July 28, 2025 • 32 mins
Step into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as 7th Street Community Theatre presents "Seussical the Musical," a production where imagination takes center stage and the boundaries between reality and fantasy beautifully blur.
This episode of Steps to the Stage takes listeners behind the curtain with the creative team bringing this beloved show to life. At the heart of this production is Mickey Estrella, making her directorial debut with the very show that sparked her theatrical journey as a child performer in 2013. Now studying directing at Hofstra University, Mickey returns to her theatrical home to guide a new generation of performers through the colorful worlds of Horton, JoJo, and the Cat in the Hat.
"This show is about having fun and creativity and where your imagination can take you," Mickey explains, highlighting the production's focus on childlike wonder and unbridled creativity. Working alongside co-director Xochitl Neri and musical director Juan Valazquez, the team has assembled a diverse cast of performers ranging from age 4 to 20, creating a vibrant ensemble that embodies the spirit of community theater.
The conversation explores fascinating technical elements, from the rotating set pieces that transform between Whoville and the Jungle of Nool to the deliberately stylized costumes that suggest character without overpowering the performers. Juan discusses the challenges and joys of working with varied musical styles, while the team celebrates the production's remarkable preparedness – having completed full run-throughs three weeks before opening night.
What emerges is a beautiful story of theatrical mentorship and growth, where performers become directors, students become teachers, and community theater fulfills its mission of nurturing talent that returns to enrich the very place where their artistic journey began. Don't miss "Seussical the Musical" running August 8-23 at the Chino Community Theatre – tickets are selling fast for this celebration of creativity, community, and the power of imagination!
Experience the magic for yourself! Grab tickets at ChinoChildrensTheater.org, follow @CCCTbuzz on social media, or support these emerging artists by calling the box office at 909-590-1149.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Steps to the Stage a 7th Street Community
Theatre podcast.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the podcast where we
talk to the community theatreprofessionals you know and love.
I'm Kirk Lane.
I'll be your host today, soexcited to talk to the creative
(00:23):
team from Suzical the Musical,which is our next performance on
the Chino Community Theaterstage.
This is a children's theaterproduction and today we are very
happy to be speaking withMickey and Sochi, who are our
directors, and Juan, who is themusical director.
(00:44):
Correct, yes, so welcome back.
It's great to be back, sochi,who are our directors, and Juan,
who is the musical director,correct?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yes, so welcome back, it's great to be back.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, we're so excited that you guys are here
today to talk to us and to talkto all of our listeners.
I'm very excited.
I think this might be yourfirst or have you been on?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
This is my first time on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
First time on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
First time on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Second time and Sochi was part of the Shrek podcast.
That is actually our number twopodcast, number two and we
still get downloads every singleday.
That's awesome From all acrossthe world, international as well
.
Hello to everyoneinternationally.
I don't think we've actuallyever said that Hola.
So we really appreciateeveryone that's listening in
(01:24):
Europe and South America andAsia.
So it's really been nice overthe last couple of years to
expand this podcast to wherewe're at.
Today's, a busy day oh, my gosh, you probably hear my breath.
Not only do we get set up forthis, but Juan just had a music
rehearsal in here before we setup.
We have got our whole creativeteam out on stage building your
(01:47):
set for the performances thatstart, I believe, a week from
today, or a week from two, week,week and a half, okay, well, I
can calm down a little bit.
Eight days so yesterday was nine.
So, yeah, and so obviously, welove our listeners to learn more
about these productions and wewant you to come and see it, of
(02:08):
course.
Well, if you're in Germany,book a ticket, come on out,
you're going to have a greattime.
But we really want our localpatrons to come by and get
tickets and come and see thesevery, very talented cast.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Mickey, why don't you start off, since you're our
first time, one of our firsttime guests and give us a little
bit about your vision, becauseI also think this might be your
first time directing aproduction.
This is my directorial debut at7th Street and I'm super
excited.
This was Seussical, was thefirst show that I ever did ever
(02:41):
and it holds a very specialplace in my heart because this
old it's Possible was my firstaudition song here for Beauty
and the Beast Jr, so it's a veryspecial song for me.
Yeah, the whole show is justabout having fun and creativity
and where your imagination cantake you and where your mind can
go, like where your anxietycomes from, is the same place
(03:03):
where all of your creative bitscome from.
So it's all just starts rightin your mind.
Um, and inner childlike wonderand not holding yourself back
and just really playing withyour imagination and having a
fun time.
So the whole cast has such afun time performing the entire
show.
I've made sure to ask every daylike are you guys having fun?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
they're like we have so much fun.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And the last two weeks we've just been blocking,
blocking, blocking, and they'veincorporated some of their ideas
, because, just as much as thisis our show, they're the ones
performing it and it is theirshow too.
So I've wanted to make surethat they get to do all of the
fun stuff that they've come upwith.
And so yesterday, or notyesterday, thursday I was like
you guys go watch a productionof Seussical, and if there's
(03:48):
anything that you guys like,please bring it back.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, Got to get them involved right.
Of course, and I got to pausefor a moment and let our
listeners know.
So Mickey has been a part ofthis theater since 2013.
Of this theater since 2013 andprobably has been in more
(04:12):
productions, either as an actoror part of the crew or helping
with the creative part of it andthen ended up, after being a
part of our superstars grouphere and being a part of many
productions, you're going touniversity in New York with a
focus on theater.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Am.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I correct in that.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, I attend Hofstra University right now and
I'm earning my Bachelor of FineArts in theater production with
a focus in directing.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
And you've had directing experience while going
to school and productions inNew York.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, I was able to direct one of our theater alumni
who was or like 7th Streetalumni, who was a superstar,
sarah Hugenrod.
I was able to direct her playthat she wrote fresh out of
COVID Celebrity Crush, a killercomedy at school in the student
rep festival, which was reallyawesome because we both went to
Hofstra too.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
So I know we're talking about Seussical, but I
think it's so important thatpeople are listening, especially
people that are part ofcommunity theater, to know that
you can start as a small child,like the cast that you have,
that end up becoming a part ofmaybe different troops or groups
, not only within our theaterbut their schools, and then the
possibility to go on and go onto university and college and to
(05:18):
get an education, and thatyou're bringing it back here on
your break is fantastic.
We love it and I just wanted toshare that with everyone.
So we're going to skip over toSochi, who has been a part of
our theater for many, many yearsas well, largely producing
right.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yes, producing raffles, makeup photography, all
of it.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And so now you're helping out on the directing
side as well.
So why don't you give us someinsight into the experience thus
far?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I want to say that you asked emotional questions
just now.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And that's good.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
So, I'm sitting and crying my eyes out inside.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
I'm like am I going to get it together?
Watching Mickey take ownershipof this has been amazing.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Isn't it great.
It's the coolest thing ever.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
I'm going to cry.
Sorry, you guys can't see mebut I'm sobbing like a baby over
here.
Just I've I agreed to directwith her.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
I've been more on the back side of the creative side,
so with the costuming and kindof just managing all of that
she's just owned the heck out ofthis and as her mother, I am so
proud Like so proud and as afriend and as the host for today
and as someone that's beeninvolved and my kids have taken
the same path in that they'regetting their education in
theater and you know we have awonderful individual in Mr Paul
(06:37):
Larson.
Paul and Karen that startedthis and they've been on several
times and we've had some greatepisodes with them.
But it's just so fantastic tosee the pay it forward.
We see it every single day andyou walk in.
In a day like today, I came, wedo a Saturday morning breakfast,
(06:59):
shout out to the breakfastbunch, and we meet on Saturdays
and we solve the world'sproblems or maybe create more,
but largely it's a discussionaround the theater and the
things that we do and the group.
You know most of the guys areout there helping with the set.
So you know it really puts thecommunity in community theater.
Yes, definitely.
Then, when we have a productionlike this where we have what is
our age range, by the way, wehave well.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Our original age range was 8 to 22.
Yes, and we've ended up with 4to 20, with little Jasper Pyle.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Jasper, and he was just a part of the Mole Hill
Stories, which was brilliant.
So it's so fantastic andthere's someone part of the
Larson legacy as well down theway.
So before we came in here, youwere running a rehearsal one and
you've been a part of ourtheater for.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I first started here in two.
I think it was 2017 when JesseLarson, jesse Pyle, took a
chance on me and asked me tocome and be a part of In the
Heights, and it was very scarybecause I actually did not come
from this world.
I came from a band world.
I played trumpet and I was aband teacher.
That's what I went to schoolfor and I ended up long-term
(08:10):
subbing for the band teacher atOntario High School when Jesse
first started there and justrandomly one day at lunch, she
turned to me and says hey, I'mlooking for someone to be a part
of a show and she's like we'redoing In the Heights.
Again, I'm not part of thisworld.
I didn't know what that wasRight and I was like sure, I
love to learn, I love to trythings out, and so I came and I
(08:34):
told the story at the end of therun that after the first couple
of rehearsals, I was ready toquit.
I was like this is a lot.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
It is a lot.
I've never done this before.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I was like I understand what's going on.
I was like, but I've never donethis before and I was really
glad that I pushed throughbecause since then I've done.
This is, I think, my sixth showhere.
Wow, right, so I've done.
This is my sixth show that I'vedone here at Ontario I'm sorry
at Chino, and then I work atOntario High School now yes.
And so I've done four shows.
I've seen several productionsthere that you've been a
(09:02):
wonderful experience and thekids have inspired me to start
to dive more into the world.
I started doing auditions hereand there.
I'm busy all the time, but it'sbeen fun to get that experience
so that I can bring thatexperience to them Like, hey,
this is what I learned.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
And are you part of an upcoming production as well?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
As far as with Ontario.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, but outside of here.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
no, I work with the Ontario High School band as well
.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Oh, okay, so.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I do all the music there working with those groups.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
And I think I did a voiceover for you a while back.
Yeah, it was a lot of fun yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And it really helped tell the story of our show.
But yeah, so this is my sixthshow here.
I regularly get asked to comeback, which is a lot of fun, but
it's always hard because, beinga high school teacher, it's a
lot of time commitment there, sowhen I have time, I try to do
my best to be a part.
So when they reached out to me,I was like let me double check
my schedule before I say yes andI was like 100%, I'll come back
(09:55):
.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And so working with four-year-olds to what was our
20 for this one, 20.
That's got to be exciting.
Exciting not only as a director, but as a musical director and
understanding someone who's justjust getting their voice, let
alone someone that might betrained.
So talk a little bit about thatin the rehearsal.
So it's really fun.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So I really one of my favorite things here about the
community theater is that wehave a wide range of talent and
experience that come in.
Agree, we get.
We get kids that come in whothis is their first show,
they've never done anythingbefore in their life.
Uh, and that's true for everysingle show.
I remember when we did In theHeights, our T, who played
Usnavi, came in and he was adrummer, never sang before, and
(10:33):
all of a sudden he got cast asUsnavi, and so it's wonderful
seeing that, because sometimesit just gives them something
that they didn't realize theyhad in them, right, and so it is
my favorite thing to see thesekids grow from I don't want to
do this, I don't want to, I'mscared, I'm scared To now being
like I want the lead, I want tobe in the solo, and so it's
wonderful seeing that age rangeand all the growth that they do,
(10:55):
not only in the time during theshow, but seeing them in shows
afterwards, like Mickey, I thinkwe did.
We did Mary Poppins was ourfirst show and that's when I got
to meet this team, and soseeing them grow and seeing
Addie grow and seeing the otherpeople who were tiny little kids
in that show and now seeingthem go off and do wonderful
things.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's a wonderful experience, like directing.
Yeah, seussical, the musicalright, yes, oh yeah, it is just,
I have to say, as not only youknow a father of people that are
involved as well, but you know,you feel like a father to all
these kids because we do notonly the superstars, but then
we're involved in our local highschools and the things that we
do there and we, you know,travel to a couple of places
(11:34):
together.
So it's been, it's been greatto see that again, as we
mentioned, the kind of pay itforward, so let's kind of go
back and go.
You want to direct, so whySeussical?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, so this was the first show I ever did.
I did it at uh OxfordPreparatory Academy in 2013.
And a lot of our set piecesthat we used were from this
theater, because a couple of ourkids in the show at my school-
were involved here, and so mrlarson was like hey, do you want
to use some of our set pieces?
(12:12):
we heard you're doing the show.
We're like great.
And I was bird girl, I thinknumber five, and there's the
sweetest picture of me and addieand I'm like hugging her as a
bird girl.
And now she's a bird girl onthe show, which is very special.
But yeah, this show is justreally holds a very special
place in my heart because thisis what drew me into theater
(12:33):
initially and what got mestarted here was a bunch of my
friends who were in thatproduction were like you would
love our theater over here ifyou like it so much over here.
I was like, okay, cool.
Then the next winter I did theBeauty and the Beast workshop
and then I was cast as a littlebaby fork in the next production
of it and so it was veryspecial.
(12:54):
But I have always loved just thestory of the imagination and
you know everybody kind oftelling JoJo like you're taking
your brain too far, Like, don'tbe too imaginative, Like, just
be normal.
He like you're taking yourbrain too far, Like, don't be
too imaginative, Like, just benormal.
He's like, but I don't want tobe normal, I don't really like
being normal, and just therelationship between the cat and
(13:14):
the hat and JoJo is just sospecial and I just love, love,
love the show and so I've alwayswanted to direct it.
So for it to be my directorialdebut here is very scary and
also really exciting at the sametime Of course.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Well, and you know it's good that you have that
fear I always say I'm I'm aperformer and I've done
thousands of shows and there'snot a time that I'm not nervous
before I start on stage, there'snot a time, and I think that
keeps you alive and keeps youfocused.
I think that's good as well foryou, well for your cast and the
rest of your team to know thatyou're human, because I think
(13:48):
that's important when we'retrying to bring that story out
and, as you mentioned thatinspiration, I'm excited to see
it come out on stage.
Let's talk a little bit aboutcasting and that process and
thinking about your cast, sochi,and working with the creative
team.
Give us a little bit of insightinto that.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Sure.
So we kind of had an idea thata lot of the kids were going to
be interested, because of ourbig age range, to come and
participate and we mainly wantedwe originally said 18, but then
Mickey brought up a good pointthat a lot of our college
students were still in town andwe wanted to give them an
opportunity to perform, so wewent to 22.
(14:30):
But we had 75 kiddos come andaudition and ended up with a
cast of 34.
Yeah, we ended up with a cast of34.
And it was so, so difficult.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So is it a dual cast situation?
No, so everyone is part ofevery production.
Yes, everybody I know we dothat sometimes importantly, so
that we can bring in more peopleand expose them to it.
So we've got everyone we had to.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
You know, there were a lot of factors.
Obviously, talent was notlacking at all.
That was the hardest part.
Obviously not, talent was notlacking at all.
That was the hardest part.
But we just had to narrow itdown to make it fun for
everybody and to get their timeand moment to shine.
So, we have our who's and wehave our jungle and they have
their moment.
There's a couple that are both,but not really Um um, but we
(15:22):
really paid attention to thechemistry from the very
beginning, like how they wouldsit together in the rooms and
they chatted or just werekeeping to themselves, and we
knew this cast needed to beoutgoing and fun and would go
with the flow.
And we've not been disappointed.
Everybody.
What we need you to do thisAbsolutely Well, let's turn it
(15:43):
to this.
They were very coachable fromthe very beginning and that is
obviously super important as adirector to be able to give
somebody notes and not none ofthem take anything personal.
They know that it's for thebenefit, but they're.
Mickey has given them thatopportunity to share their
feedback and what they wouldwant to do, and she's been very
open, so I'm thankful for that.
(16:05):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Everybody has been getting open, so I'm I'm
thankful for that that that'sfantastic.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Everybody has been getting along.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I'm sad you missed two weeks.
Like I know, they grew.
They grew in those two weeks.
I got to see the growth today,so it's been great.
And last wednesday, yeah,tuesday tuesday we had a, an
unofficial wednesday run runthrough wednesday wednesday, and
a comment that was made by a um, not really a veteran, but of
different theaters as well ashere said to her and I was there
when it happened I have neverbeen in a production where,
(16:35):
after when we still have threeweeks left that we've done a
full run through, he goes whatdo we do now?
We're like we perfect it.
That's what we do.
But it was cool hearing it froma young kid, a young actor,
that I've never had this happenbefore.
But it's really.
I'm here, but it's her.
She's Juan and Maddie arechoreographing.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Really.
Let's just speak to theimportance of.
Not only did you get aneducation here at this theater,
but you went and got a realeducation in the sense that you
went to university.
And there's things that can,because when you're in a certain
environment, there's a culturearound it sometimes, and
sometimes it's good andsometimes it's bad, and
sometimes it's in between, butit's great that you can go away
(17:19):
learn some from realprofessional not that we're not
professionals people, but we arecommunity theater and it's all
volunteer and and not everyonehas the opportunity to go.
But it's so fantastic to hearsomeone that goes and gets that
education and brings that back.
But then to get that feedback aswell, you know you guys have to
go through some hard decisions.
(17:39):
You said you had 70 plus peopleauditioning and hey, listeners,
you're not going to get cast ineverything audition for retweet
.
It's hard, it's really reallyhard.
But don't give up.
Use it as a learning experience, use it as inspiration.
As they've described, sometimesthere's a certain feel or a
certain dynamic they're lookingfor, so you got to keep at it.
(18:01):
You got to keep at it, Don't beafraid to come back.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
It does not mean that if you were not cast the first
time around, that you're notgoing to get cast the next or
you know it can continue.
Take that and take thatexperience and grow and perfect
your craft, whatever it may be,and really learn from it and get
advice from the directors orthe choreographer or our music,
(18:29):
and just grow from it, becauseyou cannot better yourself if
you're just going to sit anddwell and cry about it really
because, hello, I had to conquerCrying about it is good.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yes, become the emotions and that's good, but
yes, it's something you have tolet it inspire you Take that and
go with it and make yourself abetter person, absolutely.
So we've talked about thecasting, We've talked a little
bit about the music.
Let's now talk a little bitabout our costuming and our set
(19:01):
and how that's going to be apart, Because we always like to
talk here and me being a techguy how important it is that as
you walk in our theater you needto put the world behind you,
and then you're now entering theworld of Seussical the Musical.
So why don't we touch a littlebit on that and kind of the
process and thought process andwhat's actually happening
(19:23):
outside this door as we speak?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Yeah, so I'm also the scenic designer of the whole
production, which is really fun,which is a skill I got at
school.
Something I decided I was Ilearned that I was really
interested in was scenic design,and so our whole world starts
as soon as you step into thelobby and it's.
Everything is super black andwhite and polka dots.
Polka dots are like a bigpattern.
(19:46):
Polka dots and stripes are hugein this whole show, but
everything is black and whiteand polka dots.
Polka dots are like a bigpattern.
Polka dots and stripes are hugein this whole show, but
everything is black and whitewith little touches of red, just
like very Cat in the Hat.
And then, as soon as you stepinto the aisles, boom color.
There's a pink floor and a pinkproscenium and everything is
just.
The show goes.
So many different places.
(20:07):
Oh the places you'll goliterally.
So like go to Salasalu, you goto the Jungle of Nul Planet of
who.
There's just so many differentplaces.
It's really hard to design forso many places.
So what we've got is we've gottwo flats on stage right and
stage left that turn, andthey're going to have Nul on one
side and Hu on the other.
(20:27):
So anytime we're in both places, one flat will be turned and
the other one won't, and it'lljust revolve around.
And there's Brian Goad hascoined funky set piece as the
name of like our back flat.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Funky set piece.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, I like that, it's like a Seussian building
structure and it's just like aweird.
It's a funky set piece.
So that's what we've got goingon in the back and Doug Rumbaugh
, who's our lighting designer isgoing to be shooting up some
nice lights in the back with anice cyclorama psych in the back
, to change it's my favoritename, my favorite word is psych,
(21:02):
psych lights.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I'm like, what are those called again?
Psychs, yes, psych, and we havean amazing sound director.
Yeah, kirk Lane, kirk Lane, hey, let me tell you the man on the
other side of the mic.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
What I've done is supervised the new sound system
coming in, so we've made our jobvery easy in the sense that we
haven't had an upgrade in oursound system in quite a while,
and I've actually been workingclosely with Brian because we've
never really had a structurebuilt up there before.
Yeah, I've actually been workingclosely with Brian because of
we've never really had astructure built up there before,
and so that was we were makingsure it didn't interfere with
(21:36):
the new speakers and the newcabling, and so I appreciated
that Obviously that was even aquestion, but we just got the
new system in.
We got some tweaking to do, butwe're pretty excited because we
have a little bit more rangethan we've had before.
And that seems to be an issue,not just at our theater but in
many theaters, where you spendall this time teaching them how
(21:58):
to sing these beautiful songsand all you hear is the track
right, we don't have a way topick up the voices.
So we're helping to improvethat and we've got some wireless
elements and we've, you know,got our overhead mics in again,
but we want to hear both right.
We want to hear all thiswonderful work that you guys
have done to get them ready.
But, yes, thank you.
And to me as a tech guy andwe've talked about at the
(22:21):
beginning of this podcast, youknow we did episodes directly
for lighting and sounds and andset and costumes because they're
they're a character.
They are a character right.
When you walk in, if you canshut the outside out, then
you're just going to enjoy themessage and the performance so
much more Right and um, and thatcomes by being able to hear it
(22:43):
and being enticed by thelighting that's happening, to
see a realistic um, a realisticcostume or a realistic set, and
I think we do a great job here.
I'm a little biased but yeah, itis fantastic that we have some
pretty good resources all around.
So, costuming let's talk alittle bit about costuming.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Sure, so we wanted to keep it simple.
Usually, big shows like thisare quick change, quick change,
quick change.
But with our cast we're kind ofjust a handful of quick change
but it might just be a quickovercoat kind of thing.
Obviously, our Gertrude isamazing, Our Maisie is super
fabulous and amazing and ourthree bird girls think of Sophia
(23:26):
from the Golden Girls birdgirls.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Think of Sophia from the Golden Girls.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
They're just magical, with a little bit of touch of
feathers and our jungle ensembleand our who's.
Like Mickey mentioned a lot ofyellows, blacks, polka dot
stripes, Very simple.
We're not turning them intoactual animals or anything like
that.
It is our actor standing outshowing their talents with the
touches of the character thatthey're playing.
(23:53):
So we're not going crazy.
Our makeup team is going tostart Monday with practicing
what we're looking for, butagain, nothing crazy.
Nothing like full face, Maybeour cat, but we haven't decided,
finalized that detail yet.
But yeah, we're just taking thekid and adding them into the
(24:14):
costume.
We're building them into theyeah, wonderful, wonderful, it's
the kid, that makes thecharacter.
Yes, that's what we're doing.
We're giving them thatopportunity to shine and display
who they are portraying.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah, costuming to me .
I mean growing up and loving tothrow on.
You know whether it was thepolice outfit or the fireman's
outfit or the army outfit.
You just you're making pretend,as it were, but you get that
and you feel like you're a partof it and you become the
character.
So when you're one, when you'reyou're instructing the music,
talk to me a little bit about.
(24:44):
I'm assuming there's gotta be achoreographer.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yes, madeline McGowan .
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Okay, and so I'm assuming you're working with her
, because there's a lot of musicin this.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Yeah.
So we talk, especially when weget to the moments where there's
just instrumental Okay, what'shappening here?
And so we kind of work through.
So there is a circus scene.
So we really talk about themusic and we talk about what's
changing in the music, becausethe style changes every phrase.
And so, for example, like bowsare a great way to demonstrate
(25:15):
that, because it brings a littlebit of everything in the show.
So all of a sudden you're like,oh cool, I remember this song,
it's very Broadway, it's very,very pop.
And then all of a sudden it'slike now it's Latin.
And so now the style changes,not only in the music, but it
changes in the way that theysing it and it changes in the
choreo that Maddie works on,because you're not going to go
out there and do very classicalstyle dancing when you have
Latin music happening in thebackground.
(25:36):
And so the music really is goingto control what's happening,
not only in the style and theblocking and the choreography,
but also how they're going topresent that.
And so our lovely Maisie andour bird girls they sing a lot
of Latin in the show the styleof the music drastically changes
.
But then when you get to Hortonit's much more.
You know, trying to find theright word.
(25:59):
It's a more Broadway and tendermoments when you get JoJo, and
so the music drastically changes, and so we do try to work with
that in understanding how thatworks.
So yeah, especially with theinstrumental part, it's like all
right, what's the style righthere?
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Oh, it's this kind of music I've got to imagine
because I'm excited that we'reexcited to get out on the stage
right After the set is built andto start doing that final week
of prep.
But I'm sure as a musicaldirector you've heard them in
here for the last you knowseveral weeks or several months.
But now you go out on stage andyou have a completely different
(26:34):
environment.
Now there's a lot more movementinvolved.
You've got set pieces, you'vegot everything else.
Then you got to kind of tweakyour blocking and tweak the
choreo and everything else.
I'm pretty excited to see thathappen.
Yeah, is there the prep aheadof time?
Do you feel like it's helpingout?
(26:54):
It seems like it is from yourresponse, sochi, about someone
saying are you feeling it?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I felt after Thursday .
On Thursday I felt like thiswave of relief, because usually
every rehearsal I'm like wedon't have enough time, we
haven't finished this song.
We haven't finished this song,we haven't finished this song 10
o'clock.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
before opening 10 pm.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
And Thursday I was looking for things to do and our
cat in the hat, joshua Liguori,he was like I feel so ahead of
the game.
He was like what are we goingto do the next two weeks?
And I was like, just runthrough the show every single
day.
He's like, oh, that's a lot,yes, but I'm glad that we're
done.
Three weeks ahead of time,versus he said that most shows
(27:35):
he's done, like they first runthrough, is opening night.
And so I was like, well, I'mglad that's not the case for us,
cause that would be a trainwreck.
Um so yeah, um, um, I feel fine,I feel great.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
You feel you're in a good spot.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
And it looks like you have a pretty good team around
you to support with everything.
Is there anyone else that's apart of the team, or part of the
cast, or part of the theaterthat you'd like to talk about,
or any other experiences you'dlike to share with our audience?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Yeah, brian Goat is our master carpenter.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
And he's part of the breakfast group.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yes, he's out there building with everybody right
now and he's got like a hugeteam.
There's so many amazing dadsout there.
Yes, I don't think.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I've.
I think of the time that I'vebeen here.
I've never seen as many dadsyeah and brothers.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
And my nephew is out there, you're listening.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
we miss you.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Yes we miss you and love you and so glad because
he's part of that breakfastgroup as well, and a lot of
those gentlemen are out there,and so it's nice that we do have
that support group and I doappreciate you bringing that up.
But that is Brian, brian theelectrician, as we like to call
him.
He is now doing the set buildand when we were having our
discussion and solving some ofthe world's problems this
(28:51):
morning, you could see Brian waslike okay, it's almost go time.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
He was very much in the zone and ready to go, he was
here yesterday we were drawingout the funky set piece in the
back and he was looking at theproscenium and pulling out all
the pieces because he's beencutting in his house.
He's been cutting in his garagebefore like to prep for this
week, which is really exciting.
And then maya tambokin, who'sour scenic painter, is stopping
(29:16):
by later today to start painting, to start getting stuff.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
She's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Yes, she is amazing, we're also going to uh
university of southerncalifornia for um a theater.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Wow, degree design, theater design, I believe yeah,
and we touched on Maddie McGowanwho I think dreams in in dance
she was part of Urinetown, ourlast production, as well we used
her, so she was the first timeshe was a part of our theater.
Was for Shrek right and she'sbeen non-stop, non-stop and
(29:46):
everybody has stolen her.
But it's fine.
We love sharing her amazingtalent and I think she dreams
and dance.
We were discussing like, howdoes she come up with this stuff
?
And none of it like.
There's a couple of thingswhere you're like, oh, I think I
remember, but it's all new.
And it's so magical to see that.
I love it, it's truly, she's anamazing talent and Juan's
(30:09):
number one, juan's number one,juan's number one.
Juan is number one.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yes, we have a great team Open in eight days.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
Eight rehearsals.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Eight rehearsals.
We have eight rehearsals and 13days.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Okay, so August 8th.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
August 8th through the 23rd.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
So we've got 8th, 9th , 15th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd
are evening shows, and we have10th, 16th and 17th of August as
our matinee shows.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
And two shows on the 16th yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Okay, and they can buy tickets now.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Yes, hurry and hurry up, because it's selling out?
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Yes, well, of course it is yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It sounds amazing.
It's opening and closing.
They're already gone.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So you can go to the Chino Community Children's
Theater website or our socialmedia sites, you can call the
box office and you can gettickets.
So come on out, check thisproduction out.
We really appreciate you guysbeing with us.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Thank you for having us.
I have to say thank you to ourthree amazing producers.
I didn't yes, we would not behere without them, because they
literally keep us in check.
And the text messages are.
They're just amazing.
They're amazing Five stepsahead, yeah, All the time.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Well, and you know this is to our listeners that
are both domestic and abroad.
Community theater is communitytheater because we all work
together, so we would love tohear from you, especially if
you're in another country andyou're enjoying these podcasts.
Send us a message, send us anote, we really appreciate it.
Follow us on all our socials.
Go see Seussical the Musicaland thank you guys so much for
(31:38):
all that you do, but especiallyfor this particular production
and for taking some time out ofyour day to speak with us, of
course.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Thank you for having us have a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Thank you so much.
Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage, a 7th Street
Community Theatre podcast.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform and leave us a
review and a 5-star rating.
It really helps.
You can also find us onInstagram, facebook and YouTube.
Special thanks to ChinoCommunity Theatre and Chino
Community Children's Theatre fortheir generous support and very
special thank you to thelisteners.
Steps to the Stage was createdby Joey Rice and Kirk Lane.
(32:12):
Logo created by Marley Lane.
Original music by Joey Rice.
Your host, kirk Lane.
Engineer and producer Joey Rice.
Engineer and executive producer, kirk Lane.
Welcome to Steps to the Stage a 7th Street Community
Theatre podcast.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the podcast where we
talk to the community theatreprofessionals you know and love.
I'm Kirk Lane.
I'll be your host today, soexcited to talk to the creative
(00:23):
team from Suzical the Musical,which is our next performance on
the Chino Community Theaterstage.
This is a children's theaterproduction and today we are very
happy to be speaking withMickey and Sochi, who are our
directors, and Juan, who is themusical director.
(00:44):
Correct, yes, so welcome back.
It's great to be back, sochi,who are our directors, and Juan,
who is the musical director,correct?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yes, so welcome back, it's great to be back.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, we're so excited that you guys are here
today to talk to us and to talkto all of our listeners.
I'm very excited.
I think this might be yourfirst or have you been on?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
This is my first time on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
First time on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
First time on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Second time and Sochi was part of the Shrek podcast.
That is actually our number twopodcast, number two and we
still get downloads every singleday.
That's awesome From all acrossthe world, international as well
.
Hello to everyoneinternationally.
I don't think we've actuallyever said that Hola.
So we really appreciateeveryone that's listening in
(01:24):
Europe and South America andAsia.
So it's really been nice overthe last couple of years to
expand this podcast to wherewe're at.
Today's, a busy day oh, my gosh, you probably hear my breath.
Not only do we get set up forthis, but Juan just had a music
rehearsal in here before we setup.
We have got our whole creativeteam out on stage building your
(01:47):
set for the performances thatstart, I believe, a week from
today, or a week from two, week,week and a half, okay, well, I
can calm down a little bit.
Eight days so yesterday was nine.
So, yeah, and so obviously, welove our listeners to learn more
about these productions and wewant you to come and see it, of
(02:08):
course.
Well, if you're in Germany,book a ticket, come on out,
you're going to have a greattime.
But we really want our localpatrons to come by and get
tickets and come and see thesevery, very talented cast.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Mickey, why don't you start off, since you're our
first time, one of our firsttime guests and give us a little
bit about your vision, becauseI also think this might be your
first time directing aproduction.
This is my directorial debut at7th Street and I'm super
excited.
This was Seussical, was thefirst show that I ever did ever
(02:41):
and it holds a very specialplace in my heart because this
old it's Possible was my firstaudition song here for Beauty
and the Beast Jr, so it's a veryspecial song for me.
Yeah, the whole show is justabout having fun and creativity
and where your imagination cantake you and where your mind can
go, like where your anxietycomes from, is the same place
(03:03):
where all of your creative bitscome from.
So it's all just starts rightin your mind.
Um, and inner childlike wonderand not holding yourself back
and just really playing withyour imagination and having a
fun time.
So the whole cast has such afun time performing the entire
show.
I've made sure to ask every daylike are you guys having fun?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
they're like we have so much fun.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And the last two weeks we've just been blocking,
blocking, blocking, and they'veincorporated some of their ideas
, because, just as much as thisis our show, they're the ones
performing it and it is theirshow too.
So I've wanted to make surethat they get to do all of the
fun stuff that they've come upwith.
And so yesterday, or notyesterday, thursday I was like
you guys go watch a productionof Seussical, and if there's
(03:48):
anything that you guys like,please bring it back.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, Got to get them involved right.
Of course, and I got to pausefor a moment and let our
listeners know.
So Mickey has been a part ofthis theater since 2013.
Of this theater since 2013 andprobably has been in more
(04:12):
productions, either as an actoror part of the crew or helping
with the creative part of it andthen ended up, after being a
part of our superstars grouphere and being a part of many
productions, you're going touniversity in New York with a
focus on theater.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Am.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I correct in that.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, I attend Hofstra University right now and
I'm earning my Bachelor of FineArts in theater production with
a focus in directing.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
And you've had directing experience while going
to school and productions inNew York.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, I was able to direct one of our theater alumni
who was or like 7th Streetalumni, who was a superstar,
sarah Hugenrod.
I was able to direct her playthat she wrote fresh out of
COVID Celebrity Crush, a killercomedy at school in the student
rep festival, which was reallyawesome because we both went to
Hofstra too.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
So I know we're talking about Seussical, but I
think it's so important thatpeople are listening, especially
people that are part ofcommunity theater, to know that
you can start as a small child,like the cast that you have,
that end up becoming a part ofmaybe different troops or groups
, not only within our theaterbut their schools, and then the
possibility to go on and go onto university and college and to
(05:18):
get an education, and thatyou're bringing it back here on
your break is fantastic.
We love it and I just wanted toshare that with everyone.
So we're going to skip over toSochi, who has been a part of
our theater for many, many yearsas well, largely producing
right.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yes, producing raffles, makeup photography, all
of it.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And so now you're helping out on the directing
side as well.
So why don't you give us someinsight into the experience thus
far?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I want to say that you asked emotional questions
just now.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And that's good.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
So, I'm sitting and crying my eyes out inside.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
I'm like am I going to get it together?
Watching Mickey take ownershipof this has been amazing.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Isn't it great.
It's the coolest thing ever.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
I'm going to cry.
Sorry, you guys can't see mebut I'm sobbing like a baby over
here.
Just I've I agreed to directwith her.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
I've been more on the back side of the creative side,
so with the costuming and kindof just managing all of that
she's just owned the heck out ofthis and as her mother, I am so
proud Like so proud and as afriend and as the host for today
and as someone that's beeninvolved and my kids have taken
the same path in that they'regetting their education in
theater and you know we have awonderful individual in Mr Paul
(06:37):
Larson.
Paul and Karen that startedthis and they've been on several
times and we've had some greatepisodes with them.
But it's just so fantastic tosee the pay it forward.
We see it every single day andyou walk in.
In a day like today, I came, wedo a Saturday morning breakfast,
(06:59):
shout out to the breakfastbunch, and we meet on Saturdays
and we solve the world'sproblems or maybe create more,
but largely it's a discussionaround the theater and the
things that we do and the group.
You know most of the guys areout there helping with the set.
So you know it really puts thecommunity in community theater.
Yes, definitely.
Then, when we have a productionlike this where we have what is
our age range, by the way, wehave well.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Our original age range was 8 to 22.
Yes, and we've ended up with 4to 20, with little Jasper Pyle.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Jasper, and he was just a part of the Mole Hill
Stories, which was brilliant.
So it's so fantastic andthere's someone part of the
Larson legacy as well down theway.
So before we came in here, youwere running a rehearsal one and
you've been a part of ourtheater for.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I first started here in two.
I think it was 2017 when JesseLarson, jesse Pyle, took a
chance on me and asked me tocome and be a part of In the
Heights, and it was very scarybecause I actually did not come
from this world.
I came from a band world.
I played trumpet and I was aband teacher.
That's what I went to schoolfor and I ended up long-term
(08:10):
subbing for the band teacher atOntario High School when Jesse
first started there and justrandomly one day at lunch, she
turned to me and says hey, I'mlooking for someone to be a part
of a show and she's like we'redoing In the Heights.
Again, I'm not part of thisworld.
I didn't know what that wasRight and I was like sure, I
love to learn, I love to trythings out, and so I came and I
(08:34):
told the story at the end of therun that after the first couple
of rehearsals, I was ready toquit.
I was like this is a lot.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
It is a lot.
I've never done this before.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I was like I understand what's going on.
I was like, but I've never donethis before and I was really
glad that I pushed throughbecause since then I've done.
This is, I think, my sixth showhere.
Wow, right, so I've done.
This is my sixth show that I'vedone here at Ontario I'm sorry
at Chino, and then I work atOntario High School now yes.
And so I've done four shows.
I've seen several productionsthere that you've been a
(09:02):
wonderful experience and thekids have inspired me to start
to dive more into the world.
I started doing auditions hereand there.
I'm busy all the time, but it'sbeen fun to get that experience
so that I can bring thatexperience to them Like, hey,
this is what I learned.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
And are you part of an upcoming production as well?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
As far as with Ontario.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah, but outside of here.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
no, I work with the Ontario High School band as well
.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Oh, okay, so.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I do all the music there working with those groups.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
And I think I did a voiceover for you a while back.
Yeah, it was a lot of fun yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And it really helped tell the story of our show.
But yeah, so this is my sixthshow here.
I regularly get asked to comeback, which is a lot of fun, but
it's always hard because, beinga high school teacher, it's a
lot of time commitment there, sowhen I have time, I try to do
my best to be a part.
So when they reached out to me,I was like let me double check
my schedule before I say yes andI was like 100%, I'll come back
(09:55):
.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And so working with four-year-olds to what was our
20 for this one, 20.
That's got to be exciting.
Exciting not only as a director, but as a musical director and
understanding someone who's justjust getting their voice, let
alone someone that might betrained.
So talk a little bit about thatin the rehearsal.
So it's really fun.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So I really one of my favorite things here about the
community theater is that wehave a wide range of talent and
experience that come in.
Agree, we get.
We get kids that come in whothis is their first show,
they've never done anythingbefore in their life.
Uh, and that's true for everysingle show.
I remember when we did In theHeights, our T, who played
Usnavi, came in and he was adrummer, never sang before, and
(10:33):
all of a sudden he got cast asUsnavi, and so it's wonderful
seeing that, because sometimesit just gives them something
that they didn't realize theyhad in them, right, and so it is
my favorite thing to see thesekids grow from I don't want to
do this, I don't want to, I'mscared, I'm scared To now being
like I want the lead, I want tobe in the solo, and so it's
wonderful seeing that age rangeand all the growth that they do,
(10:55):
not only in the time during theshow, but seeing them in shows
afterwards, like Mickey, I thinkwe did.
We did Mary Poppins was ourfirst show and that's when I got
to meet this team, and soseeing them grow and seeing
Addie grow and seeing the otherpeople who were tiny little kids
in that show and now seeingthem go off and do wonderful
things.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's a wonderful experience, like directing.
Yeah, seussical, the musicalright, yes, oh yeah, it is just,
I have to say, as not only youknow a father of people that are
involved as well, but you know,you feel like a father to all
these kids because we do notonly the superstars, but then
we're involved in our local highschools and the things that we
do there and we, you know,travel to a couple of places
(11:34):
together.
So it's been, it's been greatto see that again, as we
mentioned, the kind of pay itforward, so let's kind of go
back and go.
You want to direct, so whySeussical?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, so this was the first show I ever did.
I did it at uh OxfordPreparatory Academy in 2013.
And a lot of our set piecesthat we used were from this
theater, because a couple of ourkids in the show at my school-
were involved here, and so mrlarson was like hey, do you want
to use some of our set pieces?
(12:12):
we heard you're doing the show.
We're like great.
And I was bird girl, I thinknumber five, and there's the
sweetest picture of me and addieand I'm like hugging her as a
bird girl.
And now she's a bird girl onthe show, which is very special.
But yeah, this show is justreally holds a very special
place in my heart because thisis what drew me into theater
(12:33):
initially and what got mestarted here was a bunch of my
friends who were in thatproduction were like you would
love our theater over here ifyou like it so much over here.
I was like, okay, cool.
Then the next winter I did theBeauty and the Beast workshop
and then I was cast as a littlebaby fork in the next production
of it and so it was veryspecial.
(12:54):
But I have always loved just thestory of the imagination and
you know everybody kind oftelling JoJo like you're taking
your brain too far, Like, don'tbe too imaginative, Like, just
be normal.
He like you're taking yourbrain too far, Like, don't be
too imaginative, Like, just benormal.
He's like, but I don't want tobe normal, I don't really like
being normal, and just therelationship between the cat and
(13:14):
the hat and JoJo is just sospecial and I just love, love,
love the show and so I've alwayswanted to direct it.
So for it to be my directorialdebut here is very scary and
also really exciting at the sametime Of course.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Well, and you know it's good that you have that
fear I always say I'm I'm aperformer and I've done
thousands of shows and there'snot a time that I'm not nervous
before I start on stage, there'snot a time, and I think that
keeps you alive and keeps youfocused.
I think that's good as well foryou, well for your cast and the
rest of your team to know thatyou're human, because I think
(13:48):
that's important when we'retrying to bring that story out
and, as you mentioned thatinspiration, I'm excited to see
it come out on stage.
Let's talk a little bit aboutcasting and that process and
thinking about your cast, sochi,and working with the creative
team.
Give us a little bit of insightinto that.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Sure.
So we kind of had an idea thata lot of the kids were going to
be interested, because of ourbig age range, to come and
participate and we mainly wantedwe originally said 18, but then
Mickey brought up a good pointthat a lot of our college
students were still in town andwe wanted to give them an
opportunity to perform, so wewent to 22.
(14:30):
But we had 75 kiddos come andaudition and ended up with a
cast of 34.
Yeah, we ended up with a cast of34.
And it was so, so difficult.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So is it a dual cast situation?
No, so everyone is part ofevery production.
Yes, everybody I know we dothat sometimes importantly, so
that we can bring in more peopleand expose them to it.
So we've got everyone we had to.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
You know, there were a lot of factors.
Obviously, talent was notlacking at all.
That was the hardest part.
Obviously not, talent was notlacking at all.
That was the hardest part.
But we just had to narrow itdown to make it fun for
everybody and to get their timeand moment to shine.
So, we have our who's and wehave our jungle and they have
their moment.
There's a couple that are both,but not really Um um, but we
(15:22):
really paid attention to thechemistry from the very
beginning, like how they wouldsit together in the rooms and
they chatted or just werekeeping to themselves, and we
knew this cast needed to beoutgoing and fun and would go
with the flow.
And we've not been disappointed.
Everybody.
What we need you to do thisAbsolutely Well, let's turn it
(15:43):
to this.
They were very coachable fromthe very beginning and that is
obviously super important as adirector to be able to give
somebody notes and not none ofthem take anything personal.
They know that it's for thebenefit, but they're.
Mickey has given them thatopportunity to share their
feedback and what they wouldwant to do, and she's been very
open, so I'm thankful for that.
(16:05):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Everybody has been getting open, so I'm I'm
thankful for that that that'sfantastic.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Everybody has been getting along.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I'm sad you missed two weeks.
Like I know, they grew.
They grew in those two weeks.
I got to see the growth today,so it's been great.
And last wednesday, yeah,tuesday tuesday we had a, an
unofficial wednesday run runthrough wednesday wednesday, and
a comment that was made by a um, not really a veteran, but of
different theaters as well ashere said to her and I was there
when it happened I have neverbeen in a production where,
(16:35):
after when we still have threeweeks left that we've done a
full run through, he goes whatdo we do now?
We're like we perfect it.
That's what we do.
But it was cool hearing it froma young kid, a young actor,
that I've never had this happenbefore.
But it's really.
I'm here, but it's her.
She's Juan and Maddie arechoreographing.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Really.
Let's just speak to theimportance of.
Not only did you get aneducation here at this theater,
but you went and got a realeducation in the sense that you
went to university.
And there's things that can,because when you're in a certain
environment, there's a culturearound it sometimes, and
sometimes it's good andsometimes it's bad, and
sometimes it's in between, butit's great that you can go away
(17:19):
learn some from realprofessional not that we're not
professionals people, but we arecommunity theater and it's all
volunteer and and not everyonehas the opportunity to go.
But it's so fantastic to hearsomeone that goes and gets that
education and brings that back.
But then to get that feedback aswell, you know you guys have to
go through some hard decisions.
(17:39):
You said you had 70 plus peopleauditioning and hey, listeners,
you're not going to get cast ineverything audition for retweet
.
It's hard, it's really reallyhard.
But don't give up.
Use it as a learning experience, use it as inspiration.
As they've described, sometimesthere's a certain feel or a
certain dynamic they're lookingfor, so you got to keep at it.
(18:01):
You got to keep at it, Don't beafraid to come back.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
It does not mean that if you were not cast the first
time around, that you're notgoing to get cast the next or
you know it can continue.
Take that and take thatexperience and grow and perfect
your craft, whatever it may be,and really learn from it and get
advice from the directors orthe choreographer or our music,
(18:29):
and just grow from it, becauseyou cannot better yourself if
you're just going to sit anddwell and cry about it really
because, hello, I had to conquerCrying about it is good.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yes, become the emotions and that's good, but
yes, it's something you have tolet it inspire you Take that and
go with it and make yourself abetter person, absolutely.
So we've talked about thecasting, We've talked a little
bit about the music.
Let's now talk a little bitabout our costuming and our set
(19:01):
and how that's going to be apart, Because we always like to
talk here and me being a techguy how important it is that as
you walk in our theater you needto put the world behind you,
and then you're now entering theworld of Seussical the Musical.
So why don't we touch a littlebit on that and kind of the
process and thought process andwhat's actually happening
(19:23):
outside this door as we speak?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Yeah, so I'm also the scenic designer of the whole
production, which is really fun,which is a skill I got at
school.
Something I decided I was Ilearned that I was really
interested in was scenic design,and so our whole world starts
as soon as you step into thelobby and it's.
Everything is super black andwhite and polka dots.
Polka dots are like a bigpattern.
(19:46):
Polka dots and stripes are hugein this whole show, but
everything is black and whiteand polka dots.
Polka dots are like a bigpattern.
Polka dots and stripes are hugein this whole show, but
everything is black and whitewith little touches of red, just
like very Cat in the Hat.
And then, as soon as you stepinto the aisles, boom color.
There's a pink floor and a pinkproscenium and everything is
just.
The show goes.
So many different places.
(20:07):
Oh the places you'll goliterally.
So like go to Salasalu, you goto the Jungle of Nul Planet of
who.
There's just so many differentplaces.
It's really hard to design forso many places.
So what we've got is we've gottwo flats on stage right and
stage left that turn, andthey're going to have Nul on one
side and Hu on the other.
(20:27):
So anytime we're in both places, one flat will be turned and
the other one won't, and it'lljust revolve around.
And there's Brian Goad hascoined funky set piece as the
name of like our back flat.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Funky set piece.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, I like that, it's like a Seussian building
structure and it's just like aweird.
It's a funky set piece.
So that's what we've got goingon in the back and Doug Rumbaugh
, who's our lighting designer isgoing to be shooting up some
nice lights in the back with anice cyclorama psych in the back
, to change it's my favoritename, my favorite word is psych,
(21:02):
psych lights.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I'm like, what are those called again?
Psychs, yes, psych, and we havean amazing sound director.
Yeah, kirk Lane, kirk Lane, hey, let me tell you the man on the
other side of the mic.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
What I've done is supervised the new sound system
coming in, so we've made our jobvery easy in the sense that we
haven't had an upgrade in oursound system in quite a while,
and I've actually been workingclosely with Brian because we've
never really had a structurebuilt up there before.
Yeah, I've actually been workingclosely with Brian because of
we've never really had astructure built up there before,
and so that was we were makingsure it didn't interfere with
(21:36):
the new speakers and the newcabling, and so I appreciated
that Obviously that was even aquestion, but we just got the
new system in.
We got some tweaking to do, butwe're pretty excited because we
have a little bit more rangethan we've had before.
And that seems to be an issue,not just at our theater but in
many theaters, where you spendall this time teaching them how
(21:58):
to sing these beautiful songsand all you hear is the track
right, we don't have a way topick up the voices.
So we're helping to improvethat and we've got some wireless
elements and we've, you know,got our overhead mics in again,
but we want to hear both right.
We want to hear all thiswonderful work that you guys
have done to get them ready.
But, yes, thank you.
And to me as a tech guy andwe've talked about at the
(22:21):
beginning of this podcast, youknow we did episodes directly
for lighting and sounds and andset and costumes because they're
they're a character.
They are a character right.
When you walk in, if you canshut the outside out, then
you're just going to enjoy themessage and the performance so
much more Right and um, and thatcomes by being able to hear it
(22:43):
and being enticed by thelighting that's happening, to
see a realistic um, a realisticcostume or a realistic set, and
I think we do a great job here.
I'm a little biased but yeah, itis fantastic that we have some
pretty good resources all around.
So, costuming let's talk alittle bit about costuming.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Sure, so we wanted to keep it simple.
Usually, big shows like thisare quick change, quick change,
quick change.
But with our cast we're kind ofjust a handful of quick change
but it might just be a quickovercoat kind of thing.
Obviously, our Gertrude isamazing, Our Maisie is super
fabulous and amazing and ourthree bird girls think of Sophia
(23:26):
from the Golden Girls birdgirls.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Think of Sophia from the Golden Girls.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
They're just magical, with a little bit of touch of
feathers and our jungle ensembleand our who's.
Like Mickey mentioned a lot ofyellows, blacks, polka dot
stripes, Very simple.
We're not turning them intoactual animals or anything like
that.
It is our actor standing outshowing their talents with the
touches of the character thatthey're playing.
(23:53):
So we're not going crazy.
Our makeup team is going tostart Monday with practicing
what we're looking for, butagain, nothing crazy.
Nothing like full face, Maybeour cat, but we haven't decided,
finalized that detail yet.
But yeah, we're just taking thekid and adding them into the
(24:14):
costume.
We're building them into theyeah, wonderful, wonderful, it's
the kid, that makes thecharacter.
Yes, that's what we're doing.
We're giving them thatopportunity to shine and display
who they are portraying.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah, costuming to me .
I mean growing up and loving tothrow on.
You know whether it was thepolice outfit or the fireman's
outfit or the army outfit.
You just you're making pretend,as it were, but you get that
and you feel like you're a partof it and you become the
character.
So when you're one, when you'reyou're instructing the music,
talk to me a little bit about.
(24:44):
I'm assuming there's gotta be achoreographer.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yes, madeline McGowan .
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Okay, and so I'm assuming you're working with her
, because there's a lot of musicin this.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Yeah.
So we talk, especially when weget to the moments where there's
just instrumental Okay, what'shappening here?
And so we kind of work through.
So there is a circus scene.
So we really talk about themusic and we talk about what's
changing in the music, becausethe style changes every phrase.
And so, for example, like bowsare a great way to demonstrate
(25:15):
that, because it brings a littlebit of everything in the show.
So all of a sudden you're like,oh cool, I remember this song,
it's very Broadway, it's very,very pop.
And then all of a sudden it'slike now it's Latin.
And so now the style changes,not only in the music, but it
changes in the way that theysing it and it changes in the
choreo that Maddie works on,because you're not going to go
out there and do very classicalstyle dancing when you have
Latin music happening in thebackground.
(25:36):
And so the music really is goingto control what's happening,
not only in the style and theblocking and the choreography,
but also how they're going topresent that.
And so our lovely Maisie andour bird girls they sing a lot
of Latin in the show the styleof the music drastically changes
.
But then when you get to Hortonit's much more.
You know, trying to find theright word.
(25:59):
It's a more Broadway and tendermoments when you get JoJo, and
so the music drastically changes, and so we do try to work with
that in understanding how thatworks.
So yeah, especially with theinstrumental part, it's like all
right, what's the style righthere?
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Oh, it's this kind of music I've got to imagine
because I'm excited that we'reexcited to get out on the stage
right After the set is built andto start doing that final week
of prep.
But I'm sure as a musicaldirector you've heard them in
here for the last you knowseveral weeks or several months.
But now you go out on stage andyou have a completely different
(26:34):
environment.
Now there's a lot more movementinvolved.
You've got set pieces, you'vegot everything else.
Then you got to kind of tweakyour blocking and tweak the
choreo and everything else.
I'm pretty excited to see thathappen.
Yeah, is there the prep aheadof time?
Do you feel like it's helpingout?
(26:54):
It seems like it is from yourresponse, sochi, about someone
saying are you feeling it?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I felt after Thursday .
On Thursday I felt like thiswave of relief, because usually
every rehearsal I'm like wedon't have enough time, we
haven't finished this song.
We haven't finished this song,we haven't finished this song 10
o'clock.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
before opening 10 pm.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
And Thursday I was looking for things to do and our
cat in the hat, joshua Liguori,he was like I feel so ahead of
the game.
He was like what are we goingto do the next two weeks?
And I was like, just runthrough the show every single
day.
He's like, oh, that's a lot,yes, but I'm glad that we're
done.
Three weeks ahead of time,versus he said that most shows
(27:35):
he's done, like they first runthrough, is opening night.
And so I was like, well, I'mglad that's not the case for us,
cause that would be a trainwreck.
Um so yeah, um, um, I feel fine,I feel great.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
You feel you're in a good spot.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
And it looks like you have a pretty good team around
you to support with everything.
Is there anyone else that's apart of the team, or part of the
cast, or part of the theaterthat you'd like to talk about,
or any other experiences you'dlike to share with our audience?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Yeah, brian Goat is our master carpenter.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
And he's part of the breakfast group.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yes, he's out there building with everybody right
now and he's got like a hugeteam.
There's so many amazing dadsout there.
Yes, I don't think.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I've.
I think of the time that I'vebeen here.
I've never seen as many dadsyeah and brothers.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
And my nephew is out there, you're listening.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
we miss you.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Yes we miss you and love you and so glad because
he's part of that breakfastgroup as well, and a lot of
those gentlemen are out there,and so it's nice that we do have
that support group and I doappreciate you bringing that up.
But that is Brian, brian theelectrician, as we like to call
him.
He is now doing the set buildand when we were having our
discussion and solving some ofthe world's problems this
(28:51):
morning, you could see Brian waslike okay, it's almost go time.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
He was very much in the zone and ready to go, he was
here yesterday we were drawingout the funky set piece in the
back and he was looking at theproscenium and pulling out all
the pieces because he's beencutting in his house.
He's been cutting in his garagebefore like to prep for this
week, which is really exciting.
And then maya tambokin, who'sour scenic painter, is stopping
(29:16):
by later today to start painting, to start getting stuff.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
She's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Yes, she is amazing, we're also going to uh
university of southerncalifornia for um a theater.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Wow, degree design, theater design, I believe yeah,
and we touched on Maddie McGowanwho I think dreams in in dance
she was part of Urinetown, ourlast production, as well we used
her, so she was the first timeshe was a part of our theater.
Was for Shrek right and she'sbeen non-stop, non-stop and
(29:46):
everybody has stolen her.
But it's fine.
We love sharing her amazingtalent and I think she dreams
and dance.
We were discussing like, howdoes she come up with this stuff
?
And none of it like.
There's a couple of thingswhere you're like, oh, I think I
remember, but it's all new.
And it's so magical to see that.
I love it, it's truly, she's anamazing talent and Juan's
(30:09):
number one, juan's number one,juan's number one.
Juan is number one.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yes, we have a great team Open in eight days.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
Eight rehearsals.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Eight rehearsals.
We have eight rehearsals and 13days.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Okay, so August 8th.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
August 8th through the 23rd.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
So we've got 8th, 9th , 15th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd
are evening shows, and we have10th, 16th and 17th of August as
our matinee shows.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
And two shows on the 16th yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Okay, and they can buy tickets now.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Yes, hurry and hurry up, because it's selling out?
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Yes, well, of course it is yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It sounds amazing.
It's opening and closing.
They're already gone.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So you can go to the Chino Community Children's
Theater website or our socialmedia sites, you can call the
box office and you can gettickets.
So come on out, check thisproduction out.
We really appreciate you guysbeing with us.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Thank you for having us.
I have to say thank you to ourthree amazing producers.
I didn't yes, we would not behere without them, because they
literally keep us in check.
And the text messages are.
They're just amazing.
They're amazing Five stepsahead, yeah, All the time.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Well, and you know this is to our listeners that
are both domestic and abroad.
Community theater is communitytheater because we all work
together, so we would love tohear from you, especially if
you're in another country andyou're enjoying these podcasts.
Send us a message, send us anote, we really appreciate it.
Follow us on all our socials.
Go see Seussical the Musicaland thank you guys so much for
(31:38):
all that you do, but especiallyfor this particular production
and for taking some time out ofyour day to speak with us, of
course.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Thank you for having us have a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Thank you so much.
Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage, a 7th Street
Community Theatre podcast.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform and leave us a
review and a 5-star rating.
It really helps.
You can also find us onInstagram, facebook and YouTube.
Special thanks to ChinoCommunity Theatre and Chino
Community Children's Theatre fortheir generous support and very
special thank you to thelisteners.
Steps to the Stage was createdby Joey Rice and Kirk Lane.
(32:12):
Logo created by Marley Lane.
Original music by Joey Rice.
Your host, kirk Lane.
Engineer and producer Joey Rice.
Engineer and executive producer, kirk Lane.
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