SCT Behind the Curtain: 10 questions

Showing posts with label 10 questions. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Here's Kiki!

Here's another look at one of SCT's outstanding Summer Season education interns! Here's what Kiki Abba has to say:

1. What led to your decision to intern with SCT?
This is probably the best program in the country for someone that wants to be a Teaching Artist, so the decision was easy!

2. Where are you from, and what did you study before coming here?
I’m from Dubuque Iowa, and I went to the University of Iowa and double majored in Theatre Arts and Communication Studies.

3. Why is theatre important to you personally?
Theatre is a great lens for viewing the world. It’s all about storytelling and there is something so human and universal about it. Once you get “the magic,” you’re hooked for life.

4. What do you feel you bring to SCT’s Summer Season program?
I think I bring a bit of “after college” experience and a lot of facial expressions.

5. What’s your most memorable experience so far as an intern here?
I did a solo mime skit today about eating ice cream. It was EPIC. The ice cream fell in the grass and I ate it anyway. There was a lot of picking grass out of my mouth. Yum.

6. What do you feel are the biggest challenges confronting you as an intern?
The biggest challenge is not getting completely jealous that I’m not in RENT: School Edition. No day but today.

7. What part of this internship are you looking forward to the most?
I’m excited to be working on Alice in Wonderland and learning how to tape a set and track props. It’ll be fun to be on the other side of the tech table.

8. What is your specific job as an intern this summer – specifically,
what shows or age groups will you be working with the closest?
I’ll be doing Alice, a lot of Acting classes with high schoolers and a few toddler Creative Drama classes. I like to mix it up and keep ‘em guessing.

9. What do you feel is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far as an intern here?
That a surprising number of people have a peanut allergy and I’m afraid to ever eat a Reeses again. I don’t want to kill someone.

10. What are your plans for the future?
I’m going to be the Audience Development Associate at Seattle Rep and I hope to continue working wit6h SCT in any way I can!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Meet Julie!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Meet the Interns!

We wanted to give you a glimpse of what goes on here at SCT, so you could get to know some of the work that happens here behind the scenes. The interns who help make the Summer Season's student productions possible are a vital part of our community, so we'll be posting some of their responses to a questionnaire we handed out, in the hopes that you can get to know them a little better.

Here's a little spotlight on Julia Welch, one of the outstanding education interns here at SCT!

1. What led to your decision to intern with SCT?
My interest in theatre is very wide, ranging from acting to producing, directing
to designing, and from teching to teaching. SCT has an amazing internship program
that allows me to explore many areas of theatre in an environment that combines
them with my interest in education. The program was recommended to me by
previous summer interns as well as several membersof my college faculty. These recommendations, along with my personal interests, lead me towards SCT.

2. Where are you from, and what did you study before coming here?
I grew up in California (just south of San Francisco) and upon
entering college moved north to Tacoma, Washington where I attended the
University of Puget Sound. I dabbled in several disciplines including
chemistry and english before majoring in theatre arts. A liberal arts
college, the University of Puget Sound encourages students to develop
into well rounded individuals and my education was just that, within
the context of both my overall experience at the university and my chosen
major. I was required to participate in all areas of theatre and found
my passion to be in technical theatre, stage combat, and improvisational
comedy.

3. Why is theatre important to you personally?
I think that theatre is a unique medium as it requires the audience to engage
in a different way from many other art forms. The audience is an active
participant in the performance and the immediacy of the actions on stage and
the reactions off stage create some real magic. Theatre speaks to me in a way
that nothing else does and I find it unbelievably vibrant, persuasive, engaging,
academic, and passionate. Making theatre and sharing in that creation is a
powerful experience and one that I think everyone should take part in.

4. What do you feel you bring to SCT’s Summer Season program?
This summer I have been assigned to work on Romeo and Juliet as part of
SCT’s Summer Season. At the very least I will bring my enthusiasm and energy
to the rehearsal hall and hopefully a bit of knowledge and experience too. I
have a deep love for Shakespeare and hope the actors will enjoy working with
that beautiful language. Also, I am thrilled to be working on a show that
involves stage combat (as I am an actor/combatant recognized by the
Society of American Fight Directors) and I hope to share those skills in a safe
environment. Finally, I feel that I bring an organized mind to the project.

5. What’s your most memorable experience so far as an intern here?
This is a two part answer for me. Let me begin my saying that before arriving
at SCT I knew nothing about creative drama. It wasn’t even a term I had heard
before. On the first day of intern training two of the drama school staff led
the new interns through a creative drama class and I was amazed. I was
captivated by the story and the exercises and activities. The next week I got
to watch my first creative drama class and once more I was amazed by the kids
in the class and how much they cared about and became invested in the story.
It was unforgettable.

6. What do you feel are the biggest challenges confronting you as an intern?
Since it’s still early in the summer, my biggest challenge is simply my lack of
experience. This is the first week I am working with the kids and while it’s
thrilling, there are also a lot of unknowns. There are plenty of questions that
I am learning the answers to as I go. I expect that each week will get a little
easier and I will get a little more confident.

7. What part of this internship are you looking forward to the most?
While I love all the classes I am working on and am really enjoying the company
of the education staff and other interns, I am most excited to work on a stage
combat class later in this semester. Watching a student go from being scared
to pick up a sword to performing choreographed fights is incredible. I love to
watch their self confidence grow along with their skills. To me, stage combat
is more challenging than a lot of other theatrical disciplines since it requires
such high stakes for the characters involved and that asks a lot of the actors.
Success in stage combat is empowering. It is inspiring to see students take
risks and push themselves in a safe and controlled environment.

8. What is your specific job as an intern this summer – specifically,
what shows or age groups will you be working with the closest?
I am working on the Summer Season production of Romeo and Juliet which is from
grades 7 to 12. Other than that, my time is pretty well split up between the
different age groups. I seem to be assisting on all kinds of different classes
as well as doing some administrative work. It is a very balanced schedule that
allows me to do a little bit of everything.

9. What do you feel is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far as an intern here?
I am sure that I will learn a ton more over the course of the summer, but in these
last couple weeks I feel that the most valuable thing I’ve learned is to just try.
Even if you are nervous or uncomfortable or even scared, there is so much to be
accomplished by putting yourself out there and trying. One of the great things
about SCT is that there are many other intern and staff members who are your
support system. Just try and even if you fail there will be people to help you.

10. What are your plans for the future?
It’s hard to say at the moment what I’ll be doing at the end of this summer.
I hope to continue working in theatre in some capacity, whether that means
I’ll get a job somewhere or another internship or even volunteering. Eventually
I’d love to go to graduate school for scenic design, but that’s still a couple
years off at least. Other goals I have are to work as an improv teaching artist
and to become a certified teacher through the Society of American Fight Directors.
For now I will enjoy every minute of this internship and hope that any future
experience is even half as great as this one is turning out to be.

Monday, December 10, 2007

10 Questions for... Morgan Rowe

Morgan Rowe currently appears in SCT's production of The Big Friendly Giant, running through December 10. Reviews of The BFG are posted on our website.

How did you get cast in this show?

I simply auditioned when the director called me in. I had never read The BFG and was supposed to go to Europe this fall. But while auditioning I fell madly in love with the play, the language and the character and was thrilled when they offered me the part.

Who are you in this play? Tell us about your character(s).

In the first act I play a mean giant and a character in a dream caught by the BFG. In the second act I play the Queen of England. To play the Queen of England is a dream come true for me. When I was a kid I knew everything about British royalty. I was convinced that I would be Queen one day. Lo and behold, I am... only without all the responsibility and with all the glory. My Queen is an adventuress who is thrilled to meet a giant since she has met everybody else, I figure. She is strong and sassy and very British. I adore her. And not just because I am her. What Roald Dahl wrote is genius and easy to play.

How has the play been received by audiences? Any surprising reactions?

I think they like it. Some people want it to be scarier and a handful are too scared. No way around it with man-eating giants. But for the most part The BFG is so lovely and the world is so fantastical that everyone, kids and adults, seem genuinely swept away by the story.

Are there particular challenges working with large costumes and puppets?

You can’t act and react the same way you would without those things. You can’t play the scene with your fellow actors; you have to let the puppet act the scene. This was frustrating at first. But now I really love the challenge of filtering my actions through the puppet. It forces me to be more specific with my voice and my actions, which is always a good thing.

Do you identify with any particular aspects of the story?

I think we all know, at one time or another, what it is to want to run away from our lives. I remember diving into fantasies as a child that took me to far off places where everything went my way in the long run.

In terms of playing the Queen, I am at a point in my life where I am really loving the challenge that comes with embracing the large obstacles that might come my way as a means to adventure, to a more passionate life. I like to think that if a dream I had started becoming real around me and I was given the opportunity to meet the BFG in person that I would say Yes with as much enthusiasm and as little hesitation as the Queen does.

What dream would the BFG deliver to you?

Oh, this is a hard question as I have a fantastic dream life, so I think the BFG is already working overtime to bring me dreams.

How and why did you become an actor?

My parents were both actors and directors so I grew up in the family business.

When not in the theatre, what are you most likely doing?

Writing. Playing scrabble online with friends from all over the world. Walking my dog.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Living in a foreign country, writing and performing around the world.

You have the audience’s ear – what would you ask them?

I would ask them to embrace theatre with the wide-eyed innocence of a child, to relax and let the story lead them to undiscovered countries within themselves. This goes to the adults and even the children, who often try to forget that they are children because it isn’t cool anymore.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

10 Questions for... Caety Sagoian

Caety Sagoian currently appears in The Big Friendly Giant at SCT. The Seattle Weekly said "it’s an exuberant Caety Sagoian who really steals this show with the hilarity she evokes as, among several small roles, a superstitious maid and berating Swedish queen."

How did you get cast in this show?

Well, I was asked to come in and audition for this show and I have to admit I was beyond nervous while I was waiting to go in for a callback! Although intimidating, it was one of the funnest auditions I've ever been to. Rita Giomi is an incredible director who really encourages her actors to play, and I ended up reading with Morgan Rowe and Jenny Sue Johnson, and we all ultimately got cast in the roles we read for. This is by far one of the most dreamy cast/crew experiences I've ever had!

What kind of artistic training & experience have you had?

I am a 2006 graduate from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in theater and an emphasis is jazz vocals. It is an amazing school that has really prepared me for the rigors of the theater world!

Who are you in this play? Tell us about your character(s).

I play Bonecruncher, one of the goofy mean giants, Rebecca, the little girl who has the golden phizzwizard dream, Mary, the Queen of England's maid, and the Queen of Sweden!

Are there particular challenges working with large costumes and puppets?

It takes some getting used to at first with our giant heads - what with focusing through the mesh and all, but our costumers are awesome and they've worked SO hard to make our costumes and giant heads comfortable, so we owe them a huge round of applause for making us look and feel as pretty as we do!

Do you identify with any particular aspects of the story?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the language in this story! Roald Dahl is an absolute wordsmith! His language is so much fun, and totally engaging - we know we're going to have a good audience when the BFG says 'crocodowndillies' and all the kiddies start to giggle!

What dream would the BFG deliver to you?

I love the idea that someone somewhere out there is giving me lovely golden dreams, so I think the BFG would give me something incredibly funny and silly to keep me laughing!

Why do you do what you do?

I don't know exactly why I do what I do, but I remember the first time I wanted to do it. It was my first time seeing a play, and it was Charlotte's Web at SCT. At that time, I wasn't aware of what it was to be in actor in a play, but whatever it was that I witnessed that day, I loved it. This feeling grew even stronger when I saw Romeo and Juliet just a few years later. I was about 10 years old and I knew at the end of that show what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I remember going down to the front of the stage and getting autographs and how exciting that was and how special it made me feel getting to talk to the actors. I feel absolutely, and unbelievably honored to be working with the same theater that forever changed my life as a child.

When you aren’t at SCT, what other jobs do you work or have you worked?

When I'm not doing theater, I do voiceovers. I'm the voice of a lot of video game characters on games like the Mario Nintendo games, Backyard Baseball, and I also voice and do on camera work for a national PBS show called The Biz Kids!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Ohmygosh. I have NO clue! Hopefully Happy, and doing fun things!

You have the audience’s ear – what would you ask them?

If you could give a dream to anyone in the world- who would it be, what would it be about, and why would you give it to them?

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

10 Questions for... Mickey Rowe

Mickey Rowe currently appears on the SCT stage in Disney's High School Musical, and he kindly agreed to be the first of our artists to face 10 Questions.

What were you doing before being cast in High School Musical?

Before being cast in High School Musical I was a full-time student. When I found out that I might get to do the show, I had a long conversation with my mom about whether it would be okay for me to stop going to school for a few months to get to be a part of the Musical. Now the set of East High is my school. Instead of learning by sitting at a desk and listening to lectures, I get to learn by watching the older actors in the show and experimenting on stage. It’s a really wonderful experience.

How did you get cast in this show?

This summer I auditioned for a class at the Seattle Children’s Theatre and they asked me if I would like to be considered for High School Musical. I just checked the “yes” box not really thinking that anything would come out of it. A while later I got a call from SCT and they invited me to come in and audition. At the audition there were a lot of kids my age and we got to learn a dance combo and sing one of the songs from the show. Then they picked which kids they thought would be a good match for the show. I was terrified during the auditions because I had convinced myself that I couldn’t dance. I would have never believed that now I would be doing some of the dances from the show everyday.

Be honest – had you seen the movie when you auditioned for the role?

Haha, I had not seen the movie until I found out about auditions.

Who are you in this play? Tell us about your character(s).

I am in the ensemble of this play, what that means is that I get to help fill the halls of East High and make it feel more like a real school. For a lot of the show I get to be a brainiac with Gabriella and then I also get to be a fun unicycling character during the audition scene.

What kind of artistic training & experience have you had?

Besides doing shows at my high school and around the community, I have also taken a lot of classes at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Last year I spent the summer at SCT’s Young Actor Institute where I learned how to “act better” from Rita Giomi (Director of SCT's production of The Big Friendly Giant). When the show is over, I will be studying drama at the University of Washington.

What is it like to work with a cast this large and with so many people close to the same age?

Just like a real high school. We have a very diverse cast so its always fun to get to have so many different people to act with on and off stage. Its nice because everyone knows that there is always someone who has their back, no matter what happens. This is the largest cast that SCT has had before, so there are a lot of people backstage. It is like a party every day.

How does East High compare to your own high school experiences?

East High is a lot like my high school. We had all the same cliques. I was definitely a thespian at my high school. I was always in the drama room, either in class rehearsing or helping to paint sets after school. My high school was also much different than East High because the cliques did a lot of things together. There were quite a few jocks and cheerleaders who would do plays with me in the Drama department… haha, and EVERYONE was in the band. (Even skaters)

Why do you do what you do?

That is a hard question to answer… Why does a Business Man do what he does? Well, I’m not in it for the money. I guess I do theatre because it is what I am passionate about. It makes me tick. I like people, and theatre is people collaborating ideas with each other and coming together to create a story to tell to other people and hopefully through that story I can share some insight on life with the audience. It makes me think of the quote, “Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.” -Robert Motherwell

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself still doing theatre. Who knows, maybe I’ll get another chance be in a show at the children’s theatre. : )

You have the audience’s ear – what would you say to them?

Keep seeing shows (or taking your children to see shows). Allow your own ideas and way of thinking to be questioned, step out of the status quo and do things outside of your comfort zone that you usually wouldn’t do. That’s how we grow.