Throwback Thursday

Bob Burke and Larry Estey lending a helping hand at Volunteer Day, 2014. 

Want to join the ranks of these illustrious individuals? Volunteer Day is Saturday, May 16 from 1pm to 4pm. If you’re interested in helping out, call 367-2788, email info@operahousearts.org, or just stop by the theater in your cleaning or gardening clothes on the 16th.

Behind the Scene: Joshua McCarey

There are two sides to every coin. While we’re all very sorry, down here at the Opera House, that we won’t be working with former Education Associate Robin Cust on a regular basis anymore, we are all so excited to welcome Joshua McCarey to the position! Especially now that we know he’s a James and the Giant Peach fan…

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a neighborhood called “The Grove” on the city limits of Boston. Though downtown was just 20 minutes away by train, my house was surrounded by trees and a circuit of winding dirt roads. This made playing, exploring, and also some scandalous behavior possible and routine. We played kickball behind my house, made forts between oaks and maples and raced down hills on our bicycles. I realize now that it was a blessing for city kid.

2. How would your elementary classmates remember you?

It seems sad to say, but they may remember me as sick! I was in and out of Boston Children’s Hospital for severe asthma and allergies. Though I wasn’t well, it was a cool place to be! There were clowns and kind nurses- I was treated so well. I remember my classmates would craft personalized get-well cards on colored construction paper. It made me feel so special. They drew a skinny boy smiling from a hospital bed…with bright suns and seagulls flying around the room.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be ok being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

James could tell me about his adventure from inside the Giant Peach, and help to scheme a plan to get the elevator unstuck. If that doesn’t work, Sir Toby Belch would be fun for joking and singing to pass the time. Anybody from the unpredictable and fantastic world of Daniil Kharms would be welcome; the situation itself being so absurd. I was always moved by Louis, the Trumpeter Swan. He could inspire us to find alternate forms of communication when words are not enough.

4. Which cartoon character would you be?

Charlie Brown. (Borrowing Linus’ security blanket)

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

At 12 years old, I was cast as Bottom the Weaver in a community production of A Mid Summer Night’s Dream. That character literally plucked me out of all my closets. He was just so outrageous; and taught me that I could be outrageous, too. I think I learned that theatre does that- plucks us out of the closet. I was frightened and enamored by it.

Joshua will be back on the island in a couple of weeks. Make sure you stop in and say hi!

Throwback Thursday

Joshua McCarey in the 2013 “Our Own” production of The Insurgents.

If you haven’t already read, Joshua McCarey is OHA’s new Education Associate! Check in tomorrow to learn more about him in this week’s “Behind the Scenes at the Opera House…”

Behind the Scenes: Sir John Falstaff

It’s always tricky to get the great Sir John Falstaff, arguably Shakespeare’s most comic creation, to stop talking about the ladies…particularly the Merry Wives of Stonington…and his appreciation for said ladies, especially when they wear breeches. Nonetheless, we’ve managed to wrangle an interview with him this week. It was a bit touch-and-go given our Skype connection back to the early 1400s was shaky. But we prevailed and eventually got him to answer our questions – in between gulps of mead.

1. Where did you grow up?

As good luck would have it, I am son to the great England, but there be less interest in where I came of age than in how I managed the feat. Thou knowest in the state of innocency Adam fell, and what should poor Jack Falstaff do in the days in villainy? And now am I, if a man should speak truly, little better than one of the wicked. It is not solely superiority of strength that allows my body breath, but an advantageous mind, which informs when to fight and when on instinct to be a coward. The better part of valor is discretion.

2. How would your comrades in arms remember you?

They would remember my courage and cunning, of course, but if forced to claim a favorite trait – if such a task is achievable – I suspect they would hold in highest esteem my wit. I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men.

*We played a range of twentieth and twenty-first century songs for Sir John.*

3. Which of these songs, if any, do you most relate to?

Your troubadours perform with appealing verve. If I must favor one, I would cast my heart toward the tune by the string of letters [*I’m Sexy and I Know It, by LMFAO*]. I too understand the feeling of drawing all eyes.

4. We’ve heard that you’ll be visiting Stonington this summer. What are you most looking forward to on this trip?

Do all the ladies of Stonington favor breeches?

We had to let Sir John get back to his…work, but he’ll be making an in-person trip to the Opera House this summer. Our Gala patrons attending the Grand Opening of our new lobby July 6 may get an unexpected peek at the Fat Knight. Otherwise, see him on stage August 13th through the 23rd. Tickets on sale now on the website and in the box office!

Throwback Thursday

Kathleen Turco-Lyon and Morgan Witham in the 2011 production of Elizabeth Rex, directed by Peter Richards.

Peter and Morgan have teamed up again in this evening’s “Our Own” staged play reading of Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize winning Anna Christie. Joining Morgan on stage are guest artists Per Janson and Bob Burke, and community members Jeff Brink, Larry Estey, Mark Robinson and Veronica Young.

Come join us tonight at 7pm!

Behind the Scenes: Peter Richards

If you haven’t already heard the news, Peter Richards (actor, director and member of OHA’s Artistic Advisory Board) is one of our newest Board members. Maybe you’ve seen him at the shows he’s directed (Brilliant Traces, Dying City, The Aliens, Elizabeth Rex) or in those he’s performed in (Romeo and Juliet, R&J&Z) on the Opera House stage. Or maybe you’ve run into Peter down at the schools, where he pitches in with the OHA’s Shakespeare in Stonington immersion program. But regardless of where you’ve seen him, do you know what color rubber bands he used to have in his braces? You will soon…

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up spending fall, winter, and spring in Santa Monica, CA, and summer in Stonington, ME.

2. How would your elementary school classmates remember you?

They’d probably think of me playing a lot of sports. And wearing braces. I had very bad teeth when I was a kid, and wore braces for 4 long years in elementary school. I even had the orthodontist put purple rubber bands in my braces this one time, giving me a colorful–and very strange looking–smile.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be okay being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

Why, Hamlet, of course! Because he’s the most eloquent and wittiest person ever imagined. We’d talk about the rotten state of the world, exchange tips on how to appear crazy while really being sane, and philosophize about the moral implications of revenge. It’d be a blast!

Sticking with Shakespeare, I wouldn’t mind being stuck with Iago. I’d finally get to ask him The Question everyone wants answered: WHY DID YOU DO IT, MAN??

Estragon form Waiting for Godot, because he’s a clown. And reeeeeeally good at waiting.

Lastly but not leastly, Nina from The Seagull because she’s just so lovely. Everyone falls in love with her. And she’s a survivor. (Shameless plug: come see the The Seagull this summer to find out more!)

4. If you were a cartoon character, what cartoon character would you be?

Voltron: Defender of the Universe

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

I fell in love with theater the day I realized theater attracted the most intelligent, imaginative, hard-working, fun, free, and creative people on the planet. That, and the fact that, when working with these awesome people in the theater, you have the great privilege of working on the greatest texts every written. Texts that help us the most on our never ending–and ever failing–quest to truly comprehend the truth of things. And yeah. It’s a lot of fun. The day I realized that.

Come say hi to Peter next week at the Opera House! He’s directing the latest “Our Own” production, Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, on Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23.

Peter will also be spending a lot of time with us this summer – directing both The Seagull and “Our Own” Under Milkwood. Tickets for the summer season are now on sale! Check out our calendar, visit us down in the box office or call 207-367-2788.

Throwback Thursday

Danny Jones and Josh Bywater in The Aliens (2012), directed by Peter Richards.

Peter Richards is back at the Opera House! He’ll be directing the next “Our Own” production, Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23.