What was your first theatrical experience? When I was 6 years old my mother dressed me in a yellow duck costume and I danced around while singing “Rubber Ducky” for her Sweet Adeline Christmas show. They couldn’t get me off the stage.
What has been your favorite role to play on stage? First of all, I must say that I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play many memorable characters that I really had fun with. That being said, I currently have a three way tie between the Pharaoh in “Joseph”, my roles in “Sylvia”, and my most recent part in “The Full Monty.”
How did the "Follies" come about? LCP had previously wanted to do a traditional variety show; however, the director who was slated to do the show had to take on a much more important commitment (Don’t you hate when real life interferes with community theatre?). LCP looked at their options and decided to allow Rob and I to write a show. With a very limited time frame, we quickly brainstormed our list of characters, hashed out a plot/theme, had a couple email re-write sessions, and viola a show is born.
What do you especially enjoy about this show, and why should people come to see it? I truly enjoy the absurdity of the holiday special genre. So why not twist it? Many of these characters exist in our own families and through the magic of 60’s television this show brings a frivolous and wacky blend of our slightly skewed holiday memories to life. Rob and I laugh our heads off every time we see it. It’s pretty ridiculous.
What do you hope people will walk away from the LCP Follies feeling?
I hope patrons walk away from this show feeling as if they did not have to do a thing or worry about anything for an hour and a half. I hope it’s an escape.
What makes the holidays special to you, and did you try to incorporate any of that into the "Follies?" What I find special? The crazy food concoctions from well intentioned hosts/hostesses, the tacky metallic sheen of the holidays, the corny music, the thousands of people crammed into minimal square footage, the failed attempts made by our elders to include diversity in their holidays (at least they were trying right?), the automatic in-laws that we meet for the first time, the children on a constant sugar high, and the list of personalities that have made their way through our lives. Mix this entire recipe together, shake, and serve chilled.
What do you enjoy about directing? It’s the vision I think. It’s not often we get a chance to connect our minds to a film projector and show everyone how you see the world.
What has been the biggest challenge with directing? Scheduling conflicts; many in community theatre are volunteers that have “real” jobs. It’s difficult to get all of those folks on the same production schedule.
You have such a knack for kitsch - how did you find authentic pieces of nostalgia for the show (the tree, boxes, Town Club Soda)? Why thank you… I do like the kitsch. My memories of growing up in Lansing manifested our commercial sponsors and we were fortunate enough to get a hold authentic Towne Club Soda bottles from LCP board member Bill Torrence. Many of the serving dishes came from my kitchen, and some of the chairs from the lounge in my basement. The wall paper is courtesy of a holiday wrapping paper I found, and other pieces came from the extensive RWT properties warehouse.
Do you identify with any of the characters you've written into the show - did they come from actual people in your past, or Rob Roznowski, your writing partner? Rob [Roznowski] and I identify with every character quite well. They all existed in our childhoods. My grandmother’s hairdresser for instance was a very flamboyant character that always had something to rave or comment about. His name was Don and our character Don Weenow is modeled after him. Also, Rob is amazing at interpreting people; he truly gets the human experience and view’s things in a way that many of us can’t verbalize. He sorts it out for us and effortlessly places it on stage. Working with him on this show has been very inspiring; I continue to learn so much from him. I can clearly see why Rob is so successful and why his students at MSU enjoy him so much.
Quick Questions:
Why is theatre important to you? I have to let the theatre bug out or it starts to itch.
Why is theatre important to the community? I feel we all need this creative process to both have an outlet and to find joy. It’s great therapy.
Favorite line from any show? “Am I a man or a woman?”
Do you have a favorite Christmas song? “Carol of the Bells” It’s a soothing panic attack.
A favorite theatre Christmas memory? My uncle doing a Spike Jones routine with the “Three Imitators.” His co-star wore a grass skirt and coconut bra while singing “Cocktails for Two” (1980’s Social Security Scandals)
What has been your favorite role to play on stage? First of all, I must say that I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play many memorable characters that I really had fun with. That being said, I currently have a three way tie between the Pharaoh in “Joseph”, my roles in “Sylvia”, and my most recent part in “The Full Monty.”
How did the "Follies" come about? LCP had previously wanted to do a traditional variety show; however, the director who was slated to do the show had to take on a much more important commitment (Don’t you hate when real life interferes with community theatre?). LCP looked at their options and decided to allow Rob and I to write a show. With a very limited time frame, we quickly brainstormed our list of characters, hashed out a plot/theme, had a couple email re-write sessions, and viola a show is born.
What do you especially enjoy about this show, and why should people come to see it? I truly enjoy the absurdity of the holiday special genre. So why not twist it? Many of these characters exist in our own families and through the magic of 60’s television this show brings a frivolous and wacky blend of our slightly skewed holiday memories to life. Rob and I laugh our heads off every time we see it. It’s pretty ridiculous.
What do you hope people will walk away from the LCP Follies feeling?
I hope patrons walk away from this show feeling as if they did not have to do a thing or worry about anything for an hour and a half. I hope it’s an escape.
What makes the holidays special to you, and did you try to incorporate any of that into the "Follies?" What I find special? The crazy food concoctions from well intentioned hosts/hostesses, the tacky metallic sheen of the holidays, the corny music, the thousands of people crammed into minimal square footage, the failed attempts made by our elders to include diversity in their holidays (at least they were trying right?), the automatic in-laws that we meet for the first time, the children on a constant sugar high, and the list of personalities that have made their way through our lives. Mix this entire recipe together, shake, and serve chilled.
What do you enjoy about directing? It’s the vision I think. It’s not often we get a chance to connect our minds to a film projector and show everyone how you see the world.
What has been the biggest challenge with directing? Scheduling conflicts; many in community theatre are volunteers that have “real” jobs. It’s difficult to get all of those folks on the same production schedule.
You have such a knack for kitsch - how did you find authentic pieces of nostalgia for the show (the tree, boxes, Town Club Soda)? Why thank you… I do like the kitsch. My memories of growing up in Lansing manifested our commercial sponsors and we were fortunate enough to get a hold authentic Towne Club Soda bottles from LCP board member Bill Torrence. Many of the serving dishes came from my kitchen, and some of the chairs from the lounge in my basement. The wall paper is courtesy of a holiday wrapping paper I found, and other pieces came from the extensive RWT properties warehouse.
Do you identify with any of the characters you've written into the show - did they come from actual people in your past, or Rob Roznowski, your writing partner? Rob [Roznowski] and I identify with every character quite well. They all existed in our childhoods. My grandmother’s hairdresser for instance was a very flamboyant character that always had something to rave or comment about. His name was Don and our character Don Weenow is modeled after him. Also, Rob is amazing at interpreting people; he truly gets the human experience and view’s things in a way that many of us can’t verbalize. He sorts it out for us and effortlessly places it on stage. Working with him on this show has been very inspiring; I continue to learn so much from him. I can clearly see why Rob is so successful and why his students at MSU enjoy him so much.
Quick Questions:
Why is theatre important to you? I have to let the theatre bug out or it starts to itch.
Why is theatre important to the community? I feel we all need this creative process to both have an outlet and to find joy. It’s great therapy.
Favorite line from any show? “Am I a man or a woman?”
Do you have a favorite Christmas song? “Carol of the Bells” It’s a soothing panic attack.
A favorite theatre Christmas memory? My uncle doing a Spike Jones routine with the “Three Imitators.” His co-star wore a grass skirt and coconut bra while singing “Cocktails for Two” (1980’s Social Security Scandals)
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