Lighting Director Rich Latta Celebrates 25 Years At Ogunquit Playhouse

Sometimes a person is lucky enough to discover their passion early in life and have the foresight to follow that thread to their destiny. Such is the case with Richard Latta, Ogunquit Playhouse Lighting Designer, who is celebrating his 25th season with The Playhouse.

When Rich was just five years old he was taken to the circus. While his classmates were busy being dazzled by the acrobats, clowns and elephants, Rich was thoroughly engaged staring at the lighting. He was completely infatuated with the color, the streams of light, the beauty of it all. He claims after that experience he spent the next several days setting up different lighting scenarios around his house including putting tissue paper over bulbs to effect color. From that point on, the stage was set, Rich Latta was destined to become a theatrical lighting designer.

Rich grew up in Detroit in an autoworker's family. He too worked in the industry, helping to put himself through college. He got his first real job with lighting in high school - he hung out with his sister who was in the drama club, and was paid to work on the lighting for all of the school productions, a job which continued through his college days as well.

Rich's first professional job came when he was recruited by a local theatre in Detroit, the Birmingham, a "Winter Stock" theatre of sorts, to design for one of their productions. That was 1983 and his first brush with the "the Circuit." He continued working for the theatre and eventually went on the road with one of their tours. That tour brought him to New York City, which he has called home ever since. It was in 1985 when a friend beckoned him to Ogunquit. He worked as electrician and then co-designer and in 1988 stepped in as the full-time lighting designer working under John Lane.

Rich contributes his longevity at The Playhouse, in part to not assuming an ownership of the place, but by allowing The Playhouse to own him, and letting the needs of The Playhouse dictate how he works. In a way this mirrors the longevity of the Ogunquit Playhouse itself. By the 1990s, the "Summer Stock Theatre Circuit" had declined. "Many of our sister theatres dug in and continued to try to survive by doing things the way they had always been done - as a result many continued to decline and eventually closed." Rich realized the need to "change or die," stating "there was a breaking point in 2000, when it was time to cut loose from the old Summer Stock ways and recreate the theatre. Rich was committed to John Lane and keeping theatre's heritage and traditions alive but also to the challenge of improving and changing with the times and keeping up with the rapid advancements in theatre technology. That commitment continued with Roy Rogison, who took over after John Lane's death, and continues today under the stewardship of Brad Kenney.

In the twenty five years Rich has been with The Playhouse, he claims very few celebrities stand out, as he does not have to interact with them very much. However, he remembers Gavin MacLeod as being "a wonderful person and Pat Carroll, who spent a lot of time on the circuit was a dear." His favorite star would have to be Sally Struthers, who he toured with last winter and calls a true friend. As for a favorite show to light, Evita, in 1983 and 2003 stands out, "It was just awesome to have the audience in complete silence by the end. It totally disarmed them. That was thrilling." Rich says West Side Story is one show he has not had the opportunity to design lighting for. It is his favorite musical and hopes to have the opportunity one day.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production of A Chorus Line received great reviews, and many critics noted Rich's lighting in their articles. Rich credits that to the original lighting design by Tharon Musser - he based his design on her 1975 Broadway production. "The lighting is so integral to the choreography in the show, it is truly an iconic and immutable design." A Chorus Line was the first show on Broadway ever to have computerized lighting. Now all lighting is computerized.

No one else currently working at The Playhouse has been with the company as long. Rich loves The Playhouse and attributes part of that love to the people he works with and especially the crew that has worked under him. He has mentored scores of "kids." Rich has a real love for working with young people in their twenties and is proud of his many students. "If I should have any legacy here, it is the network of master electricians and crew that have worked here, some from the time they were in high school, who have gone on to college (often at the University of Connecticut) and then on to become successful on Broadway." Many of my former crew members are working on Broadway shows right now."

How much longer will Rich be here? "Well, you're only as good as your last show!" But, he claims the last twenty-five years have flown by. He loves the creative freedom he has working with Brad and continues to strive for more challenges. Rich is truly a part of the fabric and legacy of the Ogunquit Playhouse, and everyone at The Playhouse is thrilled to celebrate this landmark anniversary with him!

The Ogunquit Playhouse is America's Foremost Summer Theatre producing the finest Broadway musicals each season, with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day Weekends. The 2009 season includes Shout! The Mod Musical on stage now through July 11th, followed by Guys and Dolls, July 15th through August 8th, Singin' in the Rain, August 12th through September 12th and All Shook Up, September 16th through October 11th. Main Stage ticket prices range from $41-$60 per show. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season, visit our website www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Tickets on-line or through the box office at 207-646-5511.

 

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