Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

Is this musical, which ran in New York City annually for quite some time, the first musical version of the old tale?
No. I know there was a 1970s’ version with Albert Finney, which was a film. I am not sure if there was a stage adaptation as well. But this version, that we are doing now, has been around for about 20 years. It was written for a big theater in New York at Madison Square Garden. It was a spectacular production.

And it has already been done several times in San Antonio, as well, at the Woodlawn and the Public and probably at some other theaters. It’s a very popular version. I am just glad that I got to work on it this time.

How does the music and singing affect the impact of the story?
It makes the story a bit more entertaining and family friendly. The traditional stage productions that I worked on in the past usually used the traditional 19^th century Christmas music and stressed the themes of the play – love, forgiveness and redemption. Those themes are still there in our show but this show emphasizes a more optimistic version by giving, for example, all the Ghosts their own musical numbers. It’s a bit more “Broadway” than the more commonly seen stage adaptations have been.

How big is your cast?
We have 13 adults and three adorable kids.

What are some specific challenges that you face as the director of the musical version of the story?
One challenge is not to lose sight of the original theme. It’s easy to get lost in the traditions of big, brassy Broadway musicals.  I had to be cautious because I still want the audience to come awayremembering the ideas of the original book yet I also want them to have a good time.

Is the show appropriate for kids under six or seven? Some reviewers indicated that it may not be.
No, I think it’s fine for the entire family. The ghosts are a little spooky but they are also very funny. These days, most children are more accepting of a little spookiness. I would say, the show is fine for all kids over the age of five. We have kids in the show not much older than that, and they are certainly OK (laughs).

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am associate professor of drama at North Vista College and I teach acting, and theater and film history. And I also direct shows there. But I also work with companies in town. Right now, it’s just the Public. I am a little more conservative with my time and energy these days.

How about the Allegro Stage Company that you and Tom Masinter founded?
Tom and I are working on a new show that he hopes to premiere next year. It’s a tribute to popular French music and French musicals like “Moulin Rouge” and “Can-Can.” Tom did a lot of research about it. It’s likely to be one of the most elaborate shows that Tom and I have done in the past few years.

Do you have a preference as a director – plays or musicals?
It depends on the show. If the show appeals to me and has a story worth telling, I am interested. But everyone will tell you that doing musicals is a lot more challenging to do. But it is also more gratifying because it’s collaborative. I get to work with a choreographer, a musical director… it’s not just the director’s show. I have been lucky in San Antonio to work with great choreographers and music directors. That’s probably why I like musicals. I get to collaborate with other artists to make it happen.

Would you say that the San Antonio thespian community has fully recovered from COVID-imposed limitations?
It’s still recovering and maybe redefining itself. The recovering companies are finding new and interesting ways to pursue their mission. I am intrigued by what the Classic Theater has done since COVID. The productions have been excellent and the various venues have been very appropriate for the shows they were doing. I hope to see their production of “A Christmas Carol” (featuring a single actor portraying Charles Dickens on his American tour.)

Have you ever considered writing original plays for the stage?
Tony Ciaravino and I wrote our own version of “A Christmas Carol” which was produced by the Public when it was still The San Pedro Playhouse, about five years ago. I enjoyed the process very much. It was not exactly an original work  since we were only adapting the script. It was a great production. Vincent Hardy who is Scrooge in the current production was in our show, too.

Is there a play or musical that you would love to direct but that has never come your way?
Yes, “Follies” by Stephen Sondheim. For me that’s the show that got away. I would love to do it but we would need a producer who can come up with a lot of cash.

Do you have an area of interest that’s not theater related?
I’ve have been working on collages for most of my life. Digital collage is a hobby that I go to not only to relax but to take me away from the craziness of theater and teaching. Once or twice I even exhibited my collages. I hope to get back into it with a little more focus.

What plays do you recommend to your students as foundational theater literature?
I’ve got five that I recommend: “Agamemnon,” (by Aeschylus); “King Lear,” (By Shakespeare); “A Doll’s House” (by Henrik Ibsen); Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller; and “A Raisin in the Sun.” (by Lorraine Hansberry).  I teach those plays a lot. My enthusiasm for these plays makes it easy to teach them.

If you were the absolute king of San Antonio with unlimited powers, what would you change/implement/initiate in our city?
Such a great question! (Sigh) I would like to see a system that allows our teachers to have better salaries, better resources, and whatever they need to be good teachers and to be better supported in the work they do. I would like to see teachers recognized as the real leaders in our culture.
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“A Christmas Carol, the Musical” through Dec. 18; Fridays-Saturdays at 7 :30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; 800 W. Ashby; $19 – $49; 210-733-7258, thepublicsa.org/a-christmas-carol/