Student Blog: Any Time, Any Way

One of the greatest powers on earth is the power of the pen. It has the power to create words and stories and pictures, sway the masses and build an entire universe. The pen also has the power to create some cool little plays about a science fiction show from the 80s and 90s that never actually existed, but is real as could be to many people at Kutztown University.

At the beginning of my junior year of college, I wrote a play called “Waystation” for a student written show program in my theater club.  Basically, if you write a show and have the time and ability to direct it, you can put it on with the full support of Actors Creating Theater. “Waystation” followed five actors and a writer from a popular science fiction show from the 80s and 90s reuniting at a comic con where secrets are revealed and just about everything that can go wrong does. It incorporated filmed elements of the original show, comic con culture, and fit our tiny stage that we use for student written shows perfectly.

“Waystation” was a huge success. Everyone absolutely loved it and as the year went on I started thinking about what I wanted to do with it and started dreaming up ideas for a sequel. That sequel eventually evolved into a prequel that I wrote over winter break this year, which was recently performed also to great success. It followed the production of an episode of Waystation from start to writers room to read through to rehearsal and production. It featured actors and writers from the panel and introduced several new actors and members of the production to fill out the chaotic Waystation set. 

I wanted to share a couple of stories from that experience and what it’s like writing and producing your own show, especially when it’s a sequel and producing it feels like fighting everything, especially time, in order to make it happen. 

One thing I didn’t have to fight for was a perfect cast. Casting is one of the hardest parts of the directing process and while there were certainly some puzzle pieces to put together, most people walked right into their roles during auditions. Nearly all of the original cast who could reprise their roles returned, the rest auditioned for new characters, and many friends old and new came out to audition and perfectly rounded out the cast. In the end we had a cast of 21, the biggest yet for a student written show. 

We were rehearsing alongside two other shows, and about 80% of the cast, including me, were in at least one of them. I was somehow involved in all three because well… that’s what I do. We ended up having rehearsals on weekends, Monday nights after the weekly theater club meeting, and alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays.

One of the biggest struggles I had with “Any Time, Any Way” was a feeling of expectation that didn’t exist the first time. “Waystation” was a huge moment and was arguably the biggest student written show we had done. I knew this prequel had to be good because people were counting on it to be good. One of the things I had to learn to let go of is that feeling of perfectionism. I had incredible actors, a decent script, and everything was going to come together just fine, and people were going to enjoy it. I’m always pretty high strung when I’m directing, and I certainly had a couple freak outs trying to get blocking out and clarify people’s questions. Truly one of the only reasons I stayed sane throughout this process was the cast members that stepped up and helped out with costumes, blocking, cinematography and anything else I could possibly need. 

We still had a lot of fun. One of my biggest rules for any show I direct, but especially for ones I’ve written, is if you have an idea for your character, 90% of the time I am going to say yes. So little gags such as a character being dragged off by a cane or drinking koolaid jammers or a group playing kiss marry kill on the side of the stage for a good chunk of the show were all created by the actors. And little details like that just make the show ten times more natural. 

After a couple of fragmented weeks we suddenly got to our dress rehearsals and like magic, everything clicked. In the days before our first tech rehearsal, I asked the actors for suggestions and I started to collect a ton of 80s and 90s music to use in the transitions and the pre-show. The first transition we did with “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy playing in the background I knew we were doing something right.

Eventually, we reached show day and somehow everything was ready. My parents and members of the cast showed up early to help load in and put the last finishing touches on the set and props. We had our final dress rehearsal so that all the actors run it together at least once and so that our photographer could document the show. I was so busy that my parents had to bring me the shirt I was wearing for the show from the amazon box in town. 

The familiar anxiety seeped through me as people arrived and I hung out in  the back with the cast and got ready to go out for the pre show. I told myself to go out and relax and have fun. It’s a fun show and I knew nearly everyone in the audience. My voice didn’t reflect how anxious I was, my mom said it was the clearest she’s ever heard me speak.

I went to my post and hit play on the trailer to open the performance, and the show began. Adding an audience did exactly what I was hoping for. It made the show come alive. Every transition became a sing-along, the jokes all hit, and the audience participated anywhere they could. I felt like a DJ leading the audience through the production of this episode of “Waystation.” 

My favorite cue of the entire show was the transition to the final scene, where everyone watches the finished episode. When coming up with the songs for the transitions, I knew the only song I could use was “Starman” by David Bowie. From the very first announcement post, “Starman” was the unofficial theme of “Waystation.” In my head it just represents everything “Waystation” is and could be.

The show was a huge success. So many people who saw the first Waystation came back for more, and many others that never saw the first one and loved it. A lot of people even said it was better than the first, which is something I was honored by.

Creating original theater is scary. It’s a lot of time and effort and money, and failure is more common than success, especially in this field. But it’s worth it. Seeing people laugh at a joke you wrote, or appreciate an incredible performance, or watching your friends love something you created, it’s a really special feeling. Being in the room creating art together is one of the magical things in the world. “Any Time, Any Way” was a ton of work and an absolutely insane experience, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.