I was a part of the original cast of LEAVING IOWA when it made its professional debut at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, and I got to workshop the new script with one of the playwrights, Tim Clue, working under the direction of Tony Caselli. I read the new script before auditioning, and as I was saying aloud Sis's role (who for the most part is seen in flashbacks as the older tween in the family & who enjoys teasing her younger brother) I knew it was meant for me. My voice and inflection fit Sis's sentences and exclamations to a tee. That's how I felt, anyway and I hadn't ever experienced feeling that way auditioning for any other role before, and I haven't since. LEAVING IOWA is the only play where I was cast on the spot after auditioning. It's also the only play where I was offered a role without auditioning, when Tony produced it at the Williamston Theatre (where he is now Artistic Director) five years later, and where I got to revisit my Sis role with John Lepard once again in the leading role of my brother.
Revisiting LEAVING IOWA walking the dog with my son began with me recounting to him the scene where Sis and Don, on vacation with their Dad and Mom, drive through Iowa on what was to be their last family summer vacation together. They spot the tourist stop Ghost Caverns and beg Dad relentlessly to go. After nearly two pages of, "Please, Dad's," and "Why not's?" Dad says it's too expensive and Sis and Don's argument is shut down. Then they spot a free parking sign and start back up again, chanting at one point, "Free, free, free, free, free," to which inevitably, Dad, exhausted (all while driving and being pestered from the backseat) says the two words described by adult Don in the play as, "The words of a broken man,": "We'll see." (Of course in kids speak, 'We'll see' means YES.) Sam enjoyed my telling so much, he began chiming out a chorus of 'Free's' and asking me to tell it again, even becoming 'Dad' to my 'Sis', which led to my dusting off the 11 year-old binder-clipped script and reading it aloud to him (and speaking all the parts) before bedtime.
It was great to say the least to give my voice to all the characters in front of Sam, as it was enjoying remembering how I said most of my Sis lines. I kept thinking though I'm over a decade older since playing Sis, I could still embody that young person's energy and voice. I could also play Mom now. Funny enough, Sam pointed out how similar I am to Dad, who has an immense love of family togetherness and American history, especially when I read the scene where Don and Dad visit a Civil War re enactor ("Fascinating!") and Dad becomes part of the re-enactment (Dad's enthusiasm mortifies Don) this on the heels of re-watching episodes from Ken Burns Civil War documentary this past week.
Also great is still having friendships with the people I enjoyed LEAVING IOWA with so long ago. "Aw, man, we were just talking about that play!" replied Tony Caselli, when I emailed him about my telling the story to Sam last night. I remember when we performed LEAVING IOWA at the Rose and it was sold out every performance the six weeks it ran. The ushers had to sit on the stairs. The audience collectively laughed and cried every show. The reviews were stellar. Jeff Daniels (Executive Director at the Purple Rose Theatre) said if he'd known what kind of success LEAVING IOWA was going to have he would have put it in the summer slot for that season (longer run.)
I have so many great memories from doing Leaving Iowa at the Purple Rose and Williamston Theatres, too many to share here tonight. I imagine myself an old lady one day, surrounded by just a few precious mementos to occasionally take out and look at for a smile. One will be a little snow globe that reads JOHN WAYNE BIRTHPLACE, WINTERSET, IOWA, setting for LEAVING IOWA (which references John Wayne's birthplace in the script.) I gave one of these to cast and crew on opening night at the Purple Rose. The other, a plastic statuette from the Oakland Press for BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE in LEAVING IOWA (the only non-certificate award for performance I've ever received.) Maybe too, my first loose leaf script, and the published paperback version, which has my name among the rest of the cast from the 2004 Purple Rose Production (only 1 of 2 published plays my name, as being a part of an original cast, appears in.)
Cover of published paperback LEAVING IOWA script, by Tim Clue and Spike Manton.
Inside published script, Acknowledgments with my name (then Teri Clark) along with the rest of the Purple Rose Theatre cast and directors.
Original LEAVING IOWA script with opening night gift and acting award.
LEAVING IOWA original cast from the 2004 Purple Rose Theatre production, directed by Tony Caselli, Artistic Direction by Guy Sanville, from bottom right clockwise:
Elizabeth Townsend (Mom) Grant Krause (Dad) Me & John Lepard (Don)
photo courtesy Purple Rose Theatre, c. 2004
No comments:
Post a Comment