I am sure you have heard that over-used motto about it taking a village to [insert worthy cause here]. You know, when someone wants to point out how we are "all in this together," or that we all need to do our share in this world. Most often the motto is quoted when addressing the needs of children.
It may indeed take a village to raise a child, I'm not going to question that jewel of wisdom. But, sometimes this adage must also be applied to situations beyond child-rearing and education. Because, sometimes, it takes that village to raise a Tuna.
No, I'm not talking about the kind of tuna that swims in the sea and makes good sashimi. I'm referring to Tuna, Texas, the 3rd smallest town in the Lone Star State. Well, no...not really. There really isn't any place called Tuna on a Rand-McNally map of Texas.
But in Theatre World, the Greater Tuna area is legendary...almost mythical, and Randy and I had the privilege of being in the village that raised Tuna.
When the Lakewood Playhouse announced that their managing directors Marcus Walker and Scott Campbell were planning to perform "Greater Tuna" as a fund-raiser for the theater, I immediately thought, "I could help out! I should volunteer to be the assistant stage manager."
Normally, working as a stage manager or assistant stage manager (better known as the "ASM") is not my idea of a fun way to spend 4 weekends. After all, you are usually stuck back stage with temperamental actors, grumpy stagehands and half-crazed directors and costumers barking last minute orders.
But, something inside me told me to do it anyway. You see, in the world of live theater, there are times when you get to be on stage, and there are times when you work to allow others to get on stage. This was the time, I told myself, that I should labor for another actor's glory.
Randy agreed, and quickly jumped in and volunteered to be stage manager. Whew! At least I knew I could get along with the stage manager on this project!
So, after many rehearsals, numerous production meetings and the filming of silly promotional trailers that were posted on YouTube, "Greater Tuna" was born. Marcus and Scott played all 20 characters in the show, both the males and females.
A crew of 5 dresser/changers worked backstage to make Marcus and Scott into quick-change artists. Randy called the cues from the tech booth, and I donned my walkie-talkie headset and called "places!" to our actors and crew.
We did 2 whirlwind weekends, with 6 performances per weekend. The actors worked feverishly through each show. The dressers became a well-oiled machine of costuming magic. The audiences laughed until they almost cried. "Greater Tuna" was a hit!
The fans of the Lakewood Playhouse praised Marcus and Scott's brilliant work. And rightfully so. They deserved all the credit they got. The rest of the production staff: the director, the dressers, the costumers, set and lighting designers and the stage managers were nearly invisible. Tired, ragged and worn-out, yes, but feeling like all their hard work was well worth it.
As it turns out, "Greater Tuna" was Scott's last hurrah at the Lakewood Playhouse. Two days after Tuna closed, he was notified that he got the job as head of another theater group across town. He'll soon be leaving Lakewood and will be sorely missed.
As the leaders of their respective theater companies, Marcus and Scott won't often get to be on the stage. They will usually be kept busy being those great people (better known as "producers") who work to allow others to get on stage.
I am so glad that Randy and I got to be one of the privileged few who worked to help Marcus and Scott get on stage. I was glad to be in their village... their theatrical village.
And you know what the best part of the deal was? I spent 12 performances back stage, and never once ran into any temperamental actors, grumpy stagehands or half-crazed directors or costumers. I only got to work with a terrific village full of great theater artists.
Of course, there was that grumpy assistant stage manager....don't know when I'll ever have to work with HER again........
