Set for Phantom of the Opera FOR SALE - contact kmulay@portageps.org
Available set pieces available are:
1. The entire lair scene with organ, motorized boat with decorative bedding, 6 electrified candleabras, Phantom disappearing chair, and lair gate.
2. Entire graveyard scene with Massive Daae Crypt, two large grave crypts and 3 cross headstones
3. Christines dressing room with double mirror
4. 15 foot lifelike Elephant
5. Remote control Monkey Music Box (identical to Broadway version)
6. Rooftop skyline
7. Hannibal drop 19 X 45
8. Manager office drapery
9. A multitude of vacuform decrative pieces
10. Il Muto bed, dressing and flying draperies panel
Phantom of the Opera played to over 9000 patrons!
Phantom of the Opera is not only the longest running musical on Broadway. Phantom also made history as the longest running show in Portage Central's history with a total of 12 performances playing to over 9000 patrons.
PC Performing Arts Invited to prestigous Edinburgh Arts Festival
TONY AWARDING WINNING DIRECTOR JACK O'BRIEN VISITS PORTAGE CENTRAL |
| Posted by Kathy Mulay (kmulay) on Dec 19 2010 at 8:57 AM |
Jack O'Brien, who won a Tony award for directing "Hairspray" on Broadway, talks with the cast and crew working on Portage Central High School's upcoming production of the musical. O'Brien was in the area to visit his sister, Janet Stillwell, retired dean of performing arts at Western Michigan University. BY MICHAEL CHEVY CASTRANOVA
SPECIAL TO THE KALAMAZOO GAZETTE
PORTAGE — Broadway director Jack O'Brien offered unequivocal advice to the cast and crew of Portage Central High School's upcoming production of “Hairspray”: “Don't pace yourselves. Don't stop for breath.”
The musical, which the school will stage Feb. 4-13, is all energy from start to finish, the three-time Tony Award-winning director told some 60 students and faculty Friday afternoon during a master class.
O'Brien won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for directing “Hairspray” in 2003.
With frequent asides and anecdotes, O'Brien stood alone on a practically bare auditorium stage and answered questions from students about character and motivation, and about the time period of the play itself — Baltimore, spring 1962.
The director recalls that as a period of innocence, more than a year before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After JFK's murder, “sarcasm and cynicism entered our culture,” he said.
Baltimore in “Hairspray” is a microcosm of the racial confrontations that were about the erupt in the United States, he contended.
As for today's high school student actors learning to relate to their characters from more than a generation ago, O'Brien replied, “That's part of your education. You'll have to do a little research.”
He also gave some pointers on trying to be funny.
“Comedy is serious business,” he said. “You've got to play it brutally serious.”
But whether acting in a comedy or tragedy, noted O'Brien — who has directed his share of both — it's all about the actor finding the truth in a part.
“That's church, baby,” he said.
The director's job, on the other hand, is to try “to get everyone to find the same truth at the same time.” And a good director will “scare, tease” and do whatever else is necessary to an actor to achieve the best performance.
O'Brien, born in Saginaw, was in the Kalamazoo area for the holidays visiting his sister, Janet Stillwell, retired dean of performing arts at Western Michigan University. He'd once met Portage Central theater program director Kathy Mulay at a director's conference in New York.
Besides the awards for “Hairspray,” O’Brien also nabbed both awards for “Henry IV” in 2004 and “The Coast of Utopia” in 2007.
He's received nominations for “The Full Monty,” “Porgy and Bess” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” among other productions.
He confessed he and frequent collaborating choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who went to Paw Paw High School, had “no idea 'Hairspray' was going to be an international hit.” But they did know it was about love, compassion and forgiveness.
“It's a sweet, honest fantasy,” he said of the play. “It will give to you in wonderful ways.