THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF STAGE COACH THEATRE

March 2008 Volume 8, Issue 4

Spinning Into Butter 2 2

M 7ar
A Drama Written by Rebecca Gilman Directed by Kevin Labrum

Coming Up!
Mar 7-22 Apr 18 May 3 May 30 Jun 14
July 1126

Spinning Into Butter Wonder of the World Moon Over The Brewery Greater Tuna

Inside
Spinning Into Butter Monologue Actors Spotlight Remembering Jay Season 28!!! Wonder of the World Free Classes!!! Pg. 1 Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 6 Pg. 9 Pg. 10

It's always difficult to write a good play that deals with any sensitive subject, and plays about racism are plentiful. Rebecca Gilman's Spinning Into Butter, opening at Stage Coach Theatre, is probably one of the most controversial plays you're likely to see. What makes Spinning Into Butter controversial is not what most people would consider blatant racism. Instead, it is the subtlety with which the play's message creeps into our understanding that eventually chills us. This is a powerful play. A play made even more powerful by the post-show discussion (which is sure to follow every performance.) I'm positive that all audience members who watch the play would admit that no matter what their race, they probably learned just as much about tolerance after the show as they did during it. The discussion is, in effect, the third act of the play. Spinning Into Butter is set in Vermont, at
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Monologues & Ramblings

By Ben Hamill Racism. Its an evil, ugly, nasty word. And one thats been around since the first wandering caveman came over into a neighboring camp. For some reason, man has always held disdain for others that arent like him. And unfortunately, I fear, it will always be with us. While weve made tremendous strides in our country toward repairing race relations, it seems as if our focus has just shifted. With the government talking about building walls along the border and of Axis of Evil countries, it perpetuates the thought and idea that we should avoid anyone who may think differently and believe differently and should keep them as far from us as we can. Under the guise of security, they only succeed in inflaming the world against us and making us less secure. I know not everyone thinks like that. In my own life, Ive been forced to deal with racism on a very personal level. I grew up in what people consider South Central L.A. I was born in Long Beach and lived right along the border of Compton and East L.A. As a little white boy living in a predominately minority population, I felt the brunt of racism, although I didnt realize thats what it was at the time. I was discriminated against, picked on and made fun of. It was nowhere near the level that so many minorities experience, but it happened. And on the flip side, some of my best friends were black, Asian and Hispanic. Race wasnt an issue for me, or so I thought until I moved to Idaho. I moved to Idaho in the heyday of the Aryan Nation, when all that people thought about Idaho was potatoes and skinheads. There seemed to be a complete void of culture
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Sustaining Partners
Kevin LabrumCoffee John MyersChampagne Michele CronenWebsite Larry DennisPosters G. Robert Fields Drinking Water Coming SoonYou!!

Blog Bits
Karl Johnson, former president of SCT and chairman of the rules and by-laws committee, has started a blog. In his first entry, he talks about donations and our by-laws, a very worthy read. Visit his blog at speakr4hire.blogspot.com

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and color that I was so used to being around. I missed that. There wasnt one black or Asian kid in my class in Nampa. There were Hispanic kids, and I made friends with them, but I could certainly feel the tension that always existed. I really had to look inside myself and resist the temptation to fall into the racism trap. I had to determine who I wanted to be in this world. How do we eradicate racism and promote tolerance in the world? You got me. One thing I do knowit starts within. Well never see a change on the outside unless we look on the inside and really examine our hearts. And thats what this months play, Spinning Into Butter, is all about. Examining the motives and deep-seated beliefs inside of us. I can guarantee you it will make you think, and thats what good theater is all about. We have a lot of exciting things happening around Stage Coach right now. Weve just determined the shows for next season, which you can read about on page 6. We still have to set the dates before it becomes final, but we have the shows, and its really going to be a great season. We are also starting up several classes that we are offering for free or for a small fee. We really wanted to give Photos by Ben Hamill back to our community something they could use, while we raise the level of talent around the valley. We are starting out with a beginning acting class, a more advanced acting class, and classes on stage makeup and auditioning. We will be offering even more, like stage managing, stage combat, etc., in the future. So make sure you take advantage of it. And now, get out there and enjoy some theater!!

Actors Spotlight
This month, we are speaking with G. Robert Fields, Gerry to his friends. Gerry has been around the theater community for quite a while. An actor, director and board member of Stage Coach, Gerry wears a lot of hats. He took a few moments to answer some questions for us.

Stage Lines: Thanks for talking with us this month, Gerry. First of all, how did you get started in theater? G. Robert Fields: My first little trot on to the stage was in the 4th grade. David Six and I were boy sopranos and played street urchins in a Boise Civic Opera production of La Boheme. We skipped around singing about hot lemonade, as I recall, and ogling Mimi in her big red dress and feather boa. Once
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my voice changed, I stopped doing the musical theater thing. SL: What was your first show in the Treasure Valley? GF: Then when I was in my second year of college, my roommate said that they needed someone to fill in a role and asked if I would be interested. I said a nervous okay, and ended up playing Birdboot in The Real Inspector Hound. And then it was on. I was never NOT doing a play from 1974 through 1982. SL: What is your favorite role that you have played, and what is your dream role that you haven't got to play yet? GF: My favorite role changes depending on the phase of the moon, or whatever it is that affects me. I guess I would have to say Flute in A Midsummer Nights Dream that we did the first year of the Shakespeare Festival. Ive had a lot of really enjoyable roles, but there were so many firsts attached to that one: The first time performing outside, the first time doing Shakespeare outside of
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Remembering Jay Sherlock

On February 27, the theater world, and Boise in particular, lost a great friend and beloved member of its family. Jay Sherlock passed away at the Idaho State Veterans Home at age 86. We thought we would honor and remember him through the people who had the wonderful opportunity to work with him through the years. Here is a collection of memories and stories about Jay by his friends. work with Jay in Dearly Departed. Of course he was absolutely wonderful in our scene together. He had no lines, but his reactions were hilarious. He really tested the actors around him, since we sorely wanted to laugh at his antics onstage! But what I didn't know about Jay was that he was just as much fun offstage. Before every performance, we'd gather in the green room for Jay's "joke of the night." He would entertain all of us with these slightly naughty tales. I loved the twinkle in his eye as he held us all in thrall. He was a true entertainer and a sweet, sweet man.

Michele Cronen I feel so fortunate to have been able to

Jeremy Chase I did Noises Off with Jay in 2001 at BLT, one of the three shows I had the privilege of sharing the stage with him. He played the role of Selsdon. As testament to Jay's comedic ability and being a Boise theatre icon: without fail, every time he entered the scene, a roar would come from the crowd. Every night. It made no difference if he had just delivered a punchline, crossed the stage, or merely stood onstage. It felt like I was in a show with a local celebrity. It was pleasing to be part of that (and I think Jay enjoyed every moment of it, too.)
doing props for the show Flaming Idiots. Jay was one of the actors in the show. I remember it as being 4 weeks of some of the best fun I had ever had. Jay was the kind of actor that was always telling jokes and making the work enjoyable.

Darrel Carver I first met Jay in the fall of 1997. I was

Gus Pollio I first met Jay at the same play and had the honor of sharing a stage with him..Hard to do because when Jay was on stage he WAS the stage.Bigger than life and funny as hellIve been working at the Idaho State Vets
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since December. Night shift gets off in the morning so I got to visit Jay a couple or three times a weekWords cant express the memories those visits and conversations left for me.

Janelle Walters I remember one time I was worried about casting a show and asked Jay for some advice. He said, "Don't worry, just do what I do. Cast people who party well together." David Priest When we were doing A Man for All Seasons,
Jay was having trouble remembering his lines. The director and everyone else was getting nervous. Jay said, "I'm a Cardinal. Just give me a Bible, and I'll write my lines in there. No problem." So that's what he did, he wrote his lines in the Bible. And of course, as with everything with Jay, it was "no problem."

an acting class, the first time a show I was in got standing ovationsboy those are more addictive than nicotine, I tell ya! The role that I would love to play is George in Whos Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? I finally feel like Im old enough to do justice to the role. The problem is that audiences really dont flock to dramas, so theres probably not a huge chance for me to do it any time soon. My second choice would be Sigfried von Konigswald in Happy Birthday, Wanda June. I played that role very early on in my avocation, and Id love to take another shot at it now that I have a little better idea of what Im doing. SL: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you do before a show? GF: I nest backstage. I find a spot where Im as out of the way as possible, and I listen to
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Jay Sherlock 19212008

Stage Lines
March

Announcing Stage Coach Theatres 28th Season

We are pleased to announce the shows we have lined up for next season. Dates and directors are still being hammered out, but we wanted to give you a peek into what will prove to be an outstanding season. Please keep in mind that these shows are in no particular order. A final announcement will be coming in the next couple of weeks. Keep your eye on SCTs website for more information.

Kitchen Witches

By Caroline Smith Directed by G. Robert Fields Courtesy of Samuel French

Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two "mature" cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Stephen Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly's dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel's, it's a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!

Dark Rituals

By Thom Bennett Directed by Kim Labrum Courtesy of Samuel French

Deep in the northern woods, world famous anthropologist Anne McCauley is researching the dark rituals of America's First Nations. Aided by local shaman Vernon Rivers, she is learning the spine chilling tale of Windigo, a legendary cannibal creature. Suddenly her son and despised daughter-in-law return to her secluded cottage. A series of diabolical events is triggered that brings the audience and Anne McCauley face-to-face with the darkest fears that lurk in all of us: that territory where the supernatural blends with murder and ritual death.

Absence of a Cello

By Ira Wallach Courtesy of Dramatists Play Services

This refreshingly literate comedy is concerned with the hilarious lengths gone to by a brilliant (but broke) scientist to land a much-needed job with a large corporation. What seems to be starting out as a shopworn targetindividuality versus conformityturns out to be an ingeniously conceived comical discussion of honesty and truth. "a cheerfully venomous comedy about the mysterious monster called the Corporate Image." NY Daily News

Any Body Home

By Carl Ritchie and Elise Dewsberry Directed by Kevin Labrum Courtesy of Dramatic Publishing
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Real estate broker Susan Strathcona wants to hold an open house, sell a condo and earn her commission. Frustrating her attempts are the owner's fianc who is bursting to prove his masculinity; the little old sexpot next door with her deadly herbs and a scorpion named "Shirley"; the international police on the trail of the mysterious "Phantom" and a rival real estate agent who will don any disguise in his attempts to steal the listing. Oh, yes. And the owneris dead and laid out on the sofa! An uproariously funny farce.

Brooklyn Boy

By Donald Margulies Directed by Rick Hunt Courtesy of Dramatists Play Services

Brooklyn Boy is a witty and insightful look at what happens to a writer when his novel hits the best-seller list. Eric Weiss is suddenly famous, but his personal life is unraveling. His wife is out the door, his father is in the hospital, and his aunt tells him he should have worn a tie on the "Today" show! Then Hollywood beckons, and it looks like all that glitters really could be gold. But Eric has a lot to learn in this funny and emotionally rich look at family, friends and fame.

Leading Ladies

By Ken Ludwig Directed by Kevin R. Kimsey Courtesy of Samuel French

In this hilarious comedy by the author of Lend Me A Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo, two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA, is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there's a wide world out there, but it's not until she meets "Maxine and Stephanie" that she finally gets a taste of it.

The Movie Game

By Adam Hummel Directed by Ben Hamill Courtesy of Dramatic Publishing

Jack Goldberg loves movies. He loves them so much he cant keep a job and still lives with his parents. His mother forces him to see The Shrink To The Stars whose idea of therapy is to have Jack play the leading man in his own romantic comedy. Things spiral out of control with an over-the-top director, his crazy family, his best friend Samantha, and the romantic interestthe beautiful, but engaged Maggie, whom Jack has fallen head over heels in love with. Through a script that combines humor and heart, laughter and love, the audience is treated to a romantic comedy for the stage that will leave everyone feeling wonderful.

Moving

By Bernard Slade Courtesy of Samuel French

From the author of Same Time Next Year, Tribute and Romantic Comedy, among others, comes this endearing family tale full of hope and humor. Studies have concluded that moving is one of the most traumatic events in life. The play covers the journey that eleven characters, drawn together by the life changing experiences, go through in one day that alters all their lives. Touching, insightful and filled with wonderful humor, it provides a full evening of high entertainment.

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the show so that I stay right there with it. Ive become pretty protective of my little space and dont let others sit in my nest. Sometimes I do spend time in the Green Room during scenes, but not a lot, once we begin run-throughs. I am a little like a squirrel and am easily distracted by shiny things, so I have to keep the sensory input to a minimum. SL: How do you go about wrapping yourself around a character and bringing him to life? GF: I go wild. I let my imagination go, and I tell myself that its the directors job to say No, not mine. Its my job as an actor to bring as much as I can. Conversely, it is not my job to set up limitations. Sometimes I try to incorporate broad strokes of people I know or people Ive seen. I
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Belmont College, a place where there is no real public unrest, and everyone just goes about their politicallycorrect lives without any danger of seeing the racial tensions of the big cities. And they like it that way. When an AfricanAmerican student finds racist notes attached to his door, the calm is shattered and the staff and students struggle to find out not only who is responsible, but how this could happen there. At the center of the play is Sarah Daniels (Jodi Deerfield), Belmont's Dean of Students. When she is presented with these developments, she struggles not only to find a solution for the school, but also to reconcile her own feelings. As other faculty members (played with delicious aplomb by G. Robert Fields, Anthony Polidori and Jennifer Polidori) jump on the bandwagon, we begin to see what is a ridiculous excuse for race relations. Students (Ben Ulmen and Darrel Boatwright) struggle with identity and fighting with the powers-that-be, who are trying to give lip service to issues that matter to them. The only sane one seems to be the aging security officer (Will Cavanaugh.) Gilman has crafted a play that will infuriate and shock you. She is an important new voice in the theatre. Director Kevin Labrum handles the play's subject matter very well, and allows us to peek inside ourselves to ask questions we may not want to know the answers to. Thanks to some brilliant performances, the tension created in the atmosphere isnt just with the action on stage, but the struggle within. Spinning Into Butter is the kind of play that will change the way you look at yourself.

Spinning Into Butter opens March 7th and runs through March 22. Call to reserve your seat now!
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Coming Soon!!
Wonder of the World
April 18May 3
A Comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by Jeremy Chase
Take a wild ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel of laughs...Cass, the heroine, embarks on a journey of self-discovery that has her crossing paths with a blithely suicidal alcoholic, a lonely tour-boat captain, and a pair of bickering private detectives. Full frontal lunacy is on display. "A most assuredly fresh and hilariously funny comedy of marital discord run amok."- Variety Rated R for language.

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Moon Over The Brewery

Directed by Kim Labrum May 30-31, June 5-8, 12-14

dont do very good impressions, so when I was using Dr. Smith from Lost In Space as a model for the attitude of Burton Strauss in Spinning Into Butter, no one would know. But I did. For Burton, I ended up using Dr. Smith, Miss Jane from The Beverly Hillbillies, and several college professors. SL: Last question, what are your top 5 favorite songs? GF: La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, or Bette Midler The Hostile BabyRocking Song by Rosalie Sorells Catholic Girls by Frank Zappa The Garden Of Serenity by The Ramones Itzbynne Reel by Michael Brecker Be sure to catch Gerry in the upcoming production of Spinning Into Butter running March 7-22.

Greater Tuna
Directed by Randy Webster July 11-12, 17-20, 24-26 Dont miss a single show. Reserve your season tickets now!! Pro-rated season tickets are available. We also have flex-passes starting at $65 for 6 tickets. Call the Box Office at 342-2000 to make your reservations.

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Theater Classes!!!
Greetings Stage Coach family & friends. There are some really exciting things happening down at Stage Coach. You'll note that we already have eight plays selected for 2008-2009. The exact dates and line-up will be announced shortly, but at least we are able to whet your appetite for the upcoming season. Something new that is happening at the theater is a slate of classes. You might be wondering, "Classes?" I was inspired by the improv classes that we had in November and December and since setting up training and education is part of my day job, it was a natural progression. I realized that by offering free or low-cost classes, we could strengthen the theater community as well as offer something else to the community. We have a lot of talent in our theater family and hundreds of years of experience, and I thought it was time to be able to share that with more people. With that bit of explanation out of the way, here are the first in the series of classes for Stage Coach.

Acting Basics Saturday, March 15, 1-3 pm, Stage Coach Theatre Price: Free Instructor: Mike Cronen
Don't know your Stage Left from your Stage Right? Need some help figuring out upstage, downstage, center stage or just where the stage is? If you are new to the acting game or just want to bone up on the basics, let Stage Coach Theatre help you. In Acting Basics, you will learn the difference between upstage, downstage, and backstage as well as the basics of stage blocking/movement, vocal and acting technique and auditioning. This class is specifically designed for the local community theater actor to improve and grow as a dramatist in the Treasure Valley theater community. This is the first in a series of free and low-cost classes being offered to strengthen the local acting community. Registration is not required for this class, and it is open to anyone 14 years and older. Please wear loose, layered clothing.
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Theater Classes!!!
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Stage Make-Up Sunday, March 30, 1-3 pm, Stage Coach Theatre Price: Free Instructors: Nova Calverley & Shelley Ward
Sometimes when building a character onstage, you will be required to use stage make-up as part of the process. It might be as minimal as some liner so your eyes show under the stage lights, but it might require you to look 20 or 30 years older than your real age. This class is structured to familiarize actors with the tools, tricks and tips for stage make-up.

Acting 101 Saturdays, April 5-May 10, 1-3pm, Stage Coach Theatre Price: $30 (All proceeds benefit SCT) Instructor: Mike Cronen
This six-week course is an interactive experience that allows actors to build trust, community and their skills through exercises, projects, specially designed scene work and other techniques. Participants are asked to commit to the full six classes to allow for pre-prepared scenes and other exercises throughout the six weeks. Registrations may be made by e-mailing klabrum@boisestate.edu. All skill levels are welcome, 14 years and older.

Auditioning Basics Sunday, April 13, 1 - 2 pm, Stage Coach Theatre Price: Free Instructor: G. Robert Fields
Public speaking has long been rated as more to be feared than death. Actors don't adhere to this common belief. We actors aspire to do the unnatural and make it seem natural: We seek to appear before large groups of people and make it seem effortless. As with every job, though, the application and interview process that must be navigated is the most difficult part of the job. To state it simply, any audition is more difficult than any rehearsal or performance. The problem is that we actors tend to make it even more difficult than it already is for us. There are techniques that can be learned that will make the audition process less nerve-wracking and more productive for the actor and the auditor. How do you make a cold reading interesting? How do you stop the butterflies? What can you do to make yourself more attractive as an actor?

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF STAGE COACH THEATRE

March 2008 Volume 8, Issue 4

See. Feel. Experience

For Information and Reservations, Call 342-2000

$12.00 on Fri. and Sat. $10.00 on Thu. and Sun. Curtain Times: 8:15 p.m. on Fri. and Sat. 7:30 p.m. on Thursday 2:00 p.m. on Sunday Prepaid groups of 10 or more, deduct $2.00 from each ticket price. Ticket Prices:

5296 Overland Road Boise, ID 83705 Phone: 208.342-2000 www.stagecoachtheatre.com