In Review:
The
Fall, 2006 Production
THANK YOU to everyone who came to see this wonderful production!
About the Play
Cast: 1 man, 4 women: 5 total
THE STORY: The O'Conner story takes place in 1997 in Minnesota over the Christmas holiday. Tom O'Conner has passed away, and his wife (Sarah) and children (Liz, Martha and Matt) have reunited to excavate his mountain of personal effects. As the family sifts through boxes of papers and bags of clothing, clues to the quiet patriarch's life are discovered, prompting the usual heated arguments and some unusual revelations. As the story of Tom and Sarah's marriage unfolds, the children are forced to reconsider their long-held opinions of their parents. In the midst of this emotional afternoon, a long-lost neighbor pays an unexpected visit. Also on the agenda for this day of upheaval is Catholicism, WWII, old movies, old love, new love, oversleeping, overdrinking, large purple hats and weenie hot dishes.
"The O'Conner Girls" is memorable and compelling, and this quiet, intimate home feels real and lived-in. Katie Forgette gives the lives of these women so much heart and commonplace significance that we are drawn irresistibly to the fading light of this home, and the twilight of a family. It feels like a place where lives have been led. You won't want to miss this wonderful, heartfelt play.
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Cory Shaw
"Martha"
Cory was last seen as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (Winter, 2004), and we are very happy to have her back on our stage! Cory works in Human Resources at Renaissance Learning, and shares her life with her husband Robin and daughter Kenna.
What do you have in common with your character, Cory?
"I have the same sense of humor. I am also a caregiver (though not a nurse) and am the "go-to" person in my family."
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Anne Van Lysal
"Liz"
Anne was last seen as Electra in Gypsy (Winter, 2006) and gets to wear a LOT more costume for this show! She works as the Product and Pricing Administrator at Renaissance Learning, and enjoys life with her family: husband Sean, and children Todd, Hannah, and Andy.
What do you have in common with your character, Anne?
"I'm outgoing, fun, and usually the life of the party." (We at WRCT can attest to that!) "I'm also not afraid to take advantage of an opportunity to try something new."
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Gail Lundberg
"Sarah"
Gail was last seen as Marjorie Baverstock in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Fall, 2004) and would like you to know that she's NOT as old as her character this time! Gail leads a busy life with her husband Bill and sons Cody and Dan.
What do you have in common with your character, Gail?
"NOT her age! Actually, like her, I am a strong, devoted mother."
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Jody Steinke
"Margie"
Jody was last seen as Mazeppa in Gypsy (Winter, 2006). She directed the popular Escanaba in Da Moonlight (Fall, 2005), and will direct Bus Stop for this coming Winter Production
What do you have in common with your character, Jody?
"I've been known to be a big psychic. I'm also avante garde and eccentric. And...I've won awards for my recipes! "
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James Malouf
"David"
James was last seen as John the Witch Boy in Dark of the Moon (Spring, 2006) and has performed in several other WRCT productions. James is a DJ for WGLX radio, and shares life with his family and friends.
What do you have in common with your character, James?
"Well, we are both men, for starters. We are both too serious for our own good sometimes, and we both get nervous around ladies we like."
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James D. Zabel
Stage Manager
Jimm has stage managed for productions too numerous to count, has acted, directed, (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Fall, 2002), and performed most every backstage task. He is also on the WRCT Board of Directors.
What do you enjoy about stage managing, Jimm?
"I love the collaborative experience, and love learning from good, strong directors."
Top
Q and A With the Director
Steve Martin, Director
The O'Conner Girls |
You know Steve Martin from the many roles he's played as a talented WRCT actor. He has also previously directed for WRCT, having done The Cover of Life in 2000. Steve answered a few questions for us concerning The O'Conner Girls:
What drew you to "The O'Conner Girls" as a director?
When I read The O'Conner Girls, my first reaction was, “these are great characters”. My second reaction was, “these are great characters for women ages 40-70”, which you don't get to see very often in a show. I read it a second time and really began to see the strong relationships between all the characters. At this point, I wanted to direct the show. There really was no lead character. It was the story of a family struggling to come to terms with the passing of a father/husband/brother. But that wasn't all. It was also the struggle of every character coming to terms with their own demons. I love a play that requires some pretty intense character development. The O'Conner Girls fit that mold. I feel this will be an extremely neat play to see as well as be part of. I look forward to watching 5 actors bring these characters to life. That's really the greatest reward for me is to actually see the show come to life.
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Steve has been a talented WRCT regular since joining us for The Runner Stumbles (Fall, 1996). Steve is one of our most prolific actors, appearing in numerous WRCT productions, including The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Winter, 1997); Who's On First (Spring, 1998); Corpse! (Winter, 1998); Dearly Departed (Spring, 1999); Arsenic and Old Lace (Fall, 1999); The Odd Couple (Spring, 2000); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Fall, 2001); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Spring, 2003); The Importance of Being Earnest (Winter, 2004); The Rainmaker (Winter, 2005); and Escanaba in the Moonlight (Fall, 2005) He directed The Cover of Life for WRCT in 2000. Steve is married to Jenny, with whom he has a son, Tyler. He is a Corporate Training Specialist at Sentry Insurance. He enjoys theater and watching movies. |
What challenges do you face with this play?
There are several challenges that come with directing a show. Yes, I'm facing them, but I'm really not worried. I've surrounded myself already with strong technical crew heads. I feel we are all on the same page, and they will do the show justice. Everyone seems extremely excited to be working on this show. I'm hoping we will get as many people with that excitement down at auditions. I'm always worried we won't get enough people auditioning or willing to help backstage. I know there are many people out there that want to take that first step, but never do. I would urge everyone who has never auditioned or worked on a show to come and help out in any capacity. WRCT is an extremely welcoming group of people and just fun to be with.
What are you looking for in the actors that you choose?
The number one thing I look for in actors is “RISK TAKING”. Are they willing to try something different? I also want them to have fun. If they're not having fun, there's really no point in doing this.
Why will our audience like this play?
Everyone can associate with the elements of this show. I would even take my 8-year old to see this one. The show focuses on the powers of family, something I feel we have really lost sight of in our society. I think that everyone who sees this show will leave feeling really good and wanting to spend just a little more time talking with their family. That's not such a bad thing, is it?
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