During our first annual One Act Festival on June 19th, we’ll be hosting a live viewing party where you'll see a variety of new one act plays performed live, video recorded, or audio recorded.
We reached out to one-act director John Baldwin about how his one-act is coming along and what the unique experience of directing Rosa & Leo, a one-act written by Adam Szudrich, has been like.
1. What do you think audiences will be left thinking about after experiencing the one-act you’re directing?
As this year is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, I hope the play reminds everyone of not only the horror humans are capable of inflicting on one another, but also see the enduring love that we can have for one another, even when it's born in the most difficult of circumstances.
2. What does it mean to you to be a part of Magnetic’s first-ever One Act Play Festival?
This is my first directing gig since moving to Asheville a year ago. I have come to love and appreciate the Magnetic and I'm really proud to be a part of this first-ever festival and of this grand digital experiment.
3. What challenges are you facing bringing the piece you’re directing to life?
It's a challenge all the way. I have never done auditions on FaceTime, but thanks to recommendations from others familiar with the local theatre community, I found two terrific actors. Everything so far has been digital, from dealing with rehearsals, to coordinating with Katie and the designers. It will be interesting to see how we rehearse in the theater while practicing social distancing. A performance for video with no audience could be a challenge.
4. Are there any unique elements you’re now able to bring to your piece that you wouldn’t have been able to under usual circumstances?
While you might be able to incorporate some film techniques in a video, I doubt that I will do that, as I'm trying to recreate a stage performance as much as I can. This is more of an old fashioned recording of a show and will certainly be less like the newer Zoom performances that evening.
5. What is your favorite line from the one-act you’re performing in and why?
Rosa: "While you was getting fresh, I was getting piles". This is a serious and sweet love story, but Rosa's humor and sarcasm delightfully lighten the atmosphere a bit.
Biography
John Baldwin was previously a busy actor and director in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been performing in the Asheville area for just over a year. This is his first directing gig for Magnetic Theatre.
Tickets are now on sale for our upcoming One Act Play Festival on June 19th! Grab yours here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=114699