July 27, 2024 • 20 mins
What if your childhood dreams could come to life on stage? This episode of "Steps to the Stage" promises an enchanting look into the world of community theater as we chat with Andrea, the spirited first-time director of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." From the magical storyline of a race car saved from the scrapyard to the charming musical numbers that captivate audiences of all ages, Andrea's passion and dedication to bringing this beloved show to life are nothing short of inspiring. Through her heartfelt recounting, listeners gain insight into the journey from the initial idea to the final curtain call, making this episode a treasure trove for theater enthusiasts.
Andrea doesn't shy away from sharing the highs and lows of her directorial debut. Listen as she opens up about the challenges of leading a production, the thrill of watching young cast members grow, and the invaluable lessons from her mentors. Discover how she navigated the technical aspects, like working with a lighting designer and incorporating projections, and the importance of fostering a fun, creative environment. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the joys and trials of community theater, highlighted by Andrea's infectious enthusiasm and deep personal connection to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." Join us for a behind-the-scenes look that will leave you inspired and entertained!
August 2-16 $12 general admission -- $10 seniors and students
Tickets available at: https://chinocommunitytheatre.seatyourself.biz -- chinochildrenstheatre.org -- or contact the box office at (909) 590-1149
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Starting to love this show like I love this show.
They're just getting such apassion for it and it just makes
my little five-year-old self sohappy seeing that.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
The lights are on the curtain's up.
This is Steps to the Stage.
Folks at home, do you have abusiness, small or otherwise,
that isn't pulling in trafficthe way you want it to?
Well, it might be because theydon't have something to remember
you by, and that's why today weare sponsored by Graphic
(00:29):
Details Inc.
Signs and displays.
They will print out yourbanners, they'll cut vinyl,
they'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
We're talking business cards,banner stands, LCD displays,
tabletop displays, logos, all infull living color.
Again, that is Graphic DetailsInc here in Chino, California.
Thank you so much.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the 7th Street
Theater podcast, where I talk tothe community theatre
professionals you know and love.
I am your host and today we aretalking with our friend Andrea
(00:53):
for Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hi, it's great to be back.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So why don't you start by telling us what Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang is for anyonewho isn't familiar?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So, to put it simply, chitty, chitty, bang Bang is
about this race car, who wasdriven in the Grand Prix and
unfortunately crashed Yearslater, was found at a junkyard
by these two siblings, jeremyand Jemima, and they try to save
it from being scrapped intometal.
So they asked their father tobuy it, and he does, and he
(01:23):
rebuilds it into this beautifulnew motor car.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So yeah, yeah, that sounds really fun.
Yeah, and it's a musical.
Yes, yes, yes, okay.
So what's that been like?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So it's been really fun.
We just finished teaching allthe music and the choreo, so
that's been really fun.
And then we're just goingthrough run-throughs till the
end of time until we open.
And then we're just goingthrough run-throughs till the
end of time until we open, andthen this is your first show
that you're directing here.
Yes, yes, first show everdirecting I do have some
experience assistant directingover at Don Lugo, but this is my
(01:54):
first time truly being thedirector.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And so what has that been like, tell?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
me please.
Oh, it's been a journey.
Tell me please.
Oh, it's been a journey fromsubmitting the show to building
the team meeting, just coming upwith ideas, things like that.
It's been such a crazy ride andI'm so happy to have
experienced this.
And, yeah, just ecstatic is theword to explain it.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's like a year-long process basically.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Just about yeah, especially considering our
timeline for when we opened towhen the submission forms came
out.
It's basically a year of mylife dedicated to this Insane.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, yeah.
So you came up with this in itsentirety, you submitted for the
show and you did the wholething, so you're doing this as
like a solo director, right.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yes, but I do have some help.
I do have an assistant director, my good friend, andrew
Landeros, and we do have astudent director, also a good
friend of mine, sarah Toison.
So, yes, I do have someassistance and, yes, my mentor,
miss Donna Rice, who I lovedearly.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So what gave you the idea for this show, to want to
do this show?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So funny story.
I didn't know this was a stageproduction.
When I got the submission formI had so many ideas.
I'm like, okay, first I need tomake sure that these are actual
stage productions.
So I went to MTI For those whodon't know, mti is a website
where you can go and look upproductions for theater and I
(03:24):
was like, okay, let's look atthe junior shows.
So I'm looking through, I'mlike, oh my God, these are so
cute.
Very last on the list wasChitty Chitty Bang Bang Junior.
And I was in the living roomwith my mom and I go, mom,
you're never going to guesswhat's a musical.
And she's like, oh, my goshwhat.
And I say Chitty Chitty BangBang.
And I go, there's no way, I'mnot going to submit this now.
(03:45):
So yeah, that's basically howit came up.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So do you have a love for Chitty, chitty Bang Bang?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I do so for those who don't know me, I'm a Disney
girl and Disney adult for life.
My love for Disney is infinite,but when I was younger it wasn't
that way, and my love forDisney was replaced by Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang when I was akid.
So I watched it on VHS at mygrandparents house, then got it
on DVD, watched it at home, andnow I'm watching it on streaming
(04:15):
and yeah, so I've just had alove for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
since the dawn of time reallythat's crazy, because I, like, I
was aware of the movie, but Ihad never seen it before.
Yeah, my mom, she, she wasintroduced to it as a kid.
It would just come up on likethe one channel where I show
movies and she's like I have toshow my, show my kids this.
So, yeah, she showed my brotherand then she showed me and here
(04:37):
I am.
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, that's so cool because I've never, yeah, really
had much of a passion eitherway.
For that it's so cool, becauseI've never really had much of a
passion either way.
For that it's so cool that youhave such a connection to it
yeah.
Would you mind talking aboutthe casting process for this
show?
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So, yes, the casting process, so at auditions I had
been in an audition room before,but being somewhat the sole
decider was kind of crazy.
I was like whoa, I have thispower.
So there were just some peoplethat when they came in I was
(05:14):
like okay, this is a good choice.
And then there were just otherpeople that I just knew and so
like we had the callbacks andthere were just some pairings
that came together.
It was literally like magic,yeah.
And it was so crazy how perfectit was, because literally after
it happened, the people behindthe table, like we all made our
(05:37):
notes and we looked at eachother and it was the exact same
thing.
We all had the exact same ideas.
So it really just fell intoplace.
Like it wasn't really a hardcasting process.
Literally everything was justso perfect.
So, yeah, that's, that's reallycool that it was so like
perfect.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
That's awesome, yeah, so how far along into
rehearsals are you?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So we're actually almost done with every.
I think I mentioned before.
We finished teaching all themusic, all the choreography.
We just have one scene left toblock and then we'll just be
doing run-throughs until techweek, Yep, and then we open.
How many songs are in the show?
Ooh, a lot.
I would think 14, 14, 15.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Wow, okay, and then how many of those are like big
ensemble-y?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Ensemble ones, I would want to say about four,
Okay.
So yeah, a lot of them are likethe solo pieces little smaller
pieces, but yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
That's great.
So yeah, so it's been yeahabout how long, would you say?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
As of right now, about a month and a half, a
month and a half Of rehearsalNice, that's nice.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So what do you want to talk about the set?
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, so the set is pretty.
It's nothing too crazy, it'spretty simple.
You know, we just have anupstage platform.
We're going to be usingprojections a lot, so, yeah,
upstage platform with stairsleading down it.
We have a flat stage right thatwe're using another platform to
help build levels.
So, yeah, pretty basic.
We're pretty I don't want tosay reliant, but pretty reliant
(07:11):
on those projections because Idon't want to give too much away
from the story, but they reallyhelp with this story and
specificity.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh, how exciting We'll just have to see the show.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You'll have to see it to see what I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And who is the set designer?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Our set designer is Mr Bill Rice.
Hey, what's it like workingwith him.
Awesome, I love the Rices, so Iwanted to get their help as
much as possible.
So when thinking about the team, I immediately wanted Miss
Donna's help because, you know,as a first time director, I was
like Miss Donna, I need help.
And then set design I was like,ok, well, I know Mr Rice does
(07:48):
it, so immediately went to him.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, so I imagine the costumes for this show have
got to be pretty incredible,right.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, they're pretty awesome because it's two place
settings during the show, so onein Act 1 and we go somewhere
else in Act 2.
So it's really fun getting towork with the costumers, seeing
what we can do to reallydifferentiate the places.
So that's been fun.
And then just like other pieceslike we go to a fair where
(08:19):
there are Morris dancers, so wetook inspiration from
traditional Morris dancers, likewith the flaps on fair where
there are Morris dancers.
So we have like we tookinspiration from like
traditional Morris dancers, likewith the flaps on the vest and
things like that.
We have bamboo sticks becausethey dance with bamboo sticks,
and then our Tootsweets factorythey're going to be dancing with
.
They have like little cutematching chef costumes.
So it's really fun and I feellike the costumes really help
(08:40):
bring the story to life.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
As with any show, you know, yeah, yeah, it sounds
like you have a wide variety ofcostumes.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, it's really fun .
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Who's the costume?
Director?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So our costume director is Amanda Myers.
Okay, I believe this is herfirst time costume designing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, I was like I don't think I've heard that name
before.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I do know she helped out with Shrek Jr, Okay, and I
heard that she was just reallyfantastic.
So I was like hey, Amanda, doyou want a costume?
Chitty chitty, bang, bang.
And thankfully she said yes andshe's been doing a fantastic
job Awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I love working with her.
Do you know who thechoreographer is?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yes, choreographer Maddie McGowan.
She also worked on Shrek Jr.
I adore her.
She's doing such a great job.
I already told you, I alreadytold her next, if and when I
direct a musical again, I amcalling you first.
What a compliment.
I know I didn't even give hermuch because I completely
(09:38):
trusted her and just watchingthe rehearsals I'm just like,
yes, I love it.
And like with Mule Bamboo,that's a specific scene.
For those who don't know, dickVan Dyke originated the role of
the lead character, caraticusPotts, and if you also don't
know, he has like these iconicDick Van Dyke kicks where it's a
(09:58):
very high kick and I wantedthat in the show and she put it
in, so it's very amazing.
So, yeah, it's been very fun towork with her.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Anything else about the choreo that you'd like to
mention or add?
Speaker 1 (10:12):
It's just it's just really fun.
It's fun choreo Even some ofthe slower songs that we have
choreo in.
They're beautiful, it'sbeautiful to watch.
So a lot of hard work andpassion went into the
choreography as well.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
That's so great to hear.
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Would you mind talking aboutthe music?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So, yeah, music Direction was by Kelsey Rebergen
.
Oh, okay, yep, I love Kelsey.
I've known her since like 2018,I think, so it's been really
fun.
I know she's been like studyingmusic.
I really wanted her herspecifically to help out and
she's just been doing such agreat job with the kids.
(11:08):
Um, they caught on with her soquickly.
It was crazy.
Like within the first musicrehearsal, I think, we learned
Mule Bamboo and it's a fast songlike, and it's almost like
there's a lot of wording andit's really fast and she was
just.
She was just able to get it outof them.
And with the harmonies becausesome of the harmonies can be
(11:32):
ridiculous for a junior showthere's one song where there's
just a harmony the entire timeand Kelsey was able to get it
out of them and just keepworking with them and she's just
done a fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, I mean I always love hearing about Kelsey's
work and what they're doingthese days, because he said they
are very, very talented.
Yeah, would you mind talking alittle bit more about being a
first time director again?
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yeah, so it's been a little not gonna lie stressful
because I I almost felt like Iwent into this kind of blindly,
like I would ask something.
So what do I do at this firstproduction meeting?
Share your vision?
Okay, how do I?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
do that?
Yeah, in what form?
How?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
like I remember at the production meeting, I looked
, I was looking to miss don.
I'm like how do I start?
Okay, what next?
Okay, and that's basically howit went.
But as the time went on, I justkind of started just being more
assertive with myself, becausethat was really hard, because
this is like the first time I'mtruly in charge of something and
(12:36):
I've I've never done thatbefore.
So it was like reallyuncomfortable.
Like everyone was just like youtell me what you want.
I'm like but are you okay withdoing it?
And I'm like they're like justtell me and I'm like okay.
But now, now that we're like amonth and a half in, like I said
, I have like I'm more confidentin being you know director
(13:04):
decisions.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So I have to say I'm proud of myself for that.
I'm proud of you, thank you.
Awesome, yeah, being the personin control and in charge has
got to be such a weird yeahfeeling.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It's like because cool, but like yeah, like I said
, I've never done it, so it'slike quite a switch yeah it's
like I've worked at.
You know, like I said, don lugo, I was in charge of the
choreography, but I always hadto make sure that the director
liked it.
You know, I had to tweak things, considering what the actor's
abilities were and things likethat, but now I have to, I'm
able to say I'm able to tweakthings.
Yes, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah, what has been the most rewarding thing about
this process and what has beenmore difficult for you?
Speaker 1 (13:38):
So rewarding has to be just seeing the kids working
together and starting to lovethe show like I love this show.
They're just getting such apassion for it and it just makes
my little like five-year-oldself so happy seeing that
because we have a young castit's eight to 16.
So it's just I love workingwith kids.
(13:59):
You know I aspire to be a highschool drama teacher, so getting
able to teach them certainthings about theater and acting
is very rewarding, because Ifound that I love to teach that
and I would say the mostdifficult thing is knowing how
to, to not be in my head so much.
(14:21):
I've looked, I'm constantlyoverthinking things and I know I
have people to go to help too,but unfortunately it's taken me
a little longer to go to themfor help.
Eventually I do, because thenthe overthinking is like okay, I
need to ask someone.
So thankfully I feel like more.
(14:41):
Now I'm a little morecomfortable with that, but I
would definitely say that wasprobably the hardest part.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You mentioned earlier that you're using projections
for your show.
Would you talk about sort ofyour tech booth that you have
for this production?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yes, so as of right now, we have Donya from Ayala
who's going to be lightdesigning the show.
I still have I've shared alittle bit about my vision with
her.
She has.
She's going to start coming inso we can start getting to talk
more about it.
But I really want it to be,like the way I can describe it
(15:16):
fun, very like use bright colorsand when we get to the more
grim parts of the show notreally grim, but grim really
show that.
Me personally, I don't know toomuch about lights, so that's
really all I can say is likejust trying to use bright colors
and trying to make sure that wecan convey the theme and the
(15:36):
moods of each scene with thelighting as well.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Okay, yeah yeah, with the lighting as well, okay yeah
.
So, going back to talking aboutsort of what you meant with
sort of what you learned andwhat you didn't learn, you
mentioned talking with Donna,who is a mentor of yours.
What was that like?
Working with someone who you'vesort of looked up to for so
long and taken such so, like Imentioned, I absolutely adore
(16:02):
Miss Donna.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
She's been a mentor for so long.
I started out here in 2016, andshe's been working here for
longer, so before she reachedout to me letting me know she
would be my mentor for thisproject, I wanted to ask her to
be sort of that position.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, because I knew I was going to need help as a
first-time director.
I'm like I need help and theonly person really I wanted to
go to was Miss Donna andthankfully she reached out to me
.
I'm like, oh, how funny I wasalready I was going to text you,
so it's been really fun.
She's been so helpful.
She's been so great.
Anytime I, anytime I had aquestion, she's just helped me
(16:41):
so much at helping putting mymind at ease.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.
Yeah, what else have youlearned from other mentors of
yours that have been helpful inthis journey?
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I've worked at Don Lugo, like I mentioned before,
my old high school drama teacher, miss Annette Deming.
I worked with her as achoreographer and an assistant
director and she, what I mainlylearned from her was don't be
afraid to explore an actor'schoices, because when I was in
(17:15):
high school she, when we weredoing a show we did mostly plays
.
Anytime she didn't really likethe intention behind a line.
She would say make anotherchoice, make another choice.
And we had to find differentways to say something.
She's like keep that.
And then you know we'd have tokeep going.
So it really showed theimportance of making choices and
(17:38):
how the littlest things canaffect the storytelling.
So yeah, and then there's theother one, who she wasn't my
high school teacher.
She's the current high schoolteacher at Donglu, miss Candida
Salaya.
(17:59):
I've really only worked with heras like a choreographer, not
like a student turned directortype, and she really showed me
how to have fun with the showBecause especially last year
during their fall production,they did Clue.
So if you know Clue, it's avery fun show, very silly.
It allows for a lot ofcharacter choices, it allows for
(18:20):
a lot of improv-ing, it allowsto just have let characters have
fun when they can, becausethere are times we know we have
to stick to the story.
You know things like that.
But allowing characters to havefun with their characters truly
brings the story to life.
And when you see the charactershaving fun, the audience has
fun, everyone in the process,people backstage have fun,
people up in the booth have fun.
(18:41):
So that's really what I'velearned from them and what I'll
cherish truly.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, yeah.
Making sure that your peoplehave fun is one of the most
important things.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Do you happen to know the show dates for Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Yes, so our show dates are August 2nd through the
17th, so the first threeweekends of first three weekends
of August.
We have two Sunday shows, onthe 4th and 11th at 2.30.
So those are our matinees.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
All right, Well again , thank you so much for joining
us here today.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Of course.
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
And be sure to check out Chitty, chitty Bang Bang.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
All right, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
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Thanks for listening to, stepsto the Stage and now it's time
for the curtain call.
(19:40):
And now it's time for theCurtain Call.
Starting to love this show like I love this show.
They're just getting such apassion for it and it just makes
my little five-year-old self sohappy seeing that.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
The lights are on the curtain's up.
This is Steps to the Stage.
Folks at home, do you have abusiness, small or otherwise,
that isn't pulling in trafficthe way you want it to?
Well, it might be because theydon't have something to remember
you by, and that's why today weare sponsored by Graphic
(00:29):
Details Inc.
Signs and displays.
They will print out yourbanners, they'll cut vinyl,
they'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
We're talking business cards,banner stands, LCD displays,
tabletop displays, logos, all infull living color.
Again, that is Graphic DetailsInc here in Chino, California.
Thank you so much.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the 7th Street
Theater podcast, where I talk tothe community theatre
professionals you know and love.
I am your host and today we aretalking with our friend Andrea
(00:53):
for Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hi, it's great to be back.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So why don't you start by telling us what Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang is for anyonewho isn't familiar?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So, to put it simply, chitty, chitty, bang Bang is
about this race car, who wasdriven in the Grand Prix and
unfortunately crashed Yearslater, was found at a junkyard
by these two siblings, jeremyand Jemima, and they try to save
it from being scrapped intometal.
So they asked their father tobuy it, and he does, and he
(01:23):
rebuilds it into this beautifulnew motor car.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So yeah, yeah, that sounds really fun.
Yeah, and it's a musical.
Yes, yes, yes, okay.
So what's that been like?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So it's been really fun.
We just finished teaching allthe music and the choreo, so
that's been really fun.
And then we're just goingthrough run-throughs till the
end of time until we open.
And then we're just goingthrough run-throughs till the
end of time until we open, andthen this is your first show
that you're directing here.
Yes, yes, first show everdirecting I do have some
experience assistant directingover at Don Lugo, but this is my
(01:54):
first time truly being thedirector.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And so what has that been like, tell?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
me please.
Oh, it's been a journey.
Tell me please.
Oh, it's been a journey fromsubmitting the show to building
the team meeting, just coming upwith ideas, things like that.
It's been such a crazy ride andI'm so happy to have
experienced this.
And, yeah, just ecstatic is theword to explain it.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's like a year-long process basically.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Just about yeah, especially considering our
timeline for when we opened towhen the submission forms came
out.
It's basically a year of mylife dedicated to this Insane.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, yeah.
So you came up with this in itsentirety, you submitted for the
show and you did the wholething, so you're doing this as
like a solo director, right.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yes, but I do have some help.
I do have an assistant director, my good friend, andrew
Landeros, and we do have astudent director, also a good
friend of mine, sarah Toison.
So, yes, I do have someassistance and, yes, my mentor,
miss Donna Rice, who I lovedearly.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So what gave you the idea for this show, to want to
do this show?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So funny story.
I didn't know this was a stageproduction.
When I got the submission formI had so many ideas.
I'm like, okay, first I need tomake sure that these are actual
stage productions.
So I went to MTI For those whodon't know, mti is a website
where you can go and look upproductions for theater and I
(03:24):
was like, okay, let's look atthe junior shows.
So I'm looking through, I'mlike, oh my God, these are so
cute.
Very last on the list wasChitty Chitty Bang Bang Junior.
And I was in the living roomwith my mom and I go, mom,
you're never going to guesswhat's a musical.
And she's like, oh, my goshwhat.
And I say Chitty Chitty BangBang.
And I go, there's no way, I'mnot going to submit this now.
(03:45):
So yeah, that's basically howit came up.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So do you have a love for Chitty, chitty Bang Bang?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I do so for those who don't know me, I'm a Disney
girl and Disney adult for life.
My love for Disney is infinite,but when I was younger it wasn't
that way, and my love forDisney was replaced by Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang when I was akid.
So I watched it on VHS at mygrandparents house, then got it
on DVD, watched it at home, andnow I'm watching it on streaming
(04:15):
and yeah, so I've just had alove for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
since the dawn of time reallythat's crazy, because I, like, I
was aware of the movie, but Ihad never seen it before.
Yeah, my mom, she, she wasintroduced to it as a kid.
It would just come up on likethe one channel where I show
movies and she's like I have toshow my, show my kids this.
So, yeah, she showed my brotherand then she showed me and here
(04:37):
I am.
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, that's so cool because I've never, yeah, really
had much of a passion eitherway.
For that it's so cool, becauseI've never really had much of a
passion either way.
For that it's so cool that youhave such a connection to it
yeah.
Would you mind talking aboutthe casting process for this
show?
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So, yes, the casting process, so at auditions I had
been in an audition room before,but being somewhat the sole
decider was kind of crazy.
I was like whoa, I have thispower.
So there were just some peoplethat when they came in I was
(05:14):
like okay, this is a good choice.
And then there were just otherpeople that I just knew and so
like we had the callbacks andthere were just some pairings
that came together.
It was literally like magic,yeah.
And it was so crazy how perfectit was, because literally after
it happened, the people behindthe table, like we all made our
(05:37):
notes and we looked at eachother and it was the exact same
thing.
We all had the exact same ideas.
So it really just fell intoplace.
Like it wasn't really a hardcasting process.
Literally everything was justso perfect.
So, yeah, that's, that's reallycool that it was so like
perfect.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
That's awesome, yeah, so how far along into
rehearsals are you?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So we're actually almost done with every.
I think I mentioned before.
We finished teaching all themusic, all the choreography.
We just have one scene left toblock and then we'll just be
doing run-throughs until techweek, Yep, and then we open.
How many songs are in the show?
Ooh, a lot.
I would think 14, 14, 15.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Wow, okay, and then how many of those are like big
ensemble-y?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Ensemble ones, I would want to say about four,
Okay.
So yeah, a lot of them are likethe solo pieces little smaller
pieces, but yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
That's great.
So yeah, so it's been yeahabout how long, would you say?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
As of right now, about a month and a half, a
month and a half Of rehearsalNice, that's nice.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So what do you want to talk about the set?
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, so the set is pretty.
It's nothing too crazy, it'spretty simple.
You know, we just have anupstage platform.
We're going to be usingprojections a lot, so, yeah,
upstage platform with stairsleading down it.
We have a flat stage right thatwe're using another platform to
help build levels.
So, yeah, pretty basic.
We're pretty I don't want tosay reliant, but pretty reliant
(07:11):
on those projections because Idon't want to give too much away
from the story, but they reallyhelp with this story and
specificity.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh, how exciting We'll just have to see the show.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You'll have to see it to see what I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And who is the set designer?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Our set designer is Mr Bill Rice.
Hey, what's it like workingwith him.
Awesome, I love the Rices, so Iwanted to get their help as
much as possible.
So when thinking about the team, I immediately wanted Miss
Donna's help because, you know,as a first time director, I was
like Miss Donna, I need help.
And then set design I was like,ok, well, I know Mr Rice does
(07:48):
it, so immediately went to him.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, so I imagine the costumes for this show have
got to be pretty incredible,right.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, they're pretty awesome because it's two place
settings during the show, so onein Act 1 and we go somewhere
else in Act 2.
So it's really fun getting towork with the costumers, seeing
what we can do to reallydifferentiate the places.
So that's been fun.
And then just like other pieceslike we go to a fair where
(08:19):
there are Morris dancers, so wetook inspiration from
traditional Morris dancers, likewith the flaps on fair where
there are Morris dancers.
So we have like we tookinspiration from like
traditional Morris dancers, likewith the flaps on the vest and
things like that.
We have bamboo sticks becausethey dance with bamboo sticks,
and then our Tootsweets factorythey're going to be dancing with
.
They have like little cutematching chef costumes.
So it's really fun and I feellike the costumes really help
(08:40):
bring the story to life.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
As with any show, you know, yeah, yeah, it sounds
like you have a wide variety ofcostumes.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, it's really fun .
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Who's the costume?
Director?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So our costume director is Amanda Myers.
Okay, I believe this is herfirst time costume designing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, I was like I don't think I've heard that name
before.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I do know she helped out with Shrek Jr, Okay, and I
heard that she was just reallyfantastic.
So I was like hey, Amanda, doyou want a costume?
Chitty chitty, bang, bang.
And thankfully she said yes andshe's been doing a fantastic
job Awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I love working with her.
Do you know who thechoreographer is?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yes, choreographer Maddie McGowan.
She also worked on Shrek Jr.
I adore her.
She's doing such a great job.
I already told you, I alreadytold her next, if and when I
direct a musical again, I amcalling you first.
What a compliment.
I know I didn't even give hermuch because I completely
(09:38):
trusted her and just watchingthe rehearsals I'm just like,
yes, I love it.
And like with Mule Bamboo,that's a specific scene.
For those who don't know, dickVan Dyke originated the role of
the lead character, caraticusPotts, and if you also don't
know, he has like these iconicDick Van Dyke kicks where it's a
(09:58):
very high kick and I wantedthat in the show and she put it
in, so it's very amazing.
So, yeah, it's been very fun towork with her.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Anything else about the choreo that you'd like to
mention or add?
Speaker 1 (10:12):
It's just it's just really fun.
It's fun choreo Even some ofthe slower songs that we have
choreo in.
They're beautiful, it'sbeautiful to watch.
So a lot of hard work andpassion went into the
choreography as well.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
That's so great to hear.
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Would you mind talking aboutthe music?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So, yeah, music Direction was by Kelsey Rebergen
.
Oh, okay, yep, I love Kelsey.
I've known her since like 2018,I think, so it's been really
fun.
I know she's been like studyingmusic.
I really wanted her herspecifically to help out and
she's just been doing such agreat job with the kids.
(11:08):
Um, they caught on with her soquickly.
It was crazy.
Like within the first musicrehearsal, I think, we learned
Mule Bamboo and it's a fast songlike, and it's almost like
there's a lot of wording andit's really fast and she was
just.
She was just able to get it outof them.
And with the harmonies becausesome of the harmonies can be
(11:32):
ridiculous for a junior showthere's one song where there's
just a harmony the entire timeand Kelsey was able to get it
out of them and just keepworking with them and she's just
done a fantastic job.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yeah, I mean I always love hearing about Kelsey's
work and what they're doingthese days, because he said they
are very, very talented.
Yeah, would you mind talking alittle bit more about being a
first time director again?
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Yeah, so it's been a little not gonna lie stressful
because I I almost felt like Iwent into this kind of blindly,
like I would ask something.
So what do I do at this firstproduction meeting?
Share your vision?
Okay, how do I?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
do that?
Yeah, in what form?
How?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
like I remember at the production meeting, I looked
, I was looking to miss don.
I'm like how do I start?
Okay, what next?
Okay, and that's basically howit went.
But as the time went on, I justkind of started just being more
assertive with myself, becausethat was really hard, because
this is like the first time I'mtruly in charge of something and
(12:36):
I've I've never done thatbefore.
So it was like reallyuncomfortable.
Like everyone was just like youtell me what you want.
I'm like but are you okay withdoing it?
And I'm like they're like justtell me and I'm like okay.
But now, now that we're like amonth and a half in, like I said
, I have like I'm more confidentin being you know director
(13:04):
decisions.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So I have to say I'm proud of myself for that.
I'm proud of you, thank you.
Awesome, yeah, being the personin control and in charge has
got to be such a weird yeahfeeling.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It's like because cool, but like yeah, like I said
, I've never done it, so it'slike quite a switch yeah it's
like I've worked at.
You know, like I said, don lugo, I was in charge of the
choreography, but I always hadto make sure that the director
liked it.
You know, I had to tweak things, considering what the actor's
abilities were and things likethat, but now I have to, I'm
able to say I'm able to tweakthings.
Yes, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah, what has been the most rewarding thing about
this process and what has beenmore difficult for you?
Speaker 1 (13:38):
So rewarding has to be just seeing the kids working
together and starting to lovethe show like I love this show.
They're just getting such apassion for it and it just makes
my little like five-year-oldself so happy seeing that
because we have a young castit's eight to 16.
So it's just I love workingwith kids.
(13:59):
You know I aspire to be a highschool drama teacher, so getting
able to teach them certainthings about theater and acting
is very rewarding, because Ifound that I love to teach that
and I would say the mostdifficult thing is knowing how
to, to not be in my head so much.
(14:21):
I've looked, I'm constantlyoverthinking things and I know I
have people to go to help too,but unfortunately it's taken me
a little longer to go to themfor help.
Eventually I do, because thenthe overthinking is like okay, I
need to ask someone.
So thankfully I feel like more.
(14:41):
Now I'm a little morecomfortable with that, but I
would definitely say that wasprobably the hardest part.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You mentioned earlier that you're using projections
for your show.
Would you talk about sort ofyour tech booth that you have
for this production?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yes, so as of right now, we have Donya from Ayala
who's going to be lightdesigning the show.
I still have I've shared alittle bit about my vision with
her.
She has.
She's going to start coming inso we can start getting to talk
more about it.
But I really want it to be,like the way I can describe it
(15:16):
fun, very like use bright colorsand when we get to the more
grim parts of the show notreally grim, but grim really
show that.
Me personally, I don't know toomuch about lights, so that's
really all I can say is likejust trying to use bright colors
and trying to make sure that wecan convey the theme and the
(15:36):
moods of each scene with thelighting as well.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Okay, yeah yeah, with the lighting as well, okay yeah
.
So, going back to talking aboutsort of what you meant with
sort of what you learned andwhat you didn't learn, you
mentioned talking with Donna,who is a mentor of yours.
What was that like?
Working with someone who you'vesort of looked up to for so
long and taken such so, like Imentioned, I absolutely adore
(16:02):
Miss Donna.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
She's been a mentor for so long.
I started out here in 2016, andshe's been working here for
longer, so before she reachedout to me letting me know she
would be my mentor for thisproject, I wanted to ask her to
be sort of that position.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, because I knew I was going to need help as a
first-time director.
I'm like I need help and theonly person really I wanted to
go to was Miss Donna andthankfully she reached out to me
.
I'm like, oh, how funny I wasalready I was going to text you,
so it's been really fun.
She's been so helpful.
She's been so great.
Anytime I, anytime I had aquestion, she's just helped me
(16:41):
so much at helping putting mymind at ease.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.
Yeah, what else have youlearned from other mentors of
yours that have been helpful inthis journey?
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I've worked at Don Lugo, like I mentioned before,
my old high school drama teacher, miss Annette Deming.
I worked with her as achoreographer and an assistant
director and she, what I mainlylearned from her was don't be
afraid to explore an actor'schoices, because when I was in
(17:15):
high school she, when we weredoing a show we did mostly plays
.
Anytime she didn't really likethe intention behind a line.
She would say make anotherchoice, make another choice.
And we had to find differentways to say something.
She's like keep that.
And then you know we'd have tokeep going.
So it really showed theimportance of making choices and
(17:38):
how the littlest things canaffect the storytelling.
So yeah, and then there's theother one, who she wasn't my
high school teacher.
She's the current high schoolteacher at Donglu, miss Candida
Salaya.
(17:59):
I've really only worked with heras like a choreographer, not
like a student turned directortype, and she really showed me
how to have fun with the showBecause especially last year
during their fall production,they did Clue.
So if you know Clue, it's avery fun show, very silly.
It allows for a lot ofcharacter choices, it allows for
(18:20):
a lot of improv-ing, it allowsto just have let characters have
fun when they can, becausethere are times we know we have
to stick to the story.
You know things like that.
But allowing characters to havefun with their characters truly
brings the story to life.
And when you see the charactershaving fun, the audience has
fun, everyone in the process,people backstage have fun,
people up in the booth have fun.
(18:41):
So that's really what I'velearned from them and what I'll
cherish truly.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, yeah.
Making sure that your peoplehave fun is one of the most
important things.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Do you happen to know the show dates for Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Yes, so our show dates are August 2nd through the
17th, so the first threeweekends of first three weekends
of August.
We have two Sunday shows, onthe 4th and 11th at 2.30.
So those are our matinees.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
All right, Well again , thank you so much for joining
us here today.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Of course.
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
And be sure to check out Chitty, chitty Bang Bang.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
All right, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
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Thanks for listening to, stepsto the Stage and now it's time
for the curtain call.
(19:40):
And now it's time for theCurtain Call.
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