Volume LIX Number 2 • Spring 2018 • $8.00 JANE GREENWOOD Surviving (and Thriving) on Broadway for 55 Years SUZAN ZEDER Theatre Can Bridge Our Divides CHRIS CHALK Goals + Positive Attitude = Success Mary Washington University Photo by Geoff Greene University of Evansville Toronto CFA Photo by Studio B Photo by Tom Arban Where’s yours? G.W. Carver Photo by All Pro Sound Lee University University of Evansville Midlands Tech Harbison Manatee Players Photo by Brett Drury Photo by Gary Matson Photo by Brian Craft SkyDeckGrid.com Eccles Theatre IAStage.com 一伀圀 䄀嘀䄀䤀䰀䄀䈀䰀䔀 䘀伀刀 䰀䤀䌀䔀一匀䤀一䜀℀ ㈀㄀㈀ⴀ㔀㐀㄀ⴀ㐀㘀㠀㐀 簀 䴀吀䤀猀栀漀眀猀⸀挀漀洀 ⌀ 一攀眀猀椀攀猀䘀漀爀攀瘀攀爀 ⨀匀漀洀攀 爀攀猀琀爀椀挀琀椀漀渀猀 愀瀀瀀氀礀 ꤀䐀椀猀渀攀礀 VolumeC LIX Number 2 l ontentsSpring 2018 l Southern Theatre – Quarterly Magazine of the Southeastern Theatre Conference Features 8 Jane Greenwood Departments Surviving (and Thriving) on Broadway for 55 Years 4 Hot off the Press by Martha A. Marking Plays for Young Audiences by Megan Monaghan Rivas 18 Celebrating SETC’s 69th in Mobile Photos by Porfirio Solorzano 6 Outside the Box: Design/Tech Solutions 20 Suzan Zeder Theatre Can Bridge the Divides Crystal Star Drop: Create a Starry Night Illusion in Today’s Challenging Times Inexpensively in Your Shop by Amy Cuomo by Jim Lile 26 Educators Learn Innovative Ways 36 Words, Words, Words... of Boosting Creativity at Teachers Institute Review of Leadership in the by Amy Cuomo Performing Arts, by Tobie S. Stein reviewed by Bradley Branham 28 Chris Chalk Theatre/Film/TV Actor Shares His Formula for Success Cover by Tom Alsip Academy Award winner Uma Thurman appears as Chloe and Martin Csokas portrays Peter in the 34 Executive Director Betsey Horth Honored with Broadway show The Parisian Woman, which played at the Hudson Theatre from November 2017 until March SETC’s 2018 Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award 2018. Costumes for the play were designed by Tony Award winner Jane Greenwood, the Saturday keynote Presentation by Jack Benjamin speaker at the 2018 SETC Convention in Mobile, AL, and the recipient of SETC’s 2018 Distinguished Career Award. See story, Page 8. (Photo by Matthew Murphy; 35 2018 SETC Young Scholars Award Winner Photoshop work by Garland Gooden; cover design by Deanna Thompson) Abstract by Sage Dunne Spring 2018 x Southern Theatre x 3 Theatre Plays for Young Audiences by Megan Monaghan Rivas ur regular column on newly available plays and musicals focuses in this issue on works for young audiences. Whether you’re looking for a play for children or a musical to engage young performers, the American playwriting landscape is full of possibilities. Here O are some wonderful works for the young … and the young at heart! To develop the following list of suggested titles, we surveyed major play publishers’ offerings during the past six months. With each play, you’ll find the cast breakdown and a referral to the publisher who holds the rights. A Thai Tale, by Nikki Harmon from the Chicago Tribune as “beautifully undaunted spirit and a song on her lips. The Beautiful birds, a shape-shifting magician written … a far more profound exploration score, inspired by the music of the Shirelles, and a huge banyan tree more than three of loneliness than you find in most works Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson, is sure centuries old: these are the ingredients for for children." Follow the journey of Adeline to bring the audience to its feet. Harmon’s folk tale centered on kindness Tulane and her favorite toy, a porcelain Cast breakdown: 11-20 females; 11-16 and good deeds. The Queen of Thailand’s rabbit who travels far and wide to learn a males; 5-9 either favorite birds have been kidnapped by deep lesson about love. Publisher: Dramatic Publishing an evil bird vendor. A traveling songster Cast breakdown: 2 females; 2 males www.dramaticpublishing.com brings just the lesson the vendor needs to (minimum); can accommodate a larger cast A Doublewide, Texas Christmas, by Jessie set the birds, and himself, free. Publisher: Dramatic Publishing Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten Cast breakdown: 3 females; 2 males; www.dramaticpublishing.com Texas’ tiniest town is getting ready to 3 either Othello: The Remix, by The Q Brothers celebrate Christmas, come what may! And Publisher: Dramatic Publishing Take Shakespeare’s classic, shake it up with there’s trouble afoot – their Alamo Nativity www.dramaticpublishing.com today’s highest-energy musical idioms, and HAS to win the big county competition, or The Princess Capers, by Taryn Temple what do you get? “A rip-roaring, rapped Doublewide will disappear from the map. Life as a princess can be perfect … ideal one-act rich with dizzying rhymes … Will Mayor Joveeta Crumpler and her … BORING. So when a super-villain with clever and exhilarating,” says Time Out NY. celebrity-obsessed mother, lovelorn best a taste for rhyme steals the youth of all Created by the Chicago-based Q Brothers, friend and raccoon-fighting brother pull it the children in the land, five princesses this adaptation turns bloody tragedy to off and save their little home? join forces to save them. Join them on tickling comedy, sending the audience out Cast breakdown: 6 females; 3 males their funny and fast-paced adventure – with smiling faces and dancing feet. Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Inc. but buckle your seat belt, because your Cast breakdown: 6 females; 3 males www.dramatists.com Narrators may or may not remember the Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Inc. end of the story! www.dramatists.com Megan Monaghan Rivas is Cast breakdown: 9-43 females; 3-38 males Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges, by an associate professor of Publisher: Playscripts, Inc. dramaturgy in the School of Christina M. Ham, music by Gary Rue Drama at Carnegie Mellon www.playscripts.com Drawing on American history, this musical University. Recipient of the Elliott Hayes Prize in The Miraculous Journey of Edward recounts the bravery of the first black Dramaturgy, she served as Tulane, adapted by Dwayne Hartford child to attend her New Orleans public literary manager of South Faithfully following the story from Kate elementary school. This key moment in Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, CA; the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta; and Frontera @ Hyde DiCamillo’s award-winning 2006 novel, this the civil rights movement tests first-grader Park Theatre in Austin, TX. She is a member of “most charming of narratives” won praise Ruby, but she meets adversity with an the Southern Theatre Editorial Board. 4 x Southern Theatre x Spring 2018 s o u t h e r n heatre From the SETC President TSETC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Plays for Young Audiences Betsey Horth EDITOR Deanna Thompson ADVERTISING Clay Thornton, [email protected] This issue of Southern Theatre celebrates the people, events and ideas that took BUSINESS & ADVERTISING OFFICE center stage at the 2018 SETC Convention. Featuring thoughtful perspectives Southeastern Theatre Conference from distinguished artists, reflections on a visionary leader and useful insights 1175 Revolution Mill Drive, Studio 14 Greensboro, NC 27405 for daily use, it provides opportunities for both contemplation and application. 336-272-3645 T Can you imagine working on Broadway successfully as a costume designer PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE for more than 50 years? The legendary Jane Greenwood has done just that. She J.K. Curry, Chair, Wake Forest University (NC) Becky Becker, Columbus State University (GA) outlined the road she followed in her amazing career – from her first show in Laura King, Gordon State College (GA) 1963 to the latest, a production of Saint Joan that began previews in April 2018 – EDITORIAL BOARD in a Saturday keynote presentation before accepting 2018 SETC’s Distinguished Karen Brewster, East Tennessee State University Lamont Clegg, Osceola County School for the Arts (FL) Career Award. Martha A. Marking shares Greenwood’s fascinating story, along Larry Cook, University of North Georgia with her astute advice on the role of the costume designer. F. Randy deCelle, University of Alabama Kristopher Geddie, Venice Theatre (FL) The capacity of theatre to transcend divides and dimensions was the focus of Bill Gelber, Texas Tech University theatre for youth playwright Suzan Zeder’s Friday keynote presentation. Zeder Sarah Grammar, Harvard University (MA) H. Duke Guthrie, Valdosta State University (GA) urged SETC members to use their talents to make a difference in today’s challeng- Scott Hayes, Liberty University (VA) ing times. Amy Cuomo shares the key points from Zeder’s keynote, in addition Edward Journey, Alabama A&M University to detailing the lessons in creativity that Zeder and her husband, movement Jen Nelson Lane, AEA Stage Manager (AL) Stefanie Maiya Lehmann, Lincoln Center (NY) specialist Jim Hancock, provided to educators as leaders of this year’s Teachers Megan Monaghan Rivas, Carnegie Mellon University (PA) Institute. PROOFREADERS Kim Doty, SETC Communications Specialist Students of all ages absorbed energy and valuable career advice from actor Denise Halbach, Independent Theatre Artist (MS) Chris Chalk, Thursday’s keynote speaker. Chalk discussed his own struggles on Philip G. Hill, Furman University (SC) the path to success as an actor – and urged audience members to take charge of PRINTING Clinton Press, Greensboro, NC their careers and their lives. Tom Alsip shares Chalk’s personal journey, from a NOTE ON SUBMISSIONS “super-poor” childhood to a successful career on stage and screen. Southern Theatre welcomes submissions of articles pertaining At the annual SETC Awards Banquet, we surprised SETC Executive Director to all aspects of theatre. Preference will be given to subject matter closely linked to theatre activity in the Southeastern Betsey Horth with the Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award, our most prestigious United States. Articles are evaluated by the editor and award for one of SETC’s own. We celebrate Betsey and the major impact she has members of the Editorial Board.