Lost Warbucks

It has been a long month of cast members coming in and out of roles. Last night we had the final straw. Both Daddy Warbucks were unable to take on the role! Yikes! How do you do Annie without Daddy Warbucks? These are the headaches of theatre directors.

A serious search and rescue began looking to fill the missing Warbucks' shoes. Who to call and how to convince them that this bald headed role was for them? With only six weeks left until the curtain goes up on this show, it seems a daunting task. Most of our good people are in the play already, or had other commitments and were unable to take part this year.

For "non-theatre" types, I suppose this seems like a simple problem to resolve. Any guy can play Warbucks, shaved head or not. Put a guy in a tux, let go his bravado and before you stands Daddy Warbucks. But this character reaches beyond the shiny dome and flashy duds. Can he carry a bu-bu-bu bathtub tune? Or step lightly across the NY streets with Grace dancing in his arms? And does he like dogs and orphans?

Out come the resumes and the rolodex...

The Road To Annie

Suzi Steffen, Performing Arts Editor for the Eugene Weekly, is writing a series on our Winter Production of Annie from auditions to final curtain. She sat through the parade of over 80 children singing and acting their way on to the stage anxiously wishing to be Annie but excited about being part of the theatre experience. She came to the first rehearsal and is patiently waiting as we finalize the casting.

She asked me a question in an interview today. Suzi asked what prompted me to do this kind of work. I told her the first time I realized I wanted to work in theatre was watching Ted Neely play Jesus Christ Superstar under the stars in Hollywood over 30 years ago. The magic of the cool evening and the dramatic presentation on stage still brings chills.

A year ago, we took Stage Door Production Team to see Wicked in Portland. I had seen the show a few years before, so I wanted to sit behind the kids and watch them have that same experience. Live theatre, is a powerful medium. It moves through you like a tsunami, with such force and energy that you are at once consumed. When the final curtain comes down, those on stage and those in the audience are forever changed.

To share that magic, the suspension of belief, a giant leap into imagination and watching it transform a child's self esteem - that is why, I do this work. Priceless! Thanks, Suzi, for reminding me.

Now let's get to work!