Mr. Reynolds is the program director of the theatre department, and is currently in the process of this year’s musical production, Anything Goes! I interviewed Mr. Reynolds to see how rehearsal is going.
Q: How is Anything Goes production going so far?
A:It’s going very well. We just finished blocking the very last thing yesterday, so the entire show is now blocked, which is super exciting. We’re in the full on rehearsing phase of this, so practicing. Then I’m really excited because next week we have our first run-throughs in costume as we start to bring elements of the stage and costumes and everything together before we move to Bethel. That’s exciting.
Q: When did you first notice a passion for theatre?
A: I have always loved theater. It’s a way that I have been able to both express myself and find community. I was super involved in high school theater. I was President of the Thespian Club, and I was in the shows, and I did the things at the high school level, enough of which led me to get a theater scholarship to go and continue studying and performing theater arts at the collegiate level at Bethel. That’s where my passion for theater comes from.I’ve always had it, and it’s allowed me to express myself.
Q: How long have you been involved with Saint Joseph theatre?
A: So I got involved right when I came to St. Joe High School. I started off as the technical director, which is a position that Ms. Beeson is currently under Doug Miller, who was the theater program director at that time and the major director. Then when he needed to leave St. Joe and move on with his professional life, I then very quickly came up to the level of program director. I’ve been a program director now for five years. Fun times.
Q: What was your approach when you chose Anything Goes as this year’s musical?
A:Every year, we try to balance the students that we have and the designs of the show with what can be taught to the students. Whether it be really challenging dramas like 12 Angry Men or whether it would be more fun, organic plays such as mystery at Wimbly Manor, or Shakespeare even. I try to pick a show that’s going to be educational for the group of theater students that I have currently.With that in mind, we chose Anything Goes in part because it has a cool feature of Tap, which is something that St. Joe has never done before in recent history, something that I’ve never directed before, so that’s exciting. Also, it had a really good cast of characters that focuses on a lot of younger talent that we have right now in the program after having graduated a really massive senior class last year and a really solid senior class the year before that
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of this entire process?
A: I love the performances. I love students finding passion and joy and interacting and having laughs. I’m really excited. We’re getting into the fun part when the show actually comes together. Sometimes, as with anything, you have to practice in order to perform, right? You have to rehearse in order to perform your best. And so I think the performances are my favorite part just because it’s the demonstration of all the hard work that goes into that.
Q: Can you give a quick summary of what Anything Goes is about?
A: Anything Goes is a comedic, lovely farce of life in general, where different individuals try to make the best out of their circumstances, and eventually it all works out and they fall in love, which is very cheesy, but super fun because it’s pretty easy, and well, anything goes.
Anything Goes evening performances are on February 27, 28 and one matinee show on March 1 at Bethel. Come out and support the cast and crew!
