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QCT STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Get to know our QCT staff!

Burgundy
Brandon
Brendan
Harrison
Jayden
Pichi
Nicole
Justin
Alison

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.

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.

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.

3. What’s the funniest mishap you’ve seen during a live performance?

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

8. Who is your favorite playwright or composer, and what’s your favorite work by them?

9. What’s the best/most memorable costume or set piece you’ve seen or worked with here?

10. If you could have dinner with any historical theatre figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?

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