During the curtain speech of the company's recently closed drama "Dancing at Lughnasa" (read our BWW Atlanta
review),
Stage Door Players Artistic Director Robert Egizio announced the plays and musicals that will comprise the company's
40th Anniversary Season. The well-balanced slate of shows features comedies, dramas, musicals, and two regional premieres.
Recently, Egizio gave BWW Atlanta an in-depth look at the process of putting together a professional theatre season. Despite the drama on stage, apparently there is just as much excitement and intrigue going on back stage while picking the shows.
BWW: This is Stage Door Players 40th Anniversary Season, can you give us a quick look at the company's history?
Egizio: This is from our Mission Statement: "Stage Door Players was founded in 1974 as a Community Improvement project of the Dunwoody Woman's Club. The community theatre performed in various locations until 1988, when a permanent home was realized in the North DeKalb Cultural Center. Fast forward to 2013... Today Stage Door Players is a fully professional theatre, producing a full season of popular, compelling and entertaining works. This transition has made Stage Door Players a successful player in the Atlanta theatre scene. Hired in 2004 as Artistic Director, Robert Egizio has brought Stage Door Players to a new level of recognition and brought new audiences to its doors, and has brought a new level of creativity as well as new talent to the company."
BWW: Do any of your 2013-2014 shows have a connection to the history of Stage Door?
Egizio: Not really. With the exception of the original version of Godspell, none of the shows have been produced here before. We have done several of
Ken Ludwig's plays, including another regional premiere of "Leading Ladies" a few seasons back, and his works are always a welcomed addition to the season, and great crowd pleasers. I had entertained the possibility of presenting the very first work offered by the company when it launched forty years ago as an homage to the history. But after reading the script, it was found to be so outdated, politically incorrect and misogynistic, I would have been lynched I'm sure.
BWW: Who all is involved with the creation of the season and to what degree?
Egizio: First and foremost it lies on my shoulders. I do ALL the reading and research. But I do take into consideration selections that have been suggested to me by patrons, Board Members and submissions from playwrights and composers and the like. I also consult my production and design teams when I come across something I would really like to present, but need to be sure it is something we can actually accomplish.
BWW: Do you involve your patrons on any level in selecting shows? Do you use surveys or focus groups at all in the process?
Egizio: Absolutely. While not an official focus group, I have a great relationship with my season ticket holders who tell me what they like and don't like. I think over the past 10 years in my position I have gotten to know them pretty well, and have realized that in addition to producing familiar favorites, from time to time I can also give them the chance to see unknown and newer works that they might not actively seek out on their own.
BWW: When did you start thinking about the shows for this season?
Egizio: Hah! Almost immediately after announcing the previous years' selections!! Every year when assembling the season a show or shows may drop off the list for one reason or another only to find itself in consideration for the next year's season.
BWW: How much of this is just picking shows that you like and have wanted to do?
Egizio: That sometimes enters into it, but not the norm. I have actually put shows on the season that I know would be great crowd pleasers or financial successes even though they aren't always my "cup of tea." But from time to time a selection makes it into the lineup because it is a favorite from one aspect or another.
BWW: How do you determine the mix of shows, i.e. the balance between comedies, dramas, and musicals? Do you purposely avoid putting shows of the same genre back-to-back?
Egizio: Over the years I have gauged the audience response to what we have done, and that helps in determining not only the selections, but the order they are presented. I think a good variety of genres is not only refreshing, but necessary. A comedy or light hearted musical proceeding or following a drama always seems to be a winning combination, and I would never put two musicals back-to-back. I have also revamped my original plans of "three and three" over the years. I used to do three musicals and three straight plays. Now it is two and four, which has seemed to work out best for us in terms of not only audience response, but also from a financial view.
BWW: You generally have done a holiday-themed show, this year it will be "The Game's Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays," other than that, do you look to do any certain type of show at a certain time of the year?
Egizio: Not especially. It changes from year to year based on a number of variables. I have tried to make it a point, however, to offer what I call a "rediscovery" of a classic or forgotten success. This next season's choice of "The Gin Game" falls into that category, much like "Dancing at Lughnasa" did this year, and "Same Time, Next Year" in last season's lineup.
BWW: When you are doing a world or regional premiere, how does the process of securing that opportunity start? Do you contact the playwright, a producer, the publishing company?
Egizio: All depends on the piece. I have received scripts from the playwright directly that we have gone on to produce. And notifications from established playwrights that we have presented before letting me know of their new works and how to go about securing the rights. Publishing companies also make producers aware, from time to time, of new works that are currently now available for production, which then can spark an interest.
BWW: How closely do you consider what shows have been done recently in Atlanta? Do you consciously avoid shows that have had recent productions locally?
Egizio: Any other year, I would answer that with a resounding yes. I would always take into consideration shows done in previous seasons elsewhere that were met with great success and avoid them completely. This is the first time in my 10 years that I have placed a show on my season that was done at another theater just last season (
author note: "The Odd Couple" opened at Fabrefaction Theatre in February 2013). By the time it rolls around it will have been almost a year and a half since that production, so I think we will be okay.
BWW: Is there any communication with other theatres in an effort to make sure there isn't any duplication in shows for the upcoming season?
Egizio: I have met with other Artistic Directors and consulted with them in the past. As it turns out, Stage Door usually announces their season after most others do. That also allows me the ability to not duplicate the offerings. There have been very few times where it has been a problem. I can think of only two instances when something I had planned on was snapped up by another organization.
BWW: Stage Door has a fairly intimate theater, does the size of the show or technical requirements play into the selection process?
Egizio: Absolutely. Because of the uniqueness of not only our stage, but the layout of our audience, I am very conscious of our needs and limitations. The creativity of our design team is crucial when it comes to scenic and lighting elements as well when we do a show with multiple locations. We tend to rely on one set shows to achieve our best possible product. But I must say we have pulled off shows I was somewhat hesitant to choose with great success.
BWW: Do you have specific actors or directors in mind when you select shows? If so, do you discuss that with them ahead of time?
Egizio: Yes. As I go through the selection process I also reach out to directors to garner interest. By the time the lineup is chosen, most directors are already in place. I also choose shows with casting in mind. There are some shows I would love to do, but you always have to ask yourself if they could be cast properly. In the past, shows have been chosen with a pre-cast actor or actors in place as well.
BWW: Since you both act in and direct shows at Stage Door as well, do you know ahead of times which ones you might want to work on, if any?
Egizio: Most times, yes. Whenever there is a farce in the season, you can bank on it that I will direct. I seem to have a really good feel for that genre. In the past, only two shows have been selected that I knew I would be performing in. One was a remount of a show I did at
Georgia Ensemble a few years before with the same cast and director; the other because of the great opportunity to work with an extraordinary costar. The first time I appeared on our stage was purely by accident and necessity, when a performer in the show I was directing dropped out the Sunday before we opened and I had to step in. Turned out to be one of the most rewarding times I ever spent on stage with an extraordinary cast.
BWW: "Godspell" has been a regional theatre staple for 40 years, but you will be presenting the Atlanta premiere of an updated version from the recent Broadway revival. What changes can audiences familiar with the show expect?
Egizio: The authors have updated not only the book scenes, but also the lyrics to some of the songs. In addition, they have included a new song from the film version that was never a part of the stage show before. While the stories and parables presented are the same, the references have been updated to reflect the world we live in now.
BWW: You've talked about liking to include a hidden or forgotten gem in your season. How did you settle on "The Gin Game" for that slot this year?
Egizio: I actually came across a photo of
Hume Cronyn and
Jessica Tandy (
author note: the real-life married couple starred in the original Broadway production) with an amazing quote attributed to them regarding art, theater and the importance it holds in the world fabric. It reminded me of the play, so I gave it another read.
BWW: How did you come to being able to present the regional premieres of Tom Dudzick's "Miracle on South Division Street" and "The Game's Afoot; or Holmes for the Holidays" by Ken Ludwig?
Egizio: After I presented
Tom Dudzick's "Greetings" last season he "friended" me on Facebook and sends me personal notes every once in a while. When this show became available for production, he reached out to me to let me now it was coming. After some back and forth regarding availability with the publishing company, we were finally awarded the rights. Similar situation with the Ludwig play. Ever since we did a premiere of his "Leading Ladies" a couple of seasons back, we have kind of been on his radar. I receive his newsletter, and we were recently selected to have some photos of our production of "Lend Me A Tenor" included in a 25th anniversary retrospective of the play.
BWW: Do you have any actors lined up for any specific roles that you are able to announce yet?
Egizio: That's top secret. If I told you, I'd have to kill you.....
BWW: You are going to be directing "The Game's Afoot," what drew you to wanting to direct that specific show?
Egizio: I love the physical comedy that farce creates, and
Ken Ludwig is the master of it. It also has a murder mystery element to it that I find very exciting. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is an unseen twist or two that will keep the audiences guessing.
BWW: I noticed on your website that you have already begun announcing directors for some of the shows. Can you tell me a little bit about some of those selections?
Egizio: I always try and match what I think will be a good fit of material and director. I also like to give new and upcoming directors a chance when they are still getting their feet wet. Some I have worked with before, and others I have seen their work, so I reached out and spoke about what we were thinking of presenting, and the show I thought they might be interested in and would do a great job at the helm.
BWW: What are your feelings about how the season came together?
Egizio: I'm really pleased with the selections, and as we have been announcing it at curtain speeches and via our newsletter, the response has been extremely positive.
BWW: What types of season ticketing options do you have available and how can people get them?
Egizio: We offer four, five, and six show packages, as well as a preview performance package. And the unique thing about a Stage Door Players' Season Ticket package is that we don't lock you into a certain performance. All the ticket prices are the same across the board (excluding previews) and you make a reservation based on your availability. We also don't charge for changes to your reservation, should you need to change it for some reason. Season Tickets can be ordered by calling the Box Office at
770-396-1726, or there is an online form on our website that you can download and send in via email or regular mail.
Stage Door Players will conclude their 39th season later this summer with the family fairy tale musical "Once Upon a Mattress" from July 12th-August 4th. To get your tickets call
770-396-1726 or visit the Stage Door Players
website.
Pictured: Robert Egizio warming up the audience at Stage Door Players.
