An Actor...

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

I don't even know what to call this post. There are many titles it could hold, but none of them quite seem to do it justice. The show closes today with the two o'clock performance. I used to think that closings would someday get easier. And maybe someday they will. But, every one remains to be different.

This experience...I don't even know. I have so enjoyed every single person that has been involved with this show. It seems to have become such an embedded part of life that it now seems so strange that it's going to end. It seems so rare that a whole cast seems to really click together with no exceptions, especially a whole team.

I felt like with Smoke on the Mountain that the whole "family" just seemed to mesh so beautifully, but with that there was the hope of perhaps performing one of the sequels in a not-so-distant season (and we are now, in fact, all going to be back together it seems to perform Sander's Family Christmas at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern starting in November). But with Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, it's one of those that you know for certain that you will never have these same people in a cast together again. It's like moving away from home.

There are so many wonderful memories. We have such an incredible time. So much fun amidst so much hard work. But everything must have a balance it seems. And having the best job in the world must have it's downfalls. Closings, for me, are the biggest of these.

With these people, I even seem to be able to take joy in the dance numbers (which frighten me on a regular basis).

I don't know that I can continue to be anywhere close to articulate about how I feel about the cast and crew and creative team, so I should wrap it up.

It's been such a beautiful story to be able to tell, with such beautiful people. I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a part of this project and I know it's one that I will forever carry fond memories of.

I really love this cast. The ones that I've been hoping to work with for quite a while, the ones that I've worked with before, and the ones I didn't know before.

This is going to sound really cheesy, but theatre seems to me to really be magical. (Cheesy continues:) One of the lyrics in the show is "Magic changes all of your faces. Open your heart and you'll find, that magic lives in all kinds of places, like deep in your heart and in mine." I have learned so much from this cast, all of them (Cathy, Corey, David, Gigi, Jackie, Jacquie, Maggie, Matt, Richard, Thomas), from Dawn, from the crew, from the playwright, from the play....I should really pull it together and stop crying. hahaha. But this has truly been one of my favorite and most magical experiences. I hope that I'm able to take that and carry it on. I hope we all are.

With Nothing But a Slim Jim and a Chocolate Bar...

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

A great tour story from a Theatre IV veteran, currently appearing in Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter- Jacqueline O'Connor.

My second tour was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Fall/Winter 1988. A very talented cast and it was one of the first (if not the first) tour to go to Chicago. Each tour had a manager and ours was this woman named Eloise. She was a Theatre IV tour veteran and the natural choice to manage the rest of us newbies. One of our first stops was the wonderful city of Chicago. Eloise decided that we would take two days to get there. Stopping in the Ohio area first and then starting out in the AM for the last leg of our journey.

We woke up on the second day to discover that a HUGE snow storm had dropped several feet on us while we slept. Many of us thought it was not a good idea to get back on the Ohio Turnpike. We thought we should wait until they had a chance to clear the roads. But Eloise decided that we should risk it. So we got on the road (I should mention at this point that none of us had eaten breakfast). We drove about 10 mins and then came to a dead stop.

After about 20 minutess of no movement we finally turned on the radio only to hear that a tractor trailer had overturned on the highway and was blocking all 4 lanes of the turnpike. So there we sat...for over 5 hours! There was no way to back up. We had to turn off the engine and the van became instantly cold. We covered ourselves with the show costumes.

We had a Slim Jim and one chocolate bar and we split it with everyone. Of course, being the dramatic actors that we were, we decided to write a goodbye note to our director, John Glenn, telling him of our plight and assuring him that we tried hard to survive and do the show...and to please tell people this when they found our frozen bodies.

We did end up getting there and somehow the school knew we were stuck and rearranged their schedule so we could still do the show. So it all worked out. But I still get a chill when I think about Chicago!

-Jacquie O'Connor

Maggie Roop Does Double Duty

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Maggie Roop is currently appearing as Lady Vennesse/ Granny/ Ensemble in Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, while rehearsing the role of Sister James in Barksdale Theatre's production of Doubt: a Parable by John Patrick Shanley, both productions being part of the Acts of Faith Festival. Here she fills out the questionnaire and then talks about pulling double-duty in these productions.

Hometown: Herndon, VA.

Audition song: "Stop and See Me" from Weird Romance. It's a gem.

Special skills: This is one of those things that I never know how to respond to. I can't juggle or skateboard or do handsprings. Apparently I'm good at staying calm in stressful situations! According to Jackie Jones this is true but I'm sure some would disagree!!!

Favorite word: During the recent presidential debates, I have enjoyed the use of the word "mobilize". I like that one.

First show ever saw: Les Mis at the National in D.C. when I was 7.

If you could go back in time and catch one show (Broadway or otherwise) what would it be?: Company with Raul Esparza!

Favorite show tune: Anything from Les Mis pretty much. I stick to my roots.

Least favorite word: I think my new least favorite is "wimple"!!

Favorite play: It's too hard to pick just one...my favorite new play that I saw recently is probably Frost/Nixon.

Favorite musical: Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Wild Party (the Lippa version) are my faves in the Contemporary category. But I was brought up on Oklahoma! and Showboat.

Most played song on your iPod (or CD player): "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor or anything by M.I.A. especially "Hussel" or "Roadrunner". Oh, and Christina Aguilera suits any mood I might be in!!

Last book you read: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. Good stuff.

Sound or noise you love: The voices of my nephews and my cat purring.

Must-see TV show: LOST!!!! My new fave is Life.

Last good movie you saw: La Vie En Rose. It's the Edith Piaf movie. It's fantastic and everyone should see it. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I watched it a couple of days ago. Incredible acting and an amazing story. See it.

Sound or noise you hate: Whining. Even if it's me.

Worst job you ever had: I nannied for someone once who was less than enjoyable to work for. No names!!

First stage kiss: Evan Hoffman my senior year in high school! We were Billy and Hope in Anything Goes. He's also still acting! And we're still friends. Lovely.

Worst costume ever: Ok, don't hate me Liz Hopper, but once I was painted blue and wore thigh-high boots and a Kathy Griffin wig. It wasn't my favorite costume ever!!!

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually, emotionally)?: I like someone who is confidant in their creative abilities but with modesty and grace. I love when people thrive on other's input in making creative decisions. There is always another perspective or another approach. There is nothing like an energetic debate or discussion about anything, especially when it's something you love like your creative art!!

On doing double duty:
Working on Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter has been a unique experience for me because it has not been the only play on my plate in the recent weeks. I also have the pleasure of playing Sister James in Doubt: a Parable for Barksdale Theatre, directed by Keri Wormald.

Somehow in auditioning for both Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter and Doubt I failed to notice the overlapping Rump performances and Doubt rehearsals. In fact, Doubt tech starts during the closing weekend of Rump. The happy part was that I was cast in both shows, the downside was the realization by directors and managers and myself alike that I sadly cannot be in two places at once. Enter Jaquie O'Connor. Thankfully she was prepared to swoop in, learn my roles in Rump and essentially save the day! We share the part now and she will be joining the cast for her first performance tomorrow afternoon, 2/2 at 3pm. I look forward to my chance to see the show from the house in full. Should be glorious and sparkly and golden. Hooray!

It has been interesting to compare the two experiences as they happen side-by-side. A musical vs. a play, the Empire vs. the Barksdale, a smallish cast vs. a very small cast. The only real similarities have been that I thoroughly enjoy both casts and I am having a wonderful time with both shows, I am glad to say.

One of my favorite things about many of the plays I have done here in Richmond is the opportunity to be a part of something new, different or experimental. This is an aspect of Rump that I've enjoyed. The version we have is the only one that's been done. It is exciting to do something knowing that it is fresh and a discovery. The discovery we are exploring in Doubt rehearsals is a different brand. This is a fairly new play but it's had it's turn on Broadway, won that Pulitzer. The group of us, with Keri at the wheel, are finding so much in this play as we roll along. We are barreling through our first couple of off-book runs. And it is delightful!
While performing my amazing-overlapping-show trick, I have not come through unscathed. My scratchy throat is finally clearing up and that night when I couldn't see Billy Christopher's face because of a setting-in migraine is merely a glimmer in my past. It wouldn't be theatre without a little bit of turmoil. All-in-all, I am having a wonderful time. I just moved back to town in October and Richmond has welcomed me back with open arms. Thanks to all my cast mates and my two directors, and those two stage managers and all you tech fellas that make the world go round. Oh, and for you painters, our sets sure would be different if you weren't around!!!

This Lady in Waiting Gets Her Turn

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

I asked Jacquie O'Connor to write a bit about her experience in the show, to give a bit of a different voice and because she's got a very interesting part in the project. Maggie Roop, one of our four fabulous ensemble members, after being cast in RD, was also cast in Doubt: a Parable at Barksdale Theatre, so Jacquie will be playing the weekend performances for the remainder of the run. That should catch you up enough to jump into where Jacquie started telling the story:

When I got the call from Steve Perigard asking me if I was interested in understudying and stepping in for the very talented Maggie Roop in Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter I was thrilled! Way back when I used to perform all the time on the magnificent Theatre IV stage and I missed it. I have very fond memories of all the children shows I did at Theatre IV, but one of my favorites was the last one I did….King Island Christmas directed by Steve. It was special because I finally got to work with both Bruce Miller & Phil Whiteway in a play! Oh boy do I have stories…we had this lovely song about the Northern Lights that we sang about halfway through the show. This was one of those complicated lyric songs that take a while to memorize (even longer if you are not in your 20’s anymore). Phil "pie boy" (in the show) was having the same issue as most of us were. He however had a fun way to cover…Steve had directed us to circle around the Island while we sang and each time Phil passed me he would have this beaming smile on his face, acting his heart out, only instead of the words to the song he would be singing "la, la, la, la"…it made me laugh really hard. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed when he got the lyrics down. It was such a lovely show...hmmm is it time to bring it back?

Anyway, back to this understudy gig. So after the initial "YEAH" reaction I had to Steve's call…the DREAD hit me. I am NOT good at throwing myself into a show and learning songs, dances and lines in less then 2 weeks. I mean who is…OK, Joe Pabst is…but he is a freak of nature. I went to my first rehearsal feeling like perhaps I had made a mistake. I have to tell you in all honesty…this cast has made it so easy! They made feel like I had been a part of their family the entire time. No one told me to get out of the way as I shadowed (stalked) Maggie, and they never said no to a request to go over something with me. They are perhaps the most giving cast I have ever worked with.

Theatre IV has been kind enough to give me a full run-through this Weds night and then I on go on this Sat. Ready or not (I think I'm ready)…this has been such a fun journey and anything that goes wrong…well, I will just add that to my pile of fun theatre stories.

Another Fantastic Cabaret at the Empire Theatre

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

I am often accused of not sharing information early enough, so even though there are a lot of exciting things going on next Friday for First Friday at the Empire, I wanted to start getting the word out about the cabaret that will be playing in the lobby FOR FREE (which seemed to be the big question last time: "How much is the cover?"). FREE ENTERTAINMENT; How cool is that?

We featured an incredibly well-received cabaret for First Friday in September; so well-received, in fact, that we are featuring another next week, with several returning faces/voices and several new ones as well.

This time around Corey Davis (most recently of Stuart Little at Theatre IV and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project, also to be seen in the upcoming Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter at Theatre IV),

Billy Christopher Maupin (seen in Mr. Marmalade and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project and earlier this year in Smoke on the Mountain at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern),

Audrey Snyder (Stuart Little with Theatre IV, Frankenstein Lives! at the Carpenter Science Theatre, Where's Charley? at Barksdale Theatre),

and Chloe Williams (Barksdale Theatre's smash hit production of Mame) will return to the stage.

And the vibrant new voices of Taylor Baltimore (currently rehearsing as Petra in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music with Live Arts in Charlottesville),

Catherine Dudley (who just closed as Snowbell in Stuart Little),

Jacquie O'Connor (recently seen in The Full Monty and Scapino! at Barksdale, as well as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse),

and Jonathan Spivey (Barksdale's Cyrano de Bergerac, numerous performances at the University of Richmond, and a stunning Lady #3 in Paul Deiss' adaptation of The Magic Flute with Theatre IV) will join them.

The upcoming cabaret will feature songs from Cabaret, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Side Show, South Pacific, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and more!

So come check out all the exciting things happening, grab a drink at the cash bar and check out a fine cabaret. Life is, after all, a cabaret, ol' chum. So...(yeah...you're singing it...)

Friday, November 2, starting at 7:30PM at the historic Empire Theatre in Downtown Richmond!

(Pictured at right, from September's cabaret are Robin Harris-Jones, Billy Christopher Maupin, Russell Rowland, Janine Sears, Andrea Ross, Audrey Snyder, Corey Davis, Chloe Williams, and Keydron Dunn.)

(NOTE: Headshots appear in order of mention and not necessarily adjacent to name.)