S4 E7: Stage Door: Behind the Scenes

In this episode, we are at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center to get a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming production of Stage Door. We’re talking with the Director, Marsha Heuer, along with a few cast members.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER1: Today we are at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center to get a behind the scenes look at the upcoming production of Stage Door. (00:02):
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We're talking with the director, Marsha Heuer, along with a few students involved in the production.

SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids. (00:17):
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Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.

SPEAKER1: Thanks for having us today. We always love checking in with our theater program and hearing about upcoming productions. (00:31):
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So could you start by introducing yourself and telling us a little bit more about your role at OHS and with Stage Door?

SPEAKER3: Absolutely. Thank you so much. My name is Marsha Heuer. (00:45):
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I am a teacher at the high school. I teach social studies and mostly AP World history,
and I'm also an AVID elective teacher. But this year is my year to direct the play and I am the director for Stage Door.
In the past, I've directed and choreographed Little Mermaid.
I directed A Christmas Carol, so this is my fourth year at Oregon High School and my 19th year teaching overall.

SPEAKER1: Wonderful. And you wear a lot of hats. (01:11):
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SPEAKER3: I do wear a lot of hats. You do! I'm a theater person, so that's what they do. (01:13):
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SPEAKER4: Yeah, right! (01:17):
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SPEAKER1: So some of our listeners may not be familiar with this production, right? (01:18):
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So without spilling any secrets, can you give us a little preview of the storyline and what audience members can look forward to?

SPEAKER3: So Stage Door is a--is a really neat play. (01:29):
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It's a classic. It came out in 1936, and it ran on Broadway for about 160 some performances before becoming very popular as a movie.
They changed some of the storyline in that movie, but had major, major stars like Katharine Hepburn,
Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball. Um, but our version is the authentic classic from 1936,

(01:54):
and it's set around a--the Footlights Club off of Broadway, where it's a boarding house for girls who are trying to make it big.
They're trying to live their dream, and it's all during the depression and a time when it was very difficult for people to to live and much less achieve some
of those bigger aspects. Um, I would call it a dramedy because it's very much a drama,

(02:17):
but there's a lot of comedic elements because there's 20 some girls living in this boarding house,
all with very unique personalities, all with their own little arcs.
But the main storyline revolves around Terri Randall, who is trying to achieve her dream.
And it's kind of goes from 1936 to 1937.
And it's there's six different scenes that happen throughout the show.

(02:41):
And we see Terri as she's involved with various people, including the two men of her life.
And one is more of a Broadway playwright or a wannabe Broadway playwright that turns to Hollywood.
And the other is a Hollywood producer who really has his heart in Broadway.
And it's about what happens with those relationships.

SPEAKER1: Well, this sounds fun, and there's a little bit of history in it too. So that's got to appeal to you just a touch also. (03:02):
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SPEAKER3: Yeah, absolutely. I always love to be able to bring art to the community and for people to learn something when they're watching a show as well. (03:07):
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SPEAKER4: Right. (03:16):
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SPEAKER1: So, um, tell us about the different roles for students in this production. (03:17):
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SPEAKER3: One of the things that really attracted this play for me was the fact that there were 31 different characters on stage. (03:21):
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31 people that have a role with lines, with a purpose on stage.
And you don't get that a lot in in shows at all, unless they're written specifically for middle or high schools.
And to get a classic show that has so many opportunities is just amazing.

(03:44):
So the 31 cast members, plus, I don't know, 20 plus crew members for sure.
It's--it's a big undertaking for sure, and probably one of the more challenging plays I've ever directed.

SPEAKER4: Really?! That's--oh, that's great to know. (03:56):
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SPEAKER1: That makes me look forward to it even more. (03:58):
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Um, if there are students listening who haven't been a part of a production before,
but they might be interested, how could they get involved in the future?

SPEAKER3: We have so many opportunities in Oregon to get involved with the arts. (04:08):
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We have drama club that they can join just to kind of meet some of the other kids that are involved.
We have a fall production, the play, and then in a few weeks, we're actually going to be auditioning for our musical Kiss Me,
Kate.

SPEAKER4: Oh, so that starts right away. (04:23):
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SPEAKER3: Oh, yeah. We I think we have about 1 or 2 weeks off and then we get right into that. (04:25):
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So there's always opportunities. We also have an improv group.
So many places that they can join so they can reach out to myself or to Mike Ducett.

SPEAKER1: Wonderful. So finally, let's talk a little bit about logistics. (04:37):
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When are the performances and how can families and community members get tickets?

SPEAKER3: We have four performances of Stage Door. (04:44):
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We're going to be running November 14th, which is a Friday, and we start at 7 p.m.
So it's a 7 p.m. show that day. On Saturday the 15th, we have two shows, one at 2 p.m.
and one at 7 p.m. and on Sunday we are closing at 2 p.m.
for the 16th and people can get tickets at the door if they wish.

(05:07):
But certainly I always recommend going online beforehand at OregonPerformingArtsCenter.com to be able to pick your seats.
We'll have concessions and fan mail and all the fun things.
So get here and enjoy a little bit of the the 30s jazz music that we'll have playing too.

SPEAKER4: Oh, that (05:22):
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SPEAKER1: sounds very fun. Thank you. So now we're going to turn to some of our student performers. (05:22):
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So thank you, all three of you, for taking a few minutes out of rehearsal.
Although it's a Friday and you're not rehearsing on a Friday, which is kind of nice.
So thank you for just being here. Let's start with introductions.
Your name, your experience with theater and how you're contributing to the production.

SPEAKER5: Okay. Um, my name is Julia Reitmeier. I'm a senior. (05:45):
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Um, I've been doing the play since freshman year on the tech side, not really the more performance side.
Um, I've been the stage manager for three years.
Um. And I love it.

SPEAKER1: You started being a stage manager in your sophomore year? (06:02):
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That's impressive!

SPEAKER5: Thank you. (06:07):
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SPEAKER4: Yes! (06:07):
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SPEAKER1: All right. (06:09):
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SPEAKER5: Um, my name's (06:10):
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SPEAKER4: Lia (06:11):
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SPEAKER5: Wochenske. I, um, am playing Terri Randall in the show, and this is going to be my, (06:11):
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I think, ninth production at OHS. I have been--that's like my one flex is I have been in every single production that has occurred here since I was a freshman.
That's exciting. Um, yeah. So it's been a very long journey.
But, um, yeah, I just, I also, I really love it, so yeah, I'm super excited.

SPEAKER1: That's wonderful. (06:36):
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SPEAKER6: Uh, hello, I'm Gus Sampson. Uh, I'm a senior. (06:37):
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Uh, listen to the Gus podcast official on spotify.com.

SPEAKER1: Thank you for making a plug. That's a good thing. (06:46):
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SPEAKER6: You're welcome. Uh. Uh, I play David Kingsley, who's a Hollywood recruiter in the story. (06:48):
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I started acting last year in The Tragedy of Of Macbeth, which was a very fun experience.
I--and the previous year I got my actual start by performing in the pit for Big Fish.

SPEAKER1: Oh, great. Okay. Thank you. So there are so many activities available to OHS students and participating in this kind of production. (07:11):
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I'm looking at the beautifully set stage right now.
Um, this is such a significant commitment.
Why is it--why is it important to you to make this commitment?

SPEAKER5: Um, theater is my love and my passion, which I really love, too, because that is my character's love and passion. (07:29):
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Um, and so I feel like I can really connect to that, but it's just--ever since I was first on stage when I was,
I think probably 10 or 11, I was in Matilda at Verona Area Community Theater, and I was like,

(07:50):
"this is what I want to do. I can't see myself doing anything else." And so I just am in love with it.
And I will take as much time and commitment as I need to, to be a part of it.

SPEAKER1: You are so lucky to have found a passion like that. (08:01):
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That's so cool. Julia or Gus, what do you want to say?

SPEAKER7: Um, I would say. I mean, it's definitely hard work. (08:07):
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It's definitely something that takes up a lot of my time, even if we're not in the actual PAC.
Outside of school, all kinds of stuff. And, I don't know, I just I keep coming back because,
like, the community is so great and all the people I meet, and it's just satisfying to,

(08:27):
like, watch a show come together.

SPEAKER1: That's awesome. Thank you. (08:29):
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SPEAKER6: Uh, you know, I think it's just really fun to do. (08:31):
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Overall, that's my main reason. Also, I love just dressing up.
I love getting to wear costumes, and I think that's really fun.
And also memorizing all the lines and being able to say them all and figure out how to say them in a way that makes sense for whoever you're pretending

(08:51):
to be, to say them and just doing things that you may might not otherwise have the chance to do.
I just, I think it's really fun and a great opportunity to have.

SPEAKER1: It probably just helps people grow a lot to do all of the things that you just described. (09:03):
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Yeah, that's pretty cool.

SPEAKER3: He's been bit by the theater bug. Oh, that's good. (09:09):
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SPEAKER1: Because you certainly have the voice, right? (09:12):
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So that's good that you've been bit by the bug. So tell us about how rehearsals are going and how you're feeling about the first performance that's a week away
now? Anybody, jump right in.

SPEAKER7: Um, I can start. Um, this upcoming week is our tech week. (09:26):
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So this is where my job usually, like, really starts.
Um, so getting all the sound cues in order.
Light cues. Um, we have another--we have all kinds of great tech people here at OHS,
and they're working very hard. Um, to, you know, just get all that in order for me to call it.

(09:49):
And so it's really cool.

SPEAKER1: I love the management whole aspect of it for you, how you kind of get to be the boss. (09:50):
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SPEAKER7: It is fun. (09:55):
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SPEAKER1: Yeah, I bet it is. (09:56):
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SPEAKER7: I hope I'm a good boss. I don't know what they would say (09:57):
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SPEAKER5: about it. (09:59):
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SPEAKER3: But Julia is amazing. The stage manager literally takes over the show. (10:00):
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Once the rehearsals are done as a director, there's nothing else I can do.
Right? So you just give them the reins. And she has managed it.
Yeah, yeah. Never had an issue.

SPEAKER5: Shout out to our amazing PAC director, Nate Mendl. (10:17):
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Um, yeah. He is the backbone of this whole area.
And, yeah, he's incredible.

SPEAKER1: I love that you said that. Thank you. Anything else about the first performance and how you're thinking? (10:25):
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SPEAKER5: Um, I can't even lie. I'm a little bit nervous. (10:30):
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This is my first time, um, ever being having this significant of a role in a show.
I have, like, 300, over 300 lines to memorize.
Wow. And, um, it's a huge challenge, but I love the challenge.
Um, but there there's still a little parts that we need to work out.
And last night, we did it with costumes for the first time, which adds a whole nother aspect of,

(10:54):
you know, having to change super fast backstage and then get into character for a different scene.
So it's a big challenge, but I'm excited and I think it will come together and I love it.

SPEAKER1: Anything? (11:03):
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SPEAKER6: Yeah, I'm really excited for it. I think it's going to be I hope it's going to be pretty good. (11:04):
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I think it's going to be pretty good.

SPEAKER3: It's going to be good. It's pretty (11:11):
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SPEAKER6: good. You should definitely go see it. Uh, and yeah, I just think it's been going good. (11:13):
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And we've definitely seen a lot of improvements from everybody involved since the beginning.
Yeah. And because it's kind of a lot of the interactions are difficult to do.
And I feel like people have handled it really well.

(11:35):
And hopefully they will continue to grow up until their performances and through the performances.
And it should create a good experience.

SPEAKER3: Yes, this is not a show where anybody really gets a ton of downtime, except for the characters that are only on once. (11:45):
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For the characters that are on multiple times, they are coming and going.
Often there's characters that come through a scene in the middle of the scene with a couple of lines because they're getting home and they're going upstairs.
And so that has been one of the biggest things, is working on timing and then making sure the students are prepared and

(12:08):
confident. But I believe truly this is going to be an amazing show.
The students have really proven themselves, and we still have a few more performances or a few more dress rehearsals to get
it actually ready. Um, but in my experience as a director, we're in a great place and I think the community is going to be blown away.

SPEAKER1: Oh, I'm sure they will. (12:26):
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SPEAKER5: Something interesting, too, that we were just talking about with this show in particular. Um, (12:27):
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also comparing it to other shows I've been in is it mimics--it really accurately,
I think mimics conversation and how people interact with each other.
There's so many times where people are interrupted and there's interruptions in lines from someone entering or like a doorbell noise or um,

(12:52):
so I found that super interesting. And it does definitely create a huge technical challenge.
Um, because like Miss Heuer said, there's a lot of times where people have to, you know,
come in super fast, and sometimes if they don't come in fast enough, you might have to start making stuff up.
But which is a challenge. But it is, um, it's super interesting in that aspect.

SPEAKER1: The way you're describing it, it really does fall in line with like 1930s kind of screwball comedies in some ways. (13:11):
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Right? Like fast paced, lots of dialog.

SPEAKER3: Yeah, absolutely. (13:20):
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SPEAKER1: Oh, that sounds really fun. So what would you say to other students who see this show? (13:21):
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They're here next Friday, and all of a sudden they're kind of interested in getting involved,
but they're like, how am I supposed to start this?
What do I do? What would you say to them?

SPEAKER5: Uh, come to drama club. Um, it's not like one of those clubs where you have to, like, (13:35):
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be a member of it to be there. Um, like, you can literally just show up.
Um, of course, we have a couple of weeks of drama club, and then we start rehearsals for Kiss Me,
Kate, and then it kind of gets a little neglected again.
Yeah, it gets serious again. But, um, in that in between time is a great time to get involved.

(13:56):
And, um, it is in the choir room, Um, on Wednesdays it's like 30 minutes after school.
So just really casual. We play fun theater games, we talk to each other, we meet people.
And, um, yeah, it's a really good way to get involved and kind of get your foot in the door for,
um, anything that might be going on with our next show.

SPEAKER7: Yeah. And I'd say for people who are interested in more tech, um, also drama club, (14:15):
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lots of tech people like going to drama club, me included.
Um, but during we have our own tech club meetings on Tuesdays.
Um, and so come right into the PAC. We'd love to have you.
It's a fun time. You could put up some lights.
It'll be great.

SPEAKER1: So there are really two avenues for people who want to do tech. (14:36):
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SPEAKER7: Definitely. And I mean, for me, I wasn't always like super passionate about being on stage, (14:39):
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but I really like being behind the scenes because I can still be involved.

SPEAKER6: And as someone that only joined last year, really for acting, I would say that just if you have any interest at all, (14:49):
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I think just looking at what the next show is and checking out the audition material and just reviewing that and doing as much as you
can with that, I think is a really fun experience.

(15:10):
And just maybe talking to someone else, like reading it through for someone else,
and then they can maybe critique you and then you can figure something else out that works.
And then just trying to piece that together, I think is really fun to me.
And I'm, I think it's a great way to practice.
And then you can just audition and try not to get too stressed out about it.

SPEAKER3: Well, we try to make auditions really accepting, right? (15:36):
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So this show is closing in the 16th, on the 19th after school, during our next drama club,
we're going to have an audition workshop. Really, anyone that wants to audition for Kiss Me, Kate come and meet with Miss
Reichhold and Mr. Ducett. Um, they're music and and directors, um, just to get what they are expecting and what would need to happen for the

(15:59):
auditions in December. And then on Monday the 24th, after school, I'm doing a dance workshop to teach people what the audition would
be early, just in case they want to, because it's going to be traditional Broadway. But also I want to see who can tap because it's going to be a tap
number again. So just kind of getting people introduced to it.
So even if you're not quite sure you can come to one of those and get a sense of maybe this is something you can try.

(16:22):
And as Gus said, you know, you don't have to do it your freshman year on.
You can start as a senior, you can start as a junior, you can start any time.
We're always accepting and we love to have new people.

SPEAKER5: And you also do not have to be an actor or a singer necessarily to be like, if you dance and that's your forte, (16:32):
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please, we can teach you to sing and act like it's really cool because you can still perform and it's yeah,
it's lots of fun.

SPEAKER3: Yes. (16:47):
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SPEAKER1: The it's you guys are infectious. So that's really cool. (16:48):
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I hope people listen. So, um, for our seniors, all three of you are seniors.
This is your year of the last time, right?
So what does it mean for you to be a part of this show?
And what are you thinking in terms of plans for after OHS?

(17:10):
Who wants to start that one?

SPEAKER7: Oh, I can. Okay. It's definitely like, very happy and very sad at the same time. (17:11):
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I'm trying to focus on the happy part of it for sure.
I mean, I love what I do. I unfortunately most likely will not be doing this besides high school.
So I'm really trying to soak in all my time that I have.
Um, I'm thinking of going for biology. Something science.

(17:34):
Um, I've really been liking that. And, I mean, we'll see.

SPEAKER1: Well, you could take your management skills anywhere you go, right? (17:37):
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SPEAKER7: And that's. I mean, I have learned quite a lot from that and like, working with different people. (17:40):
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And so I think it will help me definitely in my future.

SPEAKER1: Wonderful. (17:46):
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SPEAKER5: Yeah. Um, I it's very bittersweet. Um, I've been here since, like, day one, and I'm already almost getting a little misty at the thought of, (17:47):
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like, leaving, like, oh my gosh. Um, but I'm also really excited for the future,
and I plan personally to study musical theater past high school.
And that is what I want to major in. I want to go for my Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater,

(18:10):
and I've been looking at a few schools out on the East Coast right now.
I'm so busy with everything. I need to really lock in on my pre screens and getting stuff in.
So after the play, after the play, my two weeks and two weeks, that's the sweet spot.
Yeah. Um, but yeah, that's, that's what I plan to do.
And um, this, it's just been such a amazing community.

(18:31):
And I can't believe it's been four years already because the time has flown with just the lovely people here.
Thanks.

SPEAKER6: Yeah. You know, as I said, only having joined last year, the emotions are a little more dull for me. (18:37):
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But, uh, I do hopefully intend to at least be somewhat involved in college, uh,
because, I mean, I've just had so much fun, and I think I would really like to continue it.
Maybe. Probably not as a major or even minor, but just I like to still be involved because I just had such a great,

(19:05):
fun time in the past year and a half and I really wish to continue it.

SPEAKER1: Oh, that's great to hear. (19:13):
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SPEAKER3: And remember, there's community theaters all over, so you can always continue to have theater in your life, (19:15):
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even if you don't do it professionally. And you never know.
There's always things that can happen. Um, I never thought I was going to be teaching theater at some point when I went to
college initially, and I get to do that and, um, be able to share my my love of theater with you guys,
too.

SPEAKER1: Well, that's lovely, because Julia can be a biologist who runs stage productions at night. (19:35):
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SPEAKER3: Absolutely. (19:40):
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SPEAKER1: Why not? Why not do that? So, any final words or messages? (19:41):
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Messages for listeners as we wrap up.

SPEAKER5: Come see the show. It's going to be amazing. (19:48):
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Um, we've worked super duper hard, and we would love to see a full house.
Um, and yeah, I think I think you'll really enjoy it.

SPEAKER1: Well, we're all so proud of your work and the dedication you show. (20:01):
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And really, we are looking forward to this performance.
Performances of Stage Door are on November 14th, 15th and 16th at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center.
You can get your tickets online at www.OregonPerformingArtsCenter.com.

(20:23):
Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at OregonSD.org/podcast.
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(20:44):
We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD where it's all about the kids.