Thursday, October 7, 2010
SLAC: Angels In America
Posted By Gavin Sheehan on October 7, 2010, 9:45 AM
As the start of the '10-'11 theatre season slowly approached, Salt Lake Acting Company knew that being the first production of the season would come with some challenges, especially after coming off the successful run of Saturday's Voyeur just a few weeks prior. But the group was up for the challenge, and in picking what would be the first official production of all the companies in town, they went with one that is as reflective of society today as it was nearly twenty years ago.
--- The Tony Kushner classic Angels In America delves into the emotional turmoil and political hot-wires of what many in the gay community were having to deal with during the mid-80's, with a slight fantasia vision and near prophecy blended into the two-story arc. With issues and emotional ties that strike just as hard as they did upon its inception, the play itself serves as a reminder than the more some things change, the more they stay the same, both in the stubbornness of society and the will to overcome. For this interview we chat with director Keven Myhre, as well as three of the play's actors: Lucas Bybee, Alexander Bala and Nell Gwynn. Chatting about their experiences with the play as well as their thoughts on local theatre. (All photos by Thom Gourley)
Nell Gwynn (left), Lucas Bybee (middle), Alexander Bala (sixth down on left) and Keven Myhre
http://www.saltlakeactingcompany.org/
Gavin:
Hey guys, first off, tell us a bit about yourselves.
Kevin:
Hello, my name is Keven Myhre. I am the Co-Executive Producer and
resident Set Designer at the Salt Lake Acting Company. I am also the
director for SLAC’s production of Angels In America.
Nell:
I have been in Salt Lake City for six months. I started professionally
in Miami, and was in NYC for ten years. I moved here to be with my
boyfriend, and we will be married in May.
Lucas:
My name is Lucas Bybee, I'm from Cache Valley and I went to college
at Utah State University where I studied theatre.
Gavin:
What inspired each of you to take an interest in theatre?
Lucas:
I took a theatre class in high school where one of the assignments
was to learn a monologue. I chose the Yorick speech from Hamlet and I
just fell in love with not only the speech,
but with Hamlet in general. From there I got a job as a stage hand
for the Ellen Eccles Theatre and knew that this was going to be the
path for me. So I enrolled at USU and started taking some theatre
classes.
Nell:
I joined up in high school. I worked backstage and wanted to be in
the International Thespian Society, and we had to audition for a
play. I auditioned for Steel Magnolias.
Kevin:
When theater is in your blood, the inspiration rises from just about
anything around you.
Gavin:
Keven, how did you come to be a director for Salt Lake Acting
Company?
Kevin:
I had been working at SLAC as the Producing Director for four years
when Allen Nevins and Nancy Borgenicht asked me to direct Richard
Greenburg’s Three Days Of Rain. The rest, they say, is
history.
Gavin:
What made you choose Angels In America
for the season opener?
Kevin:
To commemorate SLAC’s 40th year, we wanted to pick a
season opening play that encapsulates our mission, vision and reason
for creating art. Angels In America was the perfect play to fit the
bill. It is a critically acclaimed, epic work. Tony Kushner’s
words retain their relevance today. His script covers a broad range
of issues including racial tensions, discrimination, immigration,
healthcare, corrupt government, human faults and, ultimately,
redemption. Society struggles with these issues as much today as it
did in 1985.
Gavin:
How was it for you researching the play and figuring out how you
were going to present it?
Kevin:
I first saw Angels In America in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was
an emotional evening of theater that has stayed with me for years. I
also worked on the 1995 production of the play at SLAC as Set
Designer. I was very familiar with the script and characters before
beginning work on this production. Re-reading the script only
deepened my understanding of the intricacies of the intertwining
story lines.
Gavin:
For the cast members, what was it about this
particular play that caught your eye to audition for it?
Alexander:
When I heard that SLAC was producing Angels In America,
I was instantly interested in
auditioning. SLAC is such a great theater and I knew that they would
do justice to this amazing play. Also, as an actor, one is always
looking for good material and this play is considered as one of the
best plays of the twentieth century so it really was a no-brainer.
Nell:
I came to see Charm when I first arrived in SLC - I met Cynthia
through a mutual friend via email before my arrival, and she asked me
to audition. I never would have known and that makes me feel so
lucky.
Lucas:
It really is one of the greatest contemporary pieces ever written,
Kushner has such a keen way with words and the play address so many
different important topics from religion, politics, sexuality and so
much more. One you here that somebody is doing it and especially when
that someone is SLAC you have to audition.
Gavin: What
was the audition process like for each of you and what was it like
getting the part?
Nell:
It was my first audition in SLC and I was impressed! After seeing
Charm, I really wanted to work at SLAC. I hoped they would like me.
When I got the part, I knew it was a great decision to come
here.
Lucas:
I was, quite frankly, terrified. I had spent the last year doing
almost exclusively film auditions and such. I didn't feel prepared
for a theatre audition but I gave it my best and here we
are.
Alexander:
Auditioning is always a little uncomfortable, similar to standing on
the playground and hoping the cool kids pick you to be on their team.
For this production that was compounded because I knew that there
would be wide spread interest from other actors within the community.
I just tried to keep my expectations in check. I was elated when I
got the call from Keven Myhre telling me I was cast.
Gavin: What
has it been like fitting into these roles, and what challenges have
you met in bringing out the character and perfecting your
performance?
Lucas:
I honestly don't know where to start, this play is so epic you have
to remind yourself to take a deep breath and relax and try to take it
one step at a time.
Alexander:
Playing Joe Pitt has been wonderfully challenging. Kushner
created such complex characters that are all having these incredible
peak experiences, that gives an actor a great deal to work with. In
creating the character I primarily try to be true to what is on the
page and to the vision of the director. Keven Myhre has been very
helpful to me in finding Joe. Also I have been fortunate enough to
be able to talk with people in the community who have been through
some of the same situations and struggles that Joe is experiencing.
The biggest challenge for me has been experiencing the emotional
journey that this character undertakes. Joe is physically being torn
apart by the circumstances of his life and his inability to live
authentically. That is a tough road to travel day after day.
Nell:
I love my roles. My characters manifest as pure support for the
heroes of this play and I love that. I also get to play onstage in
some great scenes with wonderful actors, playing beautifully written
characters. It's pure pleasure.
Gavin: How
has it been interacting with each other during rehearsals and full
performances and watching the play come together?
Nell:
I feel so lucky to be starting in this community. The people are
amazing - as the play comes together, I feel so proud to be a part of
it.
Alexander:
The rest of the cast have been wonderful to work with. I have
really enjoyed watching what they have done with their characters and
the bold choices that they are making. I think it is going to be a
great show.
Lucas:
Well the cast is really in a league of it's own everybody has been
an absolute pleasure to work with. We have bonded together as a
family and when your doing a play of this magnitude it really helps
take the edge off so to speak.
Gavin: Considering
the content and history of the play, how has it been for all of you
bringing the play to life on stage, and trying to live up to the
expectations it brings?
Kevin:
My aim as director is to live up to the potential of the script of
Angels In America, making the show our own, rather than reduplicating
any previous productions.
Lucas:
At the end of the day you have to go out there and give it your
best, expectations aside.
Nell:
I try not to think about that and just do my job. Obviously, you
want it to be the very best it can be - the material is
amazing.
Gavin:
Going into opening night, what are your overall thoughts on the
production?
Lucas:
I think it will be great!
Nell: I'm
proud to be a part of it
Gavin: Moving
state-wide, what are your thoughts on local theater, both good and
bad?
Kevin:
Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I think theater is alive and well
in Utah. The challenge becomes retaining our audiences in a changing
society where newspapers (up to now, our main source of
advertisement, pre-show articles, reviews, etc.) are failing and
social networks and the cyber world keep people from looking outside
their homes for entertainment. Thankfully, there are active and
popular blogs (we love you Gavin) to help fill in the
seats. As for bringing Broadway to Utah, I think we can do better.
The talent of actors and other theater artists in Utah is
immeasurably broad and deep. I prefer to promote local first. We
should think about sending Utah to Broadway and the rest of the
world. For example, SLAC has commissioned new work that has gone on
to be produced in New York and London. Many people don’t know that Angels In America is being revived and will be running simultaneously
in New York and Salt Lake City. The “big apple” has nothing on
the “big beehive”.
Nell:
I am excited to explore this more as I live here longer. I think
the quality of the talent and vision here is incredibly impressive,
as is the audience. It's inspiring!
Lucas:
I love dark contemporary theatre and I always wish I could see more
of it, I'm not big on musical theatre but that's me.
Gavin: Is
there anything you believe could be done to improve on it or make it
more prominent?
Lucas:
Martin McDonagh, Stephen Aldly Guirgis and more local playwrights
stuff would be great to see more frequently in Utah.
Nell:
It would be great if there were more theatres offering Equity
contracts and maybe more collaboration with the coasts, but there is
always time for growth! SLC should be bragging about its arts scene
to everyone.
Gavin: What's
your take on the push to bring “Broadway to Utah” and the steps
being taken so far?
Nell:
I wish I knew more about this!
Lucas:
It is what it is.
Gavin: What
can we expect from all of you over the rest of the year?
Kevin:
Get your tickets now for the staged reading of Angels In America --
Perestroika. Moreover, we’ve already started rehearsals for our
next production, Boom, by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. Come Christmas, we
will be in production of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, more
children’s theater at SLAC following a very successful run of Go Dog, Go! last year.
Lucas:
I'm doing a film called "Shades Of Treason" written by
Loren M. Lambert and produced by Rob Diamond, which I think will be a
very provocative film.
Nell:
After Angels closes, I will be focusing on Kathleen Cahill's play,
The Persian Quarter at SLAC. World Premiere!
Gavin: Aside
from the obvious, is there anything you'd like to promote or
plug?
Nell: The Persian Quarter
opens in February 2011 and is going to be fantastic! I am so excited
to do this new play, and again, very proud that I was chosen to
represent the work and collaborate with such talented people.
Lucas:
Two films. "Peloton" directed by John Lawrence and "Shades Of
Treason" directed by Rob Diamond.
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