Today's guest is Micah-Shane Brewer, assistant professor of musical theatre and director of our spring-season production of URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, which will be available for streaming April 9-11. Micah-Shane discusses the enduring relevance of this show, as well as the ins and outs of directing a large-scale musical during a time when safety prevents a large cast from sharing the stage.
Today's guest is Micah-Shane Brewer, assistant professor of musical theatre and director of our spring-season production of Urinetown: The Musical, which will be available for streaming April 9-11. Micah-Shane discusses the enduring relevance of this show, as well as the ins and outs of directing a large-scale musical during a time when safety prevents a large cast from sharing the stage.
To learn more about Micah-Shane and his career, please visit his website: https://www.micahshanebrewer.com/
If you like to sing along to musicals, watching at home means you can do so without annoying a theater full of people! Brush up on the lyrics with the original Broadway cast recording here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Gckm2aWdGEXhVco2dklC6
The Department of Theatre & Film is grateful for its patrons and corporate sponsors. As a department we are committed to the high quality instruction that our students receive. Investing in the students’ education and these quality productions helps us move toward our common goal of graduating successful, creative adults who are lifelong learners. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please visit: https://umfoundation.givingfuel.com/theatreandfilm
From the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Mississippi, this is Stage & Screen.
Katherine Stewart
Hello everyone and welcome back to Stage & Screen.
Katherine Stewart
I'm your host Katherine Stewart, and joining me today is Micah-Shane Brewer who is an assistant professor of musical theatre and the director of our upcoming production of Urinetown: The Musical which will be streaming online April 9th through 11th.
Katherine Stewart
The global pandemic has altered the way theater is produced and consumed, and Micah-Shane is going to tell us about his innovative approach to making this show happen.
Katherine Stewart
So stick around.
Katherine Stewart
Good morning Micah-Shane.
Micah-Shane
Good morning.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you so much for joining me and taking the time to chat.
Micah-Shane
Thank you for having me.
Micah-Shane
I'm I'm looking forward to talking with you today.
Katherine Stewart
Absolutely absolutely thank you.
Katherine Stewart
OK, so you are directing Urinetown: The musical for our spring season.
Uh-huh
Katherine Stewart
Could you just as the director give us a little description of that show?
Micah-Shane
Sure, well.
Micah-Shane
Well, Urinetown takes place in the not so distant future.
Micah-Shane
There is a terrible water shortage.
Micah-Shane
There's a drought that's that's been going on for 20 plus years.
Micah-Shane
And with this drought has it's led the government to ban private toilets and.
Micah-Shane
As a result, there is a proliferation of these of these paid public toilets, and they're owned by a a company called the Urine Good Company.
Micah-Shane
So basically, if the people don't pay to pee they are arrested and they are sent to this.
Micah-Shane
Place called Urinetown.
Micah-Shane
We're not sure what happens in your in town.
Micah-Shane
We we, we don't know what happens when people are taken away to Urinetown, but we have our suspicions.
Micah-Shane
And so this this company has it.
Micah-Shane
They have now ruled the land for a number of years and obviously have.
Micah-Shane
Risen to great power and wealth.
Micah-Shane
And which creates a divide in the economic status of its citizens.
Micah-Shane
So we have.
Micah-Shane
A group of poor.
Micah-Shane
People who are struggling to find enough money so they can go to the bathroom and on the other side of town we have this.
Micah-Shane
Gleaming tower on the Hill the Urine Good Company headquarters run by a man named Caldwell B.
Micah-Shane
Cladwell And Caldwell B Cladwell an his his his company.
Micah-Shane
They control everything.
Micah-Shane
They control the the, the public amenities, or the public toilets.
Micah-Shane
They have a lot of influence with the legislature.
Micah-Shane
And and they called the shots in the town.
Micah-Shane
So so these poor people who can't really make it in life.
Micah-Shane
Are struggling and they see no way out of this, and so that's the gist of kind of kind of where we start with this story.
Micah-Shane
An an where we are this mystical Urinetown
Micah-Shane
There's also, there's Urinetown, the place which we don't know much about, but there's also Urinetown the musical, and that's where we are with when we meet our cast of characters and Urinetown the musical.
Katherine Stewart
OK, so Urinetown premiered 20 years ago this year in 2001.
Micah-Shane
Yeah.
Katherine Stewart
How does the musical speak to us today and why is this moment a good one in which to engage with it?
Katherine Stewart
Well.
Micah-Shane
This is a a complicated question so, so why we picked your intern will obviously do to Covid restrictions.
Micah-Shane
We can't produce live theater like we normally do, so when we were discussing potential productions for us to do.
Micah-Shane
Urinetown wasn't an original, wasn't originally on the on the list of shows today because the University did Urinetown a number of years ago.
Micah-Shane
And there are certain.
Micah-Shane
Productions that we can stream based on the.
Micah-Shane
Royalties, or the.
Micah-Shane
Lights that we obtain from the companies and when I went back to look at the list and Michael and I were talking I.
Micah-Shane
I I mentioned, hey, you know, I think this would be a good show.
Micah-Shane
Not only because I like the show, but I think it fits our students very well.
Micah-Shane
So, but why?
Micah-Shane
Urinetown and why? Now? In 2021, Urinetown, even though it is a satire and it is a very, very funny musical. It deals with a lot of serious subject matter. It deals with subjects like political corruption.
Micah-Shane
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
An corporate greed.
Micah-Shane
Capitalism.
Micah-Shane
Poverty the legal system.
Micah-Shane
Mistrust of law enforcement. I mean these things. We don't hear anything about it in 2021, right? So so even though it's a fun show an it, it's a, it's a great deal of enjoyment to to to.
Katherine Stewart
Right, right?
Katherine Stewart
Micah-Shane
To be in to work on, but also two experiences as an audience member it.
Micah-Shane
Deals with some pretty.
Micah-Shane
Tough subjects and things that we are dealing with today in society.
Micah-Shane
When we, when we read the news and we turn on the TV and we hear what crazy thing happened today and what you know, it's very relevant.
Micah-Shane
Even though it is in.
Micah-Shane
In this not so distant future and it's interesting, Katherine because when this show first came out.
Micah-Shane
And I saw the original cast. Actually I actually saw it in the the late spring of 2021.
Micah-Shane
I thought, well, this is very ridiculous, right?
Uh.
Micah-Shane
I mean like they thought that.
Micah-Shane
A drought would happen an an an an. These companies would like but it it feels like in 2021 or 20 years later it's like, oh maybe this isn't as ridiculous as it wants to, but as you know, yeah, so I think it's a. It's an interesting.
Katherine Stewart
Right?
Katherine Stewart
Yeah.
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
Show to do.
Micah-Shane
Because it's it provokes some questions.
Micah-Shane
You know, I I, I think the question that it provokes for me as the directory.
Micah-Shane
Is are we?
Micah-Shane
Willing to stand up as a society and do what's right.
Micah-Shane
Even though we may not see the results of our work an and this idea of voices finding strength and speaking up to affect change.
Micah-Shane
You know when we're looking at the news and we see all of our.
Micah-Shane
The the climate crisis that's going on. You know our our our climate is in dire straits right now of collapsing. You know, where are we going to be in in 20-30 years from now?
Micah-Shane
Now, if we don't act on this now, so so the idea of a of a drought isn't too far fetched, you know it mocks theater.
Micah-Shane
And it mocks musicals, but it also.
Micah-Shane
Tackle some very serious subject matter, Ann.
Micah-Shane
For anyone who likes musical theater, you're going to love this show, because it I'm not going to say it pokes fun, but it pays homage to a lot of musical theater.
Micah-Shane
However, the the creators of the show are pure genius because they knew exactly what they were referencing when they were writing the material when they were writing these songs.
Micah-Shane
I mean, if you know a lot of musical theater, you're going to hear, there are moments that remind you of shows like.
Micah-Shane
West Side Story or Les Miz or Chicago like that.
Micah-Shane
But they also style the show in the way that Bertold Brecht.
Micah-Shane
Did when he was creating theater, you know, Brecht.
Micah-Shane
He explored a lot of political ideas.
Micah-Shane
He had this movement called Epic Theater, and it was a response to to the political climate of his time and and what Brecht wanted to do was forced the audience to see the world as it was.
Micah-Shane
Instead of suspending disbelief, which is what we do a lot when we go to the theater, we want to be taken out of our reality for a couple of hours and just.
Micah-Shane
This little world, and whatever this show is we're seeing well.
Micah-Shane
He wanted to break that.
Micah-Shane
He wanted to break.
Micah-Shane
At 4th Wall, an acknowledged reality.
Micah-Shane
You know one of my favorite quotes of Bertold Brecht.
Micah-Shane
He says art is not a mirror with which to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it, and I think that's what your in town does very well.
Micah-Shane
It it reflects.
Micah-Shane
It shows us what's going on, and I think it asks us what are we going to do as a society to affect change.
Micah-Shane
So I think it's a brilliant piece.
Micah-Shane
It is what it is.
Micah-Shane
One of the funniest shows I've ever seen.
Micah-Shane
You know, when I saw the show 20 years ago, I was on a trip to New York with some friends an it was playing off Broadway.
Micah-Shane
This was before it transferred to Broadway and we had a friend who was working crew and so my buddy said hey let's go see.
Micah-Shane
Let's go see this.
Micah-Shane
Show that that suit is working and I said what is it?
Micah-Shane
And he said Urinetown and I said.
Micah-Shane
OK, "you're in town" OK, and is he's a no no "urine"like "pee pee" and I'm like?
Micah-Shane
What?
Micah-Shane
And he's like, yeah, we let's let's go see it and I'm just kinda like you know I was.
Micah-Shane
You know 20 years ago so I was in my early 20s and I.
Micah-Shane
Said well, yeah, I think I'd rather go see like Chicago.
Micah-Shane
Or blaming, you know it's like no, no we.
Micah-Shane
Got to see it so.
Micah-Shane
Grudgingly, I went along and saw the show, and so it was actually in this.
Micah-Shane
Old theater in a police station.
Micah-Shane
An very odd place to to go.
Micah-Shane
See a show and very small theater an then we walked in and it was the atmosphere.
Micah-Shane
You heard.
Micah-Shane
Water dripping in the background and just this very dingy dark place.
Micah-Shane
Yeah, this is gonna be this.
Micah-Shane
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
Is gonna be a bomb.
Micah-Shane
And literally, I kid you not I.
Micah-Shane
Laughed so hard.
Micah-Shane
I left so I I I hurt after I left the theater from laughing smart an I wanted to go back and see the next night and and and when it transferred to Broadway a few months later I I saw it two more times.
Katherine Stewart
Wow.
Micah-Shane
At so much I enjoyed it. It opened in a strange time, so it opened on Broadway right after 911, you know? And so our country was going through this very difficult moment in time, so it sometimes you felt a little guilty at laughing, but it was a really good.
Uh-huh
Micah-Shane
Opportunity to kind of.
Micah-Shane
And then get carried away into this world and then also reflect on what was happening in our society, you know.
Katherine Stewart
It's a great endorsement going back to see it multiple times.
Micah-Shane
Well, the creators I do, I do think are genius and so one of the one of the writers, Greg Kotis.
Micah-Shane
He got the inspiration for this musical after he.
Micah-Shane
He was on a trip to Paris.
Micah-Shane
And I think this was in like the late 90s and he decided to to extend his trip.
Micah-Shane
He was, I think he was touring in a in a production over there and he decided to extend his trip and kind of explored the area and he had a limited budget and he found these paid toilets so he actually had to think about.
Micah-Shane
Hey, am I gonna eat today or am I gonna repeat it so that's where the inspiration for the show came from and I.
Thanks.
Micah-Shane
I think it's brilliant.
Micah-Shane
The cast.
Micah-Shane
The cast was just.
Micah-Shane
Phenomenal.
Micah-Shane
I mean we had you had people like John Cullum.
Micah-Shane
I mean this Broadway legend playing Caldwell B Cladwell, Nancy Opel and Jeff McCarthy and just a fantastic cast and one of the one of the tricks about Urinetown is it is an ensemble piece.
Micah-Shane
An there there is a lot of work that goes into.
OK.
Micah-Shane
Not only the story time rhythm of the show, so from a technical aspect, you know, just like you would rehearse an orchestral score.
Micah-Shane
There is this rhythm, and there are these jokes that have to land a certain way.
Micah-Shane
And if they don't, then maybe the setup for the next part of the scene is not as funny, so I think it's a brilliant piece, Ann.
Micah-Shane
I think our students are doing a tremendous job given the circumstances and the the restraints that we're in in this covid time of putting this show together.
Katherine Stewart
And now you've directed this show before.
Katherine Stewart
Is that right?
Katherine Stewart
Not not for the University of Mississippi, but but elsewhere.
I have Yep.
Katherine Stewart
So what, when was that?
Katherine Stewart
And are there certain things from that experience that you're bringing into this one?
Katherine Stewart
Or is this just a totally new game?
Micah-Shane
Well, it is totally new.
Micah-Shane
Yeah I directed it.
Micah-Shane
I'm.
Micah-Shane
Let's say 15 years ago.
Micah-Shane
15
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
To that 2006.
Micah-Shane
You know, after I saw it 3 times, I'm like you know one day I want to direct this show.
Micah-Shane
And what's interesting is I.
Micah-Shane
Was working for a very.
Micah-Shane
Small theater company in East Tennessee and.
Micah-Shane
We had we had some issues around the show and I proposed the show to the theater, the Theater Board and they were like oh OK, OK sure so we we approve this season and then a few weeks later they come back to.
Micah-Shane
Me and they're like, yeah.
Micah-Shane
You know?
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
We're not so sure about this show.
Micah-Shane
I'm like well.
Micah-Shane
Did you read it?
Micah-Shane
Well, no.
Micah-Shane
Just the title titles so bad we were just concerned that the audiences aren't going to like this.
Micah-Shane
They're going to.
Micah-Shane
They're not going to come see the show and I.
Micah-Shane
Was like trust me you.
Micah-Shane
Have to trust me, this is going to be a show that you're going to enjoy.
Micah-Shane
And so they him off for a while.
Micah-Shane
And then the compromise was OK.
Micah-Shane
Will will do the show, but we don't want to put the name of it in our season brochure.
Micah-Shane
I'm like you gotta be.
Micah-Shane
Kidding me, no, we just don't want to turn.
Micah-Shane
People off and well well.
Micah-Shane
So we we didn't advertise the show, we lost eight months of.
Micah-Shane
Oh
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
Advertising on the show, which ironically turned out to be the most successful show their season.
Katherine Stewart
Uh-huh of course.
Micah-Shane
And and people you know when they do hear the title.
Micah-Shane
If they're not familiar with.
Micah-Shane
The show they're like you.
Micah-Shane
Know what you know when you hear it, you think the word.
Micah-Shane
That's your YOURE in town and then you see that I'm like why and it you know there's even a joke in the show about the title. Is this really the title subject matter being so bizarre and you know Urinetown? The musical makes fun of itself. So is this show different? Yeah, this shows very this production itself is very different, you know?
Micah-Shane
First of all, we weren't in Kovit back then.
Micah-Shane
Since.
Micah-Shane
The.
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
The staging.
Micah-Shane
I.
Micah-Shane
It's it's a collaborative process, so you you kinda have to to to think about the strengths of the actors that you have an with with the show I directed years ago.
Micah-Shane
There's a lot of movement.
Micah-Shane
It's not a there's.
Micah-Shane
There's some dance in the show, but there's also a lot of movement in the.
Micah-Shane
Show there's a.
Micah-Shane
There's a lot of.
Micah-Shane
Play on on the the environment an and the actors and their struggle.
Micah-Shane
Because I don't want to give too much.
Micah-Shane
Away about the.
Micah-Shane
Show for those who are listening and they don't know it, but there is a there is a moment of reckoning in which the the rebel.
Micah-Shane
Do try to stand up for themselves an.
Micah-Shane
So the show it's a, it's a.
Micah-Shane
I think it's a bit as a movement piece so.
Micah-Shane
To translate that for our production in 2021, when we're filming this to stream, it makes it very complicated because you're you don't get that sense of of staging that you would in a live theater. You don't get that back and forth that give and take from actors and.
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
You have to think about how the audience is going to perceive this.
Micah-Shane
Watching it on a computer screen or on a TV and how do you tell the story when you can't see everybody all at once?
Micah-Shane
I mean, there are some big.
Micah-Shane
These big company numbers, these big musical numbers where everyone is on stage at the same time and their and their and their singing back and forth.
Micah-Shane
And that's that's very challenging for us.
Micah-Shane
And so when we did decide on doing your in town, I had to think about each scene and how we were storyboarding this and so we.
Micah-Shane
We storyboarded entire show an how is this going to look?
Micah-Shane
You know what's the camera shot?
Micah-Shane
What do we need to see?
Micah-Shane
What's important to tell the story?
Micah-Shane
And then on top of that?
Micah-Shane
When you add the the layer of difficulty with our cobett, our personal covid protocols and procedures here at the University.
Micah-Shane
Our actors can't be in the same room without a mask, so are we going to produce this show and all the actors wear masks the entire time?
Micah-Shane
Well, no, that's not enjoyable to watch as an audience member.
Micah-Shane
So as we begin to think about how we're going to do this.
Micah-Shane
We decided that we would film the actors individually and it the video together well.
Uh.
Micah-Shane
And there are days that I go.
Micah-Shane
Why did we do this again?
Micah-Shane
'cause he creates a.
Micah-Shane
It creates a huge challenge in a very.
Micah-Shane
Overwhelming job to edit this footage together.
Micah-Shane
There are theaters that are currently doing this where they will stage a production, but each actor is in a location by themselves filming and then they edit the footage together so.
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
That's what we're doing.
Micah-Shane
Luckily for our sake, we've been fortunate enough to rehearse in person as a group.
Micah-Shane
We're rehearsing in masks and social distancing, and so that's been good for the cast to establish.
Micah-Shane
Their connection to each other to the other actors.
Micah-Shane
The rhythm of the piece, the the collaborative nature Anhan trying to find these characters and find certain jokes and how we how we tell the story.
Micah-Shane
So that's been great.
Micah-Shane
But now we're about to start the filming process.
Micah-Shane
Building process.
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
And so it's going to be challenging for us to keep that when there's only one actor in the room in front of the camera doing his or her part.
Micah-Shane
On film.
Micah-Shane
And and remembering that that rhythm that we've created, and remembering what their scene partner is giving them, that, that is the challenge.
Micah-Shane
And that's not what we do, is as as theater artists, right?
Micah-Shane
Uh-huh
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
We get to be in the room together as a cast to have an audience in front of us too.
Micah-Shane
To share this moment, you know there's that.
Katherine Stewart
Right?
Micah-Shane
There was some.
This this.
Micah-Shane
Research done a few years ago that says when we're all together as a group that our heart starts to beat In Sync with each other.
Micah-Shane
And so that's going to be difficult.
Micah-Shane
That's going to be very challenging for all of us, as we do this.
Micah-Shane
So we have to try to try to keep hold of what that feels like as an ensemble in the same room an be able to deliver that on camera.
Micah-Shane
So when we share it with an audience.
Micah-Shane
They're going to get hopefully what we are putting together as a group.
Micah-Shane
That's the other challenge with this show is that there are a lot of moments that are.
Micah-Shane
They're very funny an as an as an ensemble you feed off of that energy of of an audience in a comedy in a in a satire an our actors won't have that, but we have to think about the story that we're telling and focus on making sure that we're telling that story with.
Micah-Shane
Precision and confidence, and letting these people in on what's going on in their lives and what's happening around them.
Katherine Stewart
So yeah, that really touches on what I was going to ask next about.
Katherine Stewart
Like the specific logistics of recording this production of filming this production.
Katherine Stewart
How?
Katherine Stewart
How does that work?
Katherine Stewart
Does that mean that the entire show is being filmed repeatedly once for each actor or?
Katherine Stewart
Are they all coming together in one room and then they're just doing one part at a time?
Katherine Stewart
What does that look like and how big is the cat?
Katherine Stewart
It's a.
Katherine Stewart
It's a good size cast.
Micah-Shane
Yes it is.
Yes.
Micah-Shane
Oh yeah, we have 17 actors in the cast, 17 actors, so yeah, so I'll try to try to explain this as best as I can.
Micah-Shane
We started the rehearsal process learning the music.
Micah-Shane
And then what we did was we.
Micah-Shane
We spent a week and a half in music and then we did some pre recording him, some vocal tracks, which is not what I like to do.
Micah-Shane
However, when you're singing as a guy.
Micah-Shane
Look
Micah-Shane
And there are many ensemble numbers in the show when you're singing as a group, you have to think about precision cut offs, instances.
Micah-Shane
You know the dynamics, the dynamics have to be the same throughout the number for the entire group.
Micah-Shane
If you're trying to mix 17 different voices.
Micah-Shane
In the moment as they're on stage, it's tricky, so we did, so that was the first step, which is challenging for the actors because they had to stab.
Micah-Shane
Just some deliveries and some interpretations of what they were saying.
Micah-Shane
Very early on the cast actually began working over the break on on the music and then when we came back in January the week before school we we worked together as a group socially distant learning the music.
Micah-Shane
So they could get a sense of what that's like to sing with each other an.
Micah-Shane
But so we've been rehearsing in person, and now we're going to start the filming process.
Micah-Shane
So yes, they're going to be in the room by themselves.
Micah-Shane
They're going to be filming the moments that they're in.
Micah-Shane
So for instance, if if there's an ensemble member, maybe they don't have to film the entire scene.
Micah-Shane
It's dependent upon how the how the scene is storyboarded and and what we're going to see as an audience member in the final product.
Micah-Shane
But for some actors, especially the leading roles in the show like Bobby and Hope and Penny and Cladwell, they're in a lot more.
Micah-Shane
So as we begin thinking about the schedule of filming.
OK.
Micah-Shane
We have to re determine how much time each actor is going to need and it's going to be a.
Micah-Shane
It's going to be trial and error at her sister as soon as we start filming because we're not sure how much time this is, so that's why it's important for the actors to be as prepared as possible and where I'm pleased at where we are right now in the process, but we have three different ways that we're filming this, an Luckily we have a fantastic.
Micah-Shane
Production team Cody Stockstill, who is our scenic designer and.
Micah-Shane
Then
Micah-Shane
Yi-Tai Chung, who is our lighting designer.
Micah-Shane
We have three fantastic student designers who are designing the costumes.
Micah-Shane
We have two student designers who are our makeup designers, so we've all been meeting for for over 2 months now and how we're going to do this an so scenically we have three methods that we're using.
Micah-Shane
One of our facilities here on campus we are filming in front of a green screen so some of the some of the scenes take place in front of the green screen and so Cody in the editing process.
Micah-Shane
We will add in the scenic design.
Micah-Shane
In the background, the second is for one of our locations for the Office of Cladwell at the UGC.
Micah-Shane
Our shop is actually built a set for Cladwell's Office to all of those scenes will be shot on a set so that feels a little more theatrical than.
Micah-Shane
The others, and then there are also some other scenes that take place in various locations where we are filming in front of a projection screen.
Micah-Shane
On our other stage.
Micah-Shane
So we have three different ways that we are staging the show.
Micah-Shane
So the when we're when we're using the projection screen or on the set for Cladwell, it won't be as much editing, but when we're in the green screen, there's an additional editing process where we are adding in the scenic element, whether that's the public amenity or the secret hideout.
Micah-Shane
There's some some various places that this.
Micah-Shane
Show takes place in.
Micah-Shane
And you know.
Micah-Shane
When we first started talking about this, I think a few people were.
Micah-Shane
Like what you know what?
Micah-Shane
Ann, we talked about a lot of ideas and it is.
It.
Micah-Shane
It's difficult.
Micah-Shane
It's a very complicated process.
Important.
Micah-Shane
It's been a.
Micah-Shane
Learning process for all of us for me included.
Micah-Shane
You know, I.
Micah-Shane
I I do a lot of work ahead of time on the show, I do a lot of blocking ahead of time, but I don't ever storyboard, and I've storyboarded every moment of this show and it took up. I don't even remember how many storyboards I started with. I think there were over 700 at first, like going to whittle this down a little bit because if we try to do this, we're going to be.
Micah-Shane
It's going to take forever and it's going to be a long process anyway.
Micah-Shane
Hey, we estimate that the filming is going to take about five to six weeks, so we're really we're really tight on the schedule.
Micah-Shane
So as we fill a scene we'll on our off time will be editing it together an an and working on.
Micah-Shane
Imposing the different images of the different actors into the scene.
Micah-Shane
So when you watch it, hopefully if we've done our job well, you'll think that they're in the same location even though they're filming at two different times.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, in a lot of ways, you're directing both a play and a film.
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
Oh yeah, I'm directing the film, basically.
Micah-Shane
Anywhere coaching it, we're approaching it in many ways like we like we would in the theater, but there are many things that I would do differently if I knew that we were on a stage of the live audience.
Right?
Micah-Shane
There's there are a lot of moments in the show where one of the characters, Officer Lockstock he's.
Micah-Shane
The narrator of the show, so he's talking to the audience.
Micah-Shane
And it actually translates pretty well when you're looking into a camera and talking to someone we've all gotten used to.
Micah-Shane
That being on zoom meetings and various ways of staying connected.
Micah-Shane
So in many ways, the show works well, but there are also things that you have to rethink certain images or staged pictures that you would do if you were going to stage it in a live theater.
Micah-Shane
May not work as well, so we're we've played with some ideas.
Micah-Shane
I don't want to give too much away.
Micah-Shane
Uh, number one.
Micah-Shane
I want people to be surprised, but.
Micah-Shane
Number two if it doesn't.
Micah-Shane
Work, go to Plan B.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, but it sounds like maybe having to grapple with this alternative format that there are some opportunities for audiences to engage with the production in a different way that could be good opportunities.
Micah-Shane
Oh, certainly, and I think also we can reach a heck of a lot more people.
Uh-huh
Micah-Shane
You know if we're streaming, anyone can watch it from anywhere, so that's great for that's great for us.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
We get to to share what we can do well here at the University with anyone at any you know.
Micah-Shane
While it's streaming, they can.
Micah-Shane
They can log on.
Micah-Shane
And buy a ticket and watch the show in the comfort of their living room or wherever.
Micah-Shane
So in some ways.
Micah-Shane
That's nice, I much prefer to be in a theater with people and and watching the show live.
Micah-Shane
But you know, for the time being, we'll make do with what we can do.
Katherine Stewart
What will audiences enjoy about this show and what do you hope they take away from it?
Micah-Shane
First of all, I think that like I said earlier, the the piece is a brilliant piece.
Micah-Shane
It's very funny.
Micah-Shane
Even though it's.
Micah-Shane
Talking about a lot of serious subject matters, so I.
Micah-Shane
Think I think they're.
Micah-Shane
Going to enjoy the performances.
Micah-Shane
I think the cast is doing a very nice job.
Micah-Shane
It's been a good challenge for the cast as well, because they have they are now experiencing how it would be to film a musical, you know.
Micah-Shane
But I think audiences will take away an enjoyable evening of.
Micah-Shane
Theater being streamed.
Micah-Shane
I think that it does ask some questions, and I think it makes you think, while at the same time entertaining you.
Micah-Shane
And like I said earlier, As for anyone who's a musical theater fan you're going to see moments in the show, you'll see a certain dance you.
Micah-Shane
Go oh that's.
Micah-Shane
Fiddler on the roof oh.
Micah-Shane
That's what I said story that looks like lame is so I think there are.
Micah-Shane
There are moments where they they they pay homage to or we pay homage.
Micah-Shane
You musicals that have come before your in town, so I I think there's there are things about it that will make people think and make people feel and make people laugh.
Micah-Shane
An that's what theater is meant to do.
Micah-Shane
It's a it's.
Micah-Shane
It's meant to challenge us, but also entertain us so Urinetown.
Yeah.
Micah-Shane
Does both of those things.
Micah-Shane
Very well.
Katherine Stewart
Well, I'm really excited for it.
Micah-Shane
Me too I'm I'm excited to see the finished product an.
Micah-Shane
I I.
Micah-Shane
Micah-Shane
I.
Micah-Shane
Pray every day that it goes the way that we have planned and what I have in my head.
Micah-Shane
I I know they're going to be challenges over these next few weeks as we're filming and putting this together, but ultimately I think it's going to be a really nice opportunity for our students.
Micah-Shane
And I think audiences will enjoy it.
Katherine Stewart
Wonderful, yeah sounds great.
Yeah.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, thank you.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you so much.
Micah-Shane
Thank you, Catherine.
Katherine Stewart
Once again, that was Professor Micah-Shane Brewer, director of our upcoming production of Urinetown, which will be available for streaming on a screen near you April 9th through 11th. In the meantime, keep an eye on our social media for announcements about the show and how you can TuneIn. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our handle is theatrefilmatum.
Katherine Stewart
All one word. Until next time.
Katherine Stewart
This is Stage & Screen.