MAD ABOUT THE BOY to Hold Talkbacks
By: Sally Henry Fuller Apr. 11, 2015
Edith O'Hara, the legendary 98-year-old founder and artistic director of the 13th Street Rep, has long encouraged talkbacks after shows, noting that audiences find them both entertaining and informative; people like to get to know the playwrights and performers. Deffaa, the author of eight published books and 16 published plays, has presented talkbacks after all of his shows.
With a cast of 18, the playful new musical "Mad About the Boy" is the biggest, most ambitious production scheduled to play the 13th Street Theater this year. The show--which includes both original new songs by Deffaa plus vintage numbers by the likes of Ma Rainey and Tony Jackson--is about actors rehearsing a gay musical. The cast includes John Brady, Joris de Graaf, Cody Jordan, Luka Fric, Maite Uzal, Michael Czyz, Tony Medlyn, Shinice Hemmings, Michael Knowles, Mark Blowers, Benjamin Grier, Gregory Rittiner, Michael J. C. Anderson, Katherine Paulsen, Amanda Andrews, Al Roths, Hawkins Gardow, Ken Adams. Richard Danley is music director, with Paul Chamlin playing piano at select performances; Rayna Hirt is choreographer; Dennis Gleason and Peter Charney are assistant directors; Kate Solomon-Tilley and Megan Ulan are stage managers; Matt Nardozzi is technical advisor; and Tyler DuBoys is a choreographic consultant; Max Galassi is videographer; Jonathan M. Smith is production photographer; Jimmy A. James is a production associate. Internationally renowned artist Howard Cruse (author of the graphic novel "Stuck Rubber Baby") has designed the show's graphics and logo
Deffaa, who has become the 13th Street Rep's most widely produced playwright, and is credited with spurring a Renaissance at the theater, will include in the talkbacks some historical information on gay songs and theater. Jimmy James, who helped workshop an earlier version of the show and is assisting behind-the-scenes on this one, notes: "As the author of many books dealing with music, and as a playwright who's written a gay show that set box-office records at the theater, Deffaa is uniquely qualified to discuss the history of gay theater and music." O'Hara has noted that her theater was home to the first big hit gay musical in New York, "Boy Meets Boy," which she produced at the 13th Street Rep in 1974; she soon transferred it to the larger Actors Playhouse, where it racked up an unprecedented 463 performances; productions in L.A., London, and elsewhere followed. Is she hoping history might repeat itself? She's not saying. But cast members have been told the show may be extending its run.
Deffaa first presented an early prototype of this show at his own festival; "Mad About the Boy" was the surprise box-office hit of the theater festival. Nine-time Tony Award-winner Tommy Tune came in to see the show and warmly encouraged Deffaa to do more with it. Deffaa, who's long found Tune a major source of inspiration, was happy to oblige. He held the first reading of his new, expanded version of "Mad About the Boy" at the 13th Street Rep in October. Deffaa comments: "The show is still a work in progress. We're still adding and subtracting material; the show, hopefully, will continue to evolve throughout its run." The show is a work of fiction, Deffaa stresses, although parts draw inspiration from actual artists such as Andrew Biggs, singer/actor/director Seth Sikes, dancer/choreographer Ty Douglas, and the late jazz sax great Benny Waters.
Deffaa considers the 13th Street Theater a lucky house for trying out shows. "I've never known anyone more supportive than Edith O'Hara, whom I first met a quarter-century ago. She's given me carte blanche to develop shows here. I'd finish one show and she'd ask simply, 'What would you like to do next?' The late Fred Ebb--of the team Kander & Ebb-told me the biggest problem in the theater is the shortage of supportive producers, who'll give writers and directors freedom to pursue their goals. Edith O'Hara has always done that. I've been blessed to know her. And I'm grateful, too, that her devoted daughter, the actress Jenny O'Hara, has helped keep her mother's dream alive as well. The last four shows I've presented in this theater--'One Night with Fanny Brice,' 'Irving Berlin's America,' 'Theater Boys,' and 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue'--have all gotten cast albums and/or publication deals. I'm hoping the trend will continue." An album of songs from "Mad About the Boy" is planned.
Deffaa, who has lectured all across the US, loves hosting talkbacks. "You never know what audience members will ask. That's part of the fun! And sometimes we'll have theatrical notables in the audience and we'll invite them onstage to join the conversation. And people will ask them questions, too. That's always a treat."
Deffaa, who has to be out of town on May 17th for a lecture date, plans to turn over that show's talkback session to Ken Adams, who's served as general understudy for Deffaa's last few shows. "Poor Ken never gets to go on as an actor, so we're considering letting him lead one of the talkback sessions; he can talk about what it's like to be an understudy." Adams, who understudies all 18 roles in "Mad About the Boy"--noting, "My own favorite roles are those of 'Miss Lambert,' 'Miss McNibby,' and 'Michael Riedel'"--feels understudies rarely get the public recognition they deserve. "It's such hard work! I've learned the whole script, I've studied the work of Lance Jonathan, Brandon Pollinger, and Michael Czyz, who are my role-models; if everyone in the cast took ill, I could perform 'Mad About the Boy' as a one-man show." Deffaa hopes no one in the cast takes ill. "We've got as talented, good-looking, and likeable a cast as can be found anywhere in this city," Deffaa says. "Come see the show, and meet the cast in the talkbacks afterwards!"
Tickets are $30; readers of Broadwayworld.com can use the promo code "promomatb" to get a discount. For more info, please visit: www.13thstreetrep.org.
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