Spontaneous Human Christmas Tree, written by Anne Dickens and directed by Jessica Johnson, is one of the pieces being performed in our next production, Getting Through the HoliDaze!
This virtual showing will feature short films based around holiday themes, selected from submissions by writers around the country. Directed by Jessica Johnson, Katie Jones, and Rodney Smith, and hosted by George Awad. These performances will make you laugh, make you cry, and will most certainly get you into the spirit of the season.
We reached out to the cast and playwright with a few questions about this production and to tell us a little bit about themselves.
Anne Dickens (Playwright)
1. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Decoration Day (Memorial Day to those who do not have unyielding mountain relatives)
2. Do you relate to your character? How similar/different are you?
I am less afraid of trees.
3. What's your favorite line in the piece you're working on? Why?
“We have to forgive ourselves for sometimes having to be psychopaths. Those days when we turn off all instinct of community, loyalty, tradition, fear, to immediately slam through the gates of pain and confusion.”
4. What's your favorite holiday season movie or play?
My Name is Nobody - Sergio Leone
5. What are the challenges of performing for a filmed show versus a live one?
Space. There is less space.
6. What makes this experience special for you?
It’s just magic to see something in your head interpreted through other people’s heads into something more interesting.
7. What's your favorite winter beverage?
Mexican Hot Chocolate
8. How did you get into theatre?
Walking backwards through the side door.
9. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
It is the best.
10. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Nothing that is ready yet.
Biography
Anne Dickens (Playwright) - Writing under the name A.E. Sullivan, Anne Dickens is the author of several published works including the play Seventeen Seasons of Nietzsche. A former arts educator, Ad Exec and corporate flunkie, Dickens received her Bachelors of Arts from Ferrum College. Writing one act plays has become a rewarding outlet for her and she is thrilled to be included in The Magnetic Theatre's production of Getting Through the HoliDaze.
Locksley Blanchard (Bill)
1. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Halloween because you get to be someone or something other than yourself.
2. Do you relate to your character? How similar/different are you?
I relate to my character because of my love of the Christmas holiday staple, the Christmas tree.
3. What's your favorite line in the piece you're working on? Why?
“Tree with me.” I mean, it’s perfect.
4. What's your favorite holiday season movie or play?
Christmas Vacation
5. What are the challenges of performing for a filmed show versus a live one?
Not knowing the audience’s reaction.
6. What makes this experience special for you?
Working with one of my favorite persons.
7. What's your favorite winter beverage?
Eggnog
8. How did you get into theatre?
I've always been someone who likes to make people laugh so it was only natural to do it on stage.
9. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
The inclusion of all ideas and group support.
10. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Just this one for now.
Biography
Locksley Blanchard (Bill) - UNC Chapel Hill alumni. Happy to be performing in my second Magnetic virtual performance. All my love and thanks to my family and friends who continue to support me in my creative endeavors.
Lauren Otis (Linda)
1. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, definitely. I have so many warm memories of Christmas from my childhood, and that has never left me. The food, the music, family...it's the best.
2. Do you relate to your character? How similar/different are you?
Linda is desperate to help others, and gets frustrated and talks to herself when they don't listen or take her seriously...I can relate to that.
3. What's your favorite line in the piece you're working on? Why?
"The dark dank sticky urge to kill..." I just enjoy the image of the desire to kill being sticky. It's hilarious.
4. What's your favorite holiday season movie or play?
Muppet's Christmas Carol. I watch it every year, know every word to every song, and always cry. Michael Caine as Scrooge? SO GOOD.
5. What are the challenges of performing for a filmed show versus a live one?
Missing the reactions from the audience, especially when you are performing anything comedic, can be challenging. The energy of the audience responding in real time is not there, which means you are relying more on your own instincts as a performer.
6. What makes this experience special for you?
2020 has been long and exhausting with so many canceled or postponed projects. It's been tough for so many of us, getting to perform at the end of this year WITH my partner is definitely the best way I could think of to end 2020.
7. What's your favorite winter beverage?
A Hot Toddy. Bourbon, a little bit of maple syrup, hot water, clove, cinnamon stick, and a wedge of lemon.
8. How did you get into theatre?
I started taking dance classes when I was 3 years old, and performed in my first play in elementary school. I played a can-can dancer named Fifi...and my French accent was terrible.
9. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
It feels like a real community. There is so much original work being created, and a lot of collaboration. That's so important for artists right now, and I'm thankful to be a part of it.
10. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
I am currently voice recording for a podcast called Stained Fortune, and hope 2021 will bring some onstage projects back to my calendar.
Biography
Lauren Otis (Linda) - Lauren is thrilled to be performing in her first project at The Magnetic Theatre! Lauren holds a BFA in Acting from Arcadia University and has lived in Asheville for the past 8 years. Favorite past credits include Virgilia/First Citizen/Second Servant in Coriolanus 2020, Perdita in 16 Years Tried (World Premiere), Lady Percy/Poins in Henry VI, M in Crave, Bernadette in The Edge of Our Bodies, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Haines in The Women, and Pinocchio in Pinocchio. Lauren is honored to share the stage with her partner, Locksley.
Getting through the HoliDaze is streaming virtually from The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville, NC December 17th-19th at 7:30pm! Grab your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=119167