Jason Marlett bids fond
farewell to kidsActing!
|
On the cusp of Jason's big move to Michigan, we wish and wish and wish again that he would stay here instead! Nonetheless, we hope all the best the legendary teacher and director. We managed to catch Jason for a few words of wisdom about his nearly nine years of exemplary service, the countless kids & cupcakes, and the development of a dragon...
Q: Wow, Jason, this really is the end of an era. How did it all begin?
I started at kidsActing in January of 2002; I'm pretty sure my very first class was a "Stage and Screen" or something like that, out in Lakeway-- before I understood that Lakeway was a long way away for me; years later, it would be harder to convince me to go out there... (laughs). The first class that I remember really well was teaching the "littles" at the old Burnet Road studio.
Q: Awww, they're always adorable. Those kids are probably in high school by now! So, Jason, you've shepherded the Play Production class into a full-on phenomenon. How did that evolution come about?
We started the Play Productions in fall of 2003-- and really, the genesis for the new play production class series came from Dede's openness to the teachers bringing new ideas and things in. They had done a play production a few years before, but it had been a while and had kind of stalled out, so when they asked me for class suggestions, I said "Hey, let's do The Hobbit!" -- and so we did one section of The Hobbit at Burnet Road, and then I think there were one or two sections the next semester... and we started doing the rest of the JRR Tolkien trilogy after that.
So we did all the Tolkiens, all The Chronicles of Narnia, The Princess Bride, The Dark Crystal, The Christmas Carol, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Treasure Island. It's been great. And now, the Play Production class is 7 or 8 sections strong across Austin - it really just picked up steam, and I've been so happy to be able to contribute to the shows that kidsActing does.
Q: And now you're doing The Hobbit once more! Is this the first repeat show?
Yes, this is the first time we've looped around; we've now come full circle and are doing The Hobbit again. It's neat!
Q: What was that first production of The Hobbit like?
The first time we did The Hobbit, we did it in the old Burnet Road Studio-- and we really made magic; I mean, that space was so small, and we did everything we do now then - - so, it's nice to finally give it the full treatment in this space at Center Stage Texas [KidsActing technical director] Theda Bellenger was the dragon, Smaug, in The Hobbit the first time we did it-- she had two backstage lights with red eyes, and that was the extent of our dramatic lighting. There was this one time, I don't know what happened - the cues got messed up and Bilbo turned around, and Theda just weaved like a dragon on-stage... and nothing else happened; no one said anything for 30 seconds, and it felt like five years and she was just left stranded, weaving; it was crazy, and I was freaking out in the back. But it turned out fine; it always turns out fine. And now Theada's made a huge, beautiful Smaug for this show- I am so impressed with her!
As for this Hobbit, I don't know if it's the kids that have put things together faster, or if I've gotten the pattern better myself to teach it, or if they've all just picked it up faster, but it's been a very smooth process this semester, and it's been great.
Q: Tell us about some of your favorite kidsActing memories.
I like the fact that Chase McBride has appeared as an extra or cameo in almost each of my shows... in every play, Chase has been a dead orc or a crowd member or an old lady wailing off-stage or something... that's been fun. Watching Dylan Kittleman do improv sketches in his first comedy classes was great. And finding out how much Ta'Ron Middleton loves cupcakes has deeply deeply impacted my life (laughs).
I do want to give a big shout-out to Jennie "Drift" Eaton-- she has been in every single Play Production class I've done, and that includes the Advanced Play Productions (which have been just incredible, by the way-- if any one wants to do something really challenging and fun and upper eschelon, they should do the advanced play in the summer, it's really cool; so far, we've done A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing). Jennie started when she was nine and now she's sixteen or seventeen. And Jennie's such a solid performer that when I had someone drop out of one of the casts this year, I asked if she would replay her old role, and she basically had half-of-a-tech rehearsal, and then did what she needed to do in performance, and the part was just great... it's pretty impressive.
Q: What will you miss most about this place?
Working with the kids, of course. And all the little inside jokes we have, like "losing the game," that's a big one - the game is the game you are always playing, you can't ever not play, and the only way you can not lose is to not think about it - and you have to say if you think about the game, or if someone else says they thought about it, in which case you all lose the game (laughs). It's fun.
I'll miss the stories from shows when things go really great and also the stories from when things go wrong and they cover it.
Mostly, I'll missing watching all the kids grow, both as actors and as people-- the ways that they can gain confidence and grow in all areas, it's just amazing to see.
But-- if I never have to carry the travel packs of curtains and lights again, I will be happy... I am not sad to be leaving those travel packs in the shed (laughs).
Q: Thanks so much, Jason. You will be greatly missed... Any final thoughts?
I think I have grown in my teaching during my time at kA as much as any student I've come across; it's just been a really good opporuntiy for me while I've been here. A great thing overall, and I want to give a big thanks to Dede and Tiffany and to everyone I've worked with, really; I will take the lessons here and go forward and always look back fondly on my time here and these kids! And Ta'Ron, I'll always be with you (laughs)...
Audiences can still catch this semester's amazing production of The Hobbit-- the show runs through Sunday, December 19th at Center Stage Texas! And not to worry, Jason's legacy will live on and live strong... This coming spring, Play Production classes of The Fellowship of the Ring will be happening all over greater Austin, with full-scale performances at Center Stage Texas in April and May!
Taking the reins will be experienced professional directors Jeff Hinkle, Kirk German, and Gary Jaffe. |
Do you have an event to add to our calender?
Contact Jazmine at 512-905-4392 or email kidsactingstudio@gmail.com.
|
A Christmas Carol
 One-Woman Show
Austin Playhouse
December 9-21
www.austinplayhouse.com Award-winning actress, storyteller, and Austin Playhouse Acting Company member Bernadette Nason performs Charles Dickens' own abridged version of A Christmas Carol. In a tour-de-force performance she'll create over 30 characters, along with bells, chains and other festive sound effects!
|
Miracle on 34th StreetParamount Theatre
December 18, 7pm
www.austintheatre.com A nice old man (and resident Santa at the most famous department store in the world) claiming to be the real Kris Kringle is institutionalized as insane. When a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is actually Santa Claus, everyone's beliefs are put to the test. A true holiday classic featuring Edmund Gwenn's immensely charming performance as perhaps the screen's best ever Santa.
|
Lego Story Lab, a program for ages 10 and older, incorporateshands-on activities and literacy. With Legos, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Story Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with Legos! We provide the Legos, just bring your creativity. The Lego Story Lab is free and open to the public. Why Legos in the library? Hands-on play improves concentration, scientific logic and reasoning, problem solving and creativityskills that go hand in hand with reading, literacy and learning.
|
|
|
|
Events at
Center Stage Texas
|
The Hobbit
Center Stage Texas
Sat., December 11 @ 8pm
Thurs., December 16 @ 7pm
Sat., December 18 @ 8pm
Sun., December 19 @ 2:30pm
Tickets $11
The kidsActing Players present the Advanced Class' production of The Hobbit. Join Bilbo Baggins as he reluctantly leaves his comfy hobbit-hole for an adventure into wilderland. Bilbo's adventure takes him though forests, over mountains, past goblins and into a dragon's lair. An adventure the whole family will enjoy!
|
The Sound of Music
Center Stage Texas
January 2011
Tickets are not yet available for this event
Maria, a new governess, is sent to take care of Captian von Trapp's unruly children. The family soon falls in love with her, just as you will fall in love with this classic all over again!
|
|
Save the Date!
Wine-tasting at Davenport Wine & Spirits!
|
Join us to support
Center Stage Texas Thursday, January 13th
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Davenport Wine & Spirits will be hosting a FREE wine-tasting and will donate 15% of any purchases made back to Center Stage Texas. Davenport guarantees the lowest prices in Austin, so come enjoy a glass of wine and light hors d'oeuvres, save money and support Center Stage Texas.
|
Join us for one week or two!
Dec. 20-24
and
Dec. 27-31
2 Locations!
Center Stage Texas
and
Northcross Mall
____________________________
Big Discounts!
____________________________
$25 OFF
All Winter Break Camps
_____________
Don't need Camp on
Christmas Eve?
$75 OFF
for 4 days of camp instead!
_______________
Only need a few days?
$65 per day!
|
Austin's Pizza is a proud supporter of kidsActing and Center Stage Texas!
|
Volunteer Opportunities!
 Do you need community service hours?
Would you like to be more involved
with the kidsActing community by volunteering?
Get info on volunteering
for kidsActing by joining
our kidsActing volunteer e-group kidsacting@yahoogroups.com |
| Contact Information |
kidsActing at
Center Stage Texas
2826 Real Street
Austin, TX 78722
836-KIDS (5437)
www.kidsactingstudio.com
www.centerstagetexas.com
|
|
