QCT STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Get to know our QCT staff!
1. What was your most memorable moment working on a production at QCT?
Burgundy – I always get chills at our tech rehearsals. This is usually the first time all the pieces are together on stage, and I always have this moment of anticipation when the lights dim and the music swells for the first time as they begin the run. It’s when my excitement really starts to build that we get to present this to an audience. A particularly memorable moment was during Peter Pan when I saw Mekia come through the window for Peter’s entrance for the first time. The timing of the music and the moment of flight hit just perfectly, and all the pieces came together. I was so proud of the team in that moment.
Brandon – On the opening night of Les Misérables, the company was on stage singing the finale, and with two choruses left to go of the song, the audience began to applaud. Then there was a key change, and the giant wall behind the set flew out as the cast collectively moved downstage. The already-applauding audience rose to their feet like it was the national anthem and stood for the final chorus of “Do You Hear the People Sing” and continued to applaud. The roars that followed the blackout were incredible. Joe Tokarz, our guest actor playing Valjean, had done 1000 performances of Les Misérables, and he said he never had an audience rise to its feet that early in the song. It was a powerful moment in live theatre.
Brendan – Opening night of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. It was my first on-stage production at QCT after COVID and it was just such an overwhelming experience to come out of the pandemic and see our community’s love for theatre (and need for it) still burning.
Jayden – If we’re talking on the clock- seeing the Music Man boy’s band walk out in their band uniforms the first time! Overall though, having fun backstage and onstage with my “theatre family” during Little House on the Prairie!
Pichi – Opening night of Chicago, after having been on hold for nearly a year and a half, is top of mind. Michael Perkins and I were waiting backstage before he came out to start the show and we could literally feel the energy in that auditorium. As soon as we were all on stage, and Megan Peters came out at the top of the stairs for all All That Jazz… I think we all had goosebumps. I’ll never forget that moment and that cast!
Nicole – During the first student preview of Flora and Ulysses having 500 2nd graders boo me.
Allison – I have so many wonderful, memorable moments working with the creative teams and casts at QCT, but two rehearsal moments come to mind, and they both relate to listening.
I was working on the concept of “Listen and React” during a scene with student actors while directing Stuart Little. As actors, it’s easy to just wait for our cue to speak without really listening to what is being said. The beauty of that rehearsal is that the students embraced and discovered what it means to truly listen and then react verbally and physically. The memorable part was seeing the realization and awe on their faces as they experienced it.
It’s common when rehearsing a dance, and especially tap, to stay in your own bubble of concentration. While rehearsing the tap from The Finale in Elf the Musical, our rhythms sounded more discordant than uniform. I asked the dancers to listen, not to themselves, but to the dancers next to them. It was a magical moment for all of us – confidence and a beautiful synchronicity of sound.
2. If you could play any role in any play or musical, which one would it be and why?
Burgundy – One of my dream roles would be Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes. That show was the first musical I was in (ensemble), so it will always hold a special place with me. Reno is so confident, funny, and charming. It certainly requires more singing and dancing chops than I have to offer, though.
Brendan – Cinderella (come on, Alison…)
Harrison – I have two: one is Rum Tum Tugger from Cats because I’ve always loved the musical Cats and that looks like the most fun role to be in! The second is JD from Heathers. Heathers is my favorite musical and JD very different from me. I think it would be a challenging and fun role to play.
Jayden – Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde the Musical! I love period shows and this one happens to be my favorite. Getting to tell the story of the infamous couple would be so much fun. The music is also absolutely beautiful!
Pichi – Whenever I need to “feel my feelings” I’ll blast the cast recording of The Last Five Years and belt out those songs. I always thought it could be a fun challenge to play Cathy because of the emotional range she goes through from beginning to end.
Nicole – Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. I love playing big characters and her songs are fantastic!
Justin – That’s a toss-up between Gaylord Ravenal in Showboat and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. They are both great parts to sing, but also challenging characters.
3. What’s the funniest mishap you’ve seen during a live performance?
Brendan – It wasn’t funny in the moment (more like horrifying), but the lights went out during a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Once we realized the light board wasn’t working, we held the show and turned the house lights on. I made a speech about how “Shakespeare didn’t have fancy electric lights back in the 17th century anyway” and that we would continue the show with the lights on throughout. It turned out to be one of the most electric performances (no pun intended) that we had, and the audience was on our side and thoroughly engaged throughout. It showed me that the stories we tell, and the actors that tell them, are the essence of what we do– and what matters most. But pretty lights are cool, too.
Jayden – I get incredibly nervous when things go wrong during a performance! When the actors pull through, I nervously giggle and let out a sigh of relief.
Pichi – It wasn’t “the funniest” necessarily, but more so, a unique mishap. During a matinee performance of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the power went out and the cast had to help escort the audience out into the lobby using our prop flashlights while in full costume. I had some interesting chats that afternoon!
Nicole – Dan Conboy losing his pants during the sword fight during Shakespeare in Love.
4. How did you first get involved with QCT?
Burgundy – My parents have been season ticket holders for as long as I can remember, and I grew up going to shows with them. During that time, I also got to see my dad on the QCT stage several times. (My favorite was as Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life.) As a student, I took a handful of classes at QCT, but the drive was always a challenge from Pittsfield. It still sparked my love of theatre, and I was able to get involved at Pike Theatre Guild and truly catch the theatre bug. Coming back to the area after college, my heart has always been in the nonprofit arts and culture sector. In some ways, it feels like all roads have led here.
Brendan – I applied for the Head of Education job while I was still living in Boston and flew in for the most intense and hardcore 48-hour interview EVER. During those two days, I learned that 1) Quincy is an amazing and supportive arts town, and 2) QCT took the Education component of its mission very seriously. Since I was hired, both of those things have proven to be true a million times over.
Harrison – I first got involved with QCT in 2009 with Miracle on 34th Street where I was in the ensemble and played a boy who helped Santa’s trial.
Jayden – The first show I ever saw at QCT was The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was very young and saw shows every once in a while with my family, but in 2019 I was in Bye Bye Birdie for my onstage debut. It opened my eyes to a whole new world of theatre and I was welcomed warmly into the loving community.
Pichi – I played the role of Molly in the 1984 production of Annie when it was Quincy Community Little Theatre. I was five years old and fearless!
5. If our theatre could produce any show with an unlimited budget, what would you choose and why?
Burgundy – As someone who has a major hand in the budget and how that affects show selection (and also as someone who, in general, believes too firmly in “if there’s a will, there’s a way”), I plead the fifth.
Brendan – I’d love to produce a new play written by a local Quincy playwright!
Harrison – The play I would love to do would be The Flick by Annie Baker. It takes place in a movie theatre and I think it would be really cool to replicate that on the stage. The musical I would love to do is Hunchback of Notre Dame the costumes, the set, and the lighting is very big and elegant so having an unlimited budget with it would be able to really heighten the show!
Jayden – Into the Woods. I know we have very successfully produced the show many times in the past, and no doubt we could do it again with our usual budget, but fantastical shows have a certain element to them. Sets and costumes live in an in-between, which can be hard to create or find. Any fairytale story with an unlimited budget would no doubt have a jaw-dropping impact.
Pichi – My first answer would be Wicked. But, I went to see Hadestown a few years ago and would like to see QCT do that show in the future. The story and music are fantastic, but it’s so interesting to look at! Something is happening on every inch of the stage.
Nicole – Hairspray. It’s one of my all-time favorite musicals – the sets, costumes, music, and message are top-notch.
6. Do you have a favorite spot or hidden gem in the theatre that most people don’t know about?
Burgundy – As we’ve moved around offices in the last year, my office has moved to be under the seats of the auditorium. (It’s not as bleak as it sounds.) When I’m in my office during a show, you can hear the laughter, applause, and music from the space. I love hearing that energy. I will also frequently go into the auditorium and just sit for a few minutes if I need to regroup during a particularly busy day. Sitting and feeling the energy from the space by myself when it is completely quiet always helps me refocus.
Brendan – There’s a little alcove (with a random folding chair) in the stage left ante pro that you can conceal yourself in and feel like the Phantom of the Opera. Not that I’ve done that.
Jayden – My favorite spot is my “cave” AKA the Costume Shop
Pichi – I have a love/hate relationship with the prop room: I love looking at all of the different props, trying to remember where I’ve seen them, how often they’ve been used, and by whom. But if I have to find a specific prop, the nostalgia wears off quickly. And, the alcove in the stage left ante pro (move over, Brendan!)
Nicole – My favorite spot is the signature wall.
Justin – My favorite spot in any theater is the orchestra pit. In my previous life as a theatre conductor, I always felt I had a very special perspective of the show that no one else would experience.
7. What’s one thing you wish the audience knew about what goes on behind the scenes?
Burgundy – I don’t think audiences really understand how many hours of planning and rehearsal go into making everything come together. We truly couldn’t do it without the countless hours of our volunteers. There is also so much overlapping behind the scenes: As I write this, Lost Girl is heading into their tech rehearsals, with opening night quickly approaching. Our Newsies are rehearsing offsite while the build is happening on-site. Bountiful discussions have started, and the audition sign-up is open. At the same time, we are very deep into season planning for 2025, working through schedules and budgets to pull everything together.
Brandon – Our artistic choices are made with such thought and such care. We put our hearts on our sleeves to find the truth in playing pretend.
Brendan – That there’s an entire OTHER show going on backstage, the crew works so hard and is just as precisely choreographed as the musical numbers on stage!
Jayden – One thing I wish the audience knew about the behind-the-scenes is the amount of volunteer hours that go into the productions. Hundreds of hours are spent in the costume shop alone. Combined with the hours spent in the scene shop, backstage crew, box office, onstage actors, and front-of-house volunteers- I think most people would be shocked at the amount of time it takes to create the finished product they see during a performance.
Pichi – The amount of volunteer hours it takes to bring each show to life. Set building, costuming, props, backstage crew, front of house, actors, hair/makeup stylists, musicians, production team, and the family of those volunteers who rearrange their schedules so their loved ones can participate! Every volunteer contributes in their own way and QCT wouldn’t exist without them.
8. Who is your favorite playwright or composer, and what’s your favorite work by them?
Brendan – My favorite playwright is Samuel Beckett, and my favorite play of his is either Endgame or Not I.
Justin – Lucy Simon, who wrote the music for The Secret Garden. (And yes, she was Carly Simon’s sister.)
9. What’s the best/most memorable costume or set piece you’ve seen or worked with here?
Brendan – I’m biased, but the costumes for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown were SO GOOD!
Jayden – The most memorable costume I’ve worked on at QCT is the Neverbird from Peter Pan. Costume designer Bonnie Furniss gave me full reign over what the costume would look like. I took inspiration from the birds in Seussical the Musical, so we bought a generic saloon girl costume from Amazon, and I used items we had in stock to create what was seen onstage. I styled a purple wig and fastened feathers into it, sewed two rainbow boas into the costume, added a bum-roll to create the convincing appearance of a tail, painted shoes purple to match the wig, and made ankle covers from the same boas. In addition to the costume, we had to create the illusion that the Neverbird was quickly moving around Neverland and confusing the Lost Boys. To do this, I took apart two feather dusters and replaced them with feathers that matched the Neverbird’s hair feathers perfectly. The backstage crew created magic from there. I think I was blowing feathers out of my nose for a full week after making it!
Pichi – The many iterations of “the white costume” in Chicago. It was a process! (I’m laughing just thinking about it again!)
Nicole – My favorite costumes have been the Lucy and Sally dresses in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2022), and everything in Shakespeare in Love.
10. If you could have dinner with any historical theatre figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Brandon – I am an admirer of the work of Hal Prince, the director of Evita and Phantom of the Opera and the recipient of 21 Tony Awards. He died in 2019, and I wish I could have met him and told him what an impact he had on my own work. He referred to a show’s scenic design as a physical metaphor for the story. I would have liked to have talked with him about his approach to blocking scenes and creating stage pictures, as I found his work masterful.
Brendan – I would ask Shakespeare what he thought of Ten Things I Hate About You (which is an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, btw).