Crowder theatre: Student-written play takes the stage

Minutes before dress rehearsal of his first full-length play, Joe McNary looks calm.

The cast puts their final touches on their wardrobe as McNary, standing in a backstage room filled with props and scenery, talks about his play “Stage Door Johnny.” A large prop tank sits nearby and he points out the missing tread on the far side. It’s all part of the plan to take the audience where they don’t usually go, giving them a backdoor peek into what goes into a production.

“Stage Door Johnny” is a play within a play, where a group of friends attempt to pull off a production, assisted by a wealthy producer and a has-been director brought in to bail them out when they run into trouble.

“It’s about them really learning to trust one another as they go through the story,” McNary said.
The interior play, “Yuri’s Demise,” is a loosely adapted version of the Biblical tale of Jonah set in a Russian labor compound. The army green tank? That’s the playwright’s version of the whale. There aren’t actually any scenes from “Yuri” in McNary’s final work, but discussion about dialog, props, set up and all the headaches of putting on a production.

Behind-the-scenes work fascinates McNary, partially because for the audience much of it is lost. They will see only the final result.

“It’s a nice way to show the process actors go through,” he said. “Production week lasts only a week, but the rehearsal process lasts weeks and months.”

McNary has been through his own process. Getting involved in the small classes at Crowder College has given him confidence, he says, and his instructors have taken a personal interest in helping him out.

“I was essentially a kid in overalls who couldn’t talk to anyone when I got here,” he said.

The play is a culmination of his three years experience in the Crowder theatre department. It is McNary’s first full-length play, but he’s written four one-acts and directed two of them.

This is the first time in at least 10 years that the school has produced a student-written, student-directed play, said J.P. Dickey, fine arts division chair.

“We’re really excited to give Joe this opportunity,” Dickey said.

He praised McNary’s directing ability and his authentic script.

“He has a real ear for natural dialog,” Dickey said.

Minutes before dress rehearsal of his first full-length play, Joe McNary looks calm.

The cast puts their final touches on their wardrobe as McNary, standing in a backstage room filled with props and scenery, talks about his play “Stage Door Johnny.” A large prop tank sits nearby and he points out the missing tread on the far side. It’s all part of the plan to take the audience where they don’t usually go, giving them a backdoor peek into what goes into a production.

“Stage Door Johnny” is a play within a play, where a group of friends attempt to pull off a production, assisted by a wealthy producer and a has-been director brought in to bail them out when they run into trouble.

“It’s about them really learning to trust one another as they go through the story,” McNary said.
The interior play, “Yuri’s Demise,” is a loosely adapted version of the Biblical tale of Jonah set in a Russian labor compound. The army green tank? That’s the playwright’s version of the whale. There aren’t actually any scenes from “Yuri” in McNary’s final work, but discussion about dialog, props, set up and all the headaches of putting on a production.

Behind-the-scenes work fascinates McNary, partially because for the audience much of it is lost. They will see only the final result.

“It’s a nice way to show the process actors go through,” he said. “Production week lasts only a week, but the rehearsal process lasts weeks and months.”

McNary has been through his own process. Getting involved in the small classes at Crowder College has given him confidence, he says, and his instructors have taken a personal interest in helping him out.

“I was essentially a kid in overalls who couldn’t talk to anyone when I got here,” he said.

The play is a culmination of his three years experience in the Crowder theatre department. It is McNary’s first full-length play, but he’s written four one-acts and directed two of them.

This is the first time in at least 10 years that the school has produced a student-written, student-directed play, said J.P. Dickey, fine arts division chair.

“We’re really excited to give Joe this opportunity,” Dickey said.

He praised McNary’s directing ability and his authentic script.

“He has a real ear for natural dialog,” Dickey said.

The two worked together fine-tuning the play before production, but McNary had no additional help.

“He did everything,” Dickey said. “That’s his baby in there. It’s all his.”

After graduation McNary plans to continue on with film studies at University of Missouri. Creativity, the Golden City native said, can be found in your own backyard.

The cast includes: Josh Wagner as Adam, Seth Culp as Tom, Tasha O’Brien as Diane, Shawn Gillespie as Harrison, Bailey Conklin as Sabrina, Dr. Kiersten Bible as Margaret and Jaymes Wilkins as Abbot. Joe McNary directs. Set, lights and sound are by Travis Christensen, costumes by Drew Fethers, makeup and hair by Jessica Mezel. The production stage manager is Crystal Odell, Jessica McBride is departmental secretary, Crystal Hope runs lights and Dawn Cates sound for the production. Justin Bowman and Christopher Leggett are the running crew. The set crew includes: McNary, Gillespie, Wilkins, Bowman, Seth Pennell, Odell, Mezel, Chong Xiong, Weston Miller, Kristy Britt, Annis Barnes, Tim Virgin, Kelse’ Wyatt, Adam Grimes, Leggett, David Lunsford, Dawn Cates and Marissa Robinson.