Week 2: Meet the Cast and Crew
In this week's edition of Behind the Curtain, Danya interviews members of the cast and crew of Urinetown, including actors Carrie Tully '19 and Ryan Rosenthal '19; stage managers Aidan Charde '19 and Grace Campbell '19, and tech crew member Isabel Turner '19.
Acting: (Carrie Tully ’19 and Ryan Rosenthal ’19)
What is your role in Urinetown?
Ryan: Caldwell B. Cladwell, the CEO of Urine Good Company.
Carrie: My role is Hope Cladwell, daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell.
How is this character like you? Different?
Ryan: We both have closed our hearts off to love… just kidding please love me! I'd say we're both very over the top and maybe a little crazy, though unlike him I'm not a selfish businessman!
Carrie: Hope and I both choose to fight for equal rights for all people; however, we are both of the privileged demographic that will be served first by the prospect of social equity. I’d like to think that despite our similarities, I am more aware than Hope is about the process of social change. She does not understand that for equity to be achieved, people of high status must be the ones to make sacrifices.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue?
Ryan: "I… see."
Carrie: “Gosh Daddy, I had no idea large monopolizing corporations could be such a force for good in the world!”
When did you first perform? What is your history with theatre?
Ryan: I first performed in the 5th Grade, when it was required that the whole cast participate in a musical about the American Revolution… so I was basically in Hamilton. Just kidding. I was cast as King George III, the first of many villains that I would play. I've been performing nonstop since. Special thanks to Mrs. Sellars for getting me hooked on theater!
Carrie: I have been performing for as long as I can remember, but my first big production was Beauty and the Beast Jr with Winchester Cooperative Theatre in fifth grade. Ever since then I have been performing nonstop throughout Boston and Cape Cod. This year I was lucky enough to be accepted to Emerson College’s Musical Theatre program.
Who do you admire as an actor or director?
Ryan: My middle school director and theatre teacher was an absolute superstar. Her name is Esme Sammons, and she would write the school play every year FROM SCRATCH. And then she let a bunch of mediocre middle schoolers completely butcher it. There's no way I would have the willpower to ever do that. She is also a great singer and actor. I got the chance to see her as the witch in the Norton Singers production of Into The Woods.
Carrie: Barbara Whitney is the most significant role model I have ever had. Her sheer knowledge of theatre and the theatre world blows my mind, and she taught me that I don’t have to have the entire periodic table memorized to be smart and successful. Barbara has also taught me humility and patience. In the most frustrating situations, she remains calm and gentle, taking the time to work through conflict with kindness. On top of all of this, she is hilarious and easy to talk to, and we developed a close relationship during her time at CSW that made me feel consistently and unconditionally supported. I hope to develop those same relationships with students I teach in the theatre some day.
What is your favorite aspect of theatre? What role does it play in your life?
Ryan: At CSW, I love the workday process; how all of the actors help work together to create the set that we perform on. Theatre is a gigantic part of my life, this is the 11th non-student-run show I've been in at CSW.
Carrie: Theatre has first and foremost taught me how to put myself in another person’s shoes. This has improved my skills resolving conflict, as well as connecting to people with backgrounds that differ from mine. Theatre also allows me to express feelings with emotional intensity that can be considered inappropriate offstage. Sometimes it feels nice to belt a sad song with my fists clenched and my knees shaking.
If you could do ANY show, which would it be? Why?
Ryan: Probably Les Miserables, because I'm a nerd. Well, maybe Jesus Christ Superstar which is weird considering that I'm Jewish, but I like it since Caiaphas (the villain) gets to sing all the way down to a C2 (real low).
Carrie: If I had to pick one show, I would choose Cabaret. I would be happy with any role in that show, no matter how big. The stunning music and powerful historical story made the experience of seeing Cabaret incredibly memorable, and I’ve wanted to be in it ever since.
Stage Management: (Aidan Charde ’19 and Grace Campbell ’19)
Why were you interested in being a stage manager for Urinetown?
Grace: I was stage manager for musical productions at the summer camp I work at, and wanted to do it again because it was such a blast. I also wanted to be a part of the Theatre Department my senior year in a way that wouldn’t require me to sing or dance.
What's the role of a stage manager? Walk us through your responsibilities.
Aidan: We do a lot of logistical work. We take notes on what happens in each rehearsal. Record all the key moments and music, take notes on staging, and write up what each department does for the show every day. During the production, one of us is going to be up in the booth and the other will be backstage with the actors managing cues.
What was your first show that you stage managed? Tell us about it.
Grace: I stage managed Space Pirates over the summer alongside Colin Wilson ’08. I loved working with the kids from behind the scenes. I made programs, kept track of scene changes and helped move and make sets.
What is a stage manager's worst nightmare?
Aidan: Honestly, a disrespectful cast would be the bane of a good show. If the cast doesn’t want to listen or try hard, then it makes it that much harder on both the directors and the stage managers. Also, if all of my notes somehow got lost that would be a nightmare.
How do you deal with conflicts that emerge?
Grace: Not a lot of conflicts have emerged so far. Luckily Aidan and I make a great team and are able to cover for each other if need be (i.e. I was sick one day the first week, but we were able to stay on track because there's two of us). Together I'm sure we'll be able to handle anything this show throws at us.
In your opinion, what is the key to a good show?
Aidan: I think the key to a good show is a motivated cast. Sometimes, high school shows, specifically, can suffer from an indifferent cast, but thankfully, at CSW, everyone in the show wants to be here, and it’s obvious.
Grace: Every little thing that goes into making a great show — enthusiasm, taking risks, growing and learning as a performer, etc. — is only possible when there is a bond and trust between all of the members of the show.
What are three characteristics of the perfect stage manager?
Grace: They must be organized, definitely, but more precisely enjoy organizing things, because if you don't enjoy organizing things, this role will probably be miserable. Accountability is also important, responsibility and owning up if you make a mistake (and then doing your best to fix it) is important. I also think a combination of being able to stay focused, but also to be able to have fun at the same time.
What would be your ideal show to stage manage? Why?
Aidan: If I could stage manage any show, I’d want to go back and do Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage, which is what we did my freshman year. It was such a funny show that I had a lot of fun acting in and I’d love to do it again from the technical side.
Tech: (Emilio Hernandez '19 and Isabel Turner ’19)
What was the first show you worked backstage for?
Isabel: The first show I worked on as a crew member was City of Angels, but the first one I did lighting for was Elaborate Lives.
Why were you interested in being a crew member for Urinetown?
Emilio: I wanted to do set design for Urinetown, and use the opportunity in my senior year to deviate from acting, but I also help out with lighting occasionally. I think it’s beneficial to do something other than act in order to gain a different perspective.
How has this experience, or a former crew experience, shaped you?
Isabel: This experience gives you more of an appreciation for what has to happen behind the scenes to make a good show. I think it’s also helpful for actors to have this experience so that they know things about the lighting and the set that they otherwise may have missed.
What have you completed thus far for this show, specifically?
Emilio: Since this is week two, we are still getting started. Overall, though, we have gone through the script as a crew so that we can plan how to present the plot in the best way. The costume people are getting measurements from the cast, we’re just starting with lighting and sound, and we’ve begun to collect pipes for the construction of the set, measuring and cutting wood to assist in the construction, and designing different parts of the scenery.
What is the funniest experience you’ve had working backstage?
Isabel: Well, being on crew is pretty weird, and when I did sound during my first year at CSW, I kept having to lean out of the booth to see what was happening on stage. The unfortunate part was that my entire body was just sort of hovering out of a window and over the back of an audience member during the show. I found it hilarious, but also horribly awkward.
What is the stress level like?
Emilio: The stress level depends on the day. During rehearsals, it’s mostly work, but during tech week and shows, it’s especially stressful. Most of the time, I get this secondhand stress on behalf of the actors since I want them all to do well.
What are three characteristics of the perfect crew member?
Isabel: First, wear deodorant! We’re all in the booth during the show and we don’t want to smell you. Second, be willing to do both the boring parts and the fun parts of your job in order to make the show happen. Three, be adaptable and willing to change your plans.
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