September 9, 2024 • 29 mins
What happens when a lie spirals out of control and destroys lives? In this episode of "Steps to the Stage," we explore the compelling story behind "The Children's Hour" with director Toni Lynd and cast members Tiffany McMahon, Tracy Lay, and Madison Diaz. Toni offers a deep dive into his creative vision, revealing what motivated her to bring this timeless drama to the stage. As we unpack the narrative, you'll gain insight into how the play resonates in today's era of social media and rapid information spread. Tiffany, Tracy, and Madison share their personal connections to their roles, explaining how this production has been both a professional and emotional journey for them.
Ever wondered how false rumors can alter public perception irreversibly? We tackle this question head-on by discussing the real-world implications of gossip and misinformation, particularly in the current politically charged environment. Our cast members open up about their drive to portray such intense and significant stories, touching on the emotional weight and real-life relevance of their characters. Tiffany's love for dramatic roles that deeply affect audiences, Tracy's empathy as a teacher, and Madison's initial curiosity about her character all contribute to a rich and layered discussion about the power of theatre to reflect and challenge societal norms.
Lastly, we pull back the curtain on the collaborative efforts that bring this powerful story to life. From the intricate character dynamics to the seamless blend of set design and period costumes, the dedication of the entire production team shines through. Special mentions go out to standout performances by Paige Polcene, Mary Reichert, and Kristian Merrill, whose characters add depth and intensity to the play. The episode culminates in highlighting the trust and synergy among the actors and crew, underscoring the emotional and compelling portrayal that makes "The Children's Hour" a must-see. Join us for an episode filled with passion, insights, and the transformative power of theatre.
The Children's Hour runs weekends Sept. 13-29th
Purchase tickets at: https://chinocommunitytheatre.seatyourself.biz
or call 909-590-1149
$15 Student/Senior/Child
$18 General Admission
Opening weekend: Friday Gala, Saturday 2 for 1 Special & Sunday Cast/Crew Talk Back
Find STTS:
Steps To The Stage (@stepstothestage) | Instagram
Facebook
Steps To The Stage (buzzsprout.com)
Steps To The Stage - YouTube
Please follow on your favorite podcast platform and we appreciate 5 Star ratings and positive reviews!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And she's a bully and she plays it off so well.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I believe her she knows it, yeah, and she wears it
with pride.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
She's so aware, like a badge of honor.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
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 will print out yourbanners, they'll cut vinyl,
they'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
(00:30):
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 I talk tothe community theatre
professionals you know and love.
Today we are talking about atale of how gossip and rumors
(00:53):
and one lie can twist the livesof those around you almost
entirely irreparably.
We're talking about theChildren's Hour.
I have the director, tony Lind,hi, and then we have my friends
, yes.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tiffany McMahon, tracy Lay, madison Diaz.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Thank you for being here, welcome back.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
So, tony, why don't you start off a brief synopsis
of the show and sort of whatdrew you to it and inspired you
to take this on as a directorialproject?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Well, it is about two women that are friends and they
start a boarding school, andit's actually based on a true
story that dates back many yearsago.
And this was written in 1937.
And there's this girl who isvery upset with the two teachers
because they won't let her goto the boat races.
(01:39):
So for that she wants to punishthem and start spreading lies.
And this is what happens whenthe lies get told over and over,
and the reactions of everybodyelse and how it actually
destroys the two women, theschool.
It's incredible.
Why did it draw me?
Oh my gosh, look at right now,with all what happens with the
(02:00):
lies and social media, and it'sjust.
I think it's a timely story.
It holds up very well.
And drama I really appreciatedrama.
I know a lot of our patronsreally want to see the comedy.
We talked about that in playselection.
They like comedy, but there hasto be drama, and the drama
(02:23):
makes us appreciate the comedyand everything else more.
So this is one of the reasonsit draws me and the trick for me
make it real.
Make it real.
It's not a melodrama, thesearen't cartoon characters, these
are real people.
And how can I make it truthful?
And I think they did a fabulousjob.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Would you mind delving a bit more into the why
now aspect of this.
You mentioned sort of socialmedia.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yes, because you know how gossip is told and bad news
travels faster than good news.
It just simply does.
And how do you get out of it?
Once people have perceived thisis the truth, how do you back
off from that?
How do you change their minds?
How do you do that?
And this is a perfect exampleof how that happens.
And look at today I mean rightnow the political climate.
(03:08):
There's a lot of that, there'sa lot of that and there's a lot
of people that are divided andsome believe this, some believe
that.
And that's what happens whenyou have somebody spreading lies
, and it's a factor that's beenaround forever and it simply
really doesn't go away aroundforever and it simply it really
doesn't go away.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So fight for the truth.
Yes, absolutely.
I like what you said, sort ofabout how once the lies are
spoken it can't really be takenback, even once the truth comes
out, because there are.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, exactly, it's so .
It's so how do you make up forit?
How do you do it?
And that's what their dilemmais, and that's why this is so
important to them that itdoesn't.
They don't know how to go onwith their lives and it's just.
It's heartbreaking, but it'salso very moving and very
important because it comes upwith strength of character and
everything else and, like I said, because they're believable.
(04:02):
I think people are going torecognize some of these people.
I think they're going to say,oh, I know that, and you?
Yeah, they're going to know you.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Of course, I love what you said about being real,
because I think this is a veryreal show and the stakes are, of
course, very real.
Yes, why don't we talk abouthow we make it real with our
actors here, tiffany, why don'tyou answer some of the same
questions that I asked Tonyabout, sort of what drew you to
this play?
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Sure, I know, like Tony said, the audiences are
asking for comedy and that seemsto have been kind of taken more
steps forward, more upfront.
People are asking for morecomedy, theater doing more
comedies or doing more musicals,especially coming out of COVID.
But for actors, while that'sgreat, dramas for me are what
(04:52):
feed my soul.
If I can't really go home andon the drive I'm going, oh my
gosh, I can't believe I have tosay those words or I get to say
those words.
That's what makes it reallyimportant for me.
So especially that was one ofthe things that drove me out
here to do August Osage lastyear.
Same thing, that drama, beingable to talk about real issues
(05:13):
with real people and with thisshow in particular.
This has been on.
This show has been a bucketlist for me for about 15 years
now.
There were two otherproductions I wasn't able to
audition for over the last 15years.
So when I saw it was announcedlast year and that Tony was
directing, I was like, yep, I'mdriving all the way out to Chino
(05:35):
again, I don't care what thattakes.
No-transcript.
Classic theater isn't done asoften.
I love Arthur Miller, butsometimes that tends to be all
we do, so we don't do some ofthe other classic a la
contemporary stories.
And it is important and I haveseven nieces, so for me stepping
(05:57):
in and being a part of a storythat has to do with girls in
particular is a big deal.
And you know I was bullied as akid so like for me I'm like, I
get it, I know what it's about.
So stepping in and being ableto tell different parts of that
story and the after effects ofit are one of the main reasons
that brought me out.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I'm glad you mentioned Arthur Miller, because
we will get into that a littlebit later.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I have thoughts, exactly, exactly, exactly,
serious thoughts.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I love Arthur.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Miller, I do too, I direct many of Arthur Miller's.
I do too, but that tends to.
My point is, though, that tendsto be.
For some people that's like wedid.
Arthur Miller that's the onlydrama we have to do there are so
many more, and I do think thatwe need to do Miller all the
time, but then we don't juststop there.
Yeah, we need more?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Absolutely, Tracy.
Would you mind talking aboutwhat brought you to this show?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Well, actually I had never read the play until about
maybe three days before theauditions happened.
I had heard of it.
My husband actually played JoeCarden in a production of it way
back when, and so he knew of it.
So I read his copy of it and Iwas really drawn to it.
(07:10):
I'll echo Tiffany in the factthat, as an actor, I'm very much
drawn to the drama, and if Ican make someone cry in the
audience, I have done my job.
I like doing that.
I love to make people laugh aswell.
Sometimes comedies are actuallya little bit harder.
I think at times, because whatyou find funny somebody else may
not find funny.
(07:30):
But I feel like with drama itcan pull anybody into it, and
that's our goal here with thisone is to draw people into this
story.
I play a teacher, which is nottoo much of a stretch for me
since I am a teacher, but,having you know, I also have my
daughter in it with me, zeleny.
So that's been fun.
(07:51):
And to have her come along andplay with the grownups has also
been fun.
And she actually it was reallyher wanting to audition.
That kind of pushed me over theedge to go ahead and audition.
I was like all right, well, ifshe's going to audition and I'm
driving out here anyway, I'mgoing to go for it.
I'll go ahead and do it.
That's so cool, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yeah, and you will absolutely get tears.
I hope so.
No, you will.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yes, yes you will.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yes, madison, would you like to talk about sort of
what drew you to this show?
So I had never read it, I hadnever seen it I actually only
watched like 10 minutes beforethe audition.
But what drew me to Mary is Ithought it would be really fun
to play her.
She was so evil and not.
It was just such like a funcharacter idea to play and I was
like I've got to do this.
I saw it on the children'scommunity theater Instagram.
(08:45):
I was like they need kids.
I might be able to get that.
And so I did it and I had ablast.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Mary is such a fun character.
She's so cunning and clever.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
We use fun and she's not fun.
She's so fun to play.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
She's fun to play.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
yeah, yes, that's more what I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Fun to play.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yes, tiffany, did we get you talking about sort of
what drew you to your character?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Yeah, actually it's funny.
Audrey Hepburn played her inthe film, which is funny for me
because I played Sabrina Fairbefore, so this is the second
time I've gotten to play anAudrey Hepburn character who got
transferred for film.
But the thing with Karen isthat she is, so she has
(09:31):
rose-colored glasses on.
I think through the majority ofthe show and I don't think
there's anything wrong with that.
But when she's faced to whereshe has to take them off, she
goes from just.
I think most people lower theirglasses and very carefully, are
like let's tiptoe through thetulips and she's kind of takes
them off she chucks them againstthe wall and goes to completely
(09:54):
the other side of it.
Um, which I think when you're inlike what would be considered
trauma, emotional traumasituation, she just does
instinctively.
I think instincts come outfirst and I think that's one of
the things that I like about heris that she, once she makes up
her mind, she just kind of dropsthe wall and changes course.
(10:18):
It's strong and that'sdifficult to do.
That's kind of the thing thatyou talk yourself up to do when
you're alone.
Okay, I'm going to walk in theroom and I'm going to do this
and I'm going to say this, andshe doesn't have prep time.
Like things happen someone sayssomething and she just goes and
goes left, and there's a lot ofstrength in that which is very
(10:39):
interesting to me, to just beable to have such conviction in
the decision that you're makingright at the moment, and so
that's different, especially forme, because I'm kind of like
let's carefully walk through andI, you know so, being able to
play someone that just kind ofgoes, nope, here you go, that's
it's neat being able to haveshe's emotionally attached to
(11:01):
every single person in the show.
She's sort of the one personthat has a relationship with
every single character.
Yeah, which is interesting initself.
I'm not isolated from anybody.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sort of what you're talking about leads back into
what I was saying with Tonyabout how things you say that
can't be taken back, Becauseeven when the people around you
say wholeheartedly, I believeyou, I believe you and you're
fine, that almost encourages youto push them away even further.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah, yeah, there's definitely the feeling of the
mistrust of humanity for Karen.
I think it's.
You know.
Yes, I believe you.
Oh, no, now.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I don't trust anybody .
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Yeah, and that's kind of what it comes down to the
questioning of everybody else.
The way to handle that best forher is to protect herself, and
everyone else needs to go away.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
We spent three hours, one night, character
development.
Everybody just talked abouttheir character and the
character arc, what was theirpurpose in the show.
It was fascinating.
I thought that was one of thebest rehearsals ever, because
everybody got to own what it is,that their intention was and
how they had to come out, and sowe had discussions.
I mean, what is to be left?
(12:14):
What is the message?
What is?
You know, every character hasone, so it was important that we
established that, and for Karenit was definitely she's the
audience, she's got the hope andthat's what we needed.
So she has to play that hope,and so we can all go on.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah, that character study was very, very helpful, I
think, because you know Tonywould ask us, you know, write
out a history of your character.
And so you had to reflect backon that, like what is martha's
relationship to karen beforethis point in their lives?
And it was interesting becauseI started, I read mine and then
(12:56):
tiffany read hers and we hadvery similar uh backgrounds for
the relationship between the twoand uh I also had to write.
I wrote about the relationshipthat martha has with her aunt
and why is that such acontentious relationship?
and so it was really interestingand I think it definitely
helped, because I have that inthe back of my head when we're
(13:18):
doing the scenes.
I've got this, you know, madeup history.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yeah, that's really and it's really helped, yeah
yeah, where there was anexercise we did similar to that
in school once we had to writeout a character, is like from
light, from birth till death,right like the entire timeline,
just to completely get like thefull scope of their, their
worldview.
Yeah, so yeah, would you mindtalking a little bit more about
(13:43):
this one rehearsal session whereyou got deeper into the
character?
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well, it was really interesting to me because I had
them do it and then they had topresent it to me.
So I wanted to say you know,and they don't want to admit
some of it, you know theyweren't ready to admit all that.
But then I said no, no, youhave to, you have to go there
and you have to be strong.
I told Karen you have to bestrong, you have to come up with
(14:07):
it, because she was thinking,oh, I don't know, I don't know
if I no.
So we took their history andtheir development and what it
had to do with the show.
How did that do that?
And for your character, whatdid it do for you?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
If you need high-quality headshots or other
professional photo work done,visit Zochi Neri.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Photography at fbme slash xneri photos.
For me.
I had a lot of collaborationwith Paige, who plays my grandma
, and with Kristen, who playsJoe, because they're the only
people related to me, and so Iwas like, well, I think this
should happen, I think that youshould only have sons at this,
and it was like how do Iinteract with them, with this
(14:56):
fake persona?
Because I don't believe thatMary is her true self throughout
the entirety of this.
I think she's lying every stepof the way and pretending to be
something she's not.
So I have to both put on thischaracter that looks believable
but also looks a little fragilethat it could fall apart, if
that makes sense, yeah, Sinceshe's not being herself at all.
(15:16):
So I have to be like okay, Iinteract with my grandma like
this and I interact with theteachers like this and I
interact with the students likethis, and that was like a thing
that I was immediately jottingdown.
I was like I have ideas and Ishared them.
It was really fun.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Yes, we were all sharing, like anytime somebody
shares.
Oh my gosh, I didn't even thinkabout that, you're right.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
And then making connections to you know
something somebody said abouttheir character and connecting
it to your own character, and itwas really really interesting
and we were all giving opinionslike oh, I think this should
happen, oh, I think this shouldhappen, and then it would like
go on for like 20 minutes just atangent we didn't always see
eye to eye.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
I was going to say it was interesting because the
characters unlike where you dofamily dramas and they're all
related.
So I think that while you haveopinions about your characters,
there's still something in theback of your mind going.
But I'm related to this person.
There's only few people thatare actually related in the show
and there were a couple oftimes I mean it was we got a
little hot.
We got a little hot and heatedabout how we felt about each
(16:23):
other.
Um, and I don't even know iftony knows this, but I one of
the actresses, came to me afterthe one rehearsal and was like I
hope we're okay, I hope we'relike.
I was just expressing myopinion, I hope I hope we're
okay and I was like, yeah, we'regood like it, but hey, I still
think this.
But that was interesting, wewere.
(16:45):
It was interesting because youbecome passionate and then when
you don't have a relationshipwith the person, with the
character that you're kind ofhaving a discussion with, you
don't have as much protectionfor that anymore.
So the aggression towards itthat you feel when you start to
(17:05):
live in your characterdefinitely starts coming out
more in your defense of yourcharacter and your protection of
your character.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think that I have.
I really really did a great job, as usual.
But seriously, they're all sowilling to challenge themselves,
to give that emotional thingthis is so many emotions and so
many levels and they are notafraid.
And they do it.
And I say, no, maybe do this.
They're willing to try it again.
(17:37):
They're willing to do this.
You can't ask for more thanthat from actors.
That's why the truth is coming.
It's because they are sowilling to make this.
You can't ask for more thanthat from actors.
That's why the truth is coming.
You know, it's because they areso willing to make it real and
that there has to be a reasonthat they're going to go this
far, act this or do that.
And all of them do that.
It's just, it's amazing to me.
I actually have cried severaltimes in the rehearsal period.
(17:59):
I mean myself.
I know what's going to happen,I know what they're supposed to
do, but they really wound me.
So it's that good, it's thatgood.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Any other notable people in the cast that you
would like to point out?
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yes, sorry, paige Paulseen plays the grandma and
it's a great role.
She has a wonderful role andher righteousness is a theme of
the show and she identifies withrighteousness and acts upon it.
And it's another reason thateverything falls apart.
People think they're right andthey will do things and say
things because they believethey're right and it comes from
(18:36):
their heart.
They believe it, they thinkthey're doing the right thing.
But it wounds people and it'snot always right, but she plays
it very, very well.
And Aunt Lily, which is playedby Mary Reichert, she's a great
character.
She's an actress and she causesso much trouble, she's so mean
to everybody.
(18:56):
She only thinks of herself andshe does a great job playing
that off.
And poor Martha Martha has hada terrible relationship with her
and tries still to take care ofher and do it.
She's a pitiful person.
So they do great and all thegirls they all come through.
Every one of them are doingsomething.
(19:18):
And Joseph, the guy that playsJoseph, he is wonderful and he
was in Funny Mirrors.
Yes, so he is Christian Merrill.
He's used to acting on camera.
Okay, so I had to get him to bebigger and everything, and he
(19:40):
just wants to do it so well andhe appreciates direction, he
takes it so well.
Can we do that again?
He says so anyway, actually,I'm so proud of every single one
of them.
I really believe that we've gota heck of a cast and I think
people are going to be blownaway.
I honestly do, and I you know Iwouldn't take full credit,
(20:04):
that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
It's a cast I feel like I can trust every single
person that I'm on the stagewith.
I don't.
My character, martha, doesn'thave as much interaction with
the girls, just a briefinteraction with Mary, so my
interaction is mainly with theadults and it feels so right and
(20:31):
so comfortable when you're onstage with somebody who you
completely trust where you'regoing with it and the emotion
comes out.
And sharing the stage withTiffany is awesome, just the
dynamic between the two of usand then the two characters and
I just I'm just really proud ofthe work and I'm proud of this
(20:52):
cast and just excited to show itto everyone.
I love our hard work and whatwe're doing.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Even just talking about it now, it all seems very
collaborative and very.
I can sense the camaraderiebetween the three of you and
even talking about your othercast members, it's very nice.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It's been good yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It was interesting when all three of you were
talking about your characters,how you sort of realize that all
three of them are very much indenial about themselves in many
different ways, where of courseMartha may make him off a bit
more obvious if you sort of knowthe plot of the show and where
it's heading, but sort of to seethat in all the other
(21:31):
characters and how that's sortof a theme of the show and so I
think that's very interesting,yeah, and we all wonder what's
going to happen to Mary at theend, and uh we're all theorizing
about it, like does she getgrounded?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
we had like worse options, but we were like does
she get grounded?
Does she have to go to boardingschool?
Speaker 1 (21:48):
A different boarding school.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
A worse one.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
There might be pads, padded cells, a boarding school,
it might be medication-involved, a very specific uniform
Possibly.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
That rarely ever comes off, straining in a way,
and you know to have her playthat, because in fact the
grandmother, paige, was saying,no, I think that she's really
nice.
You know, I think she's reallynice.
Who are you kidding?
You know, maybe you need tobelieve that for your character.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I don't think your grandma would say that.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
But this is not the truth.
She is not good.
She is not good, I'm sorry thisis evil, she's evil, and we
have to recognize that we reallydo, because that's why it all
happens.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
There's not one thing she does for anyone else, it's
all about her this whole time.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yes, she wants her way.
It's going to be a sick day,like go to school, like it's.
That's the, it's really the.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
They just don't want to go to school.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Exactly I can't go to the boat races.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Okay, fine, I'll teach you to mess with me.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, exactly.
And she says that she tells himI can handle my grandmother, I
can do this.
She's a bully and she plays itoff so well.
I believe her she knows it.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
She wears it with pride.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
She's so aware.
She's so aware of her own evil.
She really is.
She's so aware of howmanipulative she is.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
She's searching out for these ways to manipulate.
She manipulates the girls.
She manipulates the teachers.
She manipulates the teachers.
She manipulates her grandmother.
It's yeah, and she's soself-aware.
And like that's what makes hereven scarier.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah, like her superpower in this almost.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
She does what she can do and she uses it for every
little thing she wants.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yes, she like uses her position as like a little
girl to like add legitimacy toher claims.
Like her position as a littlegirl to add legitimacy to her
claims.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
It's the mind.
How could I have?
Done this so good.
She's excellent at it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I can't wait to see it Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
You briefly mentioned that you're taking credit for
everything that we've talkedabout.
I have guided them and I haveencouraged them and challenged
them and I love them and I tellthem right away if they don't do
well.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Would you mind giving credit to some of the other
people on your production teamwhile we have our time here.
No one else.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Alex Huey is my stage manager and she's done this
before and she's great.
I worked with Alex years andyears ago and so it was fun to
get her back.
Kylie is doing my lights.
Sharon and Jim Ernstberger aredoing the set and the set design
.
They're so wonderful.
They really really put ittogether.
I have running the lights.
(24:42):
Is Samantha her last nameescapes me Samantha.
Yes, okay, good, she's runningthe lights.
And then I have a new person,briar Thompson.
First time she's here and goingto do our lights, so it was
good that we recruited some newpeople.
Yes, always good In addition tohaving some of our other people,
but always it takes a villageit does, and I'm so proud of the
(25:07):
fact that all these people arehelping and doing such a great
job.
It really enhances the wholeproduction.
It just gives us all securitythat we're in good hands.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Would you mind speaking on the set design a
little bit, or is it focusingjust on the schoolhouse?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Yeah, the schoolhouse .
And then yeah, we're going toturn two parts of it, three
parts of it, and it becomes thegrandma's house and I'm having
blue light and the cast ismoving it.
We're not going to sit in thedark and do scene changes.
I hate that.
So we're just going to changethose three things and on the
other side of it becomes thegrandmother's house and the
(25:42):
doorway becomes an arch.
It's incredible.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
It's so cool.
Yeah, that sounds exciting.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I'm so proud of that, and so they came up with that,
because I definitely didn't wantto have two elaborate sets that
we had to move all thefurniture and do all that.
There's nothing more boring tome than watching that stuff and
everybody's so willing to movestuff and do things.
I'm really proud.
Everybody's going to play theirpart, so I'm very pleased.
(26:07):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah, she's working like dogs, Moving the set around
and then the Except for me.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Yeah, she's not.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
I broke my clavicle.
It extends even into reality.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
She broke her oh okay , yes, it's almost fine now.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
I might have to.
Oh wait, no, it hurts so bad,it's almost fine.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
That is.
Can you believe it?
I mean, here we are, I'm sorry,Miss Tony.
I broke my collarbone, but Ithink I'll be in.
I was so scared it.
She's a trooper, she's back.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Did we talk about costumes yet?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
A little bit no.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
And Kathy Miller is just moral oh my god, I love her
.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
She's worked with me several times.
You just tell her what you want.
She's got a book.
She puts pictures of everybodyin there.
She's one of the most wonderfulcostumers I've ever known.
I'm safe with there.
She's one of the most wonderfulcostumers I've ever known and I
just I'm safe with her.
She will find everybody's.
She checks with me to make surethat this is okay, but her
ideas are really on spot and shekeeps us the period.
(27:12):
It's 1937.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
I was about to ask 1937.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
So we have to watch that, you know, and there's
always somebody in the audience.
That's not 1930s.
That's a 1950s dress-up I eversaw.
So I really want to be carefulabout that she does.
She's very good.
Yeah, she's excellent.
Thank you, I'm glad you broughther up.
Yeah, I love her.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Love to make sure everybody gets the credit that
they need.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Oh, absolutely, I do try to tell them all I swear, I
do.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, I think.
Thank you all four of you forjoining me here today.
Would you mind you happen toknow the opening date for the
show?
Yes, Would you like to tell us?
Yes, I have a card right here.
Wow, Performances beginSeptember 13th at 8 pm.
You can buy tickets onchinocommunitytheaterorg.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And that night is a gala.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
And that night is a gala and we'll have a nice
little gala and some food andstuff after you get to meet the
cast.
Saturday, on the 14th, istwo-for-one, so we can go
through the box office to gettwo-for-one tickets.
And on Sunday that is going tobe the 15th is going to be a
talkback, so we'll have theactors there and the crew to
(28:20):
give you a talkback.
So that's interesting and theshow runs all the way until
September 29th, so it's going tobe a good run.
Please come.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yes, please.
I'm very excited to see this.
I will be very transparent.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I'll be looking for you.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Where, where.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Where.
Yes good, thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Thank you all, thank you.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
If you need insurance , vince will work for you.
Vince Polito is a localfarmer's insurance agent who
wants to help you out.
Auto home renters and more open8 to 5 on all weekdays.
Over 35 years experience andlicensed in four states.
Call now days.
Over 35 years experience andlicensed in four states.
Call now.
Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage and now it's time
(29:14):
for the curtain 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
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.
And she's a bully and she plays it off so well.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I believe her she knows it, yeah, and she wears it
with pride.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
She's so aware, like a badge of honor.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
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 will print out yourbanners, they'll cut vinyl,
they'll do window graphics forthe company cars.
(00:30):
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 I talk tothe community theatre
professionals you know and love.
Today we are talking about atale of how gossip and rumors
(00:53):
and one lie can twist the livesof those around you almost
entirely irreparably.
We're talking about theChildren's Hour.
I have the director, tony Lind,hi, and then we have my friends
, yes.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tiffany McMahon, tracy Lay, madison Diaz.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Thank you for being here, welcome back.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
So, tony, why don't you start off a brief synopsis
of the show and sort of whatdrew you to it and inspired you
to take this on as a directorialproject?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Well, it is about two women that are friends and they
start a boarding school, andit's actually based on a true
story that dates back many yearsago.
And this was written in 1937.
And there's this girl who isvery upset with the two teachers
because they won't let her goto the boat races.
(01:39):
So for that she wants to punishthem and start spreading lies.
And this is what happens whenthe lies get told over and over,
and the reactions of everybodyelse and how it actually
destroys the two women, theschool.
It's incredible.
Why did it draw me?
Oh my gosh, look at right now,with all what happens with the
(02:00):
lies and social media, and it'sjust.
I think it's a timely story.
It holds up very well.
And drama I really appreciatedrama.
I know a lot of our patronsreally want to see the comedy.
We talked about that in playselection.
They like comedy, but there hasto be drama, and the drama
(02:23):
makes us appreciate the comedyand everything else more.
So this is one of the reasonsit draws me and the trick for me
make it real.
Make it real.
It's not a melodrama, thesearen't cartoon characters, these
are real people.
And how can I make it truthful?
And I think they did a fabulousjob.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Would you mind delving a bit more into the why
now aspect of this.
You mentioned sort of socialmedia.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yes, because you know how gossip is told and bad news
travels faster than good news.
It just simply does.
And how do you get out of it?
Once people have perceived thisis the truth, how do you back
off from that?
How do you change their minds?
How do you do that?
And this is a perfect exampleof how that happens.
And look at today I mean rightnow the political climate.
(03:08):
There's a lot of that, there'sa lot of that and there's a lot
of people that are divided andsome believe this, some believe
that.
And that's what happens whenyou have somebody spreading lies
, and it's a factor that's beenaround forever and it simply
really doesn't go away aroundforever and it simply it really
doesn't go away.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So fight for the truth.
Yes, absolutely.
I like what you said, sort ofabout how once the lies are
spoken it can't really be takenback, even once the truth comes
out, because there are.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, exactly, it's so .
It's so how do you make up forit?
How do you do it?
And that's what their dilemmais, and that's why this is so
important to them that itdoesn't.
They don't know how to go onwith their lives and it's just.
It's heartbreaking, but it'salso very moving and very
important because it comes upwith strength of character and
everything else and, like I said, because they're believable.
(04:02):
I think people are going torecognize some of these people.
I think they're going to say,oh, I know that, and you?
Yeah, they're going to know you.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Of course, I love what you said about being real,
because I think this is a veryreal show and the stakes are, of
course, very real.
Yes, why don't we talk abouthow we make it real with our
actors here, tiffany, why don'tyou answer some of the same
questions that I asked Tonyabout, sort of what drew you to
this play?
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Sure, I know, like Tony said, the audiences are
asking for comedy and that seemsto have been kind of taken more
steps forward, more upfront.
People are asking for morecomedy, theater doing more
comedies or doing more musicals,especially coming out of COVID.
But for actors, while that'sgreat, dramas for me are what
(04:52):
feed my soul.
If I can't really go home andon the drive I'm going, oh my
gosh, I can't believe I have tosay those words or I get to say
those words.
That's what makes it reallyimportant for me.
So especially that was one ofthe things that drove me out
here to do August Osage lastyear.
Same thing, that drama, beingable to talk about real issues
(05:13):
with real people and with thisshow in particular.
This has been on.
This show has been a bucketlist for me for about 15 years
now.
There were two otherproductions I wasn't able to
audition for over the last 15years.
So when I saw it was announcedlast year and that Tony was
directing, I was like, yep, I'mdriving all the way out to Chino
(05:35):
again, I don't care what thattakes.
No-transcript.
Classic theater isn't done asoften.
I love Arthur Miller, butsometimes that tends to be all
we do, so we don't do some ofthe other classic a la
contemporary stories.
And it is important and I haveseven nieces, so for me stepping
(05:57):
in and being a part of a storythat has to do with girls in
particular is a big deal.
And you know I was bullied as akid so like for me I'm like, I
get it, I know what it's about.
So stepping in and being ableto tell different parts of that
story and the after effects ofit are one of the main reasons
that brought me out.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I'm glad you mentioned Arthur Miller, because
we will get into that a littlebit later.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I have thoughts, exactly, exactly, exactly,
serious thoughts.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I love Arthur.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Miller, I do too, I direct many of Arthur Miller's.
I do too, but that tends to.
My point is, though, that tendsto be.
For some people that's like wedid.
Arthur Miller that's the onlydrama we have to do there are so
many more, and I do think thatwe need to do Miller all the
time, but then we don't juststop there.
Yeah, we need more?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Absolutely, Tracy.
Would you mind talking aboutwhat brought you to this show?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Well, actually I had never read the play until about
maybe three days before theauditions happened.
I had heard of it.
My husband actually played JoeCarden in a production of it way
back when, and so he knew of it.
So I read his copy of it and Iwas really drawn to it.
(07:10):
I'll echo Tiffany in the factthat, as an actor, I'm very much
drawn to the drama, and if Ican make someone cry in the
audience, I have done my job.
I like doing that.
I love to make people laugh aswell.
Sometimes comedies are actuallya little bit harder.
I think at times, because whatyou find funny somebody else may
not find funny.
(07:30):
But I feel like with drama itcan pull anybody into it, and
that's our goal here with thisone is to draw people into this
story.
I play a teacher, which is nottoo much of a stretch for me
since I am a teacher, but,having you know, I also have my
daughter in it with me, zeleny.
So that's been fun.
(07:51):
And to have her come along andplay with the grownups has also
been fun.
And she actually it was reallyher wanting to audition.
That kind of pushed me over theedge to go ahead and audition.
I was like all right, well, ifshe's going to audition and I'm
driving out here anyway, I'mgoing to go for it.
I'll go ahead and do it.
That's so cool, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yeah, and you will absolutely get tears.
I hope so.
No, you will.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yes, yes you will.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yes, madison, would you like to talk about sort of
what drew you to this show?
So I had never read it, I hadnever seen it I actually only
watched like 10 minutes beforethe audition.
But what drew me to Mary is Ithought it would be really fun
to play her.
She was so evil and not.
It was just such like a funcharacter idea to play and I was
like I've got to do this.
I saw it on the children'scommunity theater Instagram.
(08:45):
I was like they need kids.
I might be able to get that.
And so I did it and I had ablast.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Mary is such a fun character.
She's so cunning and clever.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
We use fun and she's not fun.
She's so fun to play.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
She's fun to play.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
yeah, yes, that's more what I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Fun to play.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yes, tiffany, did we get you talking about sort of
what drew you to your character?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Yeah, actually it's funny.
Audrey Hepburn played her inthe film, which is funny for me
because I played Sabrina Fairbefore, so this is the second
time I've gotten to play anAudrey Hepburn character who got
transferred for film.
But the thing with Karen isthat she is, so she has
(09:31):
rose-colored glasses on.
I think through the majority ofthe show and I don't think
there's anything wrong with that.
But when she's faced to whereshe has to take them off, she
goes from just.
I think most people lower theirglasses and very carefully, are
like let's tiptoe through thetulips and she's kind of takes
them off she chucks them againstthe wall and goes to completely
(09:54):
the other side of it.
Um, which I think when you're inlike what would be considered
trauma, emotional traumasituation, she just does
instinctively.
I think instincts come outfirst and I think that's one of
the things that I like about heris that she, once she makes up
her mind, she just kind of dropsthe wall and changes course.
(10:18):
It's strong and that'sdifficult to do.
That's kind of the thing thatyou talk yourself up to do when
you're alone.
Okay, I'm going to walk in theroom and I'm going to do this
and I'm going to say this, andshe doesn't have prep time.
Like things happen someone sayssomething and she just goes and
goes left, and there's a lot ofstrength in that which is very
(10:39):
interesting to me, to just beable to have such conviction in
the decision that you're makingright at the moment, and so
that's different, especially forme, because I'm kind of like
let's carefully walk through andI, you know so, being able to
play someone that just kind ofgoes, nope, here you go, that's
it's neat being able to haveshe's emotionally attached to
(11:01):
every single person in the show.
She's sort of the one personthat has a relationship with
every single character.
Yeah, which is interesting initself.
I'm not isolated from anybody.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sort of what you're talking about leads back into
what I was saying with Tonyabout how things you say that
can't be taken back, Becauseeven when the people around you
say wholeheartedly, I believeyou, I believe you and you're
fine, that almost encourages youto push them away even further.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah, yeah, there's definitely the feeling of the
mistrust of humanity for Karen.
I think it's.
You know.
Yes, I believe you.
Oh, no, now.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I don't trust anybody .
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Yeah, and that's kind of what it comes down to the
questioning of everybody else.
The way to handle that best forher is to protect herself, and
everyone else needs to go away.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
We spent three hours, one night, character
development.
Everybody just talked abouttheir character and the
character arc, what was theirpurpose in the show.
It was fascinating.
I thought that was one of thebest rehearsals ever, because
everybody got to own what it is,that their intention was and
how they had to come out, and sowe had discussions.
I mean, what is to be left?
(12:14):
What is the message?
What is?
You know, every character hasone, so it was important that we
established that, and for Karenit was definitely she's the
audience, she's got the hope andthat's what we needed.
So she has to play that hope,and so we can all go on.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah, that character study was very, very helpful, I
think, because you know Tonywould ask us, you know, write
out a history of your character.
And so you had to reflect backon that, like what is martha's
relationship to karen beforethis point in their lives?
And it was interesting becauseI started, I read mine and then
(12:56):
tiffany read hers and we hadvery similar uh backgrounds for
the relationship between the twoand uh I also had to write.
I wrote about the relationshipthat martha has with her aunt
and why is that such acontentious relationship?
and so it was really interestingand I think it definitely
helped, because I have that inthe back of my head when we're
(13:18):
doing the scenes.
I've got this, you know, madeup history.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yeah, that's really and it's really helped, yeah
yeah, where there was anexercise we did similar to that
in school once we had to writeout a character, is like from
light, from birth till death,right like the entire timeline,
just to completely get like thefull scope of their, their
worldview.
Yeah, so yeah, would you mindtalking a little bit more about
(13:43):
this one rehearsal session whereyou got deeper into the
character?
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well, it was really interesting to me because I had
them do it and then they had topresent it to me.
So I wanted to say you know,and they don't want to admit
some of it, you know theyweren't ready to admit all that.
But then I said no, no, youhave to, you have to go there
and you have to be strong.
I told Karen you have to bestrong, you have to come up with
(14:07):
it, because she was thinking,oh, I don't know, I don't know
if I no.
So we took their history andtheir development and what it
had to do with the show.
How did that do that?
And for your character, whatdid it do for you?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
If you need high-quality headshots or other
professional photo work done,visit Zochi Neri.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Photography at fbme slash xneri photos.
For me.
I had a lot of collaborationwith Paige, who plays my grandma
, and with Kristen, who playsJoe, because they're the only
people related to me, and so Iwas like, well, I think this
should happen, I think that youshould only have sons at this,
and it was like how do Iinteract with them, with this
(14:56):
fake persona?
Because I don't believe thatMary is her true self throughout
the entirety of this.
I think she's lying every stepof the way and pretending to be
something she's not.
So I have to both put on thischaracter that looks believable
but also looks a little fragilethat it could fall apart, if
that makes sense, yeah, Sinceshe's not being herself at all.
(15:16):
So I have to be like okay, Iinteract with my grandma like
this and I interact with theteachers like this and I
interact with the students likethis, and that was like a thing
that I was immediately jottingdown.
I was like I have ideas and Ishared them.
It was really fun.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Yes, we were all sharing, like anytime somebody
shares.
Oh my gosh, I didn't even thinkabout that, you're right.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
And then making connections to you know
something somebody said abouttheir character and connecting
it to your own character, and itwas really really interesting
and we were all giving opinionslike oh, I think this should
happen, oh, I think this shouldhappen, and then it would like
go on for like 20 minutes just atangent we didn't always see
eye to eye.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
I was going to say it was interesting because the
characters unlike where you dofamily dramas and they're all
related.
So I think that while you haveopinions about your characters,
there's still something in theback of your mind going.
But I'm related to this person.
There's only few people thatare actually related in the show
and there were a couple oftimes I mean it was we got a
little hot.
We got a little hot and heatedabout how we felt about each
(16:23):
other.
Um, and I don't even know iftony knows this, but I one of
the actresses, came to me afterthe one rehearsal and was like I
hope we're okay, I hope we'relike.
I was just expressing myopinion, I hope I hope we're
okay and I was like, yeah, we'regood like it, but hey, I still
think this.
But that was interesting, wewere.
(16:45):
It was interesting because youbecome passionate and then when
you don't have a relationshipwith the person, with the
character that you're kind ofhaving a discussion with, you
don't have as much protectionfor that anymore.
So the aggression towards itthat you feel when you start to
(17:05):
live in your characterdefinitely starts coming out
more in your defense of yourcharacter and your protection of
your character.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think that I have.
I really really did a great job, as usual.
But seriously, they're all sowilling to challenge themselves,
to give that emotional thingthis is so many emotions and so
many levels and they are notafraid.
And they do it.
And I say, no, maybe do this.
They're willing to try it again.
(17:37):
They're willing to do this.
You can't ask for more thanthat from actors.
That's why the truth is coming.
It's because they are sowilling to make this.
You can't ask for more thanthat from actors.
That's why the truth is coming.
You know, it's because they areso willing to make it real and
that there has to be a reasonthat they're going to go this
far, act this or do that.
And all of them do that.
It's just, it's amazing to me.
I actually have cried severaltimes in the rehearsal period.
(17:59):
I mean myself.
I know what's going to happen,I know what they're supposed to
do, but they really wound me.
So it's that good, it's thatgood.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Any other notable people in the cast that you
would like to point out?
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yes, sorry, paige Paulseen plays the grandma and
it's a great role.
She has a wonderful role andher righteousness is a theme of
the show and she identifies withrighteousness and acts upon it.
And it's another reason thateverything falls apart.
People think they're right andthey will do things and say
things because they believethey're right and it comes from
(18:36):
their heart.
They believe it, they thinkthey're doing the right thing.
But it wounds people and it'snot always right, but she plays
it very, very well.
And Aunt Lily, which is playedby Mary Reichert, she's a great
character.
She's an actress and she causesso much trouble, she's so mean
to everybody.
(18:56):
She only thinks of herself andshe does a great job playing
that off.
And poor Martha Martha has hada terrible relationship with her
and tries still to take care ofher and do it.
She's a pitiful person.
So they do great and all thegirls they all come through.
Every one of them are doingsomething.
(19:18):
And Joseph, the guy that playsJoseph, he is wonderful and he
was in Funny Mirrors.
Yes, so he is Christian Merrill.
He's used to acting on camera.
Okay, so I had to get him to bebigger and everything, and he
(19:40):
just wants to do it so well andhe appreciates direction, he
takes it so well.
Can we do that again?
He says so anyway, actually,I'm so proud of every single one
of them.
I really believe that we've gota heck of a cast and I think
people are going to be blownaway.
I honestly do, and I you know Iwouldn't take full credit,
(20:04):
that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
It's a cast I feel like I can trust every single
person that I'm on the stagewith.
I don't.
My character, martha, doesn'thave as much interaction with
the girls, just a briefinteraction with Mary, so my
interaction is mainly with theadults and it feels so right and
(20:31):
so comfortable when you're onstage with somebody who you
completely trust where you'regoing with it and the emotion
comes out.
And sharing the stage withTiffany is awesome, just the
dynamic between the two of usand then the two characters and
I just I'm just really proud ofthe work and I'm proud of this
(20:52):
cast and just excited to show itto everyone.
I love our hard work and whatwe're doing.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Even just talking about it now, it all seems very
collaborative and very.
I can sense the camaraderiebetween the three of you and
even talking about your othercast members, it's very nice.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It's been good yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It was interesting when all three of you were
talking about your characters,how you sort of realize that all
three of them are very much indenial about themselves in many
different ways, where of courseMartha may make him off a bit
more obvious if you sort of knowthe plot of the show and where
it's heading, but sort of to seethat in all the other
(21:31):
characters and how that's sortof a theme of the show and so I
think that's very interesting,yeah, and we all wonder what's
going to happen to Mary at theend, and uh we're all theorizing
about it, like does she getgrounded?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
we had like worse options, but we were like does
she get grounded?
Does she have to go to boardingschool?
Speaker 1 (21:48):
A different boarding school.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
A worse one.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
There might be pads, padded cells, a boarding school,
it might be medication-involved, a very specific uniform
Possibly.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
That rarely ever comes off, straining in a way,
and you know to have her playthat, because in fact the
grandmother, paige, was saying,no, I think that she's really
nice.
You know, I think she's reallynice.
Who are you kidding?
You know, maybe you need tobelieve that for your character.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I don't think your grandma would say that.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
But this is not the truth.
She is not good.
She is not good, I'm sorry thisis evil, she's evil, and we
have to recognize that we reallydo, because that's why it all
happens.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
There's not one thing she does for anyone else, it's
all about her this whole time.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yes, she wants her way.
It's going to be a sick day,like go to school, like it's.
That's the, it's really the.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
They just don't want to go to school.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Exactly I can't go to the boat races.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Okay, fine, I'll teach you to mess with me.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, exactly.
And she says that she tells himI can handle my grandmother, I
can do this.
She's a bully and she plays itoff so well.
I believe her she knows it.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
She wears it with pride.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
She's so aware.
She's so aware of her own evil.
She really is.
She's so aware of howmanipulative she is.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
She's searching out for these ways to manipulate.
She manipulates the girls.
She manipulates the teachers.
She manipulates the teachers.
She manipulates her grandmother.
It's yeah, and she's soself-aware.
And like that's what makes hereven scarier.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah, like her superpower in this almost.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
She does what she can do and she uses it for every
little thing she wants.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yes, she like uses her position as like a little
girl to like add legitimacy toher claims.
Like her position as a littlegirl to add legitimacy to her
claims.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
It's the mind.
How could I have?
Done this so good.
She's excellent at it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I can't wait to see it Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
You briefly mentioned that you're taking credit for
everything that we've talkedabout.
I have guided them and I haveencouraged them and challenged
them and I love them and I tellthem right away if they don't do
well.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Would you mind giving credit to some of the other
people on your production teamwhile we have our time here.
No one else.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Alex Huey is my stage manager and she's done this
before and she's great.
I worked with Alex years andyears ago and so it was fun to
get her back.
Kylie is doing my lights.
Sharon and Jim Ernstberger aredoing the set and the set design
.
They're so wonderful.
They really really put ittogether.
I have running the lights.
(24:42):
Is Samantha her last nameescapes me Samantha.
Yes, okay, good, she's runningthe lights.
And then I have a new person,briar Thompson.
First time she's here and goingto do our lights, so it was
good that we recruited some newpeople.
Yes, always good In addition tohaving some of our other people,
but always it takes a villageit does, and I'm so proud of the
(25:07):
fact that all these people arehelping and doing such a great
job.
It really enhances the wholeproduction.
It just gives us all securitythat we're in good hands.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Would you mind speaking on the set design a
little bit, or is it focusingjust on the schoolhouse?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Yeah, the schoolhouse .
And then yeah, we're going toturn two parts of it, three
parts of it, and it becomes thegrandma's house and I'm having
blue light and the cast ismoving it.
We're not going to sit in thedark and do scene changes.
I hate that.
So we're just going to changethose three things and on the
other side of it becomes thegrandmother's house and the
(25:42):
doorway becomes an arch.
It's incredible.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
It's so cool.
Yeah, that sounds exciting.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I'm so proud of that, and so they came up with that,
because I definitely didn't wantto have two elaborate sets that
we had to move all thefurniture and do all that.
There's nothing more boring tome than watching that stuff and
everybody's so willing to movestuff and do things.
I'm really proud.
Everybody's going to play theirpart, so I'm very pleased.
(26:07):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah, she's working like dogs, Moving the set around
and then the Except for me.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Yeah, she's not.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
I broke my clavicle.
It extends even into reality.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
She broke her oh okay , yes, it's almost fine now.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
I might have to.
Oh wait, no, it hurts so bad,it's almost fine.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
That is.
Can you believe it?
I mean, here we are, I'm sorry,Miss Tony.
I broke my collarbone, but Ithink I'll be in.
I was so scared it.
She's a trooper, she's back.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Did we talk about costumes yet?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
A little bit no.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
And Kathy Miller is just moral oh my god, I love her
.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
She's worked with me several times.
You just tell her what you want.
She's got a book.
She puts pictures of everybodyin there.
She's one of the most wonderfulcostumers I've ever known.
I'm safe with there.
She's one of the most wonderfulcostumers I've ever known and I
just I'm safe with her.
She will find everybody's.
She checks with me to make surethat this is okay, but her
ideas are really on spot and shekeeps us the period.
(27:12):
It's 1937.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
I was about to ask 1937.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
So we have to watch that, you know, and there's
always somebody in the audience.
That's not 1930s.
That's a 1950s dress-up I eversaw.
So I really want to be carefulabout that she does.
She's very good.
Yeah, she's excellent.
Thank you, I'm glad you broughther up.
Yeah, I love her.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Love to make sure everybody gets the credit that
they need.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Oh, absolutely, I do try to tell them all I swear, I
do.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, I think.
Thank you all four of you forjoining me here today.
Would you mind you happen toknow the opening date for the
show?
Yes, Would you like to tell us?
Yes, I have a card right here.
Wow, Performances beginSeptember 13th at 8 pm.
You can buy tickets onchinocommunitytheaterorg.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And that night is a gala.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
And that night is a gala and we'll have a nice
little gala and some food andstuff after you get to meet the
cast.
Saturday, on the 14th, istwo-for-one, so we can go
through the box office to gettwo-for-one tickets.
And on Sunday that is going tobe the 15th is going to be a
talkback, so we'll have theactors there and the crew to
(28:20):
give you a talkback.
So that's interesting and theshow runs all the way until
September 29th, so it's going tobe a good run.
Please come.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yes, please.
I'm very excited to see this.
I will be very transparent.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I'll be looking for you.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Where, where.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Where.
Yes good, thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Thank you all, thank you.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
If you need insurance , vince will work for you.
Vince Polito is a localfarmer's insurance agent who
wants to help you out.
Auto home renters and more open8 to 5 on all weekdays.
Over 35 years experience andlicensed in four states.
Call now days.
Over 35 years experience andlicensed in four states.
Call now.
Thanks for listening to Stepsto the Stage and now it's time
(29:14):
for the curtain 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
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.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com