Welcome, everyone, to WFHR's Directors Cut for this May 5th, 2024 Session 45 set.
We're in the 40s. We're in the 40s. We're in the 50s. We're definitely in the 40s.
We're definitely there. That voice you hear. Yes, a little bit of bone.
A little column B on that one. Have your host James J. Mail up here. Thanks so much for joining us,
everybody. That voice you hear there is our head of production, my partner in art,
Seth Habhagger. We appreciate you all joining us, especially for this special episode, where we
ask the best listeners in radio to welcome, we are welcoming to the WFHR stage,
Wassau Community Theater. We're going to talk with them a little bit, get to know
us some of the gang from the cast and talk about Wassau Community Theater a little bit.
First, I'll have our guests introduce themselves. You guys can give us your names and your characters.
Hey, everybody. This is Noel Catherine. I am playing Hope Hard Court in the show Anything Go.
Nice. And I'm Hilary Hastings playing Reno Sweeney in Anything Go. It's coming up here shortly.
Did I hear Hope in Hilary? Is that you? Yeah. It really works.
It really does. It really does. It really works together. We're going to be talking about
Cole Porter's Anything Go is in a little bit. One of those classic plays that there's so much
greatness that we can talk about. We can spend the whole hour just talking about that.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't get into especially having members from Wassau Community Theater
on with us to talk a little bit about Wassau Community Theater. And it's something that
anybody who listens to WFHR has heard Seth Melissa and I talk about Community Theater a lot.
I have no journalistic integrity with this subject. I have been acting since I was seven. I love
acting. I love theater. I believe in the arts. And I do believe that our state needs more attention
to this subject. Wisconsin finished last in the whole union when it comes to funding the arts.
This is something that since the pandemic, a lot of our local community theaters have struggled with.
And we've lost some because of this. I know that there's a theater that I used to work at in
Illinois that is not around anymore because of the pandemic. And for those that have not heard,
Wassau Community Theater that has been around for 80 plus years doing this by the way, everybody
is in a financial crux. It's in a financial situation where they're struggling to keep going.
We want to remind not only businesses that are in the Wassau area, but businesses in this area,
businesses in the north and the south of the state that you can impact this. You can help Wassau
Community Theater. You can impact it. And there's plenty of ways to do that. We're going to give you
a website you can go to. We're going to tell you some other stuff. Are there any suggestions you
all have about ways that we can help Wassau Community Theater? Of course, certainly taking in the
show as we'll talk more about that in a moment. But let's talk about that just a little bit of how
you feel like we as individuals can help Wassau. And what theater means to you? We'll get into those
in two different things. And I'll just start and go down the line here. Yeah, sure. Thank you for bringing
that up by the way. I think overall, you know, this organization is such an integral part of our
community. Just knowing that it's a resource for local artists to be able to come in and share
that level of self-expression and creativity with one another is such a unique and special
opportunity. And it's something that I definitely have cherished for a really long time. And I know
so many people do as well. I think moving forward, you know, we've got a really great show coming in.
We've had a great week of rehearsals. And definitely the energy is starting to pick up as we
gear up towards the show. So I think in terms of supporting us, man, come on out. See us, join us as
many nights as you want to. We have a lot of great stacked weekends coming here the first and
second weekend in June. So I'm just so grateful to be able to be a part of a show like this.
The cast is stacked with so many talented performers like the one sitting next to me.
I just feel really grateful to have the opportunity and to be able to dive into this role and
this show. And like you said, I mean, Cole Porter. My gosh, like the best, right? All of the music,
all of the references of the time period. It's a really, really beautiful show. So I think the
best way that we can support and uplift this organization that has given so much to us is to
just pour ourselves back into it as actors and community members. Come on out. See us.
It is. It's wonderful that a community theater is out there for. And I was a working actor for
10 years and on the West Coast. And the last musical I did was 20 years ago. And here I am getting
to jump into such an amazing show, such a huge character in part and nothing like jumping into
the deep end. But having a community theater is so wonderful for, it's such a creative outlet,
but it's also an emotional out like some people come because this is their their getaway from
their lives. And then to be able to work together and put a show together like this is is an
incredible experience. But also for being able to bring it to a community where, you know, for
a small, I mean, I don't know if you've looked at prices to see a professional show. It's outrageous.
So to be able to enjoy theater with quality acting and singing and choreography, it's just great
to be able to bring that and it would be such, such, such a shame to see that go away.
The speaking to the importance of the arts and the community, it's something that we touch on a
lot. I just had some cast members in of a local high school play and some kids in. And one of the
kids that is in the play, he was with us last year and he came in and he was very nervous and he
wasn't very confident on the microphone talking with us and everything. Not even a year later,
he comes in, he just strolled in here, just strolled in, plopped right down to what questions he got
from me, James. Come on. It was just fine. He was perfectly fine. And that doesn't happen without
theater. No. Like this, the arts are that important because that kid may not go on to be the next
Clooney or Hanks or something like that. Doesn't matter. No, he may go on to do something in a
accountant or be a mechanic or something like that. Whatever he does, he's going to need some
confidence with it. He's going to be able to need to talk to people, have some confidence in
public speaking, some of those things. The things that the arts do for us, don't just start or
end when we're young or old or no matter our experience. I imagine that you can speak to this
a little bit, you know, having some, you know, professional experience and everything. It just
only made me a better human. There's no way I'm doing this job without acting. Like there's no way,
I didn't go to school for radio. I didn't do a lot of this. This is my skill set just happened
to fit this. There's also the end of things of people being able to give back. And so much of us,
especially after the pandemic, have really felt this, like, what can I do to help my community?
What can I do to give back? Creatives, we can play a doctor, but we are not doctors. We can not
actually do those kinds of things. But what we can do is take this skill set we have and entertain
our communities, entertain people and really bring something there. It would be a real,
it'd be a real black eye to not be able to do that, to not be able to offer that to any community,
let alone a beautiful community like was on that area. There is the self-improvement that happens
from theater that goes on where we learn more about ourselves, we get more comfortable in our own
skin. Every adult deserves that, every human being deserves that. The change that theater can
bring, the differences it can make, whether it is bringing us back to the past, like a great play
like this and reminding us of how things used to be and giving us maybe a little perspective
about today, or taking on huge issues that theater has done since its existence and Shakespeare
and everything. The arts are important. And I feel very silly in some ways, like describing
why art is important and why theater is important. But we need to, and we need to remind people,
and I apologize taking some time to do that. I appreciate you guys playing along and everything,
but I really did want to hit on that a little bit while we had you in and remind everybody that
we can keep these theaters alive. All we got to do, go to shows. And to remember that just because
it's labeled community theater doesn't mean that the process is any different than a professional show.
And some of the training that I mean, I know I studied in London for four years and when
you know, studied classical acting and musical theater. So it doesn't mean that there isn't talent
out there just because it's labeled community theater. And I think that's important as well.
There are so many talented people in your community wherever you're listening to us. And for every
great actor or singer or something that you see or you listen to their music, there's about a
thousand people behind them that are just as talented and just haven't had a break for whatever
reasons. A lot of those people show up at community theater, show up at there. Not to mention
the musicians and we have a live orchestra. So you're a thousand percent. Right. Stay a chance
everybody. Yeah. I want to take a moment and get into the show and the time and the dates,
the details and everything. But just to wrap up this conversation, just a real quick quote.
Self-improvement can be the result of community theater, which might give someone the boost.
They need in order to make a difference. And that is just a quote from main stage community
theater. It is an old phrase, but it is something that has been around for a while. And I think
speaks to the essence of what we're talking about. It's a conversation here and we're talking about
and we want to take a moment to get to know our cast a little bit here. And in some of the actors,
we have with us of Cole Porter's Anything Goes. The wonderful show coming up from our friends
over at Walsall Community Theater will give you the details on that in just a minute. But let's go
and get into this. I want to talk to actors at that. I want to talk about acting. Shocking. I did
the serious thing. Really? I'm just learning this now. I did the serious thing. I got that out
of the way. Now we can have some fun. Let's dive right in. It's all fun. And first, if you don't mind
Noel, get to know you a little bit. I think a good place to start Noel would be some of your acting
experience. What is your experience previous to this show? Yeah. Well, thank you for asking by
the way. And I just want to say to like with your points previously, like this has been such an
integral part of my experience in my life, the theater, community theater, doing productions like
this. So I kind of got into the theater. I'd say I think I was in fifth grade. I did my first show.
Yeah, just just a little bean. But yeah, my mom kind of pushed me to do it. I was resistant. And
she's like, no, but I think you're going to try. And I just kind of fell in love with it and
growing up. I was in and out of sports and things like that. So I definitely was not like the
household theater kid that's in every single show and doing all the things. But music has been such
a huge part of my life and dancing as well. So in high school, I'd say I kind of dove into theater
a little bit more. And also in college, I studied at UW Madison was a huge, huge contender. And
part took a lot of music down there at UW, which was really fantastic. And yeah, I just, I guess I've
always kind of had it in the back of my head. It's always been in my heart to be on stage and just
use that creative outlet for myself. I've done some singing and songwriting on the side as well.
So there's just a lot of facets to the theater that branch all of my loves together. So I guess
that's where I was really intrigued to do the show because the music, the dancing, and I do
ballroom dancing as well. So in my, my, my character kind of gets to delve into a little bit of that
style. So I was really intrigued by that. And I knew I just had to do this show and get myself
out there again with COVID in the pandemic and graduating from my undergrad. I kind of took a
step back from theater. And I'm back and I'm really excited to be back. Very cool. So yeah, you can't
get away. Yeah, it will bring you back in no matter what, right? Just when I thought I was out,
they pulled me back in that's that's that's theater. Yeah, yeah. But no, I've been studying
voice since high school and dancing. And I actually take ballroom lessons with legato dance studio.
So to have all of those facets kind of be combined within this opportunity is something that's
really, really special. So I love dancing. You've got to tell me where that ballroom lessons are.
Yeah, I want to thank you. Thank you. Can you tell us a little bit about your character?
Yeah, so my character, her name is Hope Harcourt. She's a W. Taunt. So she's kind of in this
high society atmosphere, but she's got a little bit more fire in her than that, I guess you could say.
So the the show kind of takes us on this journey on the SS American. And it follows kind of like a
double love triangle almost. Yeah, there's a lot of yes. Yeah, state of mistaken identities and
stowaways and marriage proposals and all the things combined and what. And so all of these
shenanigans happening on the SS American, but basically Hope loses her father previously
before the story of the show starts, but she's with her widowed mother and her mother wants her to
marry this Lord, this British Lord Evelyn Oakley. So she's kind of stuck in that situation and
she's not too happy about it. Previously though, she had this fling with this guy named Billy Crocker.
And she's still pretty attached to that. So she's kind of stuck in this sticky situation between
Lord Evelyn Oakley and Billy Crocker. And she's navigating all of the pressures of her mother
as well. So within all the shenanigans and within all of, you know, the funny tricks and dancing
and singing, she really does have this genuine want to step into her own skin and come out of her
shell. And I relate to her in so many ways. And that being one of them, but she really just wants
to step into her own truth and be able to make a decision for herself and be with who she truly
loves. So you'll have to come and see that with that love. That's all. That's a great thing. Well, T.J.
Yeah, you'll have to come and see Hope's kids what she wants. Very, very, very.
Very nice. Hillary, would you mind telling us a little about your acting experience and a little
bit of your character? Sure. For my college years, studied at the London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Art in London and artitational schools for musical theater. I know it sounds so fancy.
And it was. It was fantastic. Yeah, so a lot of Shakespeare check off Ibsen, you know,
all the classics. And then with the musical theater side, of course, we studied all these old
co-plorder things. So actually, anything goes I did in high school and I did not play Reno's. We
need. So now I get to be Reno's, we need many, many years later. Acting experience, gosh, everything
from commercials to independent films. I was in CSI, the original series, The Lost Vegas.
I was played on a soap opera called Passions, which was on NBC. Do you remember that one?
Passions. Was his name Mikey, the little. This is very, very witchy and weird and silly, but
it was so much fun. But yeah, lots of. We all just dated ourselves by the way. We did. We did.
Lots and lots of commercial work. But yeah, everything I could get my hands on. When you're
a working actor, you are auditioning for everything and anything, you know, hoping to keep your clothes
on. But you know, I was even a magician's assistant in Las Vegas for a summer, which was the
craziest, hardest job I've ever had to do. Fascinating. Wow. You do a whole show about that.
Yeah, it really does. It was nuts. So yeah, so now here I am, got married, had babies and moved
to Wisconsin. And I haven't done, now that the girl, my girls are a bit older, I'm like, you
know what, I can get back in and spend every night of the week till 930 rehearsing for a show.
So I get to the absolute pleasure of playing Reno Sweeney, who is an evangelist turned nightclub
singer. Yeah. And you know, I'm tapping and tangling and singing and just having such a ball
doing it. Reno is on this boat to do her show that she does in nightclubs, you know,
saving sinners souls twice a night in the ship's lounge. And she is in love with Billy,
who hope has had this thing with it. So she thinks Billy is in love with her too, but Billy,
and that's because Billy's never laid a hand on her, made a pass at her. And you know, so Reno,
yeah, so here she is realizing that Billy isn't in love with her. So we have this sort of triangle
thing going on and it's just, it is an absurd show. And it's absurdly funny. There are still
moments that are just like, we hear it all the time and we, as cast members, we're still laughing at
the same jokes over and over. I struggle so much between my friends sitting next to me here.
And our other leads, I mean, they're, as people they are genuinely so funny, but the show itself
has so many moments where I struggle to keep it together. And the classic songs I get a kick out
of you. And yeah, yeah, it's just, I mean, you're the top.
One of our great American songwriters for a reason. Oh, yeah, cold port. That's fantastic.
Thank you both so much for not only the, the kind of IMDB of your career.
Right, right. I appreciate that. Also appreciate you guys giving us a little bit of a snippet of
the show and a little bit of a taste of your characters. We're going to take a time out. We'll come
back and I want to get to know a little bit more about the rehearsal process and get into a
couple of more details. One little plug speaking of IMDB. My maiden name is Kraus. So if you google
Hilary HILARY C-R-O-U-S-E, you get to see some of my credits. I will be doing that. I will be doing
that too. Good on you, by the way. As long as we're taking side notes, good on Hilary. I teach a
little bit on the side. I say that loosely at second city. And one of the biggest things I tell
my students, be a, well, be a surviving artist, not a struggling artist, have a day job.
But the only difference between you and the actor that makes it is being relentless.
Just continuing your career. Keep on trying, taking shots, going after stuff. It sounds like you've
done that and you're continuing to do that. Even as with other responsibilities continuing to act,
I admire that, that passion, to be able to do that. Not a lot of people kind of keep at it.
Anytime I see an actor doing that, I am always appreciative. And I hope you know that you got a
lot of people that support that and back that. So keep at it. That's really cool to hear.
We'll take a time out. We'll come back. We'll talk a little bit more with our friends from
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Community Theater, and anything goes.
Welcome back to Directors Cut, everyone. Have your host, James, joined by my man,
and Art Seth. And we have some of the cast members from the great Cole Porter play,
anything goes. We are joining, we are being joined by from members from the Warsaw Community Theater.
I'm going to get my bearings here. I'm all excited. I have too much energy. That's the problem.
We are speaking with Noelle and Hillary. And I want to ask you both a little bit about the work
that you did to build your characters. Let's talk about that a little bit. And I'll start with
you Noelle. Yeah. So when I was thinking about hope, I mean, first glance, and I've watched
different renditions and stuff like that too. But I think first glance she can maybe be a little
bit misunderstood or maybe be seen as a little bit more of a like a flatline character,
more stagnant, or just kind of categorized, I guess, as, okay, she's the girl that doesn't
give what she wants, you know, like, and she's, you know, pouting about it. But really when you dive
into her role and you really look at the lyrics that she sings and what she says, you see that she,
there's a lot of layers behind that. I mean, she really is diving into her own. I think she's
stepping into her own power as a woman. And she's trying to find it within herself to,
I don't want to say take a stand against her mother, but really just like advocate for what she
really wants, even though that breaks expectations and definitely breaks boundaries, especially
considering the time period that she's set in. So I think between breaking down those boundaries
and also just allowing hope to step into her own power, I think I've kind of tapped into a little
bit more of a dynamic nuance within, within hopes characters. So I feel like hopefully I'm able to
allow that part of her to shine. She has a lot to give. She has a lot of love to give.
And she wants to give it so badly, but she just has these exterior forces that are kind of
restraining that. But by the end of it and throughout it, there's so many highlight moments for her.
So yeah, we've been working really hard to just allow those moments to shine and let hope get
what she wants. Finally. Nicely done. Hillary can tell us a little bit about yours.
So as far as I think I'm still within the rehearsal process still discovering more about
my character, I think I asked questions to myself while reading the script and going, well,
why does she like this person? Why, you know, so kind of trying to figure out why it's written
the way it is and then making my own backstory. I'm thinking, well, she is a rage or beyond.
And it's time to she, you know, she's done all this crazy stuff and but coming down and going,
what is she now? What does she want now? And it's security. And maybe it's not about love.
It's about, I need someone to take care of me now. I'm a nightclub singer.
I'm getting old and it's time to kind of. But there's, she's so big.
And yet there's a lot of tenderness in her but she tries to be this hard. So trying to find that
balance and going, okay, so how do I go from singing the, I get a kick out of you to
blow Gabriel blow, which is this huge like, that's her show, you know, which and just trying
to find that balance. But I feel like I'm still discovering bits.
Well, I think both places to be in are, well, there is no bad place to be in as an actor,
necessarily in this process, wherever you are is where you meant to be. I generally think that,
I think we've all been a part of shows where they peak too early or they peak too late or what
have you. No, that's the way it was supposed to go. That's, that's just theater. That theater is a
living breathing thing and I think that you can't necessarily make it do what you want to do always
and sometimes it does things that surprise you. And a production, any production is like that,
especially one like this that takes so many details and the logistics of this with the music and
everything else. It's understandable. I think that's really cool for both of you in this process.
Let's get into that a little bit in the rehearsal process that you mentioned there, Hillary.
How often do you guys been rehearsing? I should say when did you first start rehearsing and how long
have you been rehearsing? We started April 1st with just a table read, which means we all
sit around a table and we read from the script and listen to the music. And then we jumped
into choreography first. Yes, because there's a lot of tap dancing and just it's I, thankfully,
I'm a tap dancer. But some of the cast hadn't tapped before. So it's just been this fun experience
for everybody to like get to get. And it's really coming together, which is exciting. Yes, yeah.
And I will say to your point previously, you know, like I feel so grateful because in developing
the characters with seen castmates develop their own characters. That's been inspiring so many
little moments for me. So I do feel like I agree with you, Hillary. It's such a continuous,
you know, journey, I guess you could say. And I feel like it's I- That's part of the fun of
theaters. Yeah. You have the time. When you're working on television or film, you make those choices
and it's filmed and that's it. Yeah. Where you might look back and hindsight go, God, I wish I had done that.
Yes. And in theory, with all these rehearsal process, you get to, hey, on the second
to last show, we might discover something that's brilliant. Yeah. It's play. And you get to play.
We get to, that's why it's a play. It's so fun. Yes. So now we are, we rehearse every evening,
6.30 to 9.30. Yeah. Yeah. And depending on what needs to be worked on, we sometimes it's
everything. Sometimes it's focused on vocals, but yeah. So not a commitment, but not a gigantic
commitment, not a huge commitment as far as the time of your day, because one of the things that we
do with these shows, we certainly want to promote you guys, want to promote theater and your show.
We always like to encourage people that anybody can be doing what we're doing right now.
Anybody could be out there on that stage. And if you've ever had an inkling, ever wanted to
get out there, get on out there. Don't be afraid. Yes. You know, it's, you'll find your home.
Yeah. Yeah. Well said. And your tribe too. And your people. I mean, there's so many great people,
and I will say to like, you know, everybody has a crazy schedule. We've all got things going on,
but when you can take the time to be a part of that magic, it's truly. And these are people that
you probably wouldn't encounter. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yep. I would have never probably never known
Hillary. If we weren't doing it right in just coming from different backgrounds, different
careers, different times in your life. Yeah. So there's so many people out there too. I'm sorry,
I don't know. That's okay. There's so many people out there that are looking for something to do,
that are looking how to run into new people, how to make new friends, or just looking for a new hobby,
or are looking for something else. And at the same time, a lot of those same people are looking for
ways to impact their community way to input and invest in their community, if you will.
And while you're right, we all got crazy schedules. Yeah. And that everybody has a lot of
dollars and cents, even nowadays, to do that. You can put your time into a community theater play.
You can work backstage. You can help with handing out tickets, or be a part of the show,
and be on that main stage. And that is community involvement. And don't let time scare you. Like,
one of the Patrick who is playing Billy, we had worked together recently, and I said,
are you going to audition? Or he asked me if I was auditioning, and I said, yes, and I said,
are you? And he's like, oh, it's been a long time. And I said, it's been 20 years for me,
so you have no excuse. So whether you did, you starred in a show, your senior year high school,
and you've never, you know, 30 years later, you've never done a show. This is the perfect
place to just come back. And the ROI, the return on investment. That time, I mean, it is so,
it is so fulfilling. You feel so connected to those around you. I mean, I feel more connected
to myself. I mean, the opportunity to dive into these characters and just be truly just be
like immersed in the environment of all that music, of all that expression. It's, it's, I like,
I wish the schools would call it theater sports, because yeah, sports get all the funding,
all the attention. You know, you go on a high school website to buy a ticket for a show,
and you can't find it. Where do I even buy this ticket? So I feel like because doing theater is not
only a personal experience, you're a team. You are working as a team to make this thing all come
together. And that's from backstage to production to the actors on the stage. And I just think it's,
it's, it gets overlooked and undervalued. We would think about your life or society in general
without any of this, without any theater, without any movies, any TV shows, anything like that.
First, how are you going to fill that time? Why do we have banjo playing? Yeah, a lot of that,
a lot of fiddle, a lot of banjo, a lot of polka, maybe some tiddily winks here and there. I don't know,
but you're gonna, you're gonna, you're gonna miss it. You'd miss it. You'd miss it in a heartbeat.
You miss it in a second. You miss it as soon as I said that. These pleat things have a place. It's
just that we don't always necessarily as society take the time to really note that. Here is our
opportunity. Here is our moment in time to really appreciate that, especially in this particular
state, where again, Wisconsin finished last in funding the arts. I'm not, I'm a transplant,
I'm not from here, but I know I've lived here for quite a while. And if there's one thing I have
learned about Wisconsinites, Wisconsinites are proud of being from Wisconsin. Wisconsinites are
proud of Wisconsin. Take some pride in your state when in an election year, when you're pay attention
to who you're voting for and people that are putting back into this state and putting back into the
arts. It is a vital, it is important going forward and we appreciate you doing that. I do want to
ask a little bit more about the show. Hold on, I got to add one thing here. I got to add one
thing here because you know all this stuff you guys are talking about. Yeah, it's great and
everything. I'll tell you one thing. You do not know what's going to happen when you go to the
theater. That's where I met my wife. I met my wife in a show. I got this job because of a show.
You don't know what's going to happen. What kind of relationships are going to form and what kind
of how you're going to interact with the community. Since my wife is a pastor, we move around
going to different churches. The first thing we usually do is find out where's the community theater
because that's a great way to be introduced into the community to just find people that you
can relate to and that kind of thing. It's not just about what's happening on stage. It's about
all of everything else that comes along with it. It's such a great point. As a side note,
they just happen to move right next to the theater when they move. Yeah, it's really worked out.
Really worked out. We're speaking with some of the cast members of anything goes. They
show that is coming up with Wassau Community Theater. I believe wrapping up the season at Wassau
Community Theater. The main stage season looks like. Yes. Yes. This great show featuring the music
and lyrics of Cole Porter kicks off on May 31st at 730. They'll have a show on June 1st and 2nd.
There's a 730 on the 1st, 2 o'clock matinee on the 2nd, and on June 6th, there'll be a 6th
other show, June 7th, 730, June 8th, a 2 o'clock matinee, and also on 8th, there'll be a 730 show.
And on the 9th, they are also going to have a matinee for you to wrap everything up. All
shows will be hosted at the UW Center for Civic Engagement over at the vetting theater, I believe,
at 625 Stewart Avenue in Wassau. You can find out more at Wassaucommunitytheater.org,
Wassaucommunitytheater.org. We will kick a quick time out. We'll come back. We'll wrap up another
episode of Directors Cut here at WFHR. Welcome back to Directors Cut here at WFHR. We're
we're speaking with some of the cast from Wassaucommunitytheater's Cole Porter's Anything Goes.
It is so hard to not jump into song. Nobody wants that from me. Nobody wants to be doing that.
Let's hear it. Especially we got people that actually kept singing here. Nobody needs that.
But we will get to the dates in the time of the show in a moment. I do want to remind everybody
Wassaucommunitytheater.org that is a website. You should follow along on that and follow them
on social media, follow them on Facebook. It's a great way to keep up the date. Not only on the
great shows that they have coming up, but ways to support Wassaucommunitytheater. Wherever you're
listening to us, we encourage you to support your local theater. Gang, I'd like to ask a little
bit about the songs and and and some of that. Before we get to that though, this is one of my
questions I like to ask everybody. What was one of the harder parts of this process? And I will
start with you Noah. Yeah. Oh gosh. Um, it's kind of funny because I think the hardest part is
my favorite part. So I don't know. My heart really lies within the dancing. I feel like I kind of
got dream role with this being hope because she gets to do the number called Delively. And it's
right in the middle of the show and basically it's the number where she kind of lets herself cave
Billy's trying to pull her back in and she's been resistant for too long, too long that she
can't handle it anymore and she kind of kind of caves into it. And she really just she lets herself
fall in love again. Which is very elegant and lovely. Yes. But when you do that sassy bit,
I love you look amazing. Oh, thank you. I love it. I love it. Well, that's fun too. I mean,
there's so many moments in that number that are dynamic and you know, she's got a little fire in
her. She can give a she can dish it out back to Billy if she wants to. I think that's why they like
each other. He's kind of this he's a cat. She's he's funny and he likes to play his games but she's
I mean, she's a master of disguise. Yeah, a master of disguise, but she fell in love with them so
she can kind of dish it back a little bit. But no, where my heart lies really is with the dancing
and she gets to do that number with Billy and it's just so great to be able to do all that partner
work and with that there is some challenge because you know, I had never danced with Patrick before
when you're doing things like that. There's a lot of trust. It's not just you yourself dancing.
There's all those dynamics with it within the partnership, but he's so awesome and I'm so lucky
to be with so many great cast members like that. But yeah, that's that's definitely maybe been
the hardest part, but also the most fulfilling in my favorite part because gosh, doing ballroom
and stuff like that. I mean, being able to do a show that has elements of that is really
the sweet spot for me. So yeah, that is what I'd have to say. Very cool, Hilary.
The most challenging, it's challenging. So I think because it's Cole Porter and because I have
these, there's a lot of lyrics. Yes. And it's challenging to remember them all and dance at the
same time. So in connecting the dots, that's where I am right now. It's just like, okay, I know
this. I know that now. Let's put it all together and not say the f-bomb too many times.
I tend to do that if you haven't noticed in rehearsal and I forget all the littles in the
room. Sorry. It's a little swear. So yeah, and just fun things. Yeah, and so you're the top,
you're the Coliseum, you're the top, you're the Louvre Museum and it just goes on and on and on
and same with friendship and anything goes. If driving fast cars you like, if low bars you like,
if barely, you know, it just goes on and on and on and so it's it's fun. Yeah. Yeah. She's amazing
too. She genuinely, I mean, you play. Well, and it's like, you know, you look at, but I think
did Ethel Merman, was she one of the first ones to play this on Broadway? I think the time's up,
you know, she's like belting it out. Yes, that's so there's been so many. One of her signature roles,
yeah. So many revivals over the years and it's like, oh, I can take this from that person and
that one and like Patty Lapone and then we've got Sutton Foster and so it's it's fun to watch
all of those and just like, and then of course, I'm not them. So finding my own voice within it,
but then like being able to look at these women and go, wow. Yeah. So it's interesting.
Every actor is different when it comes to this kind of thing. I did it's a wonderful life
some years back and I hadn't seen it since I was a kid and I was like, well, I'm not, I'm not
going to watch it until after the show. I don't want to, I didn't want it to influence me or
anything like that. And and I watched this, I watched this show, I watched the movie and I see,
oh, I was doing this just like he was or I was doing this or I did this different or something.
It's a good balance for me to to to not know because I'm never going to be Jimmy Stewart,
but I can be Jimmy. I can be James. I can be that to hear that you guys went back and kind of
watch some other, you know, performances and that took some influence from it and everything.
I think that's really cool. There's no bad way to do it necessarily. It's just interesting
the approach that we take to it and everything with when I played Sherlock, well, that's a character
I've known since I was six. So I went the other way with it. I didn't mind researching and watching
all the actors that have played him over the years and taking this from, you know, Ben and the
Comberbatch and this from Robert Downey Jr. and using things and while making it my own. Right.
Way I think that's one of the funnest things about acting and it's something that anybody out there
can do. You guys can be a part of this tool and keep reminding you of that. Try out for your local
theater. Be a part of your local theater. What about the songs? You guys mentioned a number of
the songs already in some of the songs that you liked. Is there any you haven't gotten to mention
that we want to shout out or any of your fellow actors that you would like to highlight right now
and mention? I'm sure that I put you on the spot like that. There's going to be names you forget.
So we don't want to do that necessarily but we do want to shout out the rest of the cast. We want
to shout out the crew and everybody else. It's a part of this. One of the things that stands out
to me about a show like this is something that I think Seth has more experience with than I do.
I've done over a hundred characters. Been in a ton of shows. I've only been a one musical.
I've only really done one musical before and and I've only had to learn, you know, choreography
for a handful of shows. I'm used to I go in. I learn my blocking. I learn my lines. I get my
cast members. We get some chemistry. Let's do this. It's such a different animal to be able to
take on all those other factors. It sounds like that balance learning all of that has gone well for
you. How do you feel it's gone? Because for me, from my perspective, you guys are doing great.
But for you in that process, how has it gone to balance all that to learn all those things
no well? Yeah, I mean, that's what really fuels me. I feel like I'm really in my in my own when I
get to combine all those things. Like I said before, like I feel like this role is my sweet spot.
I have like a special place in my heart for hope, I feel like. But no, I mean the rehearsal
process has been very fulfilling. Definitely has come with its challenges, but I mean to be able,
what a privilege, right, to be able to work through all of those things and and connect the dots
like you said, Hillary and and just play and make those choices and have the opportunity to
to be vulnerable with the character itself and then be able to branch all of those facets
of yourself together is something that's really fulfilling and really enlightening to. There's
something so different about a play and a musical and they're both so great to do.
But the challenge I think with a musical, because let's face it, people breaking into song
doesn't happen in real life. I can seem pretty absurd. I mean maybe at home for me, but
so finding that, finding the naturalness, if that's even, but like to say, okay, let's like,
if I could break into a song right now and make it seem natural, that's a challenge in itself
without it. I mean luckily we have amazing music and it feels so much, it feels natural because
it is such a classic, classic show. But I think that's why some people are turned off by musicals
because they think it's nerdy and bizarre. But then I mean you watch West Side Story,
especially the new Steven Spoon. I mean if you can't get moved by that, then maybe it's not your
thing. So I think that's a challenge doing musical theater and a huge difference between a play
is just finding that. And being able to tell a story within the lyrics in the song and not just
standing there singing, but actually like I'm feeling this right now. And for people who are in
musicals, Cole Porter in specific, you touched on it is he's a hard, his songs are challenging
because not only does he load them with lyrics and stuff, some of his changes in the song are not
easy. Think of like, I know I don't think it's in, but night and day. Oh yeah, night and day,
or the wall. I mean that's for say that's weird, you know, they for singers like,
oh, that's why am I singing it like that kind of thing. So it's it for like to your point about
that is not only are you doing something that's not normal bringing it to song, you are telling a
story. And then you got to get the rhythm with it and you got to get, you know, the part of the
song that everyone is waiting for, okay, the fun of it, you know. And it's brilliant. He's brilliant
and because in the first scene with I get a kick out of you and Reno and Billy are at a table
and Reno's trying to say, you're wonderful, you're great looking, you're, you're at words poetic,
I'm so pathetic that I always have found it best. And so she goes right into the song
because she can't come up with the words. And I'm like, that is brilliant. Yeah, it really is.
Yeah, it's such a well-written show, such great music. Hearing you guys talk about this,
it reminds me one of my favorite. It's a portable football, but I've always thought of it as with
theater. They with football, they pay me from Monday through Saturday, they get Sunday for free.
We pay for the rehearsal, the learning our lines, all these other things. Once we get on that
stage, that's for us. That's for the audience. That's it's such a good time. And we certainly wanted
to take a moment to shout out our sponsors, ladies. Yes, thank you so much to our season sponsors,
the Community Foundation, Crystal Finishing and the Law Offices of Mary Sue Anderson.
And the show sponsors for anything goes. Our rotographics printing,
Connectsis Association, Rooterware and 95.5 WIFC. Thank you so much. Thank you guys.
We are all done. We're wrapping up. You just got one question left, but it is the toughest question.
So I apologize for that. Oh boy. We like to ask all of our guests that join us this wonderful question.
Uh, if you could have coffee with any historical figure, who and why?
Oh, there's so much pressure behind you. So much. So much.
We get unfaithful. Same reaction every time we do this. Every time. I don't know. Every
thing. At least they didn't curse me this time. I mean, that was nice. What? In their heads,
they might be, but yes, if you could, like just, uh, on the top of your head, it doesn't have to
be necessarily anybody that we even know. Maybe it's a family member or something like that.
Or what? But it does have to be somebody from the past, somebody from the past.
So then try to make it a little bit easier for you. Well, that's that even broadens it more.
It does make it easier for you. So if we do historical. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, I gosh. I love this. I love it. I know it's such an awful question. It's so tough.
I think I thought of something.
You go being a musical theater mode right now. My, my brain went to Judy Garland.
Oh, great. I mean, I got to play Dorothy in the Wiz in high school and obviously that
role is inspired by her iconic role. But there was just something about her and a spark about
her that I've always been drawn to. That's a great place. I mean, everything. It doesn't get better
than that, right? So yeah, I think I'm going to go with Judy Garland. That's a great one.
Yeah. That's a great one. That's good. And I should mention Hillary, you don't have to answer
the question. It's so hard. It's so hard. Like I'm like, oh, what, what actor would I want to?
And it was always like, when Jack lemon died, I cried because I would never even get the chance
to work with him. Like I would. But I was like, I was devastated. Right. But then if I was thinking
like, historical, historical, that's so. I mean, how about Shakespeare? Yeah. Yeah. Or how about
like, I don't know Da Vinci or somebody. And Bolin. And Bolin. That's the answer. There we go.
I think that's so good. Thank you both so much. Not only do we appreciate you guys,
hang out with me and putting up with our questions and all that and hang out with us there. But
you guys taking the time out of your days to entertain your community, to entertain us, to
be able to do those things. I greatly appreciate that out of you. Please carry on and pass on to
the rest of the cast and crew. I wish them a great run, break a leg, enjoy yourselves. We're
going to give you a great show. We're going to make sure that the whole theater is filled. We're
going to give you a good crowd. Okay. Awesome. Enjoy yourselves. I want to remind everyone that
the upcoming shows for anything goals, the amazing legendary show from Cole Porter comes up May 31st
at 730. That is opening night. June 1st at 730. June 2nd. I love a two o'clock matinee. June 6 630.
June 7th 730. June 8th to a clock matinee. The 8th will have a 730 show as well. And then
everything wraps up. June 9th with a two o'clock matinee. All this taking place at the beautiful CW
Center for Civic Engagement, the Vennings, uh, Venega, uh, theater over at 625 Stewart Avenue in
Wasau, Wisconsin. You can find out more at wasaucommunitytheater.org. Wasaucommunitytheater.org. Be
sure to follow them on Facebook as well. We'll be back with another director's cut for you real soon.
Seth and James out of here for now. Thank you very much for joining us. Talk to you soon in the
later right here at WFHR locally grown radio.