*The Rainmaker* at Interplayers and Lake City
Details of an unprecedented collaboration between Spokane's oldest professional theater and Coeur d'Alene's community theater this fall in producing (51 years after the movie version) N. Thomas Nash's *The Rainmaker*:
First, Lake City Playhouse will open its 2007-08 season with *Man of La Mancha* (Sept. 14-Oct. 6). In almost exactly the same time slot (Sept. 20-Oct. 6), *The Rainmaker* will be performed at Spokane Interplayers Ensemble, directed by Lake City's artistic director, Todd Jasmin.
*The Rainmaker* focuses on the File-Lizzie-Starbuck love triangle in a parched Western town in the 1930s.
Cast:
Lizzie: Kelly Quinnett (Guinevere and Anna, CdA Summer Theater; Cherie in Bus Stop, Interplayers)
Starbuck: Jonathan Rau (Bo in Bus Stop, Interplayers)
H.C.: Maynard Villers
Jimmy: Adam Pittman
Sheriff: William Rhodes
Noah: Jon Lewis
File: Todd Jasmin
The production will then transfer with the same cast and design team to CdA's Lake City Playhouse for an Oct. 18-28 run.
Lake City, according to executive director Brian Doig, will make further adjustments to its schedule (see www.lakecityplayhouse.org).
While confirmation is pending, it appears likely that in early November, for two nights only, Jack Bannon and Roger Welch will appear in a staged reading of Mitch Albom's *Tuesdays With Morrie.*
Another staged reading will be held over two weekends in late November: *Eleemosynary,* Lee Blessing's 1985 one-act about Echo, Artie and Dorothea — three generations of women in the same family. Charles Gift will direct, and those being considered for the three roles include Erin Andrews, Rebecca McNeill and Valerie McIlroy (Eleanor in Lake City's recent *Lion in Winter*).
In addition, Lake City's concert staging of the Who's *Tommy* will now be held at LCP instead of at NIC.
posted by Bobo the Theater Ho @ 2:34 PM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
Two comments - first, Lake City has already done the Jack Bannon/Roger Welch reading of "Tuesdays With Morrie". Why are they doing it again?
Secondly, this road show of "The Rainmaker" leaves those of us who have been for years season ticket holders to both LCPH and Interplayers wondering if we should hold back next year and wait for our local theatre groups to announce their "collaborations" before buying in. Why see the same show in two venues?
Oh, and I see the Civic is also doing "Man of La Mancha" this season. If they announce it is the same production as the one being done at LCPH, you can be sure my season ticket routine will change.
New comment - I see that LCPH is pre-casting "Eleemosynary". Does this mean that they are adopting a closed club mentality? Note that no local actors are cast in "The Rainmaker" collaboration with the Interplayers.
(One must wonder how much the LCPH is paying "The Rainmaker" cast. Or are they doing it pro-bono, which I believe is highly unlikely.)
RC,
First, let me clarify one thing, LCP is not now, nor will it ever, adopt a ‘closed club mentality‘. LCP and it’s staff are committed to ensuring that everyone who walks through it’s doors to audition has equal opportunity to secure the role they deserve. Knowing the staff as well as you do, you should know this.
Second, The duplications in the seasons are in some cases, coincidence, and in others, the sincerest form of flattery. Regardless of who, when and why, the job of ALL involved is to provide audiences with exciting, quality shows to attend and actors, the opportunity to perform in those outstanding shows. The powers that be have heard your voice and those who echo your sentiments and have already agreed to communicate better in regards to season selection. So to answer one of your questions; LCP, Civic and Interplayers are NOT merging into one giant theatrical conglomerate J
Third, ‘Rainmaker’ became a collaborative effort due to the involvement of key players at both LCP and Interplayers. Todd Jasmin, artistic/technical director of LCP will direct and perform the role of File and was one of the catalysts of this project. As for your assertion that ’Rainmaker’ will not include any local actors, Todd Jasmin is local, Jon Lewis just finished performing in LCP’s ‘Biloxi Blues’ in the role of Sgt. Toomey, Bill Rhoads and Maynard Villers are local. The collaboration of a professional and a community theatre requires quite a bit of creativity. Rest assured, both theatres are honoring their mission statements.
Finally, The Playhouse has the entire month of November dark due to the collaboration on 'Rainmaker' This means the Playhouse is ADDING 1 or 2 shows to an already ambitious season featuring 8 main stage productions, 2 staged reading and 4 additional 'specialty' shows, all running between the September and June. To accomplish this and still provide quality entertainment for their audiences, they have discussed the possibility of ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’, ‘Eleemosynary’ and several other scripts which have already been produced locally. That means LCP is looking for shows that will mount and strike quickly. Just to set the record straight, these are DISCUSSIONS, Nothing has been DECIDED.
Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to make sure that the facts of the matter are clear and that you understand, your concerns are heard. If you’d like to talk about this further, you know where you can find me.
Bit Part Player
I just wanted to assure the Resident Curmudgeon that the Playhouse is not going the direction of precasting. Eleemosynary is being done as a fundraiser, not as a main season show. One of the cost-saving measures is not scheduling auditions, booking space, advertising audition dates, etc. Like most (if not all) of our fundraisers, it's not an event that holds auditions. The entire staff of the Playhouse feels very strongly that community theatre should be open to the community. Tuesdays with Morrie has not been scheduled at this point, but would be considered for the same reasons - as a fundraiser that has already been staged, requires little technical preparation, and has been requested to be re-staged.
As far as The Rainmaker is concerned, I have the same reservations about a community theatre using professional actors and precasting. In this case, however, it's really just trying to make the best out of an awkward situation. Two theatres are doing the same show at the same time in the same area. This seemed like the most desirable solution. And I love the idea of increased collaboration and communication within the theatre community. But I do understand the frustration of people who have season tickets to multiple theatre companies and have to see repeats within a season. I hope that from now on there is a generally accepted policy that once a theatre announces its season, other theatres don't do the same shows in the same year.
Rebecca
RC,
First, let me clarify one thing, LCP is not now, nor will it ever, adopt a ‘closed club mentality‘. LCP and it’s staff are committed to ensuring that everyone who walks through it’s doors to audition has equal opportunity to secure the role they deserve. Knowing the staff as well as you do, you should know this.
Second, The duplications in the seasons are in some cases, coincidence, and in others, the sincerest form of flattery. Regardless of who, when and why, the job of ALL involved is to provide audiences with exciting, quality shows to attend and actors, the opportunity to perform in those outstanding shows. The powers that be have heard your voice and those who echo your sentiments and have already agreed to communicate better in regards to season selection. So to answer one of your questions; LCP, Civic and Interplayers are NOT merging into one giant theatrical conglomerate J
Third, ‘Rainmaker’ became a collaborative effort due to the involvement of key players at both LCP and Interplayers. Todd Jasmin, artistic/technical director of LCP will direct and perform the role of File and was one of the catalysts of this project. As for your assertion that ’Rainmaker’ will not include any local actors, Todd Jasmin is local, Jon Lewis just finished performing in LCP’s ‘Biloxi Blues’ in the role of Sgt. Toomey, Bill Rhoads and Maynard Villers are local. The collaboration of a professional and a community theatre requires quite a bit of creativity. Rest assured, both theatres are honoring their mission statements.
Finally, The Playhouse has the entire month of November dark due to the collaboration on 'Rainmaker' This means the Playhouse is ADDING 1 or 2 shows to an already ambitious season featuring 8 main stage productions, 2 staged reading and 4 additional 'specialty' shows, all running between the September and June. To accomplish this and still provide quality entertainment for their audiences, they have discussed the possibility of ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’, ‘Eleemosynary’ and several other scripts which have already been produced locally. That means LCP is looking for shows that will mount and strike quickly. Just to set the record straight, these are DISCUSSIONS, Nothing has been DECIDED.
Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to make sure that the facts of the matter are clear and that you understand, your concerns are heard. If you’d like to talk about this further, you know where you can find me.
Bit Part Player
Rock On, Bit Part.
I am really excited about the level of professionalism and community starting to show at Lake City Playhouse.
Just kind of curious how you figure that "...everyone who walks through it’s doors to audition has equal opportunity to secure the role they deserve..." if there were no open auditions held?
At lake City Playhouse, any 'Mainstage' show, which is any show included in the season ticket package, requires that auditions be held with no pre-casting allowed.
'Rainmaker' is unique and as has been mentioned, unprecedented collaboration between a professional and a community theater. Mounting such a production requires showing respect for each parties' way of doing things. Holding closed auditions is common practice for most professional theaters.
It would hardly be considerate nor productive for LCP to demand Interplayers to do things completely their way. Two Theaters working together to enhance their seasons and the publics' theater-going experience should not be denigrated.
If this situation really bothers you, please feel free to contact either of the theaters involved and express your concerns in person.
I hope you can understand what we are trying to accomplish with this collaborative work and as someone who wants to see theater thrive in our region, you continue to support innovative projects such as this.
Bit Part Player
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home