The Last Wife: Designs and Inspirations
We are taking you behind the scenes of The Last Wife with the design team to get a glimpse into the process of creating this exciting production. Read on to find out, in their own words, where their inspirations and designs for this powerful play came about.
Veronica Murphy – Costume Designer
“This is a contemporary play about historical figures. The playwright calls for contemporary clothing so you might think that would make it easy. Not necessarily so. These are royals and we need to believe they are royals. The play spans four years with many changes in the characters’ positions – and in the case of Bess, she goes from a child of 11 to a young adult of 15. The scenes flow like Shakespeare, often seamlessly from bedroom to dining room to hallway, to conference room and so on.
A monochromatic set – we chose monochromatic costumes with touches of color, crimson for the Tudors (also the real Katherine Parr’s favorite color) and blue for the Seymour’s. Thom is, after all, a man of the sea. And the young prince follows in blue, as we are continually reminded that his mother was the beloved Jane Seymour. As Kate gains her place in the palace, her lines are less fluid and more structured and powerful, while maintaining femininity, so important in keeping Henry on her side. And once she marries Thomas Seymour, she is also in blue. Everyone is trying to please the King, save Mary, the Catholic rebellious daughter. Note the clerical lines that tie her to the church. Ironically, she is in black, like her father, but without any crimson, so as not to suggest her later nickname “Bloody Mary.” As Bess is mothered by Kate and grows into her womanhood, her dress is similar to Kate in line and color. There is also all that getting dressed and undressed, especially for Kate, making the underwear just as important as the outerwear.
A challenging project like this has to have some whimsy so – Henry has a lapel pin in the style of U.S. politicians but it is a Tudor Rose, Prince Eddie’s blue pajamas are covered in castles and dragons and the various ruffled necklines are a consistent nod to the true period.”
Sean Fanning – Set Designer
“The world is a contemporary re-imagining of Henry’s space. It is raw and modernist, and inherently masculine. At the same time, we are using simplicity and open space to make a world that is less about scenic detail and more about the emotional worlds and power play between the characters. The main inspiration for the setting is the Japanese architect Tadao Ando – who created spaces that lived between the world of a dwelling and a public arena. I was inspired by how he used containment and enclosure, and then created ways for light to stream into the container. In a theatrical context, this helps us to change the space in evocative ways. There is a trinity of antlers that always lives on the wall – these stag horns represent Henry’s savagery and love of hunting and are one of the few nods to the period. They cast foreboding shadows across the wall when lit from above.
The container acts a little as a puzzle box, and has several key compartments or openings that then support the action or change the context of the scenes. There is a center door that can be opened to reveal a glowing upstage hallway. This opening can also be raised to be a tall opening for Henry’s Commission. There’s an upstage left opening that can be slid open to reveal an oversized brutal fireplace – this is used for several locations with different furniture arrangements. Upstage right is a similar door that is slid open to reveal a concrete bed that pulls out from the wall, and a little compartment in the wall that holds the basin and pitcher with which Henry’s wound is washed. Stage right has a drop-down opening for liquor in the Act 1 courtship scene and elsewhere.
We are also using some grand gestures as a part of the storytelling as well as the tall velvet banners with the Tudor Rose motif for the commission scene. Two rolling tables that are used throughout the play become joined together to create a 12-foot long dining table with a chandelier that flies in for the family dinner scene. For the top of the second act, “Training Day”, a flurry of books will drop from the sky and tumble to the stage. At the end of the show, the space gets transformed to a more feminine soft environment when we bring on a set of sheer draperies that cover and obscure the container.
By envisioning this environment as a cold, masculine and harsh shell representing Henry’s space – with a sense of charged and compressed spatial volume – we have created an opportunity or invitation for Katherine to come forth into that space and rise above it, and claim power.”
Kevin Anthenill – Composer & Sound Designer
Kate Confronts Henry Scene 4
Wedding Scene 5
“When approaching the sound design and score for The Last Wife there are a few key elements which are important to director Rob Lutfy and myself. The play is a modern telling of historical figures, so I wanted to create a soundscape which had both modern, synthesized elements, as well as classical instruments such as brass and strings. The intention when the brass is playing is to give the score a noble feel – to create a regal sense – a royal sense.
The strings are intended to center around Kathrine’s delicate touch, while still maintaining an air of class. The synthesized elements are deployed to create pace and drive. In a fast moving play, Rob Lutfy and I wanted to ensure the music was equally as driving. I intend to use the Synth-Pulse as a driving undercurrent that gives the sense of the “psychological thriller” genre.”
Catch The Last Wife through February 11th!
A Holiday Q&A with the cast of A Christmas Carol
This holiday season, Cygnet Theatre welcomes the return of the holiday classic adapted from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of hope and redemption. The cast of A Christmas Carol will inspire the audiences with this unique storytelling experience. Check out their holiday Q&A.
Melissa Fernandes
What is your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite Holiday movie is Emmett Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Does that count?… I love It’s a Wonderful Life and Love Actually. But I adore Scrooged, which is the modern take on A Christmas Carol.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
Totally delicious! But also, should never be served or sold before Thanksgiving. It marks the start of the holiday season for me.
What is on your wish list this year?
Peace on earth, good will to all. I also would totally appreciate a bike. I don’t know how to ride, so it is time to learn!
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
Being with my family. We are always so busy throughout the year so the holidays mean sharing at least some time together.
David McBean
What is your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite holiday movie is While You Were Sleeping.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
Eggnog is gross!
What is on your wish list this year?
I don’t have anything on my wish list except a desire for good health.
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
The most important part of the holiday season for me is remembering to be grateful.
Katie Sapper
What is your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite is The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
No, thank you.
What is on your wish list this year?
A Polaroid camera.
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
Spending time with family and loved ones.
Tom Stephenson
What is your favorite holiday movie?
It’s a Wonderful Life.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
Eggnog is kind of gross.
What is on your wish list this year?
To accomplish something unimaginable.
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
Companionship.
Melinda Gilb
What is your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite holiday movies are A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, White Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Home Alone, and A Christmas Carol.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
I used to love it, now not so much.
What is on your wish list this year?
Peace, solitude, and new furniture.
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
Lights.
Charles Evans Jr.
What is your favorite holiday movie?
It’s a toss up. My favorite classic holiday film is White Christmas. Also, my favorite movie set at Christmas time is Die Hard.
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
Oh, definitely gross.
What is on your wish list this year?
My list is pretty short this year. I have been very very fortunate. Does Santa help cover wedding expenses?
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
We talk about it in the show, but the holiday season does feel like the only time when people “seem by one consent to open up their shut-up hearts freely.” The holiday season serves as a reminder to slow down a little, and show compassion to the people around us.
Patrick McBride
Eggnog – gross or delicious?
Gross.
What is on your wish list this year?
Peace and harmony.
What is the most important part of the holiday season for you?
Spending time with family.
Catch this favorite holiday musical through December 24th!
The Drag Glossary
In case you didn’t know, Drag culture has it is own vocabulary. Here is the beginner’s guide to drag-speak. We’ve selected 20 words to get you started. What are you waiting for? Get to werk!
1. Bar Queen
n. a drag queen who only performs in small bars. Typically used as an insult.
2. Beating Face
v. to apply the perfect amount of makeup on the face, resulting in a flawless look. The term references the motion of constantly dabbing a makeup sponge or brush against one’s face.
3. Boobie Bib
n. a false breast piece worn by drag queens to give the impression of female breasts. They are often made of flesh-tone silicon of rubber.
4. Busted
adj. a dilapidated drag queen who can’t make up or style properly, looking unkempt, unrefined, unpolished, generally poor presentation.
5. Boy Name
n. a drag queen’s given name as opposed to her stage name.
6. Butch Queen
n. a masculine-looking drag queen.
7. Cakes
n. a slang term used to describe butt cheeks.
8. Camp Queen
n. a type of traditional, over-the-top drag act, with little effort at female impersonation.
9. Chicken Cutlets
n. a slang term used to describe padding worn by drag queens to give the illusion of having female hips and thighs.
10. Corset
n. an undergarment worn, that tightly fits around the abdomen of the queens to help create a proportioned, hour-glass figure.
11. Diva
n. a slang term for any woman or drag queen who is self-important, demanding, temperamental, or hard to please.
12. Drag King
n. a woman who dresses as or impersonates a man for entertainment/show purposes.
13. Drag Mother
n. an experienced drag queen who acts as a mentor and guide to a younger, up and coming, less experienced, or apprentice drag queen.
14. Fierce
adj. a term used by drag queens meaning to possess a good, intense, satisfying, powerful, or beautiful quality.
15. Polished
adj. a term used to refer to a drag queen whose look is considered to be flawless, well executed, seasoned, and perfected.
16. Sashay
v. to strut with an elaborate roll of the shoulders and hips, from the ballet term chassé.
17. Shade, or Throwing Shade
n. the casting of aspersions, bluntly pointing out a person’s flaws in an insulting manner.
18. Showboat
v. to impress in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a big well-lit, noisy theatrical riverboat.
19. Tuck
v. to place the penis back between the legs.
20. Werk, or Work
v. a slang term to put in the effort necessary to impress or stun
Catch The Legend of Georgia McBride through November 12th!
Q&A with the cast of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds
This Pulitzer Prize-winning lyrical drama tells the story of a wounded family unraveling at the age of innocence and at the age of no return. Life in the 1960s with Beatrice, an embittered single mother, resembles a hell more than a home for her two daughters. But Tillie, the youngest, finds her own way to connect the world with resilience and hope. Tillie – keeper of rabbits, dreamer of atoms, true believer in life, hope, and the effect of gamma rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.
To get to know this talented cast better, we asked them a few questions about the show and their experience.
Abby DePuy (Tillie)
Why do you feel this play is relevant today?
I think Gamma Rays is relevant today because it reveals the heartbreak which results from broken families and loss. These are things that many people, unfortunately, can relate to. Tillie offers hope to the victim of loss and brokenness that a person can rise above her circumstances.
This is often described as a play with “roles for actors”. What are you most looking forward to about either your role, or working on the play as a whole?
I am super excited to work with such an incredibly talented cast who put so much heart and effort into their art. Our director Robby is brilliant, and I know he is going to propel me as an actress and create an unforgettable, unique show. Tillie is an inspiration to me because she does not allow her circumstances to define who she is or what she will become.
I am looking forward to the challenge of playing Tillie because of her complexity. She is hopeful and optimistic while looking for ways to bring her family into some kind of harmony. But she also hides or tries to be invisible to avoid conflict.
Do you have history working with any of the other actors or creative team? Have you worked on any other American Classics in the past?
I have spent the majority of my years in the musical theater world. Gamma Rays will be my first professional play and first time performing an American Classic. I am looking forward to working with the cast and creative team, who are all new friends since meeting at callbacks.
DeAnna Driscoll (Beatrice)
Why do you feel this play is relevant today?
Anytime a play is as well written as this one, you can always find connections to our time. The characters are so rich and their dilemmas are so present and deep that I think audiences will allow themselves to have empathy for these females. There are so many issues right now that make us fearful of what is coming next. This is the exact world that these characters live in – the fear of what is coming next. It’s relatable for everyone.
This is often described as a play with “roles for actors”. What are you most looking forward to about either your role, or working on the play as a whole?
It is true that these types of roles don’t come along very often. When they do, I like to stay open and learn as I go. I have ideas, questions and feel confidant that we are going to go on a journey together as we work through this play. I believe that often times roles come to actors when they are supposed to and I am not certain yet why an alcoholic, abusive, insecure, frightened mother role just came to me. I am not going to judge it but rather run with it!
Just like all of us, the flaws in my character are deep and painful. She is a stunted woman trying desperately to raise her daughters the best she knows how. That’s a great character to have the honor to play. I feel very fortunate to share the stage with these ladies and work on this phenomenal play with Robby.
Do you have history working with any of the other actors or creative team? Have you worked on any other American Classics in the past?
No. That is actually one of the most exciting elements for me! I love the idea of working with a director and fellow artists that I have never worked with before. Every show I do, I learn something from each and every person involved and so I can’t wait to see what my new lessons are during this process.
I played Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ years ago in NYC, and I played Grace in “Bus Stop” at The Old Globe. I love the experience of doing “steeped in realism” American Classics. This opportunity is giving me another chance to experience that, which is one of the many things I am excited about.
Rachel Esther Tate (Ruth)
Why do you feel this play is relevant today?
Fear and love are universal. They lead us to almost every decision we make. This play zooms in on a family of women who are struggling to find the ways to cope, to escape fear and live thoughtfully in their love. It shines a light on the little inner struggles that consume us as we try to move along through life as siblings, parents, and humans in general. Throughout the story, Tillie discovers what it means to be special and realizes her role as a tiny, but important part of the universe. It is beautiful and captivating, structurally simple and poetic, raw and real.
This is often described as a play with “roles for actors”. What are you most looking forward to about either your role, or working on the play as a whole?
I have to say, I’m pretty psyched to be onstage with only women. This play is a goldmine for actresses as individual artists, but especially as an ensemble. It is a story of four strong and beautifully complex women that explores the strength and trials of sister/motherhood. I have never been in a cast of all female actors and I can’t wait to see what each of these talented women bring to their roles.
Do you have history working with any of the other actors or creative team? Have you worked on any other American Classics in the past?
This is my first time with this group of actors and also my first full production of an American Classic. However, this is my second time working with Robby at Cygnet. He is not only one of my favorite directors to collaborate with, but he also happens to be my life partner. I am so excited to be diving into the beauty of Paul Zindel’s words with such fantastic artists.
Carm Greco (Nanny)
Why do you feel this play is relevant today?
Gamma Rays beautifully explores issues that are relevant today; poverty, alcoholism, child abuse, bullying, forgotten or throw-away seniors, educators who recognize the courage, curiosity of a child…the list goes on. Yet it really is about hope and the indomitable spirit of a young girl who rises above her miserable circumstances.
This is often described as a play with “roles for actors”. What are you most looking forward to about either your role, or working on the play as a whole?
Nanny is an enigmatic character. What does she know? What does she really see and hear?
Do you have history working with any of the other actors or creative team? Have you worked on any other American Classics in the past?
No, which is why it is so personally exciting and rewarding.
Michelle Trester (Janice Vickery)
This is often described as a play with “roles for actors”. What are you most looking forward to about either your role, or working on the play as a whole?
I love making people laugh and am so looking forward to providing some comic relief in the show. Janice Vickery has a special place in my heart because of her quirky humor and offbeat personality. With any script, I love diving in and investigating the text to find clues the playwright has left to help build the backstory of my character. Paul Zindel left such yummy little details about Janice throughout Gamma Rays. I am really looking forward to exploring her in the rehearsal room with Robby. I can’t wait to breath life into her!
Do you have history working with any of the other actors or creative team? Have you worked on any other American Classics in the past?
I am very excited to be making my Cygnet debut with this production! I have not had the chance to work with Rob Lutfy or other members of the cast or the creative team before so I am just over the moon. Since moving to San Diego, I have admired Robby’s directorial vision with each of his productions and Cygnet’s stellar reputation for creating powerful art. I am thrilled to be joining them on this adventure. Much of my time in NYC was spent creating and working on new work. I am thrilled to be revisiting the American Classics once again. Many years ago, I had the chance to play Laura Wingfield in one of my favorite American Classics, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. I am honored to tap into a very different character with Janice and can’t wait to share this production with San Diego!
Catch these talented actors through September 24th!
Talk to Cloudy for informations.
Your Guide to Rocky Horror!
Whether you’re a Rocky Virgin or you’ve been around the block a time or two, you’ll need to know a few things before coming to our production. We only ask that you have two things with you to see The Rocky Horror Show – A sense of humor and money for your ticket. Everything else is up to you.
Audience Participation:
- No throwing of anything onto the stage. Period.
- If you’re going to yell out – don’t be offensive. If you’re vulgar Frank will throw you out.
- That being said, there will be swearing.
- Dress up…or don’t. Just make sure your naughty bits are covered. And don’t be an a**hole like Brad by blocking anyone’s view with a huge hat.
- Costume Contests will take place before the late night shows on April 15, 22, and 29 as well as Out @ Cygnet on March 23.
“Performance Enhancers” aka Props:
Cygnet will have prop kits available for purchase for $5 at concessions. Please see a doctor if your props last longer than 4 hours.
What is absolutely forbidden:
- Food of any kind: Toast, rice, hotdogs, prunes – Can anyone say ants?
- Noisemakers/Bell – Nope.
- Toilet paper – Great Scott! TP is hard to clean.
- Water guns – Just no.
- Lighters and matches – We’d have to put out the fires with water guns but they aren’t allowed.
- Confetti – Known as the herpes of art supplies, confetti is hard to get rid of so we’re not allowing it.
Cygnet Theatre reserves the right to determine what is allowed into the venue. All persons and property are subject to search upon entry…hey, you might even like it! Anything that is not allowed will be confiscated.
Give yourself over to absolute pleasure:
Again, our goal is to provide a safe, enjoyable and authentic “Rocky Horror” experience. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, dammit!
“The Whale Social Media Night” Top Tweets
Social Media Night allows audience members to tweet during the performance. It’s an exciting way to share your thoughts on the show and get backstage information from cast and crew, live as it’s happening. Check out below to see what Twitter loving audience and cast said about The Whale, they said that they were getting cheap Instagram likes. Don’t miss the next one on July 24 during Dogfight…it also happens to be combined with a pre-show Tequila Tasting event!
THE WHALE CAST TWEETS
SOCIAL MEDIA NIGHT FUN FACTS TWEETS
GIRLBOY PRE-SHOW CONCERT TWEETS
Meet Charlie, Ellie, Liz, Elder Thomas, and Mary
We can all agree that the actor’s job is to bring a scripted character to life. To fully embody their role, they need to understand what makes that person tick. We asked the actors of this smart and subversive drama to fill out a profile on their character, as well as for themselves. Let’s get to know them and see how it compares!
Character Name: Charlie
Age: 47
Hometown: Moscow, ID
Occupation: Online English Teacher/ Tutor
Hobbies: Eating, working, eating, reading
Favorite Saying: “I’m Sorry”
Greatest Fear: Having not done a single thing right in his life
Actor Name: Andrew Oswald
Age: Come on, you never ask an actor their age
Hometown: Palos Verdes, CA
Occupation: Actor/ Director
Hobbies: Painting, drawing, gardening
Favorite Saying: “Seriously?”
Greatest Fear: Drowning
Character Name: Ellie
Age: 17
Hometown: Moscow, ID
Occupation: High School Student
Hobbies: Hate blogging, getting high, playing hooky
Favorite Saying: Sayings are for idiots
Greatest Fear: None of your f**king business
Actor Name: Erin McIntosh
Age: —
Hometown: Moscow, ID
Occupation: Actress
Hobbies: Reading poetry, laughing
Favorite Saying: “Think less, swim more.”
Greatest Fear: …I’m not actually sure
Character Name: Liz
Age: —
Hometown: Moscow, ID
Occupation: Postoperative Nurse at Gritman Medical Center
Hobbies: Playing Lotto Heaven and Angry Birds Epic on my Blackberry
Favorite Saying: “Everyone is bald underneath their hair.”
Actor Name: Judy Bauerlein
Age: —
Hometown: Ambler, PA
Occupation: Associate Professor of Theatre at CSUSM/Theatre Maker
Hobbies: All things 6 year old (Pokemon, Minecraft, Nerf, etc.)
Favorite Saying: “You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” -Pema Chodron
Character Name: Elder Thomas
Age: 19
Hometown: Waterloo, IA
Occupation: Missionary
Hobbies: Spending time w/family & friends, community service, reading the Good Word!
Favorite Saying: “If you want to give light to others, you have to glow yourself.”
Greatest Fear: Failure
Actor Name: Craig Jorczak
Age: Not 19!
Hometown: Houston, TX
Occupation: Actor right now!
Hobbies: Going to the movies, visiting baseball stadiums (been to 29 out of 30!), general malaise
Favorite Saying: “Congratulations!”
Greatest Fear: Failure (I knew Elder and I had something in common!)
Character Name: Mary
Age: 42
Hometown: Moscow, ID
Occupation: Unemployed, single mother of Satan incarnate
Hobbies: Drinking, smoking
Favorite Saying: “Shut up, Ellie!”
Greatest Fear: Ellie and prohibition
Actor Name: Melissa Fernandes
Age: of a certain…..
Hometown: Carson City, NV
Occupation: Actor by night/ Recruiter by day- like Batman but without the gadgets
Hobbies: TV & movie addict, reading, music
Favorite Saying: “Go to bed!” Oh wait, you said favorite, not the one I say the most. I’ll get back to you on that one.
Greatest Fear: Being alone and spiders. Being alone with spiders.
Catch The Whale now through June 14th! Click here to buy tickets.
My Fair Lady: The Myth, The Play, The Musical (Part 1)
Part One:The Myth
In this three part series, our resident dramaturge Taylor Wycoff, walks us through the history of how My Fair Lady came to be. Before it became one of the most popular musicals of the century, it was a play. And before it was a play, it was a myth…
As a dramaturge, when you’re tasked with a beloved classic like My Fair Lady, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details. Things like Covent Garden in early 20th century London, or English currency PRE-decimalization. But one thing I found absolutely delightful about working on this show was revisiting its roots. It’s common knowledge that the critically acclaimed musical is based on George Bernard Shaw’s famous play-turned-Academy-Award-winning movie, Pygmalion. What’s lesser known is that the roots of Shaw’s play actually date all the way back to ancient Greece with the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea.
So who was Pygmalion? And how did his story end up inspiring such a female-centric narrative? He is most familiar from Ovid’s narrative poem Metamorphoses as the legendary sculptor from Cyprus (Pygmalion is the Greek version of the Phoenician royal name Pumayyaton), who fell in love with a statue he carved. As the story goes, Pygmalion was so sick of the imperfections of women that he sculpted the perfect woman out of ivory and fell in love with her. At the festival of Aphrodite, when it came time to play his part in the processional, Pygmalion stood before the altar and timidly said, “Ye If you gods can give all things, may I have as my wife, I pray”- he dared not say “the ivory maiden,” but said instead-“one like the ivory maiden.” Aphrodite, who was present at the festival, heard him and knew the thought he would have uttered.
Showing her favor, she caused the altar’s flame to flare up three times, shooting a long flame of fire into the still air. After the day’s festivities, when Pygmalion returned home and kissed his Galatea, as was his custom, he was startled by the warmth of her kiss, for Aphrodite had answered his prayers. Aphrodite further blessed the happiness and union of this couple with a child. Pygmalion and Galatea named the child Paphos, for which the city is still known until this day.
Check back next week to learn about George Bernard Shaw and how he adapted this myth into the more well known play of the same title!
Announcing Season Thirteen
From a fish falling out of the sky in the year 2039, to a “sweet transvestite”, to one stupid established men review : a terrible fake sugar daddy site. And we’re excited to share it with you now. Without further antici…pation, here’s our 2015-2016 season!
DOGFIGHT
Music and Lyrics by BENJ PASEK & JUSTIN PAUL
Book by PETER DUCHAN
Based on the Warner Bros. Film and Screenplay by BOB COMFORT
Directed by SEAN MURRAY
July 16th – August 23rd, 2015. Opening July 25th, 2015.
It’s November 21, 1963. On the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia, three young Marines set out for one final boys’ night of debauchery, partying and maybe a little trouble. But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of compassion. Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical and praised by countless critics, Dogfight takes audiences on a romantic and heartbreaking theatrical journey that stays with you long after the performance. Featuring Dave Thomas Brown (Shakespeare’s R&J, Spring Awakening) “Superbly crafted, gratifyingly intelligent, richly observant, and immensely enjoyable. This is musical theatre at its finest.” – Backstage
HAY FEVER (Performed in Rep with The Vortex)
By NOËL COWARD
Directed by ROB LUTFY
Semptember 23rd – November 8th, 2015. Opening October 3rd, 2015.
Retired stage star Judith Bliss, her novelist husband and their two bohemian adult children have each invited houseguests for the weekend. But as the Blisses indulge their artistic eccentricities in a hilarious whirlwind of flirtation and histrionics, the guests begin to wonder if they’ve landed in a madhouse – and if they can survive with their own wits intact. Set in an English country house in the 1920’s, Noël Coward’s hilarious comedy of bad manners has been a favorite amongst theatregoers ever since it first dazzled London’s West End in 1925. “An evening of intoxicating escape” – The New York Times
THE VORTEX (Performed in Rep with Hay Fever)
By NOËl COWARD
Directed by SEAN MURRAY
September 24th – November 8th, 2015. Opening October 3rd, 2015.
Nicky Lancaster brings his elegant fiancée, Bunty, home to introduce her to his famous mother, stage actress Florence Lancaster. Nicky is shocked to discover that Florence has taken a much younger lover, and when Bunty ditches Nicky to run off with his mother’s boy-toy, both are forced to confront the truth about themselves. Noël Coward’s first commercially successful hit, The Vortex premiered in 1924 in London, and its scandalous subject matter of drug abuse, repressed homosexuality, nymphomania and Oedipal jealousy made Coward an overnight sensation. Hay Fever and The Vortex will feature Rosina Reynolds (The Glass Menagerie, Noises Off) “The Vortex (1924) is the play that turned Noël Coward into a star….Almost nine decades later, it still packs a powerful punch.” -The Telegraph
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Adaptation and Lyrics by SEAN MURRAY
Score by BILLY THOMPSON
Directed by SEAN MURRAY
November 27th – December 27th, 2015. Opening December 5th, 2015.
Cygnet Theatre invites you to start your own family tradition with one of ours. This season welcomes the return of theholiday classic adapted from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of hope and redemption. This re-imagined, fully staged production features original new music, creative stagecraft and puppetry, and live sound effects. Step into a Victorian Christmas card for a unique storytelling experience that is sure to delight the entire family! “Critics Choice” in 2014 – UT San Diego
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING
By ANDREW BOVELL
Directed by ROB LUTFY
January 14th – February 14th, 2016. Opening January 23rd, 2016.
Alice Springs in the year 2039. A fish falls from the sky and lands at the feet of Gabriel York. And it still smells of the sea. It’s been raining for days, and Gabriel knows something is wrong. Fifty years earlier, his grandfather, Henry Law, predicts that fish will fall from the sky heralding a great flood which will end life on earth as we know it. In an intricate, multi-layered story that spans four generations and two continents, When the Rain Stops Falling explores patterns of betrayal, abandonment, destruction, forgiveness and love. This powerful drama unfolds with humanity, surprising humor and hope, as the past plays out into the future. “The Best New Play of Year” in 2010 – Time Magazine
RICHARD O’BRIAN’S THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Book, Music and Lyrics by RICHARD O’BRIEN
Directed by SEAN MURRAY
March 10th – May 1st, 2016. Opening March 19th, 2016.
A satirical tribute to the science fiction and B-list horror movies of the 20th century, the show centers around two naïve lovers, Brad and Janet. Seeking shelter from a thunderstorm in an old castle, they find themselves thrust into the laboratory of the cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter and his motley crew. Stripped of inhibitions — and their clothes — Brad and Janet embark on a wild, unforgettable journey of pleasure and self-discovery. Reality, fiction, and camp collide in this mash-up of comics, rock and roll, and late-night horror flicks. “A musical that deals with mutating identity and time warps becomes one of the most mutated, time warped phenomena in show business.” – The New York Times
STUPID F**KING BIRD
By AARON POSNER
Directed by ROB LUTFY
May 19th – June 19th, 2016. Opening May 28th, 2016.
In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhov’s The Seagull, award-winning playwright Aaron Posner wages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all. An aspiring young director rampages against the art created by his mother’s generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. With music, meta-theatricality, and mad humor, playwright Aaron Posner beats The Seagull to a bloody pulp. “Bitterly sardonic…Ferociously funny” – Stage and Cinema
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Virtual Peek Backstage @ Social Media Night
This January we held one of our traditional Cygneture events at the theatre for our patrons, bloggers, Twitter fans, and media. During a fun and engaging night at Sons of the Prophet, our staff, cast, and crew participated in live tweeting and provided some behind-the-scenes facts about the show as it progressed through the night.
Check out these fun facts and recaps from the night
and join us for the next one!
- As we were assembling the deer decoy, the office dog, Uli, wasn’t sure what to make of it. At least we made the playwright, Stephen Karam, laugh.
2. The actors took some awesome backstage photos. Dylan, who plays Charles, also participated in the first Social Media Night for Spring Awakening. Do you see a pattern with Dylan?
- Close to home: The voiceovers in the show were actor Faeren Adams (Ensemble), who voiced the automated phone message at the bus station, and the sound designer’s mother, who is an actual nurse, voicing the overhead paging system in the hospital waiting room scene.
- The image of St. Rafqa in the upstairs bedroom is a religious icon from the Maronite Oder of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lebanon.
- Our Costume Designer (and also our Development Director) Veronica Murphy scored some lucky finds. One of the hardest things to locate in San Diego is a big bulky coat (since 60 degrees is near-freezing). She searched everywhere for a coat for Gloria, played by Maggie Carney, with no luck. We got a last minute donation and it fit her perfectly!
- In the last scene, Joseph is wearing a Nazareth Cross Country t-shirt, which was his high school team. It was given to us for free by the actual Nazareth High School Athletic Department in Pennsylvania.
- Joseph’s character, Sons of the Prophet’s playwright Stephen Karam, grew up in Scranton, PA. and ran cross-country. He also lived down the street from an actual Douaihy family.
- Double throwback fact: Two young Cygnet actors are currently playing Charles in different productions of Sons of the Prophet. Dylan Mulvaney, who plays Charles at Cygnet, was last seen here at the theatre in Spring Awakening as Ernst. Braxton Molinaro was last seen at Cygnet Theatre in Assassins as John Wilkes Booth. He is currently playing Charles in a production at the Blank Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
Join us for the next Social Media Nights for My Fair Lady (March 13) and The Whale (May 22). You never know what you might learn about the show and its cast!