November 24, 2025 • 47 mins
A small stage, a big cast, and a 1940s reset bring fresh heart to Miracle on 34th Street as we explore belief, courage, and community. We share how volunteers, teachers, and first-timers shape a classic into something intimate, warm, and alive.
• why we chose Miracle on 34th Street and set it in the 1940s
• how a large ensemble, kids to grandparents, powers the show
• Doris Walker’s arc as a frank, working single mother
• crafting Fred Gailey’s warmth and courtroom grit
• Jack’s return after 30 years and finding Kris Kringle’s truth
• building Macy’s and the courtroom on an intimate stage
• period costumes, carols, and 1947 radio pre-show
• the teamwork culture that defines community theater
• key creatives and crew shaping sets and flow
• show schedule, opening night gala, and talkback
December 5-20 Friday/Saturday 7:30pm Sat & Sunday Matinee 2:30pm
Get your tickets now. This will sell out. Call 909-590-1149 or visit ChinoCommunityTheater.org
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
Thank you for Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER_01 (00:06):
Welcome to Steps to the Stage, a 7th Street
community theater podcast.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
We are here and back for myfavorite time of year, as well
as my favorite production of theyear.
It's the holiday production.
And we have some of our amazingteam.
(00:26):
We'll include actors, we'llinclude directors, and we're
going to talk about everythingthat is leading up to the Chino
Community Theaters presentationof Miracle on 34th Street, the
play.
Yay! Confetti cannons.
I've got Chris, Jamie, Jack,Tiffany here, and they're gonna
(00:48):
take us down the journey.
We're gonna ride the sleigh,right, Santa?
Absolutely.
We're gonna ride the sleigh andwe're gonna learn about this
holiday classic.
So did a little researchreleased in 1947 as a movie.
It was a story by ValentineDavies, and the screenplay and
director was George Seaton.
(01:11):
If I'm not mistaken, they wonthree Academy Awards, which
included a Best Supporting Actoras well as Best Screenplay and
Best Story, if I got that allcorrect.
So just to give you a little bitof background, and of course,
since then there's been so manydifferent radio plays, Broadway,
other adaptations.
(01:31):
It's just a beautiful, wonderfulstory.
And I'm so glad that we'rebringing it here.
So before we get started, let'sgo through and meet all of our
guests.
And we'll start over here withChris, our director.
SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
Uh thank you, Kirk.
Uh, it's great to be back on thepodcast.
Uh I feel like I'm kind of asemi-regular.
SPEAKER_01 (01:49):
You are a semi-regular.
You're gonna be hired prettysoon, I think, and we're gonna
expand and take over the theaterworld.
SPEAKER_00 (01:55):
Yes, that's that sounds like uh a good plan.
But uh for for the the immediateuh uh thing that we're doing,
miracle on 34th Street, I amjust really happy to be, I'm
always happy to be back at CCTand directing because I just
I've been here for so many yearsand uh the theater's been around
(02:17):
where this is our 42nd season.
Yeah.
And uh and this is a play thatwe we really haven't done too
many times.
We've we've uh revisited aChristmas Carol a lot.
Um we've done It's a WonderfulLife a few times last year.
In fact, I I directed the theradio production, uh, the radio
uh play version of It's aWonderful Life, and that was a
(02:39):
great deal of fun.
And uh we've tried, you know,some different uh things over
the years, uh holiday-wise, butuh we just decided, you know,
this was it's about time we comeback to Miracle on 34th Street.
It's it's a really feel-good uhstory, and and it is one of the
uh, I think kind of the classicold classic Christmas movies
(03:04):
that we think about, you know,the those core, maybe maybe like
five, you know, that that reallyget done a lot and have been
remade many times.
And like you said, it was, Ibelieve, a Broadway musical at
some point.
And uh so it's it's it's just areally good story.
And that's what I'm excited totell is that uh ultimately it
(03:25):
comes down to it's just a reallygood story.
It's not just Christmas thrownat you, which you know, some
some of the holiday shows areare just kind of that.
It's just like ah Christmas,here it is.
And uh, and and when you stripit down, there's really not a
whole lot of substance there.
And uh this play actually hasthat, this story actually has
(03:47):
that.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
It is a feel-good movie, and we call it that for a
reason, and why millions ofpeople watch it again and again
year over year.
So 100% agree with that.
And I just want to insert herereal quick because I know we
have a good local audience, butwe also have an expanded
audience.
But you guys just did yourseason reveal for the theater,
and uh, I know the children'stheater just did theirs recently
(04:10):
as well.
So it's just exciting as we headtoward the end of the season.
We're gonna get our feel-goodmovie and we're gonna get ready
for a great slate of uhproductions next week.
SPEAKER_00 (04:20):
Busy, busy time right now, too with the holidays
and everything.
It's always a challenge, youknow, to do the holiday show for
that reason because you have thethe reveal on top of it and and
you know, people going away forthe holidays.
I'm missing a couple people allnext week because of
Thanksgiving.
So it is it is a challenge, butit's it's a it's a joyful
(04:41):
challenge.
Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Family is important, and so I'm glad that you're
letting them spend time withfamily, Chris.
Yes, what a wonderful directoryou are.
I don't know if I had a choice,but we'll just say you're kind
and gentle.
Yes, we'll say that.
Tiffany got her right in thelap.
I know.
SPEAKER_05 (05:01):
Nice to be back, guys.
Uh, this is my third steps onthe stage.
This is my third production withCCT and my second time working
with Chris, which is great.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
Yes, I will take credit for bringing her to CCT.
SPEAKER_05 (05:14):
Yes, you absolutely can.
It actually has always beenabout you.
Actually, it has.
Wow, look at that.
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
Slings and arrows.
SPEAKER_05 (05:23):
It has.
My first interest with CCT wasChris directing on the edge like
in 2017, I think it wasBoinkett's Girl or something
like that.
That's when I started stalkinghim on social media.
It's like, so hey, you're doingthe show.
Yes.
You're doing the show.
No one does it.
You don't know me.
(05:44):
So needless to say, I had a flattire and couldn't come.
But years later, uh, weconnected.
Uh, but Chris asked me to do theseason reveal for Miracle on
34th Street last year.
So I was excited about it.
And then he asked if I wouldcome down and make the drive
again.
So yeah, absolutely.
And I did a production of uhWonderful Life last year as
(06:07):
well.
SPEAKER_01 (06:08):
Okay, yeah.
So it's Which was wonderful.
SPEAKER_05 (06:10):
It was wonderful.
Um but it's nice to be able todo one.
I agree.
Christmas Carol's been for thoseof you that love Christmas
Carol, but Christmas Carol'sbeen done.
Um, and if I am giving up mytime in the holidays, I like it
to have some oomph and some newmeaning for wingles.
SPEAKER_01 (06:29):
What role are you?
SPEAKER_05 (06:30):
Oh, I'm playing Doris Walker, so I am the
non-believer mom.
SPEAKER_00 (06:34):
Wonderful.
Non-believer mom.
Can I uh I should have probablyuh introduced uh the uh
everybody, but you know, Tiffanyis playing Doris, the
non-believer mom.
And we also have Jack Richardshere who has Chris Kringle.
And uh and then we have Jamie uhTinter who is playing Fred, the
amiable next door neighbor, whouh takes on the the the great
(06:56):
court case, the the thrillingcourt case at the end of the uh
we all need a Fred in our life.
SPEAKER_01 (07:02):
Yes, we really all do need a Fred in our life, and
it's great.
And I agree with the ChristmasCarol, and and I was part of one
of Chris's uh holidayproductions back in 2019, which
was right after oh, I'm sorry,that was Jeff Deards, you were
Mama Mia.
So um I did Mama Mia, which wasthe first show that I was able
(07:22):
to do, and then I did uh withJeff Deards.
Uh so it it's it is great now,uh, all this time to meet new
people, but see good friendsthat we've known for a while and
that are that are keepdedicating.
And this is a community theaterpodcast, and as you know, we all
drove our Rolls-Royce's andBentleys into uh into the
(07:45):
theater today.
We do this because we love it,you listen because you love it,
and you participate in yourcommunities.
And so we just cannot stressenough how important it is, no
matter what level, that you goand support the arts and support
community theater.
So let's move on to Santa, Imean Jack, who is in front of me
(08:05):
and uh has got a uh Kris Kringleshirt on and in the mood and has
been ho ho hoing since hearrived, and we appreciate it.
Let's embody the role, yes?
Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
Oh, I'm having such a good time.
That's great, it's a blast.
It's been 30 years since I'vebeen on the stage.
30 years.
Yeah.
I just recently moved to uh TinoHills, and then I came here and
I saw Raisin in the Sun, then Isaw the auditions for this, and
I said, hmm, started growing mybeard.
(08:40):
Came down to auditions.
I go, wow, this is great.
Um, the people I auditioned withwere so talented.
I did a scene with Jamie.
Yeah, you know, I said, Well,they gotta use this guy.
So this is some some high flyingfolks.
I don't know if I want to get inhere.
But then when he called andsaid, Yeah, let's go, let's do
(09:00):
it.
I said, Oh man, I I'm reliving.
I cut my bones in in Ohio.
Okay.
Chagrin Valley Little Theater.
SPEAKER_03 (09:08):
Love it.
SPEAKER_02 (09:09):
Tim Conway's place.
They've got a lot of Christmasmovies there because it looks
like New England.
Yeah.
And uh so to revisit this back,I'm just it's like I shed 30
years.
SPEAKER_01 (09:21):
What an amazing, amazing story.
I'm so glad you shared that withus.
And and for uh those that areout there 30 years back on the
stage, that is really the magicof theater, but specifically
this theater, we're a littlebiased, right?
Um, and the people that areinvolved.
Uh, and that's it.
Uh, I I'm so lucky that I get tobe involved in this podcast and
talk to so many great people,but hearing stories like that is
(09:44):
another reason why we keepcoming back and putting
episodes.
So welcome back, as we havepainted up here.
Glad you're back on the stageand so glad that you're part of
uh this particular production.
You'll be you'll be on the nicelist.
Look at that.
Look at that.
Maybe that 59 goal top Les Paulis coming this year, everyone.
You may need to do some moreresearch.
(10:09):
Nice, and let's move over toFred.
SPEAKER_04 (10:13):
Indeed.
Yeah, so uh Jamie Tinger.
I'm playing Fred Gailey, the uhDoris' neighbor and Santa's
attorney.
And this is my first go-aroundhere at CC uh T.
SPEAKER_01 (10:24):
And uh what kind of retainer does Santa have to pay
if I make sorry.
SPEAKER_04 (10:30):
Just no coal in the stocking, just a good, you know,
what was a toy in the forty,maybe a nice choo-choo terrain
or something.
He's living with reindeer rightnow, so he has nothing going for
it.
Although my favorite Christmasgift as a kid was getting my
Nintendo set when I was likeeight.
And that that was like my Santamemory of like Santa brought
(10:51):
this, you know, and that was Ithink my last time where I well
really believed uh and and thatwas a good good Santa memory.
But um, yeah, I like Jack, I Imoved to Chino Hills this
summer.
Uh came uh my wife's familylives in the in the area, and we
were living in LA for you knowthe last I moved to LA from
Minnesota as I'm representingtoday.
(11:13):
Oh betcha.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Um and I got my start incommunity theater there up in
Hibbing, Minnesota, and uh lovethe community theater.
And so when we moved here, um Igot a job teaching theater at
Ayala uh high school and saw acouple shows here this summer.
I'm like, I I just want to be apart of the community.
I've I've found that everybody'severybody's been so welcoming in
(11:35):
the theater community here inChino Hills between the the
school and the children'stheater and the community
theater.
I wanted to uh get back on thestage as well in in a in a fun
way.
And it just stepping into thisthis room here or this stage and
just the smell of the theaterand and it just it just feels
like home.
And uh Chris and Tiffany andJack have been just awesome to
(11:58):
work with, and it's just beenreally fun.
It's been the highlight of my ofmy day.
Like, okay, seven o'clockrehearsal, and it's a place
where you know, all the youknow, some people like I'm from
northern Minnesota, so somepeople like to fish, deer
hunting season just ended.
Uh I like the theater, you know.
That's my place where I can justfeel at home and and just feel
(12:21):
like, oh, this is this is whatlife's all about, you know, just
making fun art with good peopleand um this particular play.
I I'd you know seen Christmasmovies growing up, and it was
one of those where it would comeon, and my dad and my uncles,
and they would all quote, oh,oh, here's where, you know,
here's where Santa's gonna dohere.
(12:43):
And it was like, oh, okay.
And so when this came about,it's like, well, this is it
feels like like Chris was sayingearlier, it's not just
Christmas, Christmas.
There's a real story there, andso important.
Yeah, it's so important.
SPEAKER_01 (12:55):
Yeah, it it it's it's gonna be fun, it's gonna be
a lot of fun.
Well, thanks you guys forintroducing yourselves and such
great stories about people thathave been here and done
productions before, people thathaven't been on the stage in
quite some time, people that arecoming in from other parts of
the country and and experiencingthe magic of this particular
community theater, which there'smagic everywhere.
But so, so appreciate y'allsharing that.
(13:17):
And I'm just gonna go to Chrisand say, you are now taking on,
and and I know you you directand you do an excellent job.
This is has to be a challenge.
This is a beloved, beloved storyuh that obviously is around that
Christmas time, but as we've alldiscussed, there's there's more
to it than that.
(13:38):
How do you go into this and andtalk to us about that
preparation?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
Well, it is a bit of a challenge, uh, but maybe not
what you kind of thought of whenyou were asking the question,
because I'm not really worriedabout uh uh fitting the the the
movie necessarily um becausethere has been so many
adaptations of it.
So I think a lot of people havetheir own special miracle on
(14:07):
34th Street, and there's a lotof people that love the 90s uh
version of it.
In fact, our script was actuallywritten to take place in the
90s, and uh we decided we weregonna go back to the 1940s.
In fact, I decided, yeah, Ishouldn't say we, I decided uh I
wanted it to be uh, you know,the classic uh miracle on 34th
(14:29):
Street from the 1940s.
There for me, there's somethingabout the 1940s that that's just
kind of special to me.
I think it's post maybepost-war, you know, the the mood
of the country, and and uh Ithink that's when Christmas
really just kind of exploded inour kind of consciousness and
and you know the country and youknow, commercialism I think had
(14:51):
a lot to do with it too.
Uh in fact, this this playtouches on that for sure.
Um but this is the this is all Ithis is almost like a musical in
in a lot of ways, just in termsof all the moving parts of it,
and there's so many differentscenes.
I've I've been kind of used todoing plays with one setting,
you know, one living room set orsomething with a small cast, but
(15:15):
this has a very big cast, andand uh I'm working with kids, uh
I'm working with uh older peopleand everyone in between.
And uh it's it's just a realmixture of people.
I am I actually have somemothers and daughters uh uh
teams working in the show.
Yeah.
And uh and uh sisters, uhactually.
(15:38):
And so there's there's uhdefinitely a family element uh
to it.
And uh, but actually there is alittle music in the show.
We have some dancing elves, wehave uh we have some carolers,
uh, you know, so there's a lotgoing on for this show.
So that's that was kind of thedaunting thing about it was it's
just a big production, and Ihaven't done kind of a big
(16:00):
production like this with somany things uh, you know, that
are that are a part of it.
And uh so that that was thething that was mostly the the
daunting thing.
When I saw these peopleaudition, I I wasn't worried
about bringing this story to thestage because these are the
perfect people for these roles.
And you know, I sometimes I'msitting at rehearsal and I'm
(16:23):
listening to Jack on stage andI'm I'm thinking, we got another
story here of like the realChris Kringle auditioning to
play Kris Kringle in Miracle on34th Street, uh because he's so
perfect and so authentic.
As you could just hear it even,I'm sure your listeners can hear
it in just his voice.
SPEAKER_01 (16:42):
Well, I'm gonna interrupt.
I pulled up in in my sleigh andI looked across and I saw Santa
in his sleigh.
And so for the moment I evenwalked in before I set up, I was
like, I'm talking to Santatoday, you know?
And and that that that is justit's it's one of those things
that again, taking this on, thatthere I loved hearing you say
(17:04):
that, like, yes, there's a lotof content to go off of, but
this collective group in thisparticular area needs to present
it the way that that they needto present it under your
direction.
And already just it's you know,I do this a lot and I meet a lot
of casts, and and you know,sometimes you get, especially in
community theater, you get thesame actors over and over again
(17:26):
playing different parts.
And that's that's fine, that'swonderful.
We, I think, have done a greatjob of the outreach and bringing
in people that have haven'tacted in 30 years, people that
have come from other parts ofthe country, and then people
that are experienced and haveworked not only in this theater
but other theaters, and you getthat mix, and then you have
family mix.
I love that as well.
That's got to help with theenergy.
SPEAKER_00 (17:46):
I love having a mix of new and old people because I
think you can learn from peopleuh you can learn from the people
that have done shows here formany years, and you know, kind
of how every theater kind of hastheir own vibe and how things
work.
And uh so it's always a newexperience coming to uh a
different working at a differenttheater.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
Resparks that energy, right?
Because sometimes you get alittle complacent or you just
get a little oh, okay, here wego again.
SPEAKER_00 (18:10):
So it's always fun to see the new the newbies come
in and and uh and and you knowkind of uh learn learn uh how
things work at at this theaterand uh and just like you said,
not to see the same people allthe time, uh and to get some new
faces up on our stage and andhopefully they'll come back, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
So um and their families come and maybe that one
of those family members is gonnabe inspired by what you guys do
up there, and then they joinsome small production or a
class, and then you know they'redoing, they're directing their
own shows, right?
So love to see that.
Tiffany, I'd love to hear alittle bit more about your
preparation for something likethis.
(18:50):
Having worked with Chris beforeand worked on this stage, but uh
this is a new role that you'vehaven't played before.
So would love to hear more aboutwhat went into that preparation.
SPEAKER_05 (19:00):
Well, I am a classic movie weirdo.
I don't even say buff, I sayweirdo.
Um, I did children's hour lastyear and uh provided all of my
own costumes, and I'm sort ofgetting known for if there's a
vintage costume.
Tiff will just bring herdresses.
Don't worry, we're good.
Um, because I sort of have thisweird embodiment of that era in
(19:24):
my personal life.
And I think a big part of thathas to do with my grandmother
who actually introduced me tothis movie.
Um she was always, you know, youdon't go out without your
lipstick, you gotta make sureyou got certain things.
You can have, you can be wearingin a trash bag, but you must
have a lip on.
Like that type of thing was her.
And um I just I with Chris too,I love this era.
(19:47):
I I love the idea of it's notnecessarily simpler, but more
basic, I guess.
And um having to be connected topeople is a really big deal.
Yeah, I've never played a mom.
(20:08):
I think this is my first timeever playing a mom.
I played Medea, but that doesn'tcount because the kids were dead
and I killed them.
SPEAKER_03 (20:16):
Um but I know.
Merry Christmas! Merry ChristmasDeath and Children.
SPEAKER_05 (20:23):
Um, no, I I don't think I've ever played a mom
before.
Um, but I have seven nieces andI have two nephews, and I always
tend to kind of take on momenergy with people who are
younger than me, even peoplethat are older than me, oddly
enough.
Um so that was an interestingthing to be like, you know, W WC
(20:44):
Fields was the one that saidworking with children and
animals.
Um and so I've never really hadto like have a kid attached to
me on stage, which has beeninteresting.
Um, so just sort of thinkingabout that.
And the this script inparticular, we were talking
about it, Chris and Jamie and Iwere talking about it just the
other night.
(21:04):
She's very empowered for the erabeing a single mom with a job,
living in an apartment.
Divorced.
Divorced.
Yeah, it's not that he died, heis she is divorced.
It is a part of the story.
And you didn't see a lot ofthat.
We didn't talk about it if itwas happening.
(21:25):
Um, so I think that's a big partof it too.
It sort of puts this she has tohave so many different levels.
She has to be able to be soft,she has to be a professional,
she has to be a mom.
And then there has to be thisweird dynamic of being a woman
in the 40s, which is veryinteresting.
SPEAKER_01 (21:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jamie, let's talk a little bitabout your preparation.
Um, and so you had donecommunity theater before, you
said in in Minnesota, and thenwhen you were in LA as well, or
uh well, I just the quickversion of my my journey.
SPEAKER_04 (22:02):
Yeah, I started community theater in Minnesota
and then I got involved withcollege theater and things, and
then I went to grad school inFlorida State, and then moved
out here to do like you know TVand commercial stuff.
So I did in like 2007 or 2007 tothe mid you know 20 teens, I was
you know, pounding the pavementand and you know, driving to
(22:23):
Santa Monica at 10:30 on aTuesday for that one-word
commercial audition and youknow, got got a few jobs and a
few roles, uh, but theater washard to do, right?
Because you know, we had to haveall these gig works and I would
umpire softball games at nightand you know, and and substitute
teach during the day.
And so life was happening.
Trying to do a play was hard.
(22:45):
So there was a lot of readings,I did a lot of improv and and
auditioning and all that.
And then uh when my uh you know,I got married in 2017, and then
we had two kids, and so I reallydidn't do a whole lot because I
was at home, and then COVIDhappened, and so I hadn't been
on stage for a while, you know,doing a play and a lot of
(23:05):
writing, you know, I'd spend mytime in the early 2020s just
kind of writing because I'mlike, well, I can be at home, I
don't have you know, I can helphelp with the kids, and I'd you
know try to write some plays,write some screenplays, and it
was just my outlet for you know,my creative my creative juices
were that way, but now life hasslowed down a little bit, you
know.
Girls are in school, moved here,and so it's like, oh my gosh,
(23:28):
it's so nice to be back in thetheater because one thing, you
know, I I've been acting for awhile and I loved um what I
discovered kind of getting somework in in LA and and on camera
and stuff.
I was like, oh, okay, you know,I'm on camera, I'm doing
professional work and this andthat.
But you know, you go back toyour dressing room or go back to
(23:49):
your car, and like that's it,the day's over.
Yeah.
The theater, it's like therethere's a I mean, community
theater, there is a community,there is the connection.
You do get to know people, youget to go on the journey
together.
And there's something that'svery nurturing for the soul uh
when that happens, right?
Because you go on this ride forsix weeks or eight weeks, and
(24:10):
you get to know people and youget to build relationships and
you get to put on a s a showtogether, right?
And so that is is something thatI'm discovering, like, oh, I I
really love that, you know, andit and it's not for any external
thing.
It's just like, no, this is thisis really just fun for me.
This is this is uh and thesepeople have been just really fun
(24:32):
to work with.
So Fred Gailey, my my part, youknow, uh Chris, you know, we we
quickly became uh Facebookfriends after uh the audition
and everything, and and one ofmy old directors, who's now now
a longtime friend, Mike, hisname is Mike Richie.
He was my first first director,and we become friends, and you
know, he saw that I was cast asFred Gailey.
(24:54):
And and Mike writes, oh uh FredGailey's perfect for you, Jamie.
And and Chris comes like, oh, Iguess I did good casting.
And I'm like, Yeah, I think Ithink you know, so with Fred,
it's there's the challenge andthe fun challenge of okay, I
know this this type is a typethat I've played and have been
casting before, but how do I,you know, he's a he's a nice
(25:16):
guy, right?
And I kind of have, as my wifesays, a resting nice face,
especially when I'm shaved.
Um something else, which wewon't say not here, but um so
it's like how how do I, youknow, make Fred my own?
And so I think with Fred, someof the fun is like the period,
like how do I, even with voiceand gestures, how to make it
(25:38):
sound, you know, 1940s, NewYork.
Uh so there's some fun withthat.
And the courtroom scenes arereally fun.
It's like, how do I, you know,because that's a that's a trope
that people oh, people knowcourtroom dramas, they see it on
TV all the time, law and order,everybody knows the courtroom
scene.
And so I've never really, justlike uh Tiffany is saying, has
never played a mother, I've I'venever gotten to play a courtroom
(26:00):
scene, so that's a funchallenge.
And there is one scene uh thatis just Tiffany and I in the in
act two that feels on its ownout of place, right?
It because it's it's dramaticand there's meat there, and in
the course of the story, itmakes total sense.
But that scene has beensomething it's like, okay, we
really get to have this nicelike two-person drama scene in
(26:23):
this in this feel-good story.
Um, so there's a lot of funlittle moments here, and and
Fred's been, you know, it's niceto play a type, you know, type
that is is familiar, but alsothese little challenges within
it.
That's wonderful.
That's wonderful.
SPEAKER_01 (26:38):
Jack.
Yes.
Welcome back.
I'm still I'm just still inshock over the 30 years.
I I it's really just making mefeel warm, happy inside, you
know, because I'm fairly new tothe theater.
I got on into the theaterthrough my kids that got
involved, right?
And then since then, I was I waslucky enough to act and doing
(27:01):
the podcast and all this otherstuff.
But um just fabulous, fabulousto have you here and love to
know more, a little bit aboutyour approach going into playing
kind of an iconic role.
I mean, yeah, I think a lot ofpeople know this guy.
SPEAKER_02 (27:18):
I mean, you know, so you well 40 years ago, I
auditioned first time at CBLT.
They were doing a Christmasshow.
Uh She Loves Me.
Providence Hollander wasdirecting, who was a Broadway
actress at the time and wasdoing this little theater thing.
So I went and auditioned for it,and I didn't know what I was
(27:40):
doing.
I hadn't done anything sincehigh school.
Um so they they get on stage andit was very intimidating because
the director chair was in themiddle of the row, and the uh
producer and and the stagemanager and all the bigwigs,
okay, what are you gonna do forus?
I don't know.
(28:01):
Okay, well, uh, what are yougonna sing?
They're singing.
I didn't.
Okay.
So it ended with them saying,Okay, well, thanks for coming
out.
Um, we'll call you.
And I said, you know, I haven'tdone theater before, but I know
what don't call us, we'll callyou means.
(28:23):
I would just like to be in theplay.
I do anything.
You put a put uh a blanket overme, I'll be a chair.
I'll hold a light bulb.
What do you want?
You know, anything on this?
Oh, you do back?
Sure.
So I did, and I had such a goodtime.
Such a good time.
It's uh to me, it's like a teamsport.
Everybody working together,agreed.
(28:45):
Um second show I auditioned forwas uh George Washington Slept
Year, and they cast me in thelead.
So I'm going, oh okay.
Welcome.
So it was it was I had a 10-yearrun there that was, I just
happened to blast.
SPEAKER_01 (29:00):
That's fantastic.
And then life happened, andyeah, you know, okay.
But you're back, yeah, andyou're cast as Chris Kringle.
Yeah.
Other AK known as Santa, the bigguy.
So uh what goes into preppingfor this role for you from your
perspective?
SPEAKER_02 (29:17):
Really, not much because the person I am Santa.
The personality is me.
That's who I am.
Uh so it just makes a littlemore fun.
Yeah.
Quiz said they're you know,they're adding some music and
stuff to it.
I said, that adds so much.
Oh, pardon me.
(29:38):
Adds so much to it.
Uh so I said, Well, what do Ido?
And so he says, Well, you'regonna be saying good King
Wenceslaus.
Okay, well, I can do that inDutch.
Well, what?
Oh, we're doing it and it'scoming up.
The preparation is just I wasborn in 49.
(29:59):
So all All these things thatyou're looking at trying to dig
up on YouTube.
I saw his first runs as a kid.
True.
And uh Miracle on 34th Street isjust doing the 40s kind of
style.
SPEAKER_01 (30:13):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (30:14):
You know, the transatlantic accents that you
can kick in and just have funwith.
It's just a really, really goodtime.
And Chris and I are basically onthe same page from the from the
beginning when he said, I'mgonna put it back in the 40s.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yes, that's where it has to be.
That's a good decision.
SPEAKER_01 (30:31):
And it's obviously impacted your cast, Chris, which
is each one of them has spokenabout how that's guided them in
their character development.
So and and I think, you know,again, there is that sensibility
that you that you can bring outfrom that time and that era and
that age.
And I think it's gonna hit homepretty good with the era and age
(30:52):
that we're in right now.
So excited that you did that.
Um we've had a chance to talk tothese wonderful people, but tell
us a little bit about more aboutthe rest of your creative team
and some of the other castmembers.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
Oh goodness, we have a lot of people uh that are
contributing to this show.
Um, not to mention I was gonnasay one person that I definitely
don't want to leave out is ourlittle Susan, who has played.
Um she's um we we didn't reallyhave enough room, but um she's
at an equally large role uh tothe ones that are here.
(31:26):
Um but Susan is Doris'sdaughter, and she's the the the
one, you know, Doris has uh beenuh not exactly the mother for
someone to believe in SantaClaus.
Uh in fact, she's told herdaughter that you know there is
no Santa Claus.
You believe you believe in yes,there are no all there on there
(31:47):
are no alternative facts with uhDoris.
Uh she you know she uh tells herdaughter to believe what is
real.
And uh so there's not a lot ofwiggle room with with Doris, and
that's where the basic conflictcomes in with uh you know with
Fred, uh, because he's a muchmuch different character, much
more open to uh believing otherthings and and and having faith
(32:10):
and and and stuff like that.
But I'm getting away from allthat.
But anyway, Sammy Grimley, whois uh people long time you know
p CCT people will know.
SPEAKER_01 (32:23):
You were Mamma Mia together, I remember.
SPEAKER_00 (32:25):
Sammy's uh mom, uh Stephanie, who is also in our
show.
She plays Dr.
Pierce.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (32:31):
Yeah, so Sammy is is doing a wonderful job as as
Susan, and uh she she in factpremiered uh the part uh doing
it for our reveal scene.
So uh she she charmed uh ouraudiences already.
So I think uh she's it just wehave a couple weeks to go, so
she's just gonna be even better,and they're just gonna adore
(32:53):
her.
And she's uh really, reallycharming.
And uh it's a it's a big partfor a little girl, and she's
she's really doing a great job.
And uh so I wanted to, you know,special mention to Sammy.
We love Sammy, yes, and you willespecially when you come and see
this.
She's just adorable.
And uh, and we have I I can'tunfortunately it would take me
(33:17):
forever to go through the entireall the names, but uh, you can
go online and you know check ourwebsite and more importantly,
come see the show and see theprogram.
But what's so great about thisshow is that everybody they're
the God bless them, they come inand they're they may have only
one or two lines, you know, forwhat we're rehearsing that
(33:37):
night.
And they just give their all,you know, and we see these, you
know, fully fleshed outcharacters who are just showing
up for just a second.
And that's what makes these kindof shows really great, is when
it's not just seeing really goodperformances in the leads, and
then everybody else is just kindof staring into space.
(33:59):
You're seeing everybody fullyengaged and everybody uh
feeling, and that's what Ireally wanted is everyone to
feel like they're an essentialpart of this particular show
because there's so many, like Isaid before, so many elements to
it.
And uh I want everyone to toknow that they are an essential
(34:20):
element to it, and uh and itjust adds so much, you know, to
the basic uh you know, tapestrythat we're that we're trying to.
SPEAKER_01 (34:31):
And I can I can tell just from this short
conversation that the energy ofthe entire cast and crew is that
drawing light, I would imagine,for people that are coming in
just for one line, you know, butthey want to be within the
group, and you guys are lookingforward to it.
You you know, you're meantyou've mentioned that's like I
(34:52):
look forward to this.
It's my chance to just kind ofget away from the day stuff.
So that's a testament, Chris, toyou and the leadership that
you're providing.
And I've been fortunate enoughto be a part of one of your
productions, and and obviouslyhave seen a lot.
So kudos to you and for to havethat as a vision, but I I really
feel like it's been created andand I'm excited to see that on
the stage.
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
So yeah, well, you know, and I also should mention
I have Paige Pulsine, who is ourwho I almost said artistic
director, she's uh my assistantdirector.
Okay.
And uh Paige is somebody whopeople will remember from the
children's hour, and she was inAugust Osage County, she's been
on a lot of shows here.
Um, but she offered, she said,Hey, you know, I'd really like
(35:33):
to be involved in a show.
Um, are you looking for anybodyto to help with, you know, I
said, be my assistant director.
And now she's gonna be the stagemanager too.
Uh and she roped in her husbandto do our set.
And I was really worried abouttheater.
I was I was worried about theset because it's you know, it's
one thing where we have act oneis basically Macy's, and then
(35:55):
act two is a courtroom.
So we had to to make a set thatkind of works for both.
And I think Brad did a reallygreat job um in doing that, and
uh, I think it's it's gonna be areally fun what we we're still
working on it.
Yeah, we still have a lot ofwork to do.
We were painting all dayyesterday.
Yeah, uh, so we're we're gettingthere.
(36:15):
But uh we have a great crew.
Uh Alex Huey is doing ourcostumes, and and they were here
uh with Karen Larson uh pullingall the the 40s era stuff that
we have uh from the our costumedungeon uh that we have.
Uh and uh so you know that'sanother thing, you know.
When I knew when we were goingto the 40s, I was like, ooh, you
(36:35):
know, that's period.
Yeah, that's definitely morechallenging for the uh costumer.
But we have Alex Huey and she'sshe's another one, a kind of a
staple at CCT.
So um she's done ever kind ofeverything here.
Um so she took this on and she'sreally uh seems to be excited by
the challenge, and and uh and II swear to god I didn't cast
(36:57):
Tiffany because of her her stashof 40s clothes, but it
definitely comes in.
But it wasn't in handy.
It wasn't been in handy.
Yes, it definitely comes inhandy.
SPEAKER_01 (37:06):
And I want to say too, as well, uh you mentioning
the names that you've mentioned,and you know, we have some
newcomers to CCT, but you know,not to to community theater.
But a lot of these people thatyou're mentioning are actors as
well.
And so I love seeing that thatpeople get on both sides if as
it were, you know, they get onstage, but they also get are
(37:27):
part of that, whether it'sprops, whether it's this, you
know, whether it's the scene,whether it's clothing, whether
it's whatever it is that that Ithink it helps them as well, not
only as part of the creativeteam, but as actors as well.
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (37:42):
And I love to hear people like what page did come
up and say, I just want to beinvolved.
Like just whatever it is youhave for me, yeah, I'll do it.
And uh that's like the true liketheater person that's just like
I need to be in theater rightnow.
Yeah, just whatever you got forme, I'll take.
And that's wonderful.
SPEAKER_02 (38:02):
Jack, one of the things that I think about you
did such a good job casting theheavies.
Every play, you know, this youhave to have the heavies.
So we have a Mr.
Sawyer and we have theprosecutor.
SPEAKER_00 (38:15):
Yes, Danny Chase as Sawyer and uh and Mary and Mary
uh Reichert, I think is how youpronounce her last name.
Sorry, Mary, if I did it wrong.
Uh she's playing uh Mrs.
Mara, our uh yeah, uh Fred'snemesis in court.
And uh they're they're reallygreat playing off each other.
And wonderful.
Yeah, yeah, they're do they'rethey're great.
(38:36):
You're right.
You you gotta have some.
SPEAKER_02 (38:39):
And the interesting thing is typically the nicest
people in the world.
Yeah.
But you see them in the show andit's woo, yes, get off.
SPEAKER_01 (38:48):
Well, I love that you're bringing that up, the the
chemistry between those thathave been cast.
Um but I wanted to ask somethingthat, you know, for our and and
I'm gonna say this on purpose,our little theater, you know, if
you're coming from being used tobe a part of a larger theater,
uh, are to new to this theater,what was that first reaction and
(39:11):
how are you adjusting to havingwhat is somewhat of a small
space for a community theater?
SPEAKER_02 (39:18):
It's interesting, there's no wings which makes the
set design construction, butyeah, but it's really nice
because it's very intimate.
Still big big cast.
Yeah, set design changes, butnot a bad seat in the house.
That's very true.
SPEAKER_01 (39:34):
Very true.
SPEAKER_04 (39:36):
Yeah, I mean, uh I think with the theater there
there's all different shapes andsizes, and some things remain
the same, you know.
Uh I mentioned earlier the smellof a theater, and you walk in
and and the sound when you'reyou know speaking up on stage,
and you kind of adjust to okay,well, this is gonna be this size
of a house, or maybe this isgonna be a huge house, and you
(39:57):
kind of uh adjust, but a lot ofit remains the same.
And and one thing I love aboutthis, I you know, I was able to
come tomorrow or yesterday for alittle bit to paint and last
week to pick up a screw gun andyou know try to make my way
through that and hold a piece ofwood while it was sawed, and and
all that stuff is really fun,you know, that that you don't
get to do in uh in a differentsetting or professional setting.
(40:21):
It's like, okay, well, this isthe union job to do this or that
or the other thing.
It's like, oh, you pick a youknow, we're part of a team, as
Jack said, the team sport.
And I think you know, I grew upplaying basketball and baseball
in high school, and that wassomething that I loved being
part of that that group.
And theater had you know, once Ihit college, took that over.
And um, so yeah, there's somedifferences as far as house size
(40:43):
and stuff, but all the the goodstuff is is the same.
And I think this community, whatI found is like people just help
each other out, and and that'sbeen one thing that you know,
I've only been in town for sixmonths, and uh that's what I
found with this community.
It's like, oh, we people, youknow, the the children's theater
is working with the schools, andthe children's theater and the
community theater, you know, aresharing resources and
(41:04):
everybody's lending a hand, andthat's just a really fun
community to be a part of.
You know, I grew up in a smalltown, and that was kind of the
feeling, like, oh, this is asmall town.
Like, oh yeah, I'll help you.
Oh, let me you need to jump onyour car, I'll help you.
Oh, you need to help with andthat you don't get in a bigger
city or whatever, but in a in atown, in a community, it's like,
oh, this is it, it really feelsgood and feels at home to me.
(41:27):
And so um every theater has itsown uh size and shape, and you
know, there's I think there'ssomething of the about the
people here that make thetheater, and that's what's
that's what's really cool.
SPEAKER_01 (41:38):
Well, um, you're not gonna get an argument from me on
that, and I'm fortunate enoughthat I get to um uh also see
what's going on in our schoolsand uh have children that are
involved in theater, and thenwe've also been uh just started
our new Inland Empire steps ofthe stage, and we're gonna
hopefully get some more uhepisodes out about that because
(42:01):
we do have a number of theatersthroughout our area, and we also
have, as mentioned, the uh highschools and some of the junior
colleges and colleges as well,and it's just about that
community.
And thank you so much for sayingthat because it is really about
the people.
We can paint it, we can make itlook great, we can put an
amazing costume on it, but it'sabout that person and then how
they play that role, how they'redirected, and and taking that
(42:24):
well-written message.
So this is just fantastic.
I I'm really excited about this.
I do love my holidays and uhvery excited and having uh been
fortunate enough to be a partone of the holiday production.
SPEAKER_00 (42:37):
Oh, one thing I'd like to mention too is uh
because I just did a deep diveinto the 1940s uh for this show,
uh, I wanted to do something alittle different, you know, for
our audiences.
So I I started finding all theseold radio shows, and I was like,
wouldn't it be fun to do uh toplay a different old radio
(43:00):
program from December of 1947from when we're setting this?
So um I have I I think I haveour our schedule, you know, so
it's gonna be so if you comeearly, you know, you'll be able
to sit and listen to eat uheither the Christmas episode of
Burns and Allen from that yearor Jack Benny Show or Fibber,
(43:20):
McGee and Molly, which issomething probably no one's ever
heard of now, but um that was ahuge hit at the time.
Uh and Bing Crosby, of course.
So um, so yeah, that'll be justsomething a little extra uh just
to get people in the 1940s, youknow, mindset uh as as uh
they're waiting for the show tostart.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (43:40):
Well, everyone, our miracle on 34th Street, the
play, um, is going to debut onDecember 5th.
It is going to run through theDecember 20th.
The performances will be onFridays and Saturdays at 7 30
p.m.
and on Sundays at 2 30 p.m.
Tickets are available now.
You can call the box office at909-590-1149, or you can go to
(44:04):
our website at Chino CommunityTheater.org one more time for
those that are listening.
Chinocommunity theater.org.
SPEAKER_00 (44:13):
Um and we would really we actually do have, I
should say, two Saturdaymatinees.
Oh, okay.
Uh that the the it the postcardis a little confusing, but um
yeah, the last two weekends, wedo have a Saturday matinee.
Wonderful.
So we have two performances onuh Saturday, the last two
weekends.
SPEAKER_01 (44:32):
And then I know in the past many of the CCT
productions do uh opening nightgala and talk back.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (44:40):
Yes, that is happening.
Uh so if you come on openingnight, there will be a little
gala afterwards.
Kind of if you came to theseason reveal, it's kind of the
same thing, you know, where wehave a green room set up with
some food and drink, and youknow, people mingle and you know
talk to the cast and stuff.
It's very it's very fun.
And it's free, you know, so wedon't charge any extra for that
for your tickets.
So it's a good reason to come onopening night.
SPEAKER_01 (45:01):
An already very reasonable price ticket.
SPEAKER_00 (45:04):
Yes, it it for sure.
And and then we will be having atalk back, which I I I should
know that date, uh, but I thinkit's the first Sunday.
Okay.
Yes, yeah, the first Sunday,because sometimes we change it
for for the three on the edge uhfestival.
But um uh the first Sunday, uh,we're gonna have a talk back
with the cast uh that we've beenstarting to do with uh our
(45:25):
productions uh for a few yearsnow, and and and audiences seem
to enjoy it.
SPEAKER_01 (45:29):
Yeah, I I I do I do appreciate that that that
happens.
Jamie, Jack, Tiffany, Chris.
Thank you so much for spendingsome time with us today.
Thank you, Chris.
Steps to the stage.
Great to meet you guys, great tosee you guys again.
I hope we see you again and doanother interview for another
production.
And just so fantastic to hearand welcome back, Chris.
(45:52):
Welcome back, right?
Uh so thank you, everyone.
Thanks to all the listenersagain.
Get your tickets now.
This will sell out.
Please get your tickets now.
Our holiday events always sellout.
SPEAKER_00 (46:03):
I believe December 7th is already sold out or close
to sold out.
SPEAKER_01 (46:07):
Yeah, there you go.
So you gotta come and see thisproduction.
And as we've been mentioningthroughout, support your local
community theaters whereveryou're at.
We have international listeners.
We so appreciate you.
Send us a know, send us amessage, talk to us.
We want to hear.
I'd love to interview some ofyou people that are overseas.
We've done an interview with uha production from Australia, and
(46:29):
we'd love to include Europe andsome other places on top of our
beautiful inland empire and ourtheaters here that we love.
We just love community theater.
So thank you so much, you guys.
Appreciate you, appreciate youuh spending time today, but
especially for putting your allinto this production.
And I know everyone who comesand has the wonderful
opportunity to see it is justgoing to have a magical evening.
(46:51):
So thanks you all.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (46:54):
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER_01 (46:58):
Thanks for listening to Steps to the Stage, a 7
Street Community Theaterpodcast.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform and leave us a
review and a five-star rating.
It really helps.
You can also find us onInstagram, Facebook, and
YouTube.
Special thanks to ChinoCommunity Theater and Chino
Community Children's Theater fortheir generous support.
(47:18):
And very special thank you tothe listeners.
Steps to the Stage was createdby Joey Rice and Kirk Wayne.
Logo created by Marley Lane.
Original music by Joey Rice.
Your host, Kirk Lane.
Engineer and producer, JoeyRice.
Engineer and executive producer,Kirk Lane.
Thank you for Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER_01 (00:06):
Welcome to Steps to the Stage, a 7th Street
community theater podcast.
Happy Christmas, everyone.
We are here and back for myfavorite time of year, as well
as my favorite production of theyear.
It's the holiday production.
And we have some of our amazingteam.
(00:26):
We'll include actors, we'llinclude directors, and we're
going to talk about everythingthat is leading up to the Chino
Community Theaters presentationof Miracle on 34th Street, the
play.
Yay! Confetti cannons.
I've got Chris, Jamie, Jack,Tiffany here, and they're gonna
(00:48):
take us down the journey.
We're gonna ride the sleigh,right, Santa?
Absolutely.
We're gonna ride the sleigh andwe're gonna learn about this
holiday classic.
So did a little researchreleased in 1947 as a movie.
It was a story by ValentineDavies, and the screenplay and
director was George Seaton.
(01:11):
If I'm not mistaken, they wonthree Academy Awards, which
included a Best Supporting Actoras well as Best Screenplay and
Best Story, if I got that allcorrect.
So just to give you a little bitof background, and of course,
since then there's been so manydifferent radio plays, Broadway,
other adaptations.
(01:31):
It's just a beautiful, wonderfulstory.
And I'm so glad that we'rebringing it here.
So before we get started, let'sgo through and meet all of our
guests.
And we'll start over here withChris, our director.
SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
Uh thank you, Kirk.
Uh, it's great to be back on thepodcast.
Uh I feel like I'm kind of asemi-regular.
SPEAKER_01 (01:49):
You are a semi-regular.
You're gonna be hired prettysoon, I think, and we're gonna
expand and take over the theaterworld.
SPEAKER_00 (01:55):
Yes, that's that sounds like uh a good plan.
But uh for for the the immediateuh uh thing that we're doing,
miracle on 34th Street, I amjust really happy to be, I'm
always happy to be back at CCTand directing because I just
I've been here for so many yearsand uh the theater's been around
(02:17):
where this is our 42nd season.
Yeah.
And uh and this is a play thatwe we really haven't done too
many times.
We've we've uh revisited aChristmas Carol a lot.
Um we've done It's a WonderfulLife a few times last year.
In fact, I I directed the theradio production, uh, the radio
uh play version of It's aWonderful Life, and that was a
(02:39):
great deal of fun.
And uh we've tried, you know,some different uh things over
the years, uh holiday-wise, butuh we just decided, you know,
this was it's about time we comeback to Miracle on 34th Street.
It's it's a really feel-good uhstory, and and it is one of the
uh, I think kind of the classicold classic Christmas movies
(03:04):
that we think about, you know,the those core, maybe maybe like
five, you know, that that reallyget done a lot and have been
remade many times.
And like you said, it was, Ibelieve, a Broadway musical at
some point.
And uh so it's it's it's just areally good story.
And that's what I'm excited totell is that uh ultimately it
(03:25):
comes down to it's just a reallygood story.
It's not just Christmas thrownat you, which you know, some
some of the holiday shows areare just kind of that.
It's just like ah Christmas,here it is.
And uh, and and when you stripit down, there's really not a
whole lot of substance there.
And uh this play actually hasthat, this story actually has
(03:47):
that.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
It is a feel-good movie, and we call it that for a
reason, and why millions ofpeople watch it again and again
year over year.
So 100% agree with that.
And I just want to insert herereal quick because I know we
have a good local audience, butwe also have an expanded
audience.
But you guys just did yourseason reveal for the theater,
and uh, I know the children'stheater just did theirs recently
(04:10):
as well.
So it's just exciting as we headtoward the end of the season.
We're gonna get our feel-goodmovie and we're gonna get ready
for a great slate of uhproductions next week.
SPEAKER_00 (04:20):
Busy, busy time right now, too with the holidays
and everything.
It's always a challenge, youknow, to do the holiday show for
that reason because you have thethe reveal on top of it and and
you know, people going away forthe holidays.
I'm missing a couple people allnext week because of
Thanksgiving.
So it is it is a challenge, butit's it's a it's a joyful
(04:41):
challenge.
Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Family is important, and so I'm glad that you're
letting them spend time withfamily, Chris.
Yes, what a wonderful directoryou are.
I don't know if I had a choice,but we'll just say you're kind
and gentle.
Yes, we'll say that.
Tiffany got her right in thelap.
I know.
SPEAKER_05 (05:01):
Nice to be back, guys.
Uh, this is my third steps onthe stage.
This is my third production withCCT and my second time working
with Chris, which is great.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
Yes, I will take credit for bringing her to CCT.
SPEAKER_05 (05:14):
Yes, you absolutely can.
It actually has always beenabout you.
Actually, it has.
Wow, look at that.
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
Slings and arrows.
SPEAKER_05 (05:23):
It has.
My first interest with CCT wasChris directing on the edge like
in 2017, I think it wasBoinkett's Girl or something
like that.
That's when I started stalkinghim on social media.
It's like, so hey, you're doingthe show.
Yes.
You're doing the show.
No one does it.
You don't know me.
(05:44):
So needless to say, I had a flattire and couldn't come.
But years later, uh, weconnected.
Uh, but Chris asked me to do theseason reveal for Miracle on
34th Street last year.
So I was excited about it.
And then he asked if I wouldcome down and make the drive
again.
So yeah, absolutely.
And I did a production of uhWonderful Life last year as
(06:07):
well.
SPEAKER_01 (06:08):
Okay, yeah.
So it's Which was wonderful.
SPEAKER_05 (06:10):
It was wonderful.
Um but it's nice to be able todo one.
I agree.
Christmas Carol's been for thoseof you that love Christmas
Carol, but Christmas Carol'sbeen done.
Um, and if I am giving up mytime in the holidays, I like it
to have some oomph and some newmeaning for wingles.
SPEAKER_01 (06:29):
What role are you?
SPEAKER_05 (06:30):
Oh, I'm playing Doris Walker, so I am the
non-believer mom.
SPEAKER_00 (06:34):
Wonderful.
Non-believer mom.
Can I uh I should have probablyuh introduced uh the uh
everybody, but you know, Tiffanyis playing Doris, the
non-believer mom.
And we also have Jack Richardshere who has Chris Kringle.
And uh and then we have Jamie uhTinter who is playing Fred, the
amiable next door neighbor, whouh takes on the the the great
(06:56):
court case, the the thrillingcourt case at the end of the uh
we all need a Fred in our life.
SPEAKER_01 (07:02):
Yes, we really all do need a Fred in our life, and
it's great.
And I agree with the ChristmasCarol, and and I was part of one
of Chris's uh holidayproductions back in 2019, which
was right after oh, I'm sorry,that was Jeff Deards, you were
Mama Mia.
So um I did Mama Mia, which wasthe first show that I was able
(07:22):
to do, and then I did uh withJeff Deards.
Uh so it it's it is great now,uh, all this time to meet new
people, but see good friendsthat we've known for a while and
that are that are keepdedicating.
And this is a community theaterpodcast, and as you know, we all
drove our Rolls-Royce's andBentleys into uh into the
(07:45):
theater today.
We do this because we love it,you listen because you love it,
and you participate in yourcommunities.
And so we just cannot stressenough how important it is, no
matter what level, that you goand support the arts and support
community theater.
So let's move on to Santa, Imean Jack, who is in front of me
(08:05):
and uh has got a uh Kris Kringleshirt on and in the mood and has
been ho ho hoing since hearrived, and we appreciate it.
Let's embody the role, yes?
Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
Oh, I'm having such a good time.
That's great, it's a blast.
It's been 30 years since I'vebeen on the stage.
30 years.
Yeah.
I just recently moved to uh TinoHills, and then I came here and
I saw Raisin in the Sun, then Isaw the auditions for this, and
I said, hmm, started growing mybeard.
(08:40):
Came down to auditions.
I go, wow, this is great.
Um, the people I auditioned withwere so talented.
I did a scene with Jamie.
Yeah, you know, I said, Well,they gotta use this guy.
So this is some some high flyingfolks.
I don't know if I want to get inhere.
But then when he called andsaid, Yeah, let's go, let's do
(09:00):
it.
I said, Oh man, I I'm reliving.
I cut my bones in in Ohio.
Okay.
Chagrin Valley Little Theater.
SPEAKER_03 (09:08):
Love it.
SPEAKER_02 (09:09):
Tim Conway's place.
They've got a lot of Christmasmovies there because it looks
like New England.
Yeah.
And uh so to revisit this back,I'm just it's like I shed 30
years.
SPEAKER_01 (09:21):
What an amazing, amazing story.
I'm so glad you shared that withus.
And and for uh those that areout there 30 years back on the
stage, that is really the magicof theater, but specifically
this theater, we're a littlebiased, right?
Um, and the people that areinvolved.
Uh, and that's it.
Uh, I I'm so lucky that I get tobe involved in this podcast and
talk to so many great people,but hearing stories like that is
(09:44):
another reason why we keepcoming back and putting
episodes.
So welcome back, as we havepainted up here.
Glad you're back on the stageand so glad that you're part of
uh this particular production.
You'll be you'll be on the nicelist.
Look at that.
Look at that.
Maybe that 59 goal top Les Paulis coming this year, everyone.
You may need to do some moreresearch.
(10:09):
Nice, and let's move over toFred.
SPEAKER_04 (10:13):
Indeed.
Yeah, so uh Jamie Tinger.
I'm playing Fred Gailey, the uhDoris' neighbor and Santa's
attorney.
And this is my first go-aroundhere at CC uh T.
SPEAKER_01 (10:24):
And uh what kind of retainer does Santa have to pay
if I make sorry.
SPEAKER_04 (10:30):
Just no coal in the stocking, just a good, you know,
what was a toy in the forty,maybe a nice choo-choo terrain
or something.
He's living with reindeer rightnow, so he has nothing going for
it.
Although my favorite Christmasgift as a kid was getting my
Nintendo set when I was likeeight.
And that that was like my Santamemory of like Santa brought
(10:51):
this, you know, and that was Ithink my last time where I well
really believed uh and and thatwas a good good Santa memory.
But um, yeah, I like Jack, I Imoved to Chino Hills this
summer.
Uh came uh my wife's familylives in the in the area, and we
were living in LA for you knowthe last I moved to LA from
Minnesota as I'm representingtoday.
(11:13):
Oh betcha.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Um and I got my start incommunity theater there up in
Hibbing, Minnesota, and uh lovethe community theater.
And so when we moved here, um Igot a job teaching theater at
Ayala uh high school and saw acouple shows here this summer.
I'm like, I I just want to be apart of the community.
I've I've found that everybody'severybody's been so welcoming in
(11:35):
the theater community here inChino Hills between the the
school and the children'stheater and the community
theater.
I wanted to uh get back on thestage as well in in a in a fun
way.
And it just stepping into thisthis room here or this stage and
just the smell of the theaterand and it just it just feels
like home.
And uh Chris and Tiffany andJack have been just awesome to
(11:58):
work with, and it's just beenreally fun.
It's been the highlight of my ofmy day.
Like, okay, seven o'clockrehearsal, and it's a place
where you know, all the youknow, some people like I'm from
northern Minnesota, so somepeople like to fish, deer
hunting season just ended.
Uh I like the theater, you know.
That's my place where I can justfeel at home and and just feel
(12:21):
like, oh, this is this is whatlife's all about, you know, just
making fun art with good peopleand um this particular play.
I I'd you know seen Christmasmovies growing up, and it was
one of those where it would comeon, and my dad and my uncles,
and they would all quote, oh,oh, here's where, you know,
here's where Santa's gonna dohere.
(12:43):
And it was like, oh, okay.
And so when this came about,it's like, well, this is it
feels like like Chris was sayingearlier, it's not just
Christmas, Christmas.
There's a real story there, andso important.
Yeah, it's so important.
SPEAKER_01 (12:55):
Yeah, it it it's it's gonna be fun, it's gonna be
a lot of fun.
Well, thanks you guys forintroducing yourselves and such
great stories about people thathave been here and done
productions before, people thathaven't been on the stage in
quite some time, people that arecoming in from other parts of
the country and and experiencingthe magic of this particular
community theater, which there'smagic everywhere.
But so, so appreciate y'allsharing that.
(13:17):
And I'm just gonna go to Chrisand say, you are now taking on,
and and I know you you directand you do an excellent job.
This is has to be a challenge.
This is a beloved, beloved storyuh that obviously is around that
Christmas time, but as we've alldiscussed, there's there's more
to it than that.
(13:38):
How do you go into this and andtalk to us about that
preparation?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
Well, it is a bit of a challenge, uh, but maybe not
what you kind of thought of whenyou were asking the question,
because I'm not really worriedabout uh uh fitting the the the
movie necessarily um becausethere has been so many
adaptations of it.
So I think a lot of people havetheir own special miracle on
(14:07):
34th Street, and there's a lotof people that love the 90s uh
version of it.
In fact, our script was actuallywritten to take place in the
90s, and uh we decided we weregonna go back to the 1940s.
In fact, I decided, yeah, Ishouldn't say we, I decided uh I
wanted it to be uh, you know,the classic uh miracle on 34th
(14:29):
Street from the 1940s.
There for me, there's somethingabout the 1940s that that's just
kind of special to me.
I think it's post maybepost-war, you know, the the mood
of the country, and and uh Ithink that's when Christmas
really just kind of exploded inour kind of consciousness and
and you know the country and youknow, commercialism I think had
(14:51):
a lot to do with it too.
Uh in fact, this this playtouches on that for sure.
Um but this is the this is all Ithis is almost like a musical in
in a lot of ways, just in termsof all the moving parts of it,
and there's so many differentscenes.
I've I've been kind of used todoing plays with one setting,
you know, one living room set orsomething with a small cast, but
(15:15):
this has a very big cast, andand uh I'm working with kids, uh
I'm working with uh older peopleand everyone in between.
And uh it's it's just a realmixture of people.
I am I actually have somemothers and daughters uh uh
teams working in the show.
Yeah.
And uh and uh sisters, uhactually.
(15:38):
And so there's there's uhdefinitely a family element uh
to it.
And uh, but actually there is alittle music in the show.
We have some dancing elves, wehave uh we have some carolers,
uh, you know, so there's a lotgoing on for this show.
So that's that was kind of thedaunting thing about it was it's
just a big production, and Ihaven't done kind of a big
(16:00):
production like this with somany things uh, you know, that
are that are a part of it.
And uh so that that was thething that was mostly the the
daunting thing.
When I saw these peopleaudition, I I wasn't worried
about bringing this story to thestage because these are the
perfect people for these roles.
And you know, I sometimes I'msitting at rehearsal and I'm
(16:23):
listening to Jack on stage andI'm I'm thinking, we got another
story here of like the realChris Kringle auditioning to
play Kris Kringle in Miracle on34th Street, uh because he's so
perfect and so authentic.
As you could just hear it even,I'm sure your listeners can hear
it in just his voice.
SPEAKER_01 (16:42):
Well, I'm gonna interrupt.
I pulled up in in my sleigh andI looked across and I saw Santa
in his sleigh.
And so for the moment I evenwalked in before I set up, I was
like, I'm talking to Santatoday, you know?
And and that that that is justit's it's one of those things
that again, taking this on, thatthere I loved hearing you say
(17:04):
that, like, yes, there's a lotof content to go off of, but
this collective group in thisparticular area needs to present
it the way that that they needto present it under your
direction.
And already just it's you know,I do this a lot and I meet a lot
of casts, and and you know,sometimes you get, especially in
community theater, you get thesame actors over and over again
(17:26):
playing different parts.
And that's that's fine, that'swonderful.
We, I think, have done a greatjob of the outreach and bringing
in people that have haven'tacted in 30 years, people that
have come from other parts ofthe country, and then people
that are experienced and haveworked not only in this theater
but other theaters, and you getthat mix, and then you have
family mix.
I love that as well.
That's got to help with theenergy.
SPEAKER_00 (17:46):
I love having a mix of new and old people because I
think you can learn from peopleuh you can learn from the people
that have done shows here formany years, and you know, kind
of how every theater kind of hastheir own vibe and how things
work.
And uh so it's always a newexperience coming to uh a
different working at a differenttheater.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
Resparks that energy, right?
Because sometimes you get alittle complacent or you just
get a little oh, okay, here wego again.
SPEAKER_00 (18:10):
So it's always fun to see the new the newbies come
in and and uh and and you knowkind of uh learn learn uh how
things work at at this theaterand uh and just like you said,
not to see the same people allthe time, uh and to get some new
faces up on our stage and andhopefully they'll come back, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
So um and their families come and maybe that one
of those family members is gonnabe inspired by what you guys do
up there, and then they joinsome small production or a
class, and then you know they'redoing, they're directing their
own shows, right?
So love to see that.
Tiffany, I'd love to hear alittle bit more about your
preparation for something likethis.
(18:50):
Having worked with Chris beforeand worked on this stage, but uh
this is a new role that you'vehaven't played before.
So would love to hear more aboutwhat went into that preparation.
SPEAKER_05 (19:00):
Well, I am a classic movie weirdo.
I don't even say buff, I sayweirdo.
Um, I did children's hour lastyear and uh provided all of my
own costumes, and I'm sort ofgetting known for if there's a
vintage costume.
Tiff will just bring herdresses.
Don't worry, we're good.
Um, because I sort of have thisweird embodiment of that era in
(19:24):
my personal life.
And I think a big part of thathas to do with my grandmother
who actually introduced me tothis movie.
Um she was always, you know, youdon't go out without your
lipstick, you gotta make sureyou got certain things.
You can have, you can be wearingin a trash bag, but you must
have a lip on.
Like that type of thing was her.
And um I just I with Chris too,I love this era.
(19:47):
I I love the idea of it's notnecessarily simpler, but more
basic, I guess.
And um having to be connected topeople is a really big deal.
Yeah, I've never played a mom.
(20:08):
I think this is my first timeever playing a mom.
I played Medea, but that doesn'tcount because the kids were dead
and I killed them.
SPEAKER_03 (20:16):
Um but I know.
Merry Christmas! Merry ChristmasDeath and Children.
SPEAKER_05 (20:23):
Um, no, I I don't think I've ever played a mom
before.
Um, but I have seven nieces andI have two nephews, and I always
tend to kind of take on momenergy with people who are
younger than me, even peoplethat are older than me, oddly
enough.
Um so that was an interestingthing to be like, you know, W WC
(20:44):
Fields was the one that saidworking with children and
animals.
Um and so I've never really hadto like have a kid attached to
me on stage, which has beeninteresting.
Um, so just sort of thinkingabout that.
And the this script inparticular, we were talking
about it, Chris and Jamie and Iwere talking about it just the
other night.
(21:04):
She's very empowered for the erabeing a single mom with a job,
living in an apartment.
Divorced.
Divorced.
Yeah, it's not that he died, heis she is divorced.
It is a part of the story.
And you didn't see a lot ofthat.
We didn't talk about it if itwas happening.
(21:25):
Um, so I think that's a big partof it too.
It sort of puts this she has tohave so many different levels.
She has to be able to be soft,she has to be a professional,
she has to be a mom.
And then there has to be thisweird dynamic of being a woman
in the 40s, which is veryinteresting.
SPEAKER_01 (21:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jamie, let's talk a little bitabout your preparation.
Um, and so you had donecommunity theater before, you
said in in Minnesota, and thenwhen you were in LA as well, or
uh well, I just the quickversion of my my journey.
SPEAKER_04 (22:02):
Yeah, I started community theater in Minnesota
and then I got involved withcollege theater and things, and
then I went to grad school inFlorida State, and then moved
out here to do like you know TVand commercial stuff.
So I did in like 2007 or 2007 tothe mid you know 20 teens, I was
you know, pounding the pavementand and you know, driving to
(22:23):
Santa Monica at 10:30 on aTuesday for that one-word
commercial audition and youknow, got got a few jobs and a
few roles, uh, but theater washard to do, right?
Because you know, we had to haveall these gig works and I would
umpire softball games at nightand you know, and and substitute
teach during the day.
And so life was happening.
Trying to do a play was hard.
(22:45):
So there was a lot of readings,I did a lot of improv and and
auditioning and all that.
And then uh when my uh you know,I got married in 2017, and then
we had two kids, and so I reallydidn't do a whole lot because I
was at home, and then COVIDhappened, and so I hadn't been
on stage for a while, you know,doing a play and a lot of
(23:05):
writing, you know, I'd spend mytime in the early 2020s just
kind of writing because I'mlike, well, I can be at home, I
don't have you know, I can helphelp with the kids, and I'd you
know try to write some plays,write some screenplays, and it
was just my outlet for you know,my creative my creative juices
were that way, but now life hasslowed down a little bit, you
know.
Girls are in school, moved here,and so it's like, oh my gosh,
(23:28):
it's so nice to be back in thetheater because one thing, you
know, I I've been acting for awhile and I loved um what I
discovered kind of getting somework in in LA and and on camera
and stuff.
I was like, oh, okay, you know,I'm on camera, I'm doing
professional work and this andthat.
But you know, you go back toyour dressing room or go back to
(23:49):
your car, and like that's it,the day's over.
Yeah.
The theater, it's like therethere's a I mean, community
theater, there is a community,there is the connection.
You do get to know people, youget to go on the journey
together.
And there's something that'svery nurturing for the soul uh
when that happens, right?
Because you go on this ride forsix weeks or eight weeks, and
(24:10):
you get to know people and youget to build relationships and
you get to put on a s a showtogether, right?
And so that is is something thatI'm discovering, like, oh, I I
really love that, you know, andit and it's not for any external
thing.
It's just like, no, this is thisis really just fun for me.
This is this is uh and thesepeople have been just really fun
(24:32):
to work with.
So Fred Gailey, my my part, youknow, uh Chris, you know, we we
quickly became uh Facebookfriends after uh the audition
and everything, and and one ofmy old directors, who's now now
a longtime friend, Mike, hisname is Mike Richie.
He was my first first director,and we become friends, and you
know, he saw that I was cast asFred Gailey.
(24:54):
And and Mike writes, oh uh FredGailey's perfect for you, Jamie.
And and Chris comes like, oh, Iguess I did good casting.
And I'm like, Yeah, I think Ithink you know, so with Fred,
it's there's the challenge andthe fun challenge of okay, I
know this this type is a typethat I've played and have been
casting before, but how do I,you know, he's a he's a nice
(25:16):
guy, right?
And I kind of have, as my wifesays, a resting nice face,
especially when I'm shaved.
Um something else, which wewon't say not here, but um so
it's like how how do I, youknow, make Fred my own?
And so I think with Fred, someof the fun is like the period,
like how do I, even with voiceand gestures, how to make it
(25:38):
sound, you know, 1940s, NewYork.
Uh so there's some fun withthat.
And the courtroom scenes arereally fun.
It's like, how do I, you know,because that's a that's a trope
that people oh, people knowcourtroom dramas, they see it on
TV all the time, law and order,everybody knows the courtroom
scene.
And so I've never really, justlike uh Tiffany is saying, has
never played a mother, I've I'venever gotten to play a courtroom
(26:00):
scene, so that's a funchallenge.
And there is one scene uh thatis just Tiffany and I in the in
act two that feels on its ownout of place, right?
It because it's it's dramaticand there's meat there, and in
the course of the story, itmakes total sense.
But that scene has beensomething it's like, okay, we
really get to have this nicelike two-person drama scene in
(26:23):
this in this feel-good story.
Um, so there's a lot of funlittle moments here, and and
Fred's been, you know, it's niceto play a type, you know, type
that is is familiar, but alsothese little challenges within
it.
That's wonderful.
That's wonderful.
SPEAKER_01 (26:38):
Jack.
Yes.
Welcome back.
I'm still I'm just still inshock over the 30 years.
I I it's really just making mefeel warm, happy inside, you
know, because I'm fairly new tothe theater.
I got on into the theaterthrough my kids that got
involved, right?
And then since then, I was I waslucky enough to act and doing
(27:01):
the podcast and all this otherstuff.
But um just fabulous, fabulousto have you here and love to
know more, a little bit aboutyour approach going into playing
kind of an iconic role.
I mean, yeah, I think a lot ofpeople know this guy.
SPEAKER_02 (27:18):
I mean, you know, so you well 40 years ago, I
auditioned first time at CBLT.
They were doing a Christmasshow.
Uh She Loves Me.
Providence Hollander wasdirecting, who was a Broadway
actress at the time and wasdoing this little theater thing.
So I went and auditioned for it,and I didn't know what I was
(27:40):
doing.
I hadn't done anything sincehigh school.
Um so they they get on stage andit was very intimidating because
the director chair was in themiddle of the row, and the uh
producer and and the stagemanager and all the bigwigs,
okay, what are you gonna do forus?
I don't know.
(28:01):
Okay, well, uh, what are yougonna sing?
They're singing.
I didn't.
Okay.
So it ended with them saying,Okay, well, thanks for coming
out.
Um, we'll call you.
And I said, you know, I haven'tdone theater before, but I know
what don't call us, we'll callyou means.
(28:23):
I would just like to be in theplay.
I do anything.
You put a put uh a blanket overme, I'll be a chair.
I'll hold a light bulb.
What do you want?
You know, anything on this?
Oh, you do back?
Sure.
So I did, and I had such a goodtime.
Such a good time.
It's uh to me, it's like a teamsport.
Everybody working together,agreed.
(28:45):
Um second show I auditioned forwas uh George Washington Slept
Year, and they cast me in thelead.
So I'm going, oh okay.
Welcome.
So it was it was I had a 10-yearrun there that was, I just
happened to blast.
SPEAKER_01 (29:00):
That's fantastic.
And then life happened, andyeah, you know, okay.
But you're back, yeah, andyou're cast as Chris Kringle.
Yeah.
Other AK known as Santa, the bigguy.
So uh what goes into preppingfor this role for you from your
perspective?
SPEAKER_02 (29:17):
Really, not much because the person I am Santa.
The personality is me.
That's who I am.
Uh so it just makes a littlemore fun.
Yeah.
Quiz said they're you know,they're adding some music and
stuff to it.
I said, that adds so much.
Oh, pardon me.
(29:38):
Adds so much to it.
Uh so I said, Well, what do Ido?
And so he says, Well, you'regonna be saying good King
Wenceslaus.
Okay, well, I can do that inDutch.
Well, what?
Oh, we're doing it and it'scoming up.
The preparation is just I wasborn in 49.
(29:59):
So all All these things thatyou're looking at trying to dig
up on YouTube.
I saw his first runs as a kid.
True.
And uh Miracle on 34th Street isjust doing the 40s kind of
style.
SPEAKER_01 (30:13):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (30:14):
You know, the transatlantic accents that you
can kick in and just have funwith.
It's just a really, really goodtime.
And Chris and I are basically onthe same page from the from the
beginning when he said, I'mgonna put it back in the 40s.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yes, that's where it has to be.
That's a good decision.
SPEAKER_01 (30:31):
And it's obviously impacted your cast, Chris, which
is each one of them has spokenabout how that's guided them in
their character development.
So and and I think, you know,again, there is that sensibility
that you that you can bring outfrom that time and that era and
that age.
And I think it's gonna hit homepretty good with the era and age
(30:52):
that we're in right now.
So excited that you did that.
Um we've had a chance to talk tothese wonderful people, but tell
us a little bit about more aboutthe rest of your creative team
and some of the other castmembers.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
Oh goodness, we have a lot of people uh that are
contributing to this show.
Um, not to mention I was gonnasay one person that I definitely
don't want to leave out is ourlittle Susan, who has played.
Um she's um we we didn't reallyhave enough room, but um she's
at an equally large role uh tothe ones that are here.
(31:26):
Um but Susan is Doris'sdaughter, and she's the the the
one, you know, Doris has uh beenuh not exactly the mother for
someone to believe in SantaClaus.
Uh in fact, she's told herdaughter that you know there is
no Santa Claus.
You believe you believe in yes,there are no all there on there
(31:47):
are no alternative facts with uhDoris.
Uh she you know she uh tells herdaughter to believe what is
real.
And uh so there's not a lot ofwiggle room with with Doris, and
that's where the basic conflictcomes in with uh you know with
Fred, uh, because he's a muchmuch different character, much
more open to uh believing otherthings and and and having faith
(32:10):
and and and stuff like that.
But I'm getting away from allthat.
But anyway, Sammy Grimley, whois uh people long time you know
p CCT people will know.
SPEAKER_01 (32:23):
You were Mamma Mia together, I remember.
SPEAKER_00 (32:25):
Sammy's uh mom, uh Stephanie, who is also in our
show.
She plays Dr.
Pierce.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (32:31):
Yeah, so Sammy is is doing a wonderful job as as
Susan, and uh she she in factpremiered uh the part uh doing
it for our reveal scene.
So uh she she charmed uh ouraudiences already.
So I think uh she's it just wehave a couple weeks to go, so
she's just gonna be even better,and they're just gonna adore
(32:53):
her.
And she's uh really, reallycharming.
And uh it's a it's a big partfor a little girl, and she's
she's really doing a great job.
And uh so I wanted to, you know,special mention to Sammy.
We love Sammy, yes, and you willespecially when you come and see
this.
She's just adorable.
And uh, and we have I I can'tunfortunately it would take me
(33:17):
forever to go through the entireall the names, but uh, you can
go online and you know check ourwebsite and more importantly,
come see the show and see theprogram.
But what's so great about thisshow is that everybody they're
the God bless them, they come inand they're they may have only
one or two lines, you know, forwhat we're rehearsing that
(33:37):
night.
And they just give their all,you know, and we see these, you
know, fully fleshed outcharacters who are just showing
up for just a second.
And that's what makes these kindof shows really great, is when
it's not just seeing really goodperformances in the leads, and
then everybody else is just kindof staring into space.
(33:59):
You're seeing everybody fullyengaged and everybody uh
feeling, and that's what Ireally wanted is everyone to
feel like they're an essentialpart of this particular show
because there's so many, like Isaid before, so many elements to
it.
And uh I want everyone to toknow that they are an essential
(34:20):
element to it, and uh and itjust adds so much, you know, to
the basic uh you know, tapestrythat we're that we're trying to.
SPEAKER_01 (34:31):
And I can I can tell just from this short
conversation that the energy ofthe entire cast and crew is that
drawing light, I would imagine,for people that are coming in
just for one line, you know, butthey want to be within the
group, and you guys are lookingforward to it.
You you know, you're meantyou've mentioned that's like I
(34:52):
look forward to this.
It's my chance to just kind ofget away from the day stuff.
So that's a testament, Chris, toyou and the leadership that
you're providing.
And I've been fortunate enoughto be a part of one of your
productions, and and obviouslyhave seen a lot.
So kudos to you and for to havethat as a vision, but I I really
feel like it's been created andand I'm excited to see that on
the stage.
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
So yeah, well, you know, and I also should mention
I have Paige Pulsine, who is ourwho I almost said artistic
director, she's uh my assistantdirector.
Okay.
And uh Paige is somebody whopeople will remember from the
children's hour, and she was inAugust Osage County, she's been
on a lot of shows here.
Um, but she offered, she said,Hey, you know, I'd really like
(35:33):
to be involved in a show.
Um, are you looking for anybodyto to help with, you know, I
said, be my assistant director.
And now she's gonna be the stagemanager too.
Uh and she roped in her husbandto do our set.
And I was really worried abouttheater.
I was I was worried about theset because it's you know, it's
one thing where we have act oneis basically Macy's, and then
(35:55):
act two is a courtroom.
So we had to to make a set thatkind of works for both.
And I think Brad did a reallygreat job um in doing that, and
uh, I think it's it's gonna be areally fun what we we're still
working on it.
Yeah, we still have a lot ofwork to do.
We were painting all dayyesterday.
Yeah, uh, so we're we're gettingthere.
(36:15):
But uh we have a great crew.
Uh Alex Huey is doing ourcostumes, and and they were here
uh with Karen Larson uh pullingall the the 40s era stuff that
we have uh from the our costumedungeon uh that we have.
Uh and uh so you know that'sanother thing, you know.
When I knew when we were goingto the 40s, I was like, ooh, you
(36:35):
know, that's period.
Yeah, that's definitely morechallenging for the uh costumer.
But we have Alex Huey and she'sshe's another one, a kind of a
staple at CCT.
So um she's done ever kind ofeverything here.
Um so she took this on and she'sreally uh seems to be excited by
the challenge, and and uh and II swear to god I didn't cast
(36:57):
Tiffany because of her her stashof 40s clothes, but it
definitely comes in.
But it wasn't in handy.
It wasn't been in handy.
Yes, it definitely comes inhandy.
SPEAKER_01 (37:06):
And I want to say too, as well, uh you mentioning
the names that you've mentioned,and you know, we have some
newcomers to CCT, but you know,not to to community theater.
But a lot of these people thatyou're mentioning are actors as
well.
And so I love seeing that thatpeople get on both sides if as
it were, you know, they get onstage, but they also get are
(37:27):
part of that, whether it'sprops, whether it's this, you
know, whether it's the scene,whether it's clothing, whether
it's whatever it is that that Ithink it helps them as well, not
only as part of the creativeteam, but as actors as well.
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (37:42):
And I love to hear people like what page did come
up and say, I just want to beinvolved.
Like just whatever it is youhave for me, yeah, I'll do it.
And uh that's like the true liketheater person that's just like
I need to be in theater rightnow.
Yeah, just whatever you got forme, I'll take.
And that's wonderful.
SPEAKER_02 (38:02):
Jack, one of the things that I think about you
did such a good job casting theheavies.
Every play, you know, this youhave to have the heavies.
So we have a Mr.
Sawyer and we have theprosecutor.
SPEAKER_00 (38:15):
Yes, Danny Chase as Sawyer and uh and Mary and Mary
uh Reichert, I think is how youpronounce her last name.
Sorry, Mary, if I did it wrong.
Uh she's playing uh Mrs.
Mara, our uh yeah, uh Fred'snemesis in court.
And uh they're they're reallygreat playing off each other.
And wonderful.
Yeah, yeah, they're do they'rethey're great.
(38:36):
You're right.
You you gotta have some.
SPEAKER_02 (38:39):
And the interesting thing is typically the nicest
people in the world.
Yeah.
But you see them in the show andit's woo, yes, get off.
SPEAKER_01 (38:48):
Well, I love that you're bringing that up, the the
chemistry between those thathave been cast.
Um but I wanted to ask somethingthat, you know, for our and and
I'm gonna say this on purpose,our little theater, you know, if
you're coming from being used tobe a part of a larger theater,
uh, are to new to this theater,what was that first reaction and
(39:11):
how are you adjusting to havingwhat is somewhat of a small
space for a community theater?
SPEAKER_02 (39:18):
It's interesting, there's no wings which makes the
set design construction, butyeah, but it's really nice
because it's very intimate.
Still big big cast.
Yeah, set design changes, butnot a bad seat in the house.
That's very true.
SPEAKER_01 (39:34):
Very true.
SPEAKER_04 (39:36):
Yeah, I mean, uh I think with the theater there
there's all different shapes andsizes, and some things remain
the same, you know.
Uh I mentioned earlier the smellof a theater, and you walk in
and and the sound when you'reyou know speaking up on stage,
and you kind of adjust to okay,well, this is gonna be this size
of a house, or maybe this isgonna be a huge house, and you
(39:57):
kind of uh adjust, but a lot ofit remains the same.
And and one thing I love aboutthis, I you know, I was able to
come tomorrow or yesterday for alittle bit to paint and last
week to pick up a screw gun andyou know try to make my way
through that and hold a piece ofwood while it was sawed, and and
all that stuff is really fun,you know, that that you don't
get to do in uh in a differentsetting or professional setting.
(40:21):
It's like, okay, well, this isthe union job to do this or that
or the other thing.
It's like, oh, you pick a youknow, we're part of a team, as
Jack said, the team sport.
And I think you know, I grew upplaying basketball and baseball
in high school, and that wassomething that I loved being
part of that that group.
And theater had you know, once Ihit college, took that over.
And um, so yeah, there's somedifferences as far as house size
(40:43):
and stuff, but all the the goodstuff is is the same.
And I think this community, whatI found is like people just help
each other out, and and that'sbeen one thing that you know,
I've only been in town for sixmonths, and uh that's what I
found with this community.
It's like, oh, we people, youknow, the the children's theater
is working with the schools, andthe children's theater and the
community theater, you know, aresharing resources and
(41:04):
everybody's lending a hand, andthat's just a really fun
community to be a part of.
You know, I grew up in a smalltown, and that was kind of the
feeling, like, oh, this is asmall town.
Like, oh yeah, I'll help you.
Oh, let me you need to jump onyour car, I'll help you.
Oh, you need to help with andthat you don't get in a bigger
city or whatever, but in a in atown, in a community, it's like,
oh, this is it, it really feelsgood and feels at home to me.
(41:27):
And so um every theater has itsown uh size and shape, and you
know, there's I think there'ssomething of the about the
people here that make thetheater, and that's what's
that's what's really cool.
SPEAKER_01 (41:38):
Well, um, you're not gonna get an argument from me on
that, and I'm fortunate enoughthat I get to um uh also see
what's going on in our schoolsand uh have children that are
involved in theater, and thenwe've also been uh just started
our new Inland Empire steps ofthe stage, and we're gonna
hopefully get some more uhepisodes out about that because
(42:01):
we do have a number of theatersthroughout our area, and we also
have, as mentioned, the uh highschools and some of the junior
colleges and colleges as well,and it's just about that
community.
And thank you so much for sayingthat because it is really about
the people.
We can paint it, we can make itlook great, we can put an
amazing costume on it, but it'sabout that person and then how
they play that role, how they'redirected, and and taking that
(42:24):
well-written message.
So this is just fantastic.
I I'm really excited about this.
I do love my holidays and uhvery excited and having uh been
fortunate enough to be a partone of the holiday production.
SPEAKER_00 (42:37):
Oh, one thing I'd like to mention too is uh
because I just did a deep diveinto the 1940s uh for this show,
uh, I wanted to do something alittle different, you know, for
our audiences.
So I I started finding all theseold radio shows, and I was like,
wouldn't it be fun to do uh toplay a different old radio
(43:00):
program from December of 1947from when we're setting this?
So um I have I I think I haveour our schedule, you know, so
it's gonna be so if you comeearly, you know, you'll be able
to sit and listen to eat uheither the Christmas episode of
Burns and Allen from that yearor Jack Benny Show or Fibber,
(43:20):
McGee and Molly, which issomething probably no one's ever
heard of now, but um that was ahuge hit at the time.
Uh and Bing Crosby, of course.
So um, so yeah, that'll be justsomething a little extra uh just
to get people in the 1940s, youknow, mindset uh as as uh
they're waiting for the show tostart.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (43:40):
Well, everyone, our miracle on 34th Street, the
play, um, is going to debut onDecember 5th.
It is going to run through theDecember 20th.
The performances will be onFridays and Saturdays at 7 30
p.m.
and on Sundays at 2 30 p.m.
Tickets are available now.
You can call the box office at909-590-1149, or you can go to
(44:04):
our website at Chino CommunityTheater.org one more time for
those that are listening.
Chinocommunity theater.org.
SPEAKER_00 (44:13):
Um and we would really we actually do have, I
should say, two Saturdaymatinees.
Oh, okay.
Uh that the the it the postcardis a little confusing, but um
yeah, the last two weekends, wedo have a Saturday matinee.
Wonderful.
So we have two performances onuh Saturday, the last two
weekends.
SPEAKER_01 (44:32):
And then I know in the past many of the CCT
productions do uh opening nightgala and talk back.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (44:40):
Yes, that is happening.
Uh so if you come on openingnight, there will be a little
gala afterwards.
Kind of if you came to theseason reveal, it's kind of the
same thing, you know, where wehave a green room set up with
some food and drink, and youknow, people mingle and you know
talk to the cast and stuff.
It's very it's very fun.
And it's free, you know, so wedon't charge any extra for that
for your tickets.
So it's a good reason to come onopening night.
SPEAKER_01 (45:01):
An already very reasonable price ticket.
SPEAKER_00 (45:04):
Yes, it it for sure.
And and then we will be having atalk back, which I I I should
know that date, uh, but I thinkit's the first Sunday.
Okay.
Yes, yeah, the first Sunday,because sometimes we change it
for for the three on the edge uhfestival.
But um uh the first Sunday, uh,we're gonna have a talk back
with the cast uh that we've beenstarting to do with uh our
(45:25):
productions uh for a few yearsnow, and and and audiences seem
to enjoy it.
SPEAKER_01 (45:29):
Yeah, I I I do I do appreciate that that that
happens.
Jamie, Jack, Tiffany, Chris.
Thank you so much for spendingsome time with us today.
Thank you, Chris.
Steps to the stage.
Great to meet you guys, great tosee you guys again.
I hope we see you again and doanother interview for another
production.
And just so fantastic to hearand welcome back, Chris.
(45:52):
Welcome back, right?
Uh so thank you, everyone.
Thanks to all the listenersagain.
Get your tickets now.
This will sell out.
Please get your tickets now.
Our holiday events always sellout.
SPEAKER_00 (46:03):
I believe December 7th is already sold out or close
to sold out.
SPEAKER_01 (46:07):
Yeah, there you go.
So you gotta come and see thisproduction.
And as we've been mentioningthroughout, support your local
community theaters whereveryou're at.
We have international listeners.
We so appreciate you.
Send us a know, send us amessage, talk to us.
We want to hear.
I'd love to interview some ofyou people that are overseas.
We've done an interview with uha production from Australia, and
(46:29):
we'd love to include Europe andsome other places on top of our
beautiful inland empire and ourtheaters here that we love.
We just love community theater.
So thank you so much, you guys.
Appreciate you, appreciate youuh spending time today, but
especially for putting your allinto this production.
And I know everyone who comesand has the wonderful
opportunity to see it is justgoing to have a magical evening.
(46:51):
So thanks you all.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (46:54):
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER_01 (46:58):
Thanks for listening to Steps to the Stage, a 7
Street Community Theaterpodcast.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform and leave us a
review and a five-star rating.
It really helps.
You can also find us onInstagram, Facebook, and
YouTube.
Special thanks to ChinoCommunity Theater and Chino
Community Children's Theater fortheir generous support.
(47:18):
And very special thank you tothe listeners.
Steps to the Stage was createdby Joey Rice and Kirk Wayne.
Logo created by Marley Lane.
Original music by Joey Rice.
Your host, Kirk Lane.
Engineer and producer, JoeyRice.
Engineer and executive producer,Kirk Lane.
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