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S4 E7: Stage Door: Behind the Scenes · Inside the OSD

• 0:02
  SPEAKER1: Today we are at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center to get a behind the scenes look at the upcoming production of Stage Door.
• 0:10
  We're talking with the director, Marsha Heuer, along with a few students involved in the production.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids.
• 0:23
  Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER1: Thanks for having us today. We always love checking in with our theater program and hearing about upcoming productions.
• 0:38
  So could you start by introducing yourself and telling us a little bit more about your role at OHS and with Stage Door?
• 0:45
  SPEAKER3: Absolutely. Thank you so much. My name is Marsha Heuer.
• 0:48
  I am a teacher at the high school. I teach social studies and mostly AP World history,
• 0:52
  and I'm also an AVID elective teacher. But this year is my year to direct the play and I am the director for Stage Door.
• 1:01
  In the past, I've directed and choreographed Little Mermaid.
• 1:04
  I directed A Christmas Carol, so this is my fourth year at Oregon High School and my 19th year teaching overall.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER1: Wonderful. And you wear a lot of hats.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER3: I do wear a lot of hats. You do! I'm a theater person, so that's what they do.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER4: Yeah, right!
• 1:18
  SPEAKER1: So some of our listeners may not be familiar with this production, right?
• 1:21
  So without spilling any secrets, can you give us a little preview of the storyline and what audience members can look forward to?
• 1:29
  SPEAKER3: So Stage Door is a--is a really neat play.
• 1:32
  It's a classic. It came out in 1936, and it ran on Broadway for about 160 some performances before becoming very popular as a movie.
• 1:41
  They changed some of the storyline in that movie, but had major, major stars like Katharine Hepburn,
• 1:47
  Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball. Um, but our version is the authentic classic from 1936,
• 1:54
  and it's set around a--the Footlights Club off of Broadway, where it's a boarding house for girls who are trying to make it big.
• 2:02
  They're trying to live their dream, and it's all during the depression and a time when it was very difficult for people to to live and much less achieve some
• 2:11
  of those bigger aspects. Um, I would call it a dramedy because it's very much a drama,
• 2:17
  but there's a lot of comedic elements because there's 20 some girls living in this boarding house,
• 2:22
  all with very unique personalities, all with their own little arcs.
• 2:26
  But the main storyline revolves around Terri Randall, who is trying to achieve her dream.
• 2:31
  And it's kind of goes from 1936 to 1937.
• 2:37
  And it's there's six different scenes that happen throughout the show.
• 2:41
  And we see Terri as she's involved with various people, including the two men of her life.
• 2:47
  And one is more of a Broadway playwright or a wannabe Broadway playwright that turns to Hollywood.
• 2:54
  And the other is a Hollywood producer who really has his heart in Broadway.
• 2:59
  And it's about what happens with those relationships.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER1: Well, this sounds fun, and there's a little bit of history in it too. So that's got to appeal to you just a touch also.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER3: Yeah, absolutely. I always love to be able to bring art to the community and for people to learn something when they're watching a show as well.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER4: Right.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER1: So, um, tell us about the different roles for students in this production.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER3: One of the things that really attracted this play for me was the fact that there were 31 different characters on stage.
• 3:28
  31 people that have a role with lines, with a purpose on stage.
• 3:33
  And you don't get that a lot in in shows at all, unless they're written specifically for middle or high schools.
• 3:40
  And to get a classic show that has so many opportunities is just amazing.
• 3:44
  So the 31 cast members, plus, I don't know, 20 plus crew members for sure.
• 3:50
  It's--it's a big undertaking for sure, and probably one of the more challenging plays I've ever directed.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER4: Really?! That's--oh, that's great to know.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER1: That makes me look forward to it even more.
• 4:00
  Um, if there are students listening who haven't been a part of a production before,
• 4:04
  but they might be interested, how could they get involved in the future?
• 4:08
  SPEAKER3: We have so many opportunities in Oregon to get involved with the arts.
• 4:12
  We have drama club that they can join just to kind of meet some of the other kids that are involved.
• 4:17
  We have a fall production, the play, and then in a few weeks, we're actually going to be auditioning for our musical Kiss Me,
• 4:23
  Kate.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER4: Oh, so that starts right away.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER3: Oh, yeah. We I think we have about 1 or 2 weeks off and then we get right into that.
• 4:28
  So there's always opportunities. We also have an improv group.
• 4:32
  So many places that they can join so they can reach out to myself or to Mike Ducett.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER1: Wonderful. So finally, let's talk a little bit about logistics.
• 4:40
  When are the performances and how can families and community members get tickets?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER3: We have four performances of Stage Door.
• 4:47
  We're going to be running November 14th, which is a Friday, and we start at 7 p.m.
• 4:52
  So it's a 7 p.m. show that day. On Saturday the 15th, we have two shows, one at 2 p.m.
• 4:58
  and one at 7 p.m. and on Sunday we are closing at 2 p.m.
• 5:03
  for the 16th and people can get tickets at the door if they wish.
• 5:07
  But certainly I always recommend going online beforehand at OregonPerformingArtsCenter.com to be able to pick your seats.
• 5:14
  We'll have concessions and fan mail and all the fun things.
• 5:17
  So get here and enjoy a little bit of the the 30s jazz music that we'll have playing too.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER4: Oh, that
• 5:22
  SPEAKER1: sounds very fun. Thank you. So now we're going to turn to some of our student performers.
• 5:27
  So thank you, all three of you, for taking a few minutes out of rehearsal.
• 5:31
  Although it's a Friday and you're not rehearsing on a Friday, which is kind of nice.
• 5:35
  So thank you for just being here. Let's start with introductions.
• 5:39
  Your name, your experience with theater and how you're contributing to the production.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER5: Okay. Um, my name is Julia Reitmeier. I'm a senior.
• 5:48
  Um, I've been doing the play since freshman year on the tech side, not really the more performance side.
• 5:56
  Um, I've been the stage manager for three years.
• 6:00
  Um. And I love it.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER1: You started being a stage manager in your sophomore year?
• 6:06
  That's impressive!
• 6:07
  SPEAKER5: Thank you.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER4: Yes!
• 6:09
  SPEAKER1: All right.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER5: Um, my name's
• 6:11
  SPEAKER4: Lia
• 6:11
  SPEAKER5: Wochenske. I, um, am playing Terri Randall in the show, and this is going to be my,
• 6:18
  I think, ninth production at OHS. I have been--that's like my one flex is I have been in every single production that has occurred here since I was a freshman.
• 6:27
  That's exciting. Um, yeah. So it's been a very long journey.
• 6:30
  But, um, yeah, I just, I also, I really love it, so yeah, I'm super excited.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER1: That's wonderful.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER6: Uh, hello, I'm Gus Sampson. Uh, I'm a senior.
• 6:41
  Uh, listen to the Gus podcast official on spotify.com.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER1: Thank you for making a plug. That's a good thing.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER6: You're welcome. Uh. Uh, I play David Kingsley, who's a Hollywood recruiter in the story.
• 6:55
  I started acting last year in The Tragedy of Of Macbeth, which was a very fun experience.
• 7:03
  I--and the previous year I got my actual start by performing in the pit for Big Fish.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER1: Oh, great. Okay. Thank you. So there are so many activities available to OHS students and participating in this kind of production.
• 7:20
  I'm looking at the beautifully set stage right now.
• 7:23
  Um, this is such a significant commitment.
• 7:25
  Why is it--why is it important to you to make this commitment?
• 7:29
  SPEAKER5: Um, theater is my love and my passion, which I really love, too, because that is my character's love and passion.
• 7:37
  Um, and so I feel like I can really connect to that, but it's just--ever since I was first on stage when I was,
• 7:44
  I think probably 10 or 11, I was in Matilda at Verona Area Community Theater, and I was like,
• 7:50
  "this is what I want to do. I can't see myself doing anything else." And so I just am in love with it.
• 7:55
  And I will take as much time and commitment as I need to, to be a part of it.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER1: You are so lucky to have found a passion like that.
• 8:03
  That's so cool. Julia or Gus, what do you want to say?
• 8:07
  SPEAKER7: Um, I would say. I mean, it's definitely hard work.
• 8:10
  It's definitely something that takes up a lot of my time, even if we're not in the actual PAC.
• 8:16
  Outside of school, all kinds of stuff. And, I don't know, I just I keep coming back because,
• 8:21
  like, the community is so great and all the people I meet, and it's just satisfying to,
• 8:27
  like, watch a show come together.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER1: That's awesome. Thank you.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER6: Uh, you know, I think it's just really fun to do.
• 8:34
  Overall, that's my main reason. Also, I love just dressing up.
• 8:38
  I love getting to wear costumes, and I think that's really fun.
• 8:42
  And also memorizing all the lines and being able to say them all and figure out how to say them in a way that makes sense for whoever you're pretending
• 8:51
  to be, to say them and just doing things that you may might not otherwise have the chance to do.
• 8:59
  I just, I think it's really fun and a great opportunity to have.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER1: It probably just helps people grow a lot to do all of the things that you just described.
• 9:08
  Yeah, that's pretty cool.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER3: He's been bit by the theater bug. Oh, that's good.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER1: Because you certainly have the voice, right?
• 9:14
  So that's good that you've been bit by the bug. So tell us about how rehearsals are going and how you're feeling about the first performance that's a week away
• 9:23
  now? Anybody, jump right in.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER7: Um, I can start. Um, this upcoming week is our tech week.
• 9:30
  So this is where my job usually, like, really starts.
• 9:34
  Um, so getting all the sound cues in order.
• 9:37
  Light cues. Um, we have another--we have all kinds of great tech people here at OHS,
• 9:43
  and they're working very hard. Um, to, you know, just get all that in order for me to call it.
• 9:49
  And so it's really cool.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER1: I love the management whole aspect of it for you, how you kind of get to be the boss.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER7: It is fun.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER1: Yeah, I bet it is.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER7: I hope I'm a good boss. I don't know what they would say
• 9:59
  SPEAKER5: about it.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER3: But Julia is amazing. The stage manager literally takes over the show.
• 10:06
  Once the rehearsals are done as a director, there's nothing else I can do.
• 10:10
  Right? So you just give them the reins. And she has managed it.
• 10:15
  Yeah, yeah. Never had an issue.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER5: Shout out to our amazing PAC director, Nate Mendl.
• 10:20
  Um, yeah. He is the backbone of this whole area.
• 10:23
  And, yeah, he's incredible.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER1: I love that you said that. Thank you. Anything else about the first performance and how you're thinking?
• 10:30
  SPEAKER5: Um, I can't even lie. I'm a little bit nervous.
• 10:32
  This is my first time, um, ever being having this significant of a role in a show.
• 10:38
  I have, like, 300, over 300 lines to memorize.
• 10:41
  Wow. And, um, it's a huge challenge, but I love the challenge.
• 10:45
  Um, but there there's still a little parts that we need to work out.
• 10:49
  And last night, we did it with costumes for the first time, which adds a whole nother aspect of,
• 10:54
  you know, having to change super fast backstage and then get into character for a different scene.
• 10:58
  So it's a big challenge, but I'm excited and I think it will come together and I love it.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER1: Anything?
• 11:04
  SPEAKER6: Yeah, I'm really excited for it. I think it's going to be I hope it's going to be pretty good.
• 11:10
  I think it's going to be pretty good.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER3: It's going to be good. It's pretty
• 11:13
  SPEAKER6: good. You should definitely go see it. Uh, and yeah, I just think it's been going good.
• 11:21
  And we've definitely seen a lot of improvements from everybody involved since the beginning.
• 11:26
  Yeah. And because it's kind of a lot of the interactions are difficult to do.
• 11:33
  And I feel like people have handled it really well.
• 11:35
  And hopefully they will continue to grow up until their performances and through the performances.
• 11:40
  And it should create a good experience.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER3: Yes, this is not a show where anybody really gets a ton of downtime, except for the characters that are only on once.
• 11:52
  For the characters that are on multiple times, they are coming and going.
• 11:56
  Often there's characters that come through a scene in the middle of the scene with a couple of lines because they're getting home and they're going upstairs.
• 12:03
  And so that has been one of the biggest things, is working on timing and then making sure the students are prepared and
• 12:08
  confident. But I believe truly this is going to be an amazing show.
• 12:13
  The students have really proven themselves, and we still have a few more performances or a few more dress rehearsals to get
• 12:18
  it actually ready. Um, but in my experience as a director, we're in a great place and I think the community is going to be blown away.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER1: Oh, I'm sure they will.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER5: Something interesting, too, that we were just talking about with this show in particular. Um,
• 12:31
  also comparing it to other shows I've been in is it mimics--it really accurately,
• 12:37
  I think mimics conversation and how people interact with each other.
• 12:42
  There's so many times where people are interrupted and there's interruptions in lines from someone entering or like a doorbell noise or um,
• 12:52
  so I found that super interesting. And it does definitely create a huge technical challenge.
• 12:57
  Um, because like Miss Heuer said, there's a lot of times where people have to, you know,
• 13:01
  come in super fast, and sometimes if they don't come in fast enough, you might have to start making stuff up.
• 13:05
  But which is a challenge. But it is, um, it's super interesting in that aspect.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER1: The way you're describing it, it really does fall in line with like 1930s kind of screwball comedies in some ways.
• 13:17
  Right? Like fast paced, lots of dialog.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER3: Yeah, absolutely.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER1: Oh, that sounds really fun. So what would you say to other students who see this show?
• 13:25
  They're here next Friday, and all of a sudden they're kind of interested in getting involved,
• 13:29
  but they're like, how am I supposed to start this?
• 13:32
  What do I do? What would you say to them?
• 13:35
  SPEAKER5: Uh, come to drama club. Um, it's not like one of those clubs where you have to, like,
• 13:40
  be a member of it to be there. Um, like, you can literally just show up.
• 13:44
  Um, of course, we have a couple of weeks of drama club, and then we start rehearsals for Kiss Me,
• 13:49
  Kate, and then it kind of gets a little neglected again.
• 13:52
  Yeah, it gets serious again. But, um, in that in between time is a great time to get involved.
• 13:56
  And, um, it is in the choir room, Um, on Wednesdays it's like 30 minutes after school.
• 14:03
  So just really casual. We play fun theater games, we talk to each other, we meet people.
• 14:08
  And, um, yeah, it's a really good way to get involved and kind of get your foot in the door for,
• 14:13
  um, anything that might be going on with our next show.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER7: Yeah. And I'd say for people who are interested in more tech, um, also drama club,
• 14:20
  lots of tech people like going to drama club, me included.
• 14:23
  Um, but during we have our own tech club meetings on Tuesdays.
• 14:28
  Um, and so come right into the PAC. We'd love to have you.
• 14:32
  It's a fun time. You could put up some lights.
• 14:34
  It'll be great.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER1: So there are really two avenues for people who want to do tech.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER7: Definitely. And I mean, for me, I wasn't always like super passionate about being on stage,
• 14:44
  but I really like being behind the scenes because I can still be involved.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER6: And as someone that only joined last year, really for acting, I would say that just if you have any interest at all,
• 14:56
  I think just looking at what the next show is and checking out the audition material and just reviewing that and doing as much as you
• 15:06
  can with that, I think is a really fun experience.
• 15:10
  And just maybe talking to someone else, like reading it through for someone else,
• 15:16
  and then they can maybe critique you and then you can figure something else out that works.
• 15:20
  And then just trying to piece that together, I think is really fun to me.
• 15:26
  And I'm, I think it's a great way to practice.
• 15:30
  And then you can just audition and try not to get too stressed out about it.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER3: Well, we try to make auditions really accepting, right?
• 15:40
  So this show is closing in the 16th, on the 19th after school, during our next drama club,
• 15:45
  we're going to have an audition workshop. Really, anyone that wants to audition for Kiss Me, Kate come and meet with Miss
• 15:50
  Reichhold and Mr. Ducett. Um, they're music and and directors, um, just to get what they are expecting and what would need to happen for the
• 15:59
  auditions in December. And then on Monday the 24th, after school, I'm doing a dance workshop to teach people what the audition would
• 16:07
  be early, just in case they want to, because it's going to be traditional Broadway. But also I want to see who can tap because it's going to be a tap
• 16:13
  number again. So just kind of getting people introduced to it.
• 16:16
  So even if you're not quite sure you can come to one of those and get a sense of maybe this is something you can try.
• 16:22
  And as Gus said, you know, you don't have to do it your freshman year on.
• 16:25
  You can start as a senior, you can start as a junior, you can start any time.
• 16:29
  We're always accepting and we love to have new people.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER5: And you also do not have to be an actor or a singer necessarily to be like, if you dance and that's your forte,
• 16:39
  please, we can teach you to sing and act like it's really cool because you can still perform and it's yeah,
• 16:46
  it's lots of fun.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER3: Yes.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER1: The it's you guys are infectious. So that's really cool.
• 16:52
  I hope people listen. So, um, for our seniors, all three of you are seniors.
• 16:56
  This is your year of the last time, right?
• 17:00
  So what does it mean for you to be a part of this show?
• 17:03
  And what are you thinking in terms of plans for after OHS?
• 17:10
  Who wants to start that one?
• 17:11
  SPEAKER7: Oh, I can. Okay. It's definitely like, very happy and very sad at the same time.
• 17:16
  I'm trying to focus on the happy part of it for sure.
• 17:20
  I mean, I love what I do. I unfortunately most likely will not be doing this besides high school.
• 17:26
  So I'm really trying to soak in all my time that I have.
• 17:29
  Um, I'm thinking of going for biology. Something science.
• 17:34
  Um, I've really been liking that. And, I mean, we'll see.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER1: Well, you could take your management skills anywhere you go, right?
• 17:40
  SPEAKER7: And that's. I mean, I have learned quite a lot from that and like, working with different people.
• 17:44
  And so I think it will help me definitely in my future.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER1: Wonderful.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER5: Yeah. Um, I it's very bittersweet. Um, I've been here since, like, day one, and I'm already almost getting a little misty at the thought of,
• 17:55
  like, leaving, like, oh my gosh. Um, but I'm also really excited for the future,
• 18:00
  and I plan personally to study musical theater past high school.
• 18:06
  And that is what I want to major in. I want to go for my Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater,
• 18:10
  and I've been looking at a few schools out on the East Coast right now.
• 18:14
  I'm so busy with everything. I need to really lock in on my pre screens and getting stuff in.
• 18:19
  So after the play, after the play, my two weeks and two weeks, that's the sweet spot.
• 18:24
  Yeah. Um, but yeah, that's, that's what I plan to do.
• 18:27
  And um, this, it's just been such a amazing community.
• 18:31
  And I can't believe it's been four years already because the time has flown with just the lovely people here.
• 18:36
  Thanks.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER6: Yeah. You know, as I said, only having joined last year, the emotions are a little more dull for me.
• 18:43
  But, uh, I do hopefully intend to at least be somewhat involved in college, uh,
• 18:51
  because, I mean, I've just had so much fun, and I think I would really like to continue it.
• 18:56
  Maybe. Probably not as a major or even minor, but just I like to still be involved because I just had such a great,
• 19:05
  fun time in the past year and a half and I really wish to continue it.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER1: Oh, that's great to hear.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER3: And remember, there's community theaters all over, so you can always continue to have theater in your life,
• 19:20
  even if you don't do it professionally. And you never know.
• 19:23
  There's always things that can happen. Um, I never thought I was going to be teaching theater at some point when I went to
• 19:28
  college initially, and I get to do that and, um, be able to share my my love of theater with you guys,
• 19:35
  too.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER1: Well, that's lovely, because Julia can be a biologist who runs stage productions at night.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER3: Absolutely.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER1: Why not? Why not do that? So, any final words or messages?
• 19:45
  Messages for listeners as we wrap up.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER5: Come see the show. It's going to be amazing.
• 19:51
  Um, we've worked super duper hard, and we would love to see a full house.
• 19:56
  Um, and yeah, I think I think you'll really enjoy it.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER1: Well, we're all so proud of your work and the dedication you show.
• 20:04
  And really, we are looking forward to this performance.
• 20:07
  Performances of Stage Door are on November 14th, 15th and 16th at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center.
• 20:16
  You can get your tickets online at www.OregonPerformingArtsCenter.com.
• 20:23
  Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at OregonSD.org/podcast.
• 20:34
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• 20:38
  Make sure to subscribe if you're listening on one of these apps to get notifications on the most recent episodes.
• 20:44
  We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD where it's all about the kids.