June 28, 2024 • 19 mins
What if living forever wasn't as wonderful as it seems? Unpack the timeless tale of "Tuck Everlasting" with us as director Shawna and actor Colin share their intimate connections to this captivating story. Hear Shawna recount her journey from reading the novel with her children to realizing her dream of bringing it to the stage. Colin dives into the emotional depths of portraying characters grappling with immortality and the profound realizations about life's true meaning that arise from their eternal existence. Together, we explore how the Tuck family's perspectives on eternal life provide a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Step behind the curtains with us in our behind-the-scenes chapter at CCCT. First-time set designer Mickey Estrella and veteran Kathy Miller bring their unique artistic visions to set building and costume design, transforming raw materials into a visual feast. Learn about the careful casting decisions, such as double casting Winnie Foster and Jesse Tuck to ensure the wellbeing of our young actors, and the dynamic energy a new theater company contributes to the production. This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the passion and dedication of community theater, highlighting the extraordinary efforts to make "Tuck Everlasting" a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved.
July 5-13 $12 general admission -- $10 seniors and students
Tickets available at: https://chinocommunitytheatre.seatyourself.biz -- chinochildrenstheatre.org -- or contact the box office at (909) 590-1149
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And that's where they learn the true meaning of life
is through not being able to die.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
The lights are on, the curtains up.
This is Steps to the Stage.
Folks at home, do you have abusiness, small or otherwise,
that isn't pulling in trafficthe way you want it to?
Well, it might be, because theydon't have something to
remember you by, and that's whytoday we are sponsored by
Graphic Details Inc.
Signs and displays they willprint out your banners, they'll
cut vinyl.
And displays they will printout your banners, they'll cut
(00:25):
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They'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
We're talking business cards,banner stands, LCD displays,
tabletop displays, logos all infull living color.
Again, that is Graphic DetailsInc here in Chino, California.
Thank you so much.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the 7th Street
Theatre podcast, where we talkto the community theatre
professionals you know and love.
I'm your host, Colin Pinedo,and today we are talking with
(00:46):
Shauna and Colin about TuckEverlasting.
Welcome back, it's great to beback.
So why don't you start out withtalking about what Tuck
Everlasting is for people whoaren't familiar with the show?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, so Tuck Everlasting is a children's
novel written by Natalie Babbittand it was brought to the stage
, I believe, in like 2012.
No, that's not right, but itwas brought to the stage on
Broadway.
Didn't have a very long runbecause of financial reasons, I
believe, but it is the story ofWinnie Foster, who is an 11 year
(01:22):
old girl who lives a verysheltered and controlled life,
and then she meets a young boynamed Jesse and they go on this
adventure and he shows her allthe opportunity that life really
has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well, that sounds wonderful.
Would you mind talking about,as a director, what drew you to
this show?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So I remember reading this when I was a young girl
and then I also remember readingit with my children, like we
read it in one day, even thoughit's a chapter book, but we
stayed up all night and we readit.
It's very short, but it's avery sweet story.
When my children started doingtheater, this was like one of
the first shows that I was like,oh, if I ever get a chance to
direct, this is one that I wantto.
(02:04):
This is a story that I want tobe able to tell, so I'm glad
that I'm finally getting to dothat so many years later.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, colin, would you mind talking about what drew
you to the show as an actor,like what made you want to
audition and all that stuff?
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah.
So a couple of years ago I sawthis show at a different theater
company and I've never beenmore pulled to a show before,
just the emotion and thecharacters and how there's so
many different things going on.
You know, you have like thestory of Jesse and Winnie and
how they're both like connectedto each other and the parents
who are struggling with life andcontinuing on even though it's
(02:40):
impossible for them to die, andso I just love the fact that
it's a story about life and thetrue meaning of life, and I love
how it puts it where they haveto live like they drink from the
spring.
They have eternal life now andthat's where they learn the true
meaning of life is through notbeing able to die.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Would you mind both of you talking about that sort
of immortality aspect of theshow?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah.
So one of the first questionsthat I like to ask people is
would you drink from the springif you were given the choice?
And most people's answer is no,but I feel, I find, that it's
based on their age.
So, like I've asked 10, 11,12-year-olds and their first
answer is always yes, I woulddrink, but I think it's 15 or so
(03:28):
where they're like no, I wantto live my life.
I've noticed that shift for thepeople who have answered that
question.
So would you drink, Colin?
No, I would not.
You have so much life to stilllive.
So what was the question?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I'm sorry, the original question was sort of
talking about that aspect of theshow, cause it wasn't something
that I was familiar with thefirst time I Okay, so the the
Tuck family, the show starts in1808 and the Tuck family,
unbeknownst to them, drink fromthe spring.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
That is eternal youth .
And so they, they stay frozenin their bodies in that way.
So Jesse is 17 and Miles, Ithink, is 22.
And then the mother and father,angus and May, are in their I
would say 40s and they get stuckin that age for them.
So Miles, poor Miles, miles is22.
(04:24):
So he's of marrying age in 1808, and he does eventually have a
family.
But they notice that thechildren are growing faster than
you know he is and they becomefrightened by him and they
believe he's cursed.
And so it's very faceted inthat, like Jesse is 17.
He kind of, I feel, like he's apuppy still.
He's still in his youth, inlike the prime of his youth,
(04:46):
whereas Miles, five years olderthan him, has been tormented by
this immortality.
Colin can talk to you aboutAngus's take on immortality, but
I believe that May is.
She's sad that there's not muchleft to look forward to.
And Winnie does have an effecton her life.
She affects all of the tux.
(05:07):
But I'd love to hear Colin'stake on Angus.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah.
So if anyone had immortality,you'd think that they'd want to
be active in their lifeconstantly and be going out
doing everything they can andwant to do and living the
experience, rather than Angus,who is stuck with life, he's
hard, he does not like life, hehates the fact of living forever
(05:34):
.
And in the song the Wheel thathe sings, you stop growing and
you stop changing and you can'tmove on from that, and I think
that's something that everyoneneeds in their life.
They need to figure out a wayto change in order to move on,
in order to grow, not justphysically but mentally, and you
see that in each of thecharacters as they take this
(05:56):
journey with Winnie.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, we talked about in Colin's character
development that he's kind ofbecome lazy.
it's not out of a place of um,just that, that his soul is lazy
, it's more that his soul isbored like on we yeah, and he's
just just going through themotions at this point, because
it's now been, I think, almostclose to 100 years that they've
been in this, this time frame oftheir lives, and I love that
(06:21):
you talked about how we need tochange, not just physically.
But we have so much emotionalgrowth to do.
Even in our 40s I'm stillfinding things about myself, and
I know other adults are as well, so it's hard if we're not
maturing to fix that.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
That's what I think is interesting about the way
that this sort of everlastinglife works in this show, about
the way that this sort ofeverlasting life works in this
show, that it's not just yourbody that stays the same, but
mentally you are in the sameheadspace that you were at the
age you drank it, like youmentioned the 17-year-old
character it's almost like aPeter Pan situation where they
are eternally in the headspaceof a boy and they kind of can't
(06:59):
move on from that and I thinkthat's really interesting.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, we have talked about that Peter Pan syndrome
with both of our.
Jessies clear character arc andclear character development
throughout the show and it'sbeen really fun to watch them
develop from that puppy andPeter Pan syndrome into this.
I'm going to takeresponsibility for my actions
and I'm going to own up to thethings that I need to own up to.
(07:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's been reallyfun to watch them explore that.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, that'll be really interesting Beautiful.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
And we do have an understudy cast.
Oh yes, okay, so that'ssomething to talk about too.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I think they'll be very interesting to talk about
performing in the show yeah Withtwo different people.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
And the reactions that you have.
Like you have your own, likeyou guys are.
They're individually, they'retelling their own version of the
story and it's beautiful towatch the regular cast interact
with them version of the storyand it's beautiful to watch the
regular cast interact with them.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So you said earlier that the book talk everlasting
was written by natalie babbitt,would you happen to know who
wrote the book and the music forthe show?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
yes, so the script was written by claudia sheer and
tim federal I believe his nameis pronounced um and then the
music and lyrics are by ChrisMiller and Nathan Tyson.
Nice, and this music is sospecial.
I love the folk aspect of it.
It's very similar to likeBright Star or like Steve Martin
(08:24):
and his like banjo playing.
Yeah, it's very beautiful.
I love this music.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Kind of like Seeger Gardner a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah, and it's been really fun to see the
choreographer, the way thatthey're incorporating some
old-fashioned dancing.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Who is the choreographer?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
So it's choreographed by Caroline Esquivel, and then
she's had assistance withSavannah Rumbaugh and Gwen
Gellibert Nice yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
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Would you mind talking aboutjust walking through the theater
today?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
I saw that the set is starting to be built.
Yeah, it's coming into, it'sgetting there, it's really close
and I'm loving watching again.
It's all about the process,like that's what draws me to.
You know, keep doing.
This is like seeing all of theparts fall into place, but I
originally had the vision ofthem all being painted,
everything being painted, butI'm seeing this raw wood.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And it's so beautiful and it would go in very well to
the story for it to be stuck inthat space as well.
So I'm playing with the idea ofjust keeping the raw wood, but
we'll see what our set designer,Mickey Estrella, has to say
about that.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Hey cool, I didn't know that.
Yeah, nice.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, she's doing a great job.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
This is her first time set designing for us here
at CCCT.
That's fantastic.
Yeah, yeah, I'm very proud ofher.
It's coming along beautifully.
Would you mind talking aboutthe costumes for this show?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Sure.
So this is costumed by KathyMiller.
Of course we have the lovelyKaren Larson as well is helping
her and some parent assistants.
So we have the main charactersof the Tuck family and Winnie,
and then her mother andgrandmother who are living in
1893.
So they're very periodappropriate.
(10:18):
But then we have a spiritensemble that I like to think of
them as time personified.
So they're very flowy andpastel colored and there's a lot
of partner work.
Very flowy and pastel coloredand they have there's a lot of
partner work.
So we asked that they wouldhave whoever they're partnered
with would have the same colorscheme.
That that you know.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
it's very clear who the couples are.
They have counterparts, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yes, but it's been.
It's been really.
I was walking through earlierand just seeing like the color
palette and like I'm just sohappy and so pleased with what
they've developed.
Yeah, kathy is fantastic atkeeping everything era
appropriate.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
And it's so beautiful and I'm really happy with the
product.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
So would both of you mind talking about sort of the
casting process for this show?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
I'd love to hear Colin's take on it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, so I did casting a little bit different
than everybody else.
None of the times worked for me, so I came in on my own time
and performed in front of them,sang time stops from Big Fish,
yeah.
And then right after that theytook me into, I guess, a dance
room sort of with a big mirror,learned the dance really quickly
(11:28):
and it's actually really fun tolearn the dance, and especially
this dance, because this onewas a partner one and I got to
do it with emily corona and sowho is our stage manager?
yeah, so that, yeah, that wasreally fun.
And then the next day wascallbacks, and that's when I
really got to see most of thecast and how well they perform
(11:48):
and how well they work withother people, even people that
they've never seen before ornever performed with and this is
my first show at CCCT.
I was so humbled and so proudof everyone's work at Callbacks
and happy to work with everysingle one of them.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So you mentioned that this is your first time at CCCT
.
How are you liking it?
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I'm loving it.
It's the first time I'veperformed at a different theater
company and it's reallyrefreshing you know, to meet new
people and do do a new show andsee how other people work well
and how theater is just all thisbig, lovely group of people.
Where do you usually perform?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
at uh cat corona.
Oh yes, okay, I see theconnection there, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I work at Cat Corona so casting for this show.
(12:54):
Winnie is an 11-year-old girl,but Jesse is struck by her in
her youthfulness as well and istaken by her not in a romantic
way, but he sees potential thatthey could eventually become
that.
So it's a mature theme.
So that we set the ages forthis for 15 to 22, so that the
actress playing Winnie would beable to understand that this
isn't like instant crush, thatthey're truly partners in crime
and it's really based off offriendship and that Jesse just
can theoretically see themtogether in the future?
(13:15):
Yes, when the time isappropriate.
So we had several people comeout and sometimes there are
multiple people who are justright for the role.
So we did decide to double castthe role of Winnie Foster and
Jesse Tuck.
They are both vocally taxingroles as well and physically
exhausting, so we wanted to givenot just more opportunity but
(13:36):
time for bodies to heal andvoices to rest as well.
So we do have double casting orunderstudy cast that has two
performances and they're doing abeautiful job.
Colin earlier was talking abouthow it's interesting to see
each individual actor's take onthe role and that gives him
something more to play with when, you know, reacting to the
(14:00):
scene.
So I'd love to hear your takeon that.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, Every time I'm doing a scene with either Jesse
or either Winnie, it gives me achance to look at our
performance, look at ourcharacters.
It gives me a chance to look atour performance, look at our
characters and really change theway I react every single time,
whether that's just slightlychanging my reaction or
drastically changing it.
It's really interesting.
It really helps me grow in myacting and how I portray a
(14:26):
character, and I think that'sreally lovely for those who have
their role or are in doublecasting.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, it's been really great to see two
understudy actors.
I mean, they're both greatperformers but specifically our
Winnie understudy hasn't reallybeen given a chance to shine and
it's so beautiful to watch herdevelop a character and to
understand the dialogue andreally develop those those
(14:53):
things that make us actors liketo see her perform in more than
an ensemble role.
It's been really beautiful.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah, and then only those two roles, sorry, no
you're good, only those tworoles are double casted, correct
, yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
So if you would love to see our understudy cast, they
will be performing on July 6thand 11th, so that's our, and
then the remaining the regularcast will be performed.
The show opens July 5th andruns through the 13th, so the
other cast will be performingall the other performances.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I'm glad that the understudies get their own shows
.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yes, I think that's so important.
They've done so much work to,you know, learn not their track
of the ensemble, which is alsotaxing, but to also play these
lead roles without as muchrehearsal time.
Yes, and I love seeing how muchgrowth comes from that.
I feel like each performer.
It's been beautiful to watchthem.
(15:49):
Sorry, it's been beautiful towatch them.
They have to do so much morework.
Not just the understudy cast,but the regular cast is also
going to be stepping into thatensemble track.
Okay, when they're notperforming as the leads
switching so those four actorshave a lot to hold that they're
learning separate roles.
Yes, yeah so it's been reallyinteresting to see the growth,
(16:11):
not just in their ensemble partsbut in their lead roles as well
, and just see them step intothose individual parts so
beautifully yeah, being able tohave their time in the spotlight
, yeah and um the lead cast isbeing very supportive.
Not lead cast, I hate that termyeah but the cast is being very
supportive of their understudiesand helping them with their
blocking.
If they forget and it's,there's no competition.
(16:33):
We've talked very early onabout how, like we said, said
earlier, you have your ownindividual, winnie, you have
your own individual, jesse, andthere's something beautiful and
that you earned those roles byshowing us those versions of
those characters.
So it's been really, reallybeautiful to watch the support
of these older actors supportingthe younger actors in their
roles.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, I always think understudies are a little
underappreciated, especially ininstances like this, where they
have multiple tracks to learn.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Right, it's a difficult thing.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, it's a lot to do.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Those people get paid a lot of money on Broadway.
Exactly, we call them a superswing.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
They've really shown us what they can do and it's
yeah, I'm really excited for allof their future.
The whole cast, they're all sotalented.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
That's great, yeah, once again.
Would you mind saying the datesfor the show?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Sure, so we open July 5th and we run through July
13th and again the understudyperformances, and I would
encourage you to see both castsbecause again they're so
individual.
Understudy performances areJuly 6th and 11th, Perfect.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yeah.
Final question Would each ofyou drink from the spring?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I'm going to go with.
No, I think it's just I want tolive life, but not forever.
I think I'll get too bored ofit and stuck with life and grow
past everybody, and that's Iwant to see growth in myself
yeah, that's what.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, I love that yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I think each of us has our own character that we
relate to the most in any youknow performance that we see of
any show.
But I do definitely relate toMay, the mother of the Tuck
family, and her having so muchto look forward to before she
drank from the spring seeing ourchildren grow up and get
married and then experiencinggrandchildren.
So no, I would definitely notdrink from the spring seeing our
(18:21):
children grow up and getmarried and then experiencing
grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
So no, I would definitely not drink from the
spring.
Well, thank you both of you somuch for being here today.
Thank you for having us.
Of course, be sure to go seeTuck Everlasting.
Yes, please do.
All right, again, thank you somuch.
Thank you, yeah, if you needinsurance, vince will work for
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(18:45):
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Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage, and now it's time
for the curtain call.
And now it's time for thecurtain call.
You can follow us on Spotify,apple, google or any podcasting
platform.
We have videos up on YouTubeand you can visit our website at
(19:08):
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And, as always, a special thankyou to our audio engineer, joey
Rice, and our producer, kirkLane.
Without the two of you, thisshow would not be possible.
And that's where they learn the true meaning of life
is through not being able to die.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
The lights are on, the curtains up.
This is Steps to the Stage.
Folks at home, do you have abusiness, small or otherwise,
that isn't pulling in trafficthe way you want it to?
Well, it might be, because theydon't have something to
remember you by, and that's whytoday we are sponsored by
Graphic Details Inc.
Signs and displays they willprint out your banners, they'll
cut vinyl.
And displays they will printout your banners, they'll cut
(00:25):
vinyl.
They'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
We're talking business cards,banner stands, LCD displays,
tabletop displays, logos all infull living color.
Again, that is Graphic DetailsInc here in Chino, California.
Thank you so much.
Hello and welcome to Steps tothe Stage, the 7th Street
Theatre podcast, where we talkto the community theatre
professionals you know and love.
I'm your host, Colin Pinedo,and today we are talking with
(00:46):
Shauna and Colin about TuckEverlasting.
Welcome back, it's great to beback.
So why don't you start out withtalking about what Tuck
Everlasting is for people whoaren't familiar with the show?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, so Tuck Everlasting is a children's
novel written by Natalie Babbittand it was brought to the stage
, I believe, in like 2012.
No, that's not right, but itwas brought to the stage on
Broadway.
Didn't have a very long runbecause of financial reasons, I
believe, but it is the story ofWinnie Foster, who is an 11 year
(01:22):
old girl who lives a verysheltered and controlled life,
and then she meets a young boynamed Jesse and they go on this
adventure and he shows her allthe opportunity that life really
has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well, that sounds wonderful.
Would you mind talking about,as a director, what drew you to
this show?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
So I remember reading this when I was a young girl
and then I also remember readingit with my children, like we
read it in one day, even thoughit's a chapter book, but we
stayed up all night and we readit.
It's very short, but it's avery sweet story.
When my children started doingtheater, this was like one of
the first shows that I was like,oh, if I ever get a chance to
direct, this is one that I wantto.
(02:04):
This is a story that I want tobe able to tell, so I'm glad
that I'm finally getting to dothat so many years later.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, colin, would you mind talking about what drew
you to the show as an actor,like what made you want to
audition and all that stuff?
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah.
So a couple of years ago I sawthis show at a different theater
company and I've never beenmore pulled to a show before,
just the emotion and thecharacters and how there's so
many different things going on.
You know, you have like thestory of Jesse and Winnie and
how they're both like connectedto each other and the parents
who are struggling with life andcontinuing on even though it's
(02:40):
impossible for them to die, andso I just love the fact that
it's a story about life and thetrue meaning of life, and I love
how it puts it where they haveto live like they drink from the
spring.
They have eternal life now andthat's where they learn the true
meaning of life is through notbeing able to die.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Would you mind both of you talking about that sort
of immortality aspect of theshow?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah.
So one of the first questionsthat I like to ask people is
would you drink from the springif you were given the choice?
And most people's answer is no,but I feel, I find, that it's
based on their age.
So, like I've asked 10, 11,12-year-olds and their first
answer is always yes, I woulddrink, but I think it's 15 or so
(03:28):
where they're like no, I wantto live my life.
I've noticed that shift for thepeople who have answered that
question.
So would you drink, Colin?
No, I would not.
You have so much life to stilllive.
So what was the question?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I'm sorry, the original question was sort of
talking about that aspect of theshow, cause it wasn't something
that I was familiar with thefirst time I Okay, so the the
Tuck family, the show starts in1808 and the Tuck family,
unbeknownst to them, drink fromthe spring.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
That is eternal youth .
And so they, they stay frozenin their bodies in that way.
So Jesse is 17 and Miles, Ithink, is 22.
And then the mother and father,angus and May, are in their I
would say 40s and they get stuckin that age for them.
So Miles, poor Miles, miles is22.
(04:24):
So he's of marrying age in 1808, and he does eventually have a
family.
But they notice that thechildren are growing faster than
you know he is and they becomefrightened by him and they
believe he's cursed.
And so it's very faceted inthat, like Jesse is 17.
He kind of, I feel, like he's apuppy still.
He's still in his youth, inlike the prime of his youth,
(04:46):
whereas Miles, five years olderthan him, has been tormented by
this immortality.
Colin can talk to you aboutAngus's take on immortality, but
I believe that May is.
She's sad that there's not muchleft to look forward to.
And Winnie does have an effecton her life.
She affects all of the tux.
(05:07):
But I'd love to hear Colin'stake on Angus.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah.
So if anyone had immortality,you'd think that they'd want to
be active in their lifeconstantly and be going out
doing everything they can andwant to do and living the
experience, rather than Angus,who is stuck with life, he's
hard, he does not like life, hehates the fact of living forever
(05:34):
.
And in the song the Wheel thathe sings, you stop growing and
you stop changing and you can'tmove on from that, and I think
that's something that everyoneneeds in their life.
They need to figure out a wayto change in order to move on,
in order to grow, not justphysically but mentally, and you
see that in each of thecharacters as they take this
(05:56):
journey with Winnie.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, we talked about in Colin's character
development that he's kind ofbecome lazy.
it's not out of a place of um,just that, that his soul is lazy
, it's more that his soul isbored like on we yeah, and he's
just just going through themotions at this point, because
it's now been, I think, almostclose to 100 years that they've
been in this, this time frame oftheir lives, and I love that
(06:21):
you talked about how we need tochange, not just physically.
But we have so much emotionalgrowth to do.
Even in our 40s I'm stillfinding things about myself, and
I know other adults are as well, so it's hard if we're not
maturing to fix that.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
That's what I think is interesting about the way
that this sort of everlastinglife works in this show, about
the way that this sort ofeverlasting life works in this
show, that it's not just yourbody that stays the same, but
mentally you are in the sameheadspace that you were at the
age you drank it, like youmentioned the 17-year-old
character it's almost like aPeter Pan situation where they
are eternally in the headspaceof a boy and they kind of can't
(06:59):
move on from that and I thinkthat's really interesting.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, we have talked about that Peter Pan syndrome
with both of our.
Jessies clear character arc andclear character development
throughout the show and it'sbeen really fun to watch them
develop from that puppy andPeter Pan syndrome into this.
I'm going to takeresponsibility for my actions
and I'm going to own up to thethings that I need to own up to.
(07:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's been reallyfun to watch them explore that.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, that'll be really interesting Beautiful.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
And we do have an understudy cast.
Oh yes, okay, so that'ssomething to talk about too.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I think they'll be very interesting to talk about
performing in the show yeah Withtwo different people.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
And the reactions that you have.
Like you have your own, likeyou guys are.
They're individually, they'retelling their own version of the
story and it's beautiful towatch the regular cast interact
with them version of the storyand it's beautiful to watch the
regular cast interact with them.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So you said earlier that the book talk everlasting
was written by natalie babbitt,would you happen to know who
wrote the book and the music forthe show?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
yes, so the script was written by claudia sheer and
tim federal I believe his nameis pronounced um and then the
music and lyrics are by ChrisMiller and Nathan Tyson.
Nice, and this music is sospecial.
I love the folk aspect of it.
It's very similar to likeBright Star or like Steve Martin
(08:24):
and his like banjo playing.
Yeah, it's very beautiful.
I love this music.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Kind of like Seeger Gardner a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah, and it's been really fun to see the
choreographer, the way thatthey're incorporating some
old-fashioned dancing.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Who is the choreographer?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
So it's choreographed by Caroline Esquivel, and then
she's had assistance withSavannah Rumbaugh and Gwen
Gellibert Nice yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
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Would you mind talking aboutjust walking through the theater
today?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
I saw that the set is starting to be built.
Yeah, it's coming into, it'sgetting there, it's really close
and I'm loving watching again.
It's all about the process,like that's what draws me to.
You know, keep doing.
This is like seeing all of theparts fall into place, but I
originally had the vision ofthem all being painted,
everything being painted, butI'm seeing this raw wood.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And it's so beautiful and it would go in very well to
the story for it to be stuck inthat space as well.
So I'm playing with the idea ofjust keeping the raw wood, but
we'll see what our set designer,Mickey Estrella, has to say
about that.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Hey cool, I didn't know that.
Yeah, nice.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, she's doing a great job.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
This is her first time set designing for us here
at CCCT.
That's fantastic.
Yeah, yeah, I'm very proud ofher.
It's coming along beautifully.
Would you mind talking aboutthe costumes for this show?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Sure.
So this is costumed by KathyMiller.
Of course we have the lovelyKaren Larson as well is helping
her and some parent assistants.
So we have the main charactersof the Tuck family and Winnie,
and then her mother andgrandmother who are living in
1893.
So they're very periodappropriate.
(10:18):
But then we have a spiritensemble that I like to think of
them as time personified.
So they're very flowy andpastel colored and there's a lot
of partner work.
Very flowy and pastel coloredand they have there's a lot of
partner work.
So we asked that they wouldhave whoever they're partnered
with would have the same colorscheme.
That that you know.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
it's very clear who the couples are.
They have counterparts, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yes, but it's been.
It's been really.
I was walking through earlierand just seeing like the color
palette and like I'm just sohappy and so pleased with what
they've developed.
Yeah, kathy is fantastic atkeeping everything era
appropriate.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
And it's so beautiful and I'm really happy with the
product.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
So would both of you mind talking about sort of the
casting process for this show?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
I'd love to hear Colin's take on it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, so I did casting a little bit different
than everybody else.
None of the times worked for me, so I came in on my own time
and performed in front of them,sang time stops from Big Fish,
yeah.
And then right after that theytook me into, I guess, a dance
room sort of with a big mirror,learned the dance really quickly
(11:28):
and it's actually really fun tolearn the dance, and especially
this dance, because this onewas a partner one and I got to
do it with emily corona and sowho is our stage manager?
yeah, so that, yeah, that wasreally fun.
And then the next day wascallbacks, and that's when I
really got to see most of thecast and how well they perform
(11:48):
and how well they work withother people, even people that
they've never seen before ornever performed with and this is
my first show at CCCT.
I was so humbled and so proudof everyone's work at Callbacks
and happy to work with everysingle one of them.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So you mentioned that this is your first time at CCCT
.
How are you liking it?
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I'm loving it.
It's the first time I'veperformed at a different theater
company and it's reallyrefreshing you know, to meet new
people and do do a new show andsee how other people work well
and how theater is just all thisbig, lovely group of people.
Where do you usually perform?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
at uh cat corona.
Oh yes, okay, I see theconnection there, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I work at Cat Corona so casting for this show.
(12:54):
Winnie is an 11-year-old girl,but Jesse is struck by her in
her youthfulness as well and istaken by her not in a romantic
way, but he sees potential thatthey could eventually become
that.
So it's a mature theme.
So that we set the ages forthis for 15 to 22, so that the
actress playing Winnie would beable to understand that this
isn't like instant crush, thatthey're truly partners in crime
and it's really based off offriendship and that Jesse just
can theoretically see themtogether in the future?
(13:15):
Yes, when the time isappropriate.
So we had several people comeout and sometimes there are
multiple people who are justright for the role.
So we did decide to double castthe role of Winnie Foster and
Jesse Tuck.
They are both vocally taxingroles as well and physically
exhausting, so we wanted to givenot just more opportunity but
(13:36):
time for bodies to heal andvoices to rest as well.
So we do have double casting orunderstudy cast that has two
performances and they're doing abeautiful job.
Colin earlier was talking abouthow it's interesting to see
each individual actor's take onthe role and that gives him
something more to play with when, you know, reacting to the
(14:00):
scene.
So I'd love to hear your takeon that.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, Every time I'm doing a scene with either Jesse
or either Winnie, it gives me achance to look at our
performance, look at ourcharacters.
It gives me a chance to look atour performance, look at our
characters and really change theway I react every single time,
whether that's just slightlychanging my reaction or
drastically changing it.
It's really interesting.
It really helps me grow in myacting and how I portray a
(14:26):
character, and I think that'sreally lovely for those who have
their role or are in doublecasting.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, it's been really great to see two
understudy actors.
I mean, they're both greatperformers but specifically our
Winnie understudy hasn't reallybeen given a chance to shine and
it's so beautiful to watch herdevelop a character and to
understand the dialogue andreally develop those those
(14:53):
things that make us actors liketo see her perform in more than
an ensemble role.
It's been really beautiful.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah, and then only those two roles, sorry, no
you're good, only those tworoles are double casted, correct
, yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
So if you would love to see our understudy cast, they
will be performing on July 6thand 11th, so that's our, and
then the remaining the regularcast will be performed.
The show opens July 5th andruns through the 13th, so the
other cast will be performingall the other performances.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I'm glad that the understudies get their own shows
.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Yes, I think that's so important.
They've done so much work to,you know, learn not their track
of the ensemble, which is alsotaxing, but to also play these
lead roles without as muchrehearsal time.
Yes, and I love seeing how muchgrowth comes from that.
I feel like each performer.
It's been beautiful to watchthem.
(15:49):
Sorry, it's been beautiful towatch them.
They have to do so much morework.
Not just the understudy cast,but the regular cast is also
going to be stepping into thatensemble track.
Okay, when they're notperforming as the leads
switching so those four actorshave a lot to hold that they're
learning separate roles.
Yes, yeah so it's been reallyinteresting to see the growth,
(16:11):
not just in their ensemble partsbut in their lead roles as well
, and just see them step intothose individual parts so
beautifully yeah, being able tohave their time in the spotlight
, yeah and um the lead cast isbeing very supportive.
Not lead cast, I hate that termyeah but the cast is being very
supportive of their understudiesand helping them with their
blocking.
If they forget and it's,there's no competition.
(16:33):
We've talked very early onabout how, like we said, said
earlier, you have your ownindividual, winnie, you have
your own individual, jesse, andthere's something beautiful and
that you earned those roles byshowing us those versions of
those characters.
So it's been really, reallybeautiful to watch the support
of these older actors supportingthe younger actors in their
roles.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, I always think understudies are a little
underappreciated, especially ininstances like this, where they
have multiple tracks to learn.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Right, it's a difficult thing.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, it's a lot to do.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Those people get paid a lot of money on Broadway.
Exactly, we call them a superswing.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
They've really shown us what they can do and it's
yeah, I'm really excited for allof their future.
The whole cast, they're all sotalented.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
That's great, yeah, once again.
Would you mind saying the datesfor the show?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Sure, so we open July 5th and we run through July
13th and again the understudyperformances, and I would
encourage you to see both castsbecause again they're so
individual.
Understudy performances areJuly 6th and 11th, Perfect.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yeah.
Final question Would each ofyou drink from the spring?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I'm going to go with.
No, I think it's just I want tolive life, but not forever.
I think I'll get too bored ofit and stuck with life and grow
past everybody, and that's Iwant to see growth in myself
yeah, that's what.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, I love that yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I think each of us has our own character that we
relate to the most in any youknow performance that we see of
any show.
But I do definitely relate toMay, the mother of the Tuck
family, and her having so muchto look forward to before she
drank from the spring seeing ourchildren grow up and get
married and then experiencinggrandchildren.
So no, I would definitely notdrink from the spring seeing our
(18:21):
children grow up and getmarried and then experiencing
grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
So no, I would definitely not drink from the
spring.
Well, thank you both of you somuch for being here today.
Thank you for having us.
Of course, be sure to go seeTuck Everlasting.
Yes, please do.
All right, again, thank you somuch.
Thank you, yeah, if you needinsurance, vince will work for
you.
Vince Polito is a localfarmer's insurance agent who
wants to help you out.
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(18:45):
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Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage, and now it's time
for the curtain call.
And now it's time for thecurtain call.
You can follow us on Spotify,apple, google or any podcasting
platform.
We have videos up on YouTubeand you can visit our website at
(19:08):
stepstothestagebuzzsproutcom.
And, as always, a special thankyou to our audio engineer, joey
Rice, and our producer, kirkLane.
Without the two of you, thisshow would not be possible.
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