notion of pressure and how it makes them try to live up to the expectations from others, and even from within themselves. How competitive of a person are you and how has that impacted your portrayal of your character?

 

"I'm an incredibly competitive person. While Rona isn't competing in this bee, she really taps into her memories as a speller, and treats this event just as a sports announcer would. She's competing with herself to be the best host she can be, and she's set the bar really high. There isn't a lot of pressure on Rona from others, but she puts so much pressure on herself, and I definitely relate to that! Just like Rona, I'm my biggest critic."

This musical incorporates a few volunteer audience members to also participate in the "bee." What have you, and as a cast, done to prepare for the unscripted, improvisational moments that having audience members on stage with you can entail?

"I make sure to stay informed on current events, as some of the best humor comes from things that are really happening. I have come up with some great material as backup (if I'm not able to find something on the fly). It's really important to make sure to keep things light. I want to do my best to make sure all of the audience participants feel comfortable and welcome and I know the rest of the cast is working for that too. "

While the show is a comedy it also has many moments that are quite touching. What songs, scenes, or moments in the musical resonate most with you, and why?

"I don't want to give anything away, but there are two moments in the show that are really emotional for me. We learn about the spellers and the situations they're coming from, as well as the struggles they're facing.

Olive's home situation is heartbreaking. It seems that her parents are doing their best, but they are very caught up in their own issues, leaving her to figure things out by herself. There's one song in particular that I think will have audiences holding their breath. I lost my mother when I was very young, so I can relate to the uncertainty she faces and the longing for someone who can't be with you.

The other moment that really gets me is when one speller is eliminated and the absolute heartbreak that comes along with it. This particular character faces so much pressure and fear that they aren't deserving of love if they don't win. It's so hard for me to recover from that and be Rona. The actor just does a flawless job of pulling me into their despair. "

Favorite juice box flavor?

Fruit punch!

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatrikos?

"I hope that audiences laugh and cry. Ultimately I hope they leave with a new perspective on the pressure and expectation children from all walks of life face (perhaps a little self reflection). While there's so much humor in the show, there's also a lot of hard truths about growing up! 

This show has been so much fun, and I hope audiences see how much love, effort, and dedication the cast and crew put into making this such a wonderful show. "

Brian William Price

Brian William Price

What can you tell us about the character you play?

"Mitch Mahoney is an ex-convict who is serving his community service as the "Comfort Counselor" at the Bee, where he hands out juices boxes and hugs. "

What difficulties have you found in portraying an authority figure in the show when the majority of the cast are also adults but playing young characters?

"The hardest part of playing Mitch was finding the right balance of firm strength and gentle care for the spellers.  He is an ex-con who has little to no clue on how to be soft and comforting, but he tries his best. "

You each come to this show with unique experiences and perspectives. Brian, you were the first Navajo to become a Navy SEAL. The characters in the show are quirky and eccentric. What have you taken from your own unique perspective and experiences to flesh out your character to make them realistic and not caricatures? 

"I took from my U.S. Navy SEAL days and remembered what it was like to be very hard and mean at times, yet still selflessly care for those around me.  Mitch has a good heart, but he is rough around the edges.  I would relate him similarly to the Beast, from Beauty and the Beast.  Deep down he is good, but he doesn't know how to show it in a proper way.  This makes the interactions in the play funny to watch, but still kind hearted, although gruff."

How good of a speller are you and were you involved in any spelling bees when you were in school? If you were, any memorable stories from your experiences?

"I did not participate in Spelling Bees when I was a young boy growing up on the Navajo Reservation here in Arizona.  But I do feel as though attending Columbia University in NYC where I received my BA in Acting allowed me to grow greatly rhetorically speaking.  "

The characters in the show are all very competitive. There is also this notion of pressure and how it makes them try to live up to the expectations from others, and even from within themselves. How competitive of a person are you and how has that impacted your portrayal of your character?

"I am not competitive with others.  I am competitive with myself.  I put my whole heart into all the work I am blessed with doing and I push myself to lead in a good way as well as achieve the goals I have.  I am more of the man who helps the person beside me, rather than compete with them.  Unless it's a pizza eating contest.  I'd fight to win that. "

This musical incorporates a few volunteer audience members to also participate in the "bee." What have you, and as a cast, done to prepare for the unscripted, improvisational moments that having audience members on stage with you can entail?

"As a cast, we worked on some improv techniques to be able to flex accordingly and rise to the occasions that the volunteer spellers present us with.  We had wonderful direction, and the entire production team had our backs the whole way. "

While the show is a comedy it also has many moments that are quite touching. What songs, scenes, or moments in the musical resonate most with you, and why?

"I sing a number in the play, but I would have to say the most touching song for me is the I Love You Song.  It is about a girl who misses her family.  I know what missing family is like because of my SEAL days.  I did 140 Combat Operations during the war and I didn't see my family for years at a time.  I know how this girl feels to be alone, afraid, and missing loved ones. "

Favorite juice box flavor?

"My favorite juice box flavor is good ole Fruit Punch.  Plus it's my favorite color, Red. "

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatrikos?

"I hope the audience takes away from the play the remembrance of the joy that childhood can bring.  A lot of us grow up too fast due to the things going on in the world.  I hope they see it is okay to be a kid every once in a while.  The magic of feeding your inner child is a skill many people should try to tap into.  If people are able to figure this part out for themselves, the world would be a much brighter place.  To change the world, all you have to do is change yourself.  It's up to each and every one of us. "

Brooke Stoff

What can you tell us about the character you play?

"My character is Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre  I am the proud daughter of Daniel Shwartz and Carl Grubenierre. My primary desire in life is to earn their love by winning this spelling bee!  I am the youngest competitor in the bee and I’m clearly stressed out about winning the entire time.  "

The musical focuses on a group of young, middle school students who are competing in their annual spelling bee. What difficulties have you encountered in playing someone who is much younger than you are? 

"One of the biggest challenges is having to sing and deliver my lines with a lisp!  That has been fun to learn.  Another challenge is learning how to not “over act” like a child.  I have a 5 year old daughter who I have gained a lot of inspiration from.  I have spent time watching how she carries herself, walks and what she does when she is required to “sit still”.   It’s been a lot of fun!"

You each come to this show with unique experiences and perspectives. Brooke, you have a degree in music education and performed in numerous musicals in the past but only returned to performing last year after a 10 year hiatus. The characters in the show are quirky and eccentric. What have you taken from your own unique perspective and experiences to flesh out your character to make them realistic and not caricatures? 

"Taking such a long break from theatre has given me a lot of perspective and self assurance I never had before.  10 years later it’s easier for me to be ugly for a role.  When I was thinking of musical theatre as a career for myself it was very stressful.  There was a lot on the line and it made it hard to just have fun.  So this time around I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to be able to give this show the time it requires so every minute I’m at rehearsal I am making the most of it!   

As far as not making it a caricature, I try to feel like Logainne would feel and let that pour into the choices I make for my movements and delivery. "

How good of a speller are you and were you involved in any spelling bees when you were in school? If you were, any memorable stories from your experiences?

"I’m notoriously a horrible speller!  I’m dyslexic and it makes it hard.  No spelling bees for me!  Having to spell during this show is more stressful than singing an entire number. "

The characters in the show are all very competitive. There is also this notion of pressure and how it makes them try to live up to the expectations from others, and even from within themselves. How competitive of a person are you and how has that impacted your portrayal of your character? 

"I’m a fairly competitive person, I like to win but growing up I knew that my parents loved me no matter what the outcome was!  My character Logainne believes if she loses God, America, her dads, AND herself will HATE her.  It’s a very sad and stressful mindset but I think her part is very important.  It shows the audience that there are kids that grow up with this mentality and pressure and they need a lot of love. "

This musical incorporates a few volunteer audience members to also participate in the "bee." What have you, and as a cast, done to prepare for the unscripted, improvisational moments that having audience members on stage with you can entail?

"This is the funniest part of the show!  The audience!  We have been having friends come to rehearsals and sub in as the volunteers.  It is SO hard to stay in character when a volunteer is laughing or if they do something unexpected.  I just try to respond how Logainne would! We have practiced the volunteers responding in a lot of different ways and how that plays out."

While the show is a comedy it also has many moments that are quite touching. What songs, scenes, or moments in the musical resonate most with you, and why?

"Oh goodness, this show has stolen my heart!  It’s absolutely hilarious but by the end you will be crying.  This aspect of human nature is rarely portrayed in the arts, kids performing under pressure and their response to it, but the truth of it is heart breaking. 

The character Olive breaks my heart the most.  She saves a chair for her dad in hopes he can make it to the bee.  Where my parents loved me and did their best, there were times when they weren’t at things or were running late.  This feeling breaks my heart.  But when she sings the “I Love You” song there is not a dry eye in the room, even for rehearsals.  Everybody has felt abandonment in their life and this song gets to the depth of that feeling of abandonment. "

Favorite juice box flavor?

"I don’t drink juice boxes"

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatrikos?

"I hope they take some empathy for kids away from it.  I hope when their children are performing they see the inner-dialogue that is happening.  I hope they laugh and I hope they cry.  "

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs March 31-April 23

How Rescue Dogs Are Trained to Play Sandy in the national tour of ANNIE, at ASU Gammage March 24-26

Ellie Pulsifer as Annie and Addison as Sandy
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

By Leigh Scheps

It’s no secret that the dog who plays Sandy in ANNIE has been stealing the spotlight at every show since the musical first premiered in 1976. And it’s no exception for the latest national touring production starring Ellie Pulsifer in the title role.

Since ANNIE’s inception, Bill Berloni has been training the Sandys. The dog, according to the script by Charles Strouse, Thomas Meehan and Martin Charnin, is described as medium-sized, sandy color of an indistinguishable breed.

Before ANNIE was on Broadway, Berloni, who was a 20-year-old aspiring actor at the time, was asked by one of the musical’s producers to find a dog and train it to be Sandy. From that moment, he made training rescue dogs for the stage his passion and career.

For the new national tour, Addison and Georgie play Sandy. “We look for dogs with well-balanced temperaments. That's it. If they're well-balanced, then they can learn anything,” Berloni said of what makes the perfect candidate to be a stage dog. Sandy has a pivotal role in the story. The character is on stage for about fourteen minutes with 15 - 20 stage cues a show.

And the Sandys cast are always rescue dogs. Addison was rescued four years ago from a North Carolina animal shelter, one day before she was set to be euthanized. Georgie was saved from nearly being turned over to a Pennsylvania high kill shelter. “Animals end up in shelters for many reasons. But many of them end up there because of family hardships or a death in the family— not because of any behavioral issues. We hope to find those animals and hopefully adopt them.” explained Berloni. Training the dogs to be on a big stage with thousands of people in the audience takes about two to three years. First, they get healthy and housebroken. Then trainers use a basic obedience course wherethe rescue dogs learn how to walk by your side, sit, stay, lay down, sit up and come when you call them.

“Our training begins a conversation with them unlike any conversation they've ever had before,” explained Berloni of his process. “Every behavior has a reward. And for the most part, the reward is love. So, there's never any, ‘if you do that, this is your punishment.’ There is: ‘I'd like you to do this. And if you do, you'll get a reward.’ It's a much slower process.”

Once that’s mastered, the dogs learn their cues for the show. For this production of ANNIE, the rehearsal process with the cast began about a month before the first performances. Pulsifer spent many hours bonding with Addison and Georgie by feeding them, walking them and even sleeping with them. “What differentiates our dogs [from other pets] is that they learn to listen to other people, as opposed to just listening to me,” Berloni said. If at any time the dogs don’t want to perform, they don’t have to and they retire from their stage careers.

What’s even more special about this version is that it's directed by Jenn Thompson, who played the orphan named Pepper, in the original Broadway production. She’s known Berloni since she was 10 years old. For this new tour of ANNIE, he’s the only person on the creative team that has worked on the show before. With new eyes on the story, music, scenery and costumes – it gives this version a fresh perspective that audiences may not have seen before.

“It's been really emotional to be together in some ways,” Thompson said of their reunion. “I still look at ANNIE a little bit like a 12-year-old. Being with him has been like coming home.”

While Thompson says it's her first time directing a production of ANNIE, Berloni disagrees. “It's 1978 there's all these kids on Broadway. They're bored. So, they come up with an idea to do their own production of ANNIE onstage in between shows. Jenn directed the eight orphans doing their version of ANNIE. I knew she was a director because she was always bossing everyone around,” Berloni joked.

Like Thompson, who found her calling for directing at a young age, Berloni discovered his passion through ANNIE too on the day he rescued a dog to play the part. “That one dog helped me find what I do the best.” He hopes, with every Sandy, it helps audiences see a different perspective on animal adoption.

“Somewhere in popular culture, I've helped make that type of dog popular to have as a pet,” he added.

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which plays ASU Gammage March 24-26

The joy of community theatre shines with several pairs of family members appearing together in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at TheaterWorks

Left to Right:Tennille Rivera and Tawny Audi; Andrew and Naya Dell;
Ryan Malikowski and Nick Gearing

by Gil Benbrook

(This is the second of a two part series of interviews with the cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks)

With over 50 theatre companies in town who collectively present several hundred productions each year, the theatre community in Phoenix is thriving, even after stages were dark for most of 2020. 

This community of theatres is just that, a community of individuals coming together to put on a show. For TheaterWorks' production of the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the cast include several pairs of family members which highlights the joy of community theater.

In this production, Andrew and Naya Dell are married.  Tennille Rivera and Tawny Audi are mother and daughter, and Nick Gearing and Ryan Malikowski are also married.

The stage adaptation of the Walt Disney animated 1996 hit The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is based on Victor Hugo's classic 1831 gothic, dark thriller is the story of Quasimodo, a deformed man who falls in love with the gypsy girl Esmerelda.

Paul Pederson, choreographer for this show and the Director of Patron Services for TheaterWorks added, "This show revolves so much around the themes of family and relationships that I find it wildly appropriate that we have two mother/daughter duos and two married couples in the cast.  All of them are superbly talented and getting to watch them work together in the rehearsal room and on stage is pure joy. It's definitely one of the great perks of being a community theater."

These pairs of family members sat down in between final rehearsals of the show to answer some questions about this musical and what it's like working on the show with their spouse, parent, or child.

Naya Llusco Dell

Tell us about the roles you play in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Naya Dell: “I’m in the choir! Soprano section. We really help to fill out the texture and create a musical backdrop for many of the actions on stage.”

Have you worked on a show with your husband before? If you have, what shows did you appear in together and if you haven’t, why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Naya: “Andrew and I have performed together in numerous concerts with different choirs, but this is only our second musical together. Our first musical together was in college.”

What has your experience been like working on this show with your husband?

Naya: “Well firstly, it's nice to carpool with my favourite person! It's not too different from our day to day life, albeit more exciting. In the past we have worked as choir directors together on different projects, and have even worked at the same school together for many years. In addition to being my life partner, Andrew is also my creative partner."

This musical touches upon the issues that many parent/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Naya: “I think what really resonated with me is the idea of community. Although not related or romantically involved, Clopin comes through for Esmeralda time after time. When the time comes for their community to find a new hideout, even though he and Esmeralda have had their differences, Clopin wouldn't dream of leaving her behind. In a way, they become like family. Finding meaningful connections with people who support you can extend far beyond family.

Choir has been the reason I have made many of my closest friends, including my husband! It can be so difficult to find "your people," especially in a sprawling city like Phoenix but I am so fortunate to be a part of our artists community here and to have the support of my friends and colleagues. Actors, musicians, dancers, writers, composers: our community. And I am so grateful to continue to foster relationships within our ever-growing network of artists."

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Naya: “This show deals with some intense subjects. We see how someone in a position of power distorts the truth for his own purposes and treats people in different social classes terribly, even when they do share similar beliefs. I hope that audiences will be challenged to face their own prejudices and treat others with more understanding and kindness. That, and also how incredible the music is."

Andrew Dell

Tell us about the roles you play in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Andrew Dell: "I am in the congregation, so my role changes throughout the story to serve the narrative.  As a civilian I am a “haughty gentleman”, I play the Official in the search for Esmeralda, and a gargoyle in the bell tower.  "

Have you worked on a show with your wife before? If you have, what shows did you appear in together and if you haven’t, why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Andrew: "This is the second theatrical performance that I’ve been in with Naya as we were both in Of Thee I Sing at GCU.  However, we’ve performed in multiple concerts with different choral groups including Solis Camerata and The Phoenix Symphony Chorus."

What has your experience been like working on this show with your wife?

Andrew: "Although our day to day rehearsal schedules on this particular project don’t always align, it’s been amazing getting to work with my partner on this show.  We do a lot of creative work together already, especially in the realm of music, so getting to expand that experience to include theater has been very exciting."

This musical touches upon the issues that many parent/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Andrew: "The idea of people of different upbringings and cultures coming together is something that resonates with me.  Naya and I grew up in very different ways, had different values emphasized, and even celebrated the same holidays in different ways.  To see something like that represented in such a prominent musical is awesome."

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Andrew: "I truly believe that Frollo is the most terrifying Disney villain because he believes himself to be the hero in the story, yet we see him do some despicable things.  I see this as an opportunity and reminder to look inward and consider how our actions, opinions of others, and self-righteousness affect those around us. "

Tawny Audi

Tell us about the roles you play in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Tawny Audi: "I play the role of Florika/congregant in Hunchback of Notre Dame!"

Have you worked on a show with your mom before and why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Tawny: "This is my first time ever performing on stage with my mom! My mom hasn’t been onstage in 25 years and when she found out I was auditioning for this beautiful production she decided to come of out her hiatus and join me. Theaterworks has always been a second home to me, and we truly couldn’t think of a better production to audition for together. "

What has your experience been like working on this show with your mom?

Tawny: "It’s been wonderful. Getting to see my mom’s love for the stage after she inspired me for so many years has been rewarding in so many ways. Being raised as an only child by a single Mom, you grow up with you guys against the world. No matter what we had each other and we had theater, getting to see it come to life in this production is a memory I will always cherish. "

This musical touches upon the issues that many parents/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Tawny: "I truly think the biggest thing that has resonated with both me and my mom is being ridiculed and judged for things we can’t change, unfortunately most of it being in a religious setting. My mom and I are Middle Eastern so we’ve faced much disdain regarding that aspect, with several judgments pushed on us over the course of many years. Not only that, being a single Mom was very frowned upon in our old church. This show really does resonate with my mom and me in many ways. "

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Tawny: "I really hope audience members take away the message of the story, and it’s that you never what someone is going through or what their story is, and at the end of the day no one is perfect. Think of that before you pass judgement on them, of any kind. "

Tennille Rivera

Tell us about the roles you play in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Tennille Rivera:  "I am a congregant in this beautiful show. I’m a reveled, gypsy, prostitute…yes…mama still got it..lol and a statue that is one of Quasi’s best friends and probably my favorite part. "

Have you worked on a show with your daughter before? Why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Tennille: "This is the very first time my daughter, Tawny and I will share the stage together in a production. I have missed performing so much but I have also enjoyed watching my daughter grow and fall in love with the theatre. When this production had auditions, the universe told us both that it was time. "

What has your experience been like working on this show with your daughter?

Tennille: "This entire cast and production team is unbelievable. Plus getting to share the stage with Tawny, it’s like a dream come true. I cried after callbacks. I cried when I got cast and I cried through most of the first month of rehearsals. We have had so much fun together. We drive together and it really has made us even closer than we already were and we have always been extremely close. "

This musical touches upon the issues that many parent/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Tennille: "There have been so many issues that are close to me. First of all, being ethnic, I always got made fun of or bullied as a kid. Children just don’t understand or are raised to not understand to accept and love everyone no matter their skin color or how they may look. 

Second, I raised Tawny as a single mother for 13 years until I met my husband. When Tawny was little, I would take her to a non denominational Christian church. I’ll never forget sitting in service one day when our pastor started preaching on single mothers and their children being born out of wedlock. That we were going to hell and so were our children. I just sat there thinking, was I supposed to stay in a situation with a man who physically beat me and emotionally abused me and who would eventually do that to my daughter? So I’m going to hell for taking the both of us to a safer place? I cried and cried thinking, why would any God or higher power punish an innocent child? Religion has never been the same for either of us and we now consider ourselves more spiritual  than religious. 

Last, I see so much of Tawny in Esmeralda. When Tawny was in kindergarten, she befriended a little boy who was picked on and severely bullied. I will never forget being on a field trip to a fire station and these kids had this poor little boy backed in a corner and I watched my little 5 year old in pigtails walk right through them and she said stop!! She held her hand out to the boy, and said, you can come eat lunch with my mom and I. I don’t want to use his name because they are still friends till this day, but this little boy would bring Tawny a small gift for every holiday all the way up until they went to different high schools. I honestly have never been more proud of her and she has carried that kindness until this day. In life, I wish more people could be more like Esmeralda."

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Tennille: "I want our audience to see the importance of loving each and every person for their hearts. God Help The Outcasts is so beautiful and meaningful. I want people to see others with disabilities and/or people of different beliefs and people of different ethnicities as one equal. I guess I sound cliche but I wish we could all just be accepting and loving towards one another. "

Ryan Malikowski

Tell us about the role(s) you play in Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Ryan Malikowski: “I play one of the congregants, which is essentially this show's version of the ensemble. I get to be a gargoyle, congregant, statue, and King Louis XI

Have you worked on a show with your husband before? If you have, what shows did you appear in together and why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Ryan: "Since meeting Nicholas back during Stray Cat Theatre's 2016 AZ premier of American Idiot: The Musical we have yet to perform in any shows apart from each other. We have been in upwards of 20 shows/productions with each other over the past six and a half years and it has been nothing short of amazing. I realize how truly unique this is and I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have worked with Theater Works before back in their 2017 production of Once Upon a Mattress and we jumped at the opportunity to be back working with Chris, Paul, Courtney, and the rest of their amazing team. "

What has your experience been like working on this show with your husband?

Ryan: "It is always a joy to work on a show with Nicholas. This show has been somewhat unique in the sense that we don't share too many scenes. That has given me the opportunity to do a lot more observing than I am typically able to, which is kind of cool. He added depth and arc to a charcter that doesn't have much built-in and he also gets to be in the kickass sword fight scene (spoiler alert) and it has been awesome getting to watch him expand on his fight choreo and it is an insanely fun scene to watch!"

This musical touches upon the issues that many parent/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Ryan: "This is a really tough question to answer. Honestly, it mostly makes me REALLY happy that Nick is a great guy. I have always been most fond of his heart and his humanity. This show has made me fall in love with those traits of his even more." 

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Ryan: "Chris, Paul, and Lincoln have assembled a hell of a cast for this show. Watching this group work over the past several weeks has been an incredibly emotional and rewarding experience. There are moments that will tug at your heart-strings...both from resentment and from hope. I think that's where a lot of the power lies in this production. It is beautiful in so many ways and I really hope that people will flock out to Peoria in droves for this one."

Nicholas Gearing

Tell us about the roles you play in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Nicholas Gearing: "I play Frederic Charlus, a Lieutenant in the Cathedral guard and am a member of the congregation who act as the narrators of this powerful piece. He is driven, focused, and committed to his work, but who also has his eyes opened before the story ends. I get to sword fight as well, which makes this role really fun."

Have you worked on a show with your husband before? And why did you choose to audition for this production together?

Nicholas: "I have made it a point to work with him every single time I have had the chance. In fact, we’ve been incredibly lucky to share the stage roughly 20 or so times since we first met doing American Idiot with Stray Cat Theatre in 2016. We also worked with at Theater Works on their production of Once Upon a Mattress years back and we fell in love with the team there. It’s so great getting to be back again. "

What has your experience been like working on this show with your husbandc?

Nicholas: "I have really enjoyed this time together, doing this thing we both love doing. Car rides, inside jokes, listening to and watching him do this, it’s just been a blast. I picked well for myself and it pays off every day. "

This musical touches upon the issues that many parents/children, siblings, and significant others face. What themes in the show have resonated with you?

Nicholas: "My character has an arc that spans from  themes of Obedience and Tradition toward those of Tolerance and Acceptance. As a member of the LGBT+ community, the themes of Otherness, and how people are vilified for being different really hit home for me."

What do you wish audience members will take away from seeing Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks?

Nicholas: "I hope audiences will have their breath taken away a few times and leave with a new or renewed sense of inclusion and acceptance that will be extended to others moving forward. "

CLICK HERE for more information on The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TheaterWorks, which runs February 17-March 5

A conversation with Jacqueline Williams who plays Calpurnia, often called the "heart of the Finch family", in the National Tour of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Jacqueline Williams
Photo by Julieta Cervantes

from our friends at ASU Gammage:

A staple of high school reading lists and an iconic eye-opener into injustice in America, Harper Lee’s "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic that remains relevant years after the book’s publication and the film that came shortly after. Now, the story has been adapted for the stage, and the national Broadway tour is at ASU Gammage this week.

Set in 1934, To Kill a Mockingbird explores racial injustice, morality and the undertones of the deep south in Maycomb, Alabama, through a lens of childhood wonder in the eyes of tomboy Scout Finch, whose father, the small-town lawyer Atticus Finch, defends a black man accused of rape. 

62 years after the novel’s release and just before the 60th anniversary for the film, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Bartlett Sher, sends a message that is just as impactful today as in the past.

Jacqueline Williams, who plays Calpurnia, the housekeeper and often called the ‘heart’ of the Finch family, said she feels “blessed to be revived” in the role, and that it has “been a joy, and honor and a duty to travel and share the story.”

In Sorkin’s Broadway adaptation of the novel and film, her character, who plays a pivotal role in the life of the family at the center of the plot, has been expanded, and she has been given new lines never seen or heard in the book or film. 

“She's funny, wise, quick, sharp and honest,” said Williams.

To theater goers who are familiar with the story, Williams shares, “For those who know the book and film, its neither; it’s both and more at the same time. Sorkin’s live theater event is an honoring of Harper Lee’s story and message, and at the same time, elevates it to our time without taking it out of 1934 where the story takes place. It’s a story that a lot of people have a relationship with, including myself.”

The well-known story is one that many can recall from memory, yet live on stage, Sorkin brings a new, animated edge to the tale.

“It's a story that sits in people's hearts and a story still relevant today,” said Williams.

She hopes the stage production will encourage the audience to think about the show's themes in modern contexts, and reflect on their own experiences. 

Through her character, Williams said it’s important to bring to life the impact of these issues on stage in front of an audience. “Part of it is a duty, out here trying to fight the good fight, elevate each other, uplift each other and be better together.”

For Williams, each time the curtain rises is a chance to share the message of human goodness versus evil, and bring light to the importance of justice served, and morality weighted through her character. 

“My favorite thing about the tour has been that every now and then, I can hear by reactions, surprised reactions, regarding the trial, that someone is out there experiencing the trial for the first time,” said Williams.

Williams shares the spotlight with a star-studded cast, including Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch, Melanie Moore as Scout Finch, Justin Mark as Jem Finch, Yaegel T. Welch as Tom Robinson, and Mary Badham, Oscar nominee for playing Scout in the 1962 To Kill a Mockingbird film, who returns to the production as Mrs. Henry Dubose.

 

“A fantastic group of humans, every performance eight times a week is amazing as we live and breathe together and also shine together,” claimed Williams.  

 

To Kill a Mockingbird at ASU Gammage will continue through Sunday, Dec.11. 

Tickets are available at the box office, or online at asugammage.com