Oh What a Beautiful Morning / Oh What a Blustery Day

Posted by Bob Wall
Yesterday's Bifocals Monthly Meeting was a HUGE success, drawing nearly a hundred laughing theatre lovers into our Barksdale Willow Lawn lobby to hear the one and only Scott Wichmann talk about his lifelong association with A Thousand Clowns. (That's 13-year-old Scotty to the right, making his professional debut as "Nick" in a Pennsylvania production of A Thousand Clowns.) The record-breaking turn-out at yesterday's free monthly event (the previous record was somewhere around 40 attendees) was due to three factors:

1. Scott Wichmann - need I say more

2. a new influx of theatre enthusiasts recruited by our energetic Bifocals leaders, Pat Walker and Ellen Bode, to participate in and/or watch some free staged readings that immediately followed our Sandwich Fixin's Buffet, and

3. a group of 30 or so up-and-at-'em stage fans who came from one of our area retirement communities on a bus.

Word about our Rostov's Coffee & Conversations events (the second Tuesday of every other month), and our Bifocals Monthly Meetings (the fourth Friday of most months) is starting to spread. We hope you'll make plans to join us for one of these fun-filled upcoming programs:

Tuesday, March 8, coffee/tea/pastry bar opens at 9 am, panel discussion begins at 9:30 - Rostov's Coffee & Conversations, Strike Up the Band: A Peak into the Orchestra Pit of Barksdale's Musicals, moderated by Ford Flannagan, featuring three music directors from past and upcoming Barksdale shows (that's our pit band for White Christmas to the left)

Tuesday, April 12, coffee/tea/pastry bar opens at 9 am, panel discussion begins at 9:30 - Rostov's Coffee & Conversations, "All the World's a Stage" -- And I Manage It, moderated by Joy Williams, featuring three stage managers from past and upcoming Barksdale shows

Friday, April 22, lobby opens at 10:45 am, guest speaker begins at 11 - Bifocals Monthly Meeting, The History of Hanover Tavern: Bruce Miller will revisit the past glories and infamies of Barksdale's ancestral home

When yesterday morning went so well, we should have known we were headed for trouble later in the day. That trouble blew in, literally, at about 4:30 pm, when the high winds of yesterday afternoon swept down a tree in Hanover, knocking down electric lines, and causing the loss of power to Hanover Tavern. With a sold-out house eagerly awaiting last night's performance of Nunsense, Phil Whiteway stayed by his phone until 6:30 pm, when word came that the power was still off. Our terrific box office staff had already called each of our ticket holders, advising them of the situation, and telling them that the decision to cancel or not would finally be made by 6:30 pm at the latest. Phil passed on the bad news, and our valiant box office workers set to work, calling everyone again to cancel the show.

Fortunately, and by popular demand, we will be reviving Nunsense in July at Willow Lawn, so those who really want to see the show won't be disappointed, just delayed. The entire cast will be returning for the summer revival, with the exception of Shalimar Fields, who had long planned a family vacation to Rome during the month of July. Every good nun's dream, right?

Not to fear, the wonderful Ms Fields will be replaced by the equally wonderful Katrinah Lewis. Another blessing.

First Baptist of Ivy Gap

Posted by Bruce Miller
When First Baptist of Ivy Gap plays at Hanover Tavern from Feb 5 through Mar 14, it will once again connect Barksdale with Barter Theatre, the State Theatre of Virginia and our sister stage company in Abingdon.

Barksdale and Barter have been close ever since 1967 when Barter's legendary founder, Bob Porterfield, invited Pete, Muriel and Nancy to send Barksdale's hit production of Stop the World, I Want to Get Off out to Barter, marking the first time that a guest company performed on Barter's landmark stage.

More recently, Phil and I have been good friends and professional colleagues with Rick Rose, Barter's current artistic director, since his arrival in Virginia 16 years ago. Next month we'll be partnering with Barter on Poetry Out Loud. Theatre IV facilitates this national poetry recitation program for high school students throughout Virginia. Barter will be hosting our regional competition in Southwest VA.

First Baptist of Ivy Gap was first introduced to a live audience when the script was produced as a staged reading during Barter's 2002 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, a component of the Virginia Highlands Festival. The new comedy was so popular with Barter's audience that it was remounted during the 2003 Festival as a "mini-production." Based on popular demand, Barter mounted a full production (the World Premiere) as part of their mainstage season in 2004.

First Baptist is written by Ron Osborne (above and to the right), a St. Louis playwright who is enjoying being "discovered" in his 60s. He's writing a new play every year, and four have been produced either as readings or mainstage productions at Barter.

Recently, Osborne's new play Ruby's Story premiered Off-Off Broadway at New York's 13th Street Repertory Theatre. Firehouse Theatre supporters may recognize 13th Street Rep as the home of the longest running play in Off-Off Broadway history, Line by Israel Horovitz. In 2006, 13th Street Rep was named the "Best Off-Off Broadway Company to Act With" by Backstage.

First Baptist of Ivy Gap is Osborne's most successful play. It is a sweet and sentimental comedy about six Tennessee church women who gather during World War II to roll bandages (historical photo to the right) and plan for their church's 75th Anniversary. In Act II, they reunite during the height of the Vietnam War. Amidst the laughter (there's a LOT of laughter), world and local events test the women's friendship and faith. They pass the tests.

We have assembled an All-Star cast (with one terrific newcomer). Jan Guarino (Mona's Arrangements, The Clean House) is playing Edith, the pastor's wife who holds everything together while her husband gets all the credit. Joy Williams (Driving Miss Daisy, Barefoot in the Park) appears as Luby, the very worried mother of a WWII soldier.

Harriet Traylor (The Little Foxes, To Kill a Mockingbird) introduces us to Vera, a pillar of the church and wife of the local bank president. Maggie Roop (Doubt, Annie) is Mae Ellen, the church's rebellious organist. Ali Thibodeau (Thoroughly Modern Millie, The True Story of Pocahontas) plays Sammy, a sweet young woman from the wrong side of the tracks. And Sarah Pruden (new to Barksdale's mainstage) creates the role of Olene, a vivacious Tennessee mountain girl with her eye on Hollywood.

I'm having a ball directing the show. It's our Hanover entry into Central Virginia's Acts of Faith Festival.

If you're looking for a funny, sweet and reaffirming evening of theatre, I hope you'll join us.

--Bruce Miller

Meet the Cast of Driving Miss Daisy: Joy Williams – “Daisy”

By Joseph Pabst (Director of Driving Miss Daisy)

(Note: Driving Miss Daisy has been extended through November 2 at Barksdale at Hanover Tavern. This is the second in a series in which we shine the spotlight on each of the three members of the cast. Part 1 is available here.)

If you were to see Joy Williams on the street or in the grocery store, you would hardly confuse her for a 72-year-old woman. She is a tall, strong vibrant woman with a friendly smile, infectious laugh and a full head of blond hair. And she runs marathons – literally!

Still, Joy transforms herself into the elderly role of “Daisy Werthan” for each performance of Driving Miss Daisy. She starts the play at an astonishingly convincing 72 years old, and then continues to age over the course of an hour or so until she reaches 97. Because of the time constraints and fluidity of the play, this can only be partially accomplished with wigs, clothes and make-up. The real transformation is in Joy’s acting, her body, her voice. Before stepping on stage, Joy is well aware of the age she must portray, and fully inhabits the character at that age.

Joy is no stranger to Richmond stages, performing steadily at Barksdale at Hanover Tavern, Barksdale at Willow Lawn, Theatre IV and the Swift Creek Mill Theatre since she moved back here 18 years ago. Some of her personal favorite roles include: Bella in Lost in Yonkers, Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo, Edith Banks in Barefoot in the Park (welcoming Barksdale audiences back to the Hanover Tavern in 2006, after 10 years), and now, of course, Daisy Werthan. She is also a resident actor in the Swift Creek Mill’s youth theatre season. Younger audiences may know her (if they don’t recognize her) as Drifty the Snowman, a character created and written by Paul Deiss.

With two boys (Cory, 12; and Sean, 9), the Williams’ house has become the hub for neighborhood kids – always busy, loud and a little crazy. Joy is very active at Sean’s school, serving on the PTA Board, helping out in class, taking charge of the after school enrichment program and talent show. “I’d like to help out at Cory’s school,” Joy says, “but he won’t let me anywhere near his school!” Joy also has the good fortune to be the stepmom to two wonderful young men: Arle, almost 24, and Michael, nearly 21. “They came into my life when they were 7 and 4 … hard to believe.” Now they are both in college, and she and her husband, Eric, try to see them as much as they can. Besides taking care of all her boys (Eric included!), Joy gets a real kick out of gardening as well. “Roses are my favorite flower. Over the years, I’ve planted over 100 rose bushes in the garden and around the yard.” And in the midst of it all, she and her wonderful husband “try to eke out moments to be together!”

Joy shares a great sense of humor with her character. And like Daisy, she is very strong willed and independent. As Daisy says, “I was brought up to do for myself.” That “do-it-yourself” philosophy is part of Joy’s personal mantra as well. But while both the actress and the character are mothers, Joy is far more demonstrative of her affections than Daisy. “I’m a very touchy-feely, huggy person. The sun rises and sets with my kids. I make sure they know it, too.” Joy has a very close relationship with her mother as well, which is also very demonstrative. Daisy’s relationship with her son Boolie is more reserved, though they know how to push each other’s buttons and do so often. (Joy gets a real kick out of playing those scenes with Garet Chester.) “My kids know my buttons also, but I’m forever hugging them, kissing them… they have to ask me to stop!”

The parent/child dynamic in Driving Miss Daisy really speaks to Joy. “It’s a show that everyone can relate to on some level, whether you’re in the position of watching a parent age and faced with those challenges, or you’re the one aging and having to come to terms with giving up some of your independence.” Then there’s the unlikely friendship that develops between Daisy & Hoke. “I love the way their relationship remains throughout their entire lives. I love the humanity and the realness in the play. I love their friendship. And it’s a gift to be able to play this role with Jim Bynum.”

Oh, and about those marathons: She’s run 3 full and 5 half marathons. “I like the personal glory of running the full marathons, but it takes an amazing amount of time to train for them. And right now, I don’t have the time to devote to the extensive training.” She’ll be running her 6th half marathon in November. So marathoners beware: You may be outrun by “little ol’ Daisy”!


Tickets to Driving Miss Daisy are available online. Many performances have sold out, so please reserve early to avoid disappointment.

Three More Rave Reviews

Posted by Bruce Miller
We received three more rave reviews this week, drawing crowds of laughing, loving theatregoers.

Weighing in on The Clean House, Dave Timberline provided the following quotes:

“Masterful!
A Smart Story ~ an Air of Enchantment
Amusing, Moving and a Little Bit Magical
Exceptional Performances ~ Sweet, Supportive Chemistry
Refreshing and Inspiring!”

--David Timberline, STYLE

Adding their kudos to the glowing review written earlier for Driving Miss Daisy by Susie Haubenstock of the R T-D, Joan Tupponce and John Porter contributed the following:

“Remarkable!
Depth and Feeling ~ A Joy to Watch
As comfortable as a plump easy chair
Derives its humor and tenderness from life
Just Plain Fun!”

--Joan Tupponce, Richmond.com

“Tremendous!
A Great Script ~ A Good Cast
The chemistry between Williams and Bynum is especially strong
An old sweet song, fresh in our hearts
A Great Evening!”

--John Porter, WCVE-FM

Daisy is joining Barefoot in the Park and Smoke on the Mountain as our biggest Hanover hits since reopening the theatre almost three years ago. Joy Williams, Jim Bynum and Garet Chester continue to earn standing ovations at every performance.

The Clean House is proving to be a real crowd pleaser at Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn, adding immeasurably to the success of the Sara Ruhl Festival, coproduced by Barksdale Theatre and the Firehouse Theatre Project. Audiences are loving discovering a joyous new play by a dazzling new playwright.

If you still haven't seen Driving Miss Daisy or The Clean House, why not make your plans today. They are both wonderful shows that I know you'll enjoy. $15 rush tickets are available for all seats that remain unsold three hours before curtain. Call the box office for more information - 282-2620. We're extremely proud of this outstanding pair of heartwarming hits.

See you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Miss Daisy Wows the Crowds and Wins Raves

Posted by Bruce Miller
Driving Miss Daisy, our funny and poignant fall show at Hanover Tavern, opened on Friday evening and today earned it's first rave and fourth standing ovation! Daisy was directed expertly by Joe Pabst. The heartwarming play stars Joy Williams, Jim Bynum and Garet Chester.

In this morning's T-D, Susan Haubenstock writes: "Nostalgia is the first emotion elicited by Driving Miss Daisy--nostalgia for the play's period, the post-WWII years up through the civil rights era, and for the 1987 play itself. Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning work pointedly and touchingly looks at race relations in the South by focusing on one well-to-do elderly Jewish widow and one slightly less elderly black man. Through their interactions over 25 years the playwright delicately reveals the prejudices, blind spots and humanity representative of many Americans, yet particular to these two people."

Susie goes on to praise just about everything. Here are the review quotes we'll be pulling and publishing for anyone who'll read them:

“A Godsend!

Three FINE actors:

Joy Williams is a marvelous Miss Daisy.

Jim Bynum inhabits Hoke fully, giving us his dignity, warmth and humor.

Garet Chester is the mirror for both of them.

Joe Pabst directs with emphasis on the comedy,
but he doesn’t short-change the serious moments at all.

A touching, excellent ride!”

--Susan Haubenstock, Richmond Times-Dispatch

The wonderful costumes, wigs and make-up are by Sue Griffin. The attractive set design is by Amy Bale and David Powers, with outstanding scenic painting by Terrie Powers. The evocative lighting is by Bennett Fidlow. But at the end of the day, it's Joy, Jim and Garet who will knock your socks off.

The show is already selling well, and the box office should catch fire after this morning's review. So please plan to join us now for this very funny, very touching look at a meaningful and good-humored American story.

Hope to see you at our Hanover Tavern theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Singing to Help Others

Posted by Bruce Miller
A concert reading of the songs from the Tony Award-winning musical Parade will be presented tonight and tomorrow in benefit performances at Barksdale Willow Lawn. Thirty-three great singers will join together to celebrate the music of Jason Robert Brown, one of Broadway’s hottest “new composers.” The benefit concert is being coordinated by Hannah Zold, an alum of several Barksdale musicals including Into the Woods, The Full Monty and Mame. Music direction is by Damas E. Boudreaux.

The volunteer cast is comprised of many of the finest theatre voices from Richmond and beyond. All funds raised are being contributed by Zold and her performers to Barksdale’s Bifocals Theatre Project (which takes touring one-acts into senior centers throughout Greater Richmond at little or no charge) and Barksdale’s hospital audience program (which makes tickets to musicals and comedies available free-of-charge to families who come to Richmond to be with a child undergoing treatment at an area hospital).

Parade, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Alfred Uhry, is one of the most acclaimed new musicals of Broadway's last decade. It opened at Lincoln Center ten years ago, and received the 1999 Tony Award for Best Book (Uhry) and Best Score (Jason Robert Brown). It was nominated for Best Musical, but lost that year to Fosse, the tribute to Bob Fosse’s legendary choreography.

Quoting from Wikipedia, “The musical concerns the real-life 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager Leo Frank, who was accused of raping and murdering a 13-year-old employee, Mary Phagan. The trial, sensationalized by the media, aroused anti-Semitic tensions in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. When Frank's sentence was commuted due to possible problems with the trial, he was transferred to a prison in Milledgeville, Georgia where a lynching party kidnapped him from the prison. Frank was taken to Phagan's hometown of Marietta, Georgia, and he was hanged. The Anti-Defamation League was formed partly in response to Leo Frank's trial and lynching.”

Broadway director Harold “Prince turned to Brown (pictured to the left) to write the score after Stephen Sondheim turned the project down. Prince's daughter, Daisy, had brought Brown to her father's attention. Uhry, who grew up in Atlanta, had personal knowledge of the Frank story, as his great-uncle owned the pencil factory run by Leo Frank.”

“The show was Brown's first Broadway production. His music has ‘subtle and appealing melodies that draw on a variety of influences, from pop-rock to folk to rhythm and blues and gospel.’ The plot hews closely to the historical story. The true villains of the piece are portrayed as the prosecutor Hugh Dorsey (later the governor of Georgia and then a judge) and the rabid publisher Tom Watson (later elected a U.S. senator).”

The Murder of Mary Phagan, a movie based on the same historical incident, was filmed in locations throughout Greater Richmond in 1987, starring Jack Lemmon as Georgia Gov. John Slaton and Peter Gallagher as Leo Frank.

Parade is the third in playwright Alfred Uhry’s “Atlanta Trilogy.” The first play in the trilogy, Driving Miss Daisy, will be presented at Barksdale Hanover Tavern this fall, starring Joy Williams, Jim Bynum and Garet Chester, and directed by Joe Pabst.

Jason Robert Brown's new musical 13 (pictured to the right) is set to open on Broadway this September. The entire cast of 13 is made up of 13 teen actors, and the entire band is comprised of teen musicians. The story of the musical concerns a happy 13-year-old from NYC who, weeks before his bar mitzvah, moves with his parents to Indiana where he must begin a new life.

If you love great singing, new musicals and/or stirring drama, or if you want to support this cast of magnificent performing artists as they raise funds for two worthy programs, please come to Barksdale Willow Lawn for the 8 pm performance tonight (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday). Tickets are available at the door for $15, or you can purchase them in advance at the box office for $12.

Having listened in on two rehearsals, I can report that the singers are amazing. I can’t wait to see and hear this huge and talented cast performing these rousing songs.

See you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Casting and Comments

Posted by Bruce Miller
As I’ve mentioned before, I read and appreciate Dave Timberline’s informative blog, http://www.richmondvatheater.blogspot.com/. A lot of important theatrical issues and perceptions are raised and discussed on his electronic bulletin board.

Recently Dave hosted some interesting and well intentioned chat about casting in Richmond theatres. It all began when an anonymous commenter reported on remarks made by an unnamed director at the start of an unnamed audition. In his remarks, the director asserted that his unnamed theatre was open to newcomers. The anonymous commenter suggested that these remarks were somewhat disingenuous, noting that when the auditions were over, a well-known Richmond star was cast in one of the leading roles and a talented newcomer was overlooked.

This initial comment was followed by a lot of dialogue about whether or not the anonymous commenter should have stated these opinions anonymously since they could be perceived as being critical of the director, the theatre, and/or the actor cast.

It’s all good.

Now I’m going to pull a Warren Beatty. At least I’ve always heard it’s a Warren Beatty. When in 1973 Carly Simon wrote and sang, “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,” Warren Beatty, one of Ms Simon’s former romantic interests, called to thank her for the song.

After reading all the chat about the unnamed director, I’m pretty sure it’s me and that the unnamed auditions being alluded to were the recent auditions for Shirley Valentine and Driving Miss Daisy. If I’m wrong, I’m sorry. If I’m right, then I guess I am that vain. Now, if I only looked like or had the talent of Warren Beatty.

Before the auditions for Shirley V and Driving Miss D, several actors called to ask if roles had been pre-cast. When I told them “no,” they expressed disbelief. Several had heard from the “best of sources” that Irene Ziegler was playing Shirley and Betty Ann Grove was playing Daisy. It’s no surprise to anyone that I love Irene Ziegler and Betty Ann Grove, and both women have ably owned these roles in the past. But I assured all comers that the roles had not been pre-cast for the 2008 productions.

That can’t be true, some actors intimated. No theatre would pick shows like these without having someone in mind for the demanding roles of Shirley and Daisy. There are some actors we’re interested in seeing, I intimated right back, but no roles have been pre-cast. Everyone has an equal shot. Please come.

That was the truth.

Before the auditions began, I was pleased to see a large turnout and several new faces in the crowd. I’m humbled by large turnouts and new faces.

I made a few welcoming remarks and thanked people for coming to the auditions, particularly the new people. I reiterated that all roles were open. I stated what I believe to be the truth, that Barksdale theatre and every other theatre in town welcome newcomers, and frequently cast newcomers. I acknowledged that we also cast Richmond’s best actors on a continuing basis, because of their talent.

When the auditions were over, four actors were cast. Two of the four (Jill Bari Steinberg and Jim Bynum) will be acting at Hanover Tavern for the first time. The third actor (Garet Chester) will be appearing at Hanover Tavern for the first time since 1976. The fourth (Joy Williams) will be reappearing at the Tavern after a starring gig there two and a half years ago.

All four were cast because I thought they were the ones best suited to the roles. I feel really blessed to have these four wonderful actors in the two shows.

The anonymous commenter on Dave’s blog notes that there was a very talented actor from out-of-town who auditioned for one of these four roles, and that there was considerable buzz about this actor’s talent. That is completely true. That actor’s talent did not go unnoticed. And let me extend that thought, if I may. There were several very talented actors there, all of whom were top contenders for the parts. None of their talents went unnoticed.

As several folks mentioned on Dave’s blog, there is a lot more involved in a casting decision than what may be perceived listening to three audition speeches.

Scripts call for specific physical types, which some actors meet and others don’t, no matter how well they may read.

Budgets allow for certain expenditures that enable the employment of some actors and discourage the employment of others, based on their financial requirements.

Ticket sale goals encourage the casting of actors who have earned positive name recognition in the Greater Richmond marketplace—and I stress the word “earned.”

Barksdale accepts its responsibility to professional actors who have earned (there's that word again) their place in Greater Richmond’s top tier, and who may not stay in Richmond if they can't find professional employment opportunities.

To me, all of this supports my contention that:
1 newcomers are welcome and frequently cast
2 Richmond’s best actors are cast over and over again because they are Richmond’s best actors

If newcomers fail to come to auditions because they think they have no chance, Richmond theatre will suffer. If our most talented veterans leave Richmond because they can’t find enough employment, Richmond theatre will suffer. In an attempt to address these conflicting realities, producers juggle to the best of their abilities.

As a final note, Guys and Dolls is currently employing 26 actors. Thirteen of them are acting with Barksdale for the first time.

--Bruce Miller

The Moonlight Shines Brightly Tonight...

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Richmond.com has a cool new look. I feel like it had been the same since I moved to Richmond four years ago. I, who generally am all about progress and change, find myself missing the layout that I'm used to, but it has lots of cool new features to check out!

Also, there's a rave review of our production of Moonlight and Magnolias! Yay! Joan Tupponce writes:

"Steve Perigard wisely cast this humorous offering..."

"Pabst's superb comic timing"

"Joy Williams...livens up the scene"

"[Bridewater's] portrayals of Prissy who doesn't know anything about birthing babies and the in-labor Melanie are a scream."

"Wichmann's expressions and mannerisms even when he's not the focus of the audience's attention are authentic and amusing."

"Brian Barker's set is stylish..."

"Definitely an entertaining evening punctuated with moments of hilarity"

Ah, heck, you can read the review in it's entirety on Richmond.com. And come see the show!

To reserve your tickets for Barksdale Theatre's production of Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson, call the box office at 282-2620 today!

Moonlight Makes Movie Memory Magic

Posted by Bruce Miller

I just returned from the Opening Night of Moonlight and Magnolias, and I’m psyched at the prospect of having a second holiday hit on our hands. While Swingtime Canteen continues to leave ‘em cheering in its second week at Hanover Tavern, Moonlight and Magnolias is rocking the house with laughter at Willow Lawn.

In the photos that follow, Jennings Whiteway and Michael Hawke prepare a sumptuous Magnolia-themed buffet for the Opening festivities.





Brian Barker, our extremely talented set designer, celebrates the evening’s success with his lovely wife.






Joy Williams, who is a laugh riot as the all-sacrificing Hollywood secretary Miss Poppenguhl, lets her hair down (or at least takes off her wig) to join in the party. And Wendy Vandergrift, our intrepid stage manager, puts her feet up on the on-stage desk for a much needed post performance break.












Former Theatre IV board member Charlotte McCutcheon enjoys the cranberry brie with managing director Phil Whiteway.






Bruce Rennie, the best theatre tech director in Virginia history, finally gets a moment to relax before launching into tech for A Christmas Story, which opens next week at the Empire.





Neil and Sara Belle November can’t stop smiling at the raucous comedy. Co-star Joe Pabst accepts the compliments of our volunteer coordinator Jean Hartley.












Our ever faithful light console operator, Linwood Guyton, shares credit for a job well done with our exceptional light designer, Lynne Hartman.







Co-star Dave Bridgewater enjoys discussing the play with Daren Kelly, who just returned to town after an acting gig with Yale Rep. Our fascinating Gone with the Wind lobby display can be seen in the background.

Keri Wormald (director of our upcoming Doubt) and Steve Perigard (director of Moonlight), discuss the evening’s success with acclaimed actor and director Robert Throckmorton.




And last but not least, longtime supporter Beth Sinnenburg enjoys raising a glass with our third hilarious co-star, Scott Wichmann.

For a great evening’s entertainment, come to Moonlight and Magnolias to see a hilarious new comedy about the making of the classic movie, Gone with the Wind. It’s a wonderful way to add a full share of laughter to your holiday activities.

See you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Making the Most of Moonlight Memorabilia

Posted by John Steils

Moonlight and Magnolias was the original working title of the novel that you and I know and love as Gone with the Wind. Moonlight and Magnolias is also the title of a hilarious new comedy by Ron Hutchinson that is making the rounds of lots of regional theatres nationwide and will be opening in its Virginia premiere at Barksdale Willow Lawn tomorrow night.

This very funny new play is about an extraordinary rescue mission devised by film producer David O. Selznick, portrayed by Joe Pabst in the photo above and to the right with Joy Williams as his secretary Miss Popenghul. The making of Gone with the Wind was not going well, history tells us, so Selznick fired his original director, George Cukor and, playwright Hutchinson imagines, escaped for five days to his locked office with new director Victor Fleming (portrayed by David Bridgewater in the foreground of the photo above and to the left), and dramatist Ben Hecht to rewrite the screenplay and rescue the film.

Comic madness ensues.

We’re really excited about Moonlight and Magnolias, and we want Richmond to be excited too. We want coming to see Moonlight and Magnolias to be an EVENT, just like going to see Gone with the Wind was an EVENT in the early 40s.

So our marketing department contacted John Wiley, Jr., a great guy and Richmond resident who also happens to be one of the nation’s foremost collectors of Gone with the Wind memorabilia. John’s museum-quality collection has not been shown publicly in Richmond since 1989. But for the last week, John and Judi Crenshaw, our publicist extraordinaire, have been assembling the fascinating memorabilia in our lobby gallery.

Now there are two reasons to visit Barksdale Willow Lawn during the next six weeks—a great play AND a great exhibit. My camera doesn't do justice at all to the artifacts, so please imagine them in much better light.

The gallery display includes copies of nearly every book and biography ever written about David O. Selznick, Victor Fleming and Ben Hecht, the three major characters in the show. There are life-size color cutouts of Vivien Leigh as Scarlett and Clark Gable as Rhett, created originally as lobby displays for the film. There’s an autographed first edition of the novel, with dust jacket—signed by Margaret Mitchell herself.

There are actual front pages from The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution on the days that Ms Mitchell was injured and died. Among a wealth of other Mitchell memorabilia, there are signed Christmas cards and the shiny green book band that was added to all copies of Gone with the Wind after it won the Pulitzer Prize.

Two Richmond women also figure in the collection. The first is Marcella Rabwin, a Richmond-native who wrote Yes, Mr. Selznick after serving as his executive assistant for 15 years. Ms Rabwin’s character is portrayed in the play by Joy Williams. And then there’s Em Bowles Locker Alsop, a Richmond native who was one of only 31 women to be brought to Hollywood for a screen test for the role of Scarlett. Photos and other mementos from both women are featured prominently in the display.

There are also original posters, an original film reel (complete with the film itself), a press badge from the opening of the film in Atlanta, and endless magazine covers, paper dolls and sheet music, many in different languages. Among my favorite items are a series of signed costume sketches.

So, if you enjoy comedy, if you enjoy history, if you enjoy having a great night on the town, don’t miss Moonlight and Magnolias, starring Dave Bridgewater, Joe Pabst and Scotty Wichmann (pictured to the left), and directed by Steve Perigard. And join us in thanking John Wiley, Jr. for sharing his remarkable and fascinating collection with all of Richmond.

--John Steils

An Hilarious Actress in a Side-Splitting Comedy Gives the Slapdown to "The Questionnaire"

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Next Friday, in Barksdale Theatre's Signature Season, the side-splitting comedy, Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson, opens The play is set in David O. Selznik's office, as he locks Ben Hecht, Victor Fleming, and himself in the office for five days so that they can rewrite the ENTIRE SCREENPLAY for Gone With the Wind. Along with David Bridgewater, Joe Pabst, and Scott Wichmann, Joy Williams is featured as Mr. Selznik's secretary, Mrs. Poppenghul.

Joy is side-splitting hilarious in real life (and also recently in Swift Creek Mill's production of Urinetown the Musical, Barefoot in the Park at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern, and my absolute favorite-Lady 1 in Paul Deiss' adaptation of The Magic Flute that Theatre IV presented at Barksdale Theatre at Willow Lawn a couple of years ago...I saw all but two performances of that production as the light board operator and in every single performance I could not help but have a huge grin if not laughing out loud at Joy-side note: I really hope she doesn't mind me saying all this-...). I can't hardly wait to see her and the rest of the cast in this hysterical play.

So...Joy has filled out "The Questionnaire," as I have begun to call it. This questionairre originated with Bernard Pivot before James Lipton adapted it slightly for his show, Inside the Actor's Studio that still plays on Bravo. Each hour-long show, Mr. Lipton has an actor on and talks to them about many things. At the end of the show, he asks them the questions you'll find below (with the lovely and incredibly talented Joy Williams' answers)...

1. What is your favorite word?
yes

2. What is your least favorite word?
no

3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
My husband, of course! :)

Creatively, I like being given the freedom to play during rehearsals and come up with things on my own that may not be inherent in the script. Playing equals laughter, and laughter equals fun, and it's so much easier to be creative when things are fun! And, boy, do I love to laugh!!

Spiritually and emotionally, kindness turns me on. I'm very, very fortunate to have the most amazing friends in my life. The people who are my best buds make me a better person by being around them. It's great to have hero's....people who you aspire to be more like. I have quite a few of them!!

4. What turns you off?
Negativity. Pissy attitudes. Drama-filled rehearsals. People hurting people.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of laughter...particularly my kids!!!

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
HORNS HONKING!!!!!!!!!!!



7. What is your favorite curse word?
The one that comes out of my mouth most often is s***. I'm not sure it's my favorite, but (when my kids aren't around) I say it.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I think I'd like to attempt fashion design, or costume design. I'd also love to do garden designs. I'm a nut for flowers! Anyone that's been to our house will testify to that. I'd love to help out for special olympics, too. I love kids!

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Accounting. I've never balanced my checkbook, much to my husband's dismay! (But, I've also never been overdrawn!!)

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
You did a good job.

Be sure to catch Joy in Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson, directed by Associate Artistic Director Steve Perigard, playing at Barksdale Theatre at Willow Lawn November 23- January 20.

One Pair of Turtle Doves for Another

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

This weekend in our smash-hit production of The Odd Couple at Hanover Tavern, two of the stellar cast members will be stepping out, making room for two stellar pinch-hitters.

Scott Wichmann, who plays neat freak Felix, and Jen Meharg, who plays the delightful Cecily Pigeon ... or is it Gwendolyn? ... will be stepping out of the show this weekend. Richard Koch and Vicki McLeod will be filling their shoes. The fun thing is that Scott and Jen are a married couple and so are Richard and Vicki.

Major replacements isn't something that happens too frequently on Richmond stages because generally our shows don't run for months or even years, like shows can on Broadway or Off-Broadway. Take Line by Firehouse favorite Israel Horowitz, which is often called the longest running show in history. Granted it only plays one night a week. Or consider Forbidden Broadway which has been running in one incarnation or another since 1982.

The only Broadway production that I have seen twice was John Doyle's incredible re-imagining of Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. I saw it with Patti Lupone (who was awe-inspiring) and then when she was on vacation, with her replacement Judy Kaye. I had heard such great things about Judy Kaye's work in other productions of Sweeney Todd and in her Tony-winning turn in Souvenir, I went back to see her. My favorite moment of hers was when she was upstage-right playing the xylophone (this is one of those John Doyle shows where the actors are also the orchestra) with a look of abject terror on her face. Now, it should be noted that she was up in the corner and maybe wasn't too concerned with being seen, and she did learn the show knowing that she'd be subbing for only a week or two. Nonetheless, her performance was fantastic (very different from Ms. Lupone's, but fantastic still).

It was very funny when I was calling Ticketmaster to order tickets and check on availability because every time I asked about the show they said "Patti Lupone will not be appearing in this performance. Judy Kaye will be taking her place." I KNOW! That's why I'm going back!

But I digress...sometimes, in Richmond, especially with a long-running show like The Odd Couple, there is a time when some of our performers have to step out for a few performances. The last time I remember this happening was several years ago during Barksdale's production of Where's Charley? when the late, great Jim Hilgartner had to leave a couple of weeks before the end of the run and the side-splitting Joe Pabst took over the role of Mr. Spettigue. Incidentally, Joe is the director of our hit production of The Odd Couple! (Not to say that it hasn't happened since, but that's the last time I remember.)

So this was really supposed to be about Vicki and Richard and now I've gotten off-track and...well...anyway...so when I asked Vicki about Richard and herself, I got a very fun response, which I had thought I would use as information for writing about them, but it seems more fun to leave in her voice and just post her own words (I'm awaiting permission from her to do this):

"Let's see...Richard and I met in 1987, working on a locally written, produced and performed comedy pilot for WCVE, Channel 23. The show aired on all the PBS stations in Virginia, with the hope that it would be picked up and become a regular show. Alas, it did not and so we have remained cloaked in obscurity, rather than rising to become Famous PBS Stars.

Okay, how about...Richard loves sleeping very late (whenever possible), eating pizza (he could eat it every night and never grow tired of it, or so he claims) and listening to the music of Mozart and the Beatles, among many other types of music. We both love all kinds of music, listen to it every day and have a huge collection of CDs.

I love working out (I am a personal trainer, certified through the American Council on Exercise), helping others work out and eating really healthy stuff (like a bowl of oatmeal and egg whites, cooked together, or a huge salad with chicken or tuna on it). I also like to eat junk on occasion: really unhealthy buttered popcorn, nachos and beer or big, mean pancake breakfasts with lots of strong, black coffee. I love getting up at or before dawn and going to bed early. I love reading historical diaries and being in the country. I am an introvert, though many people don't believe me when I tell them that."

I would like to add that the first time I saw Richard or Vicki onstage was in Run for Your Wife at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse. Also in that cast were Joy Williams (who appeared recently in Barefoot in the Park at the Tavern, The Magic Flute with Theatre IV and who I just taught with in the Stage Explorers session at Hanover Tavern), Paul Deiss (who is Music Director for the soon-to-open production of Urinetown at Swift Creek Mill), Jason Marks (last seen in Little Shop of Horrors with SPARC), and...Joe Pabst! It was a riot! So when I make it out to see The Odd Couple this weekend (if I can find a seat in a sold out house) I will try very hard to shake the image of Vicki McLeod looking stunning in her lingerie.

--Billy Christopher Maupin