1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” It was a junior high school production. I was in the seventh grade and was hooked for life.  The first professional production was “The Sound of Music” in Milwaukee. Again I was in junior high.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: LAUGH?-Physical comedy with well executed split-second timing is hard to beat. CRY?- Stories of non-understandable harships. Like Job,”Why Lord?”

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: James and Rose Pickering are favorites at the Milwaukee Rep.  And Deborah Staples.  Ray Jivoff at the Skylight.  And any teen that tackles a role in a high school production.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Theater can unexpectedly lift my spirits when I’m in a poor mood. It can also make me stop and reconsider my point of view. It may not change my view, but it will make me stop and consider other aspects that I’ve not previously considered.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: The Milwaukee Rep mounted the English Mystery Plays back in the early 1970’s. It was magical. I certainly knew all of the Bible stories, but the “life” they put into them and the wonderful stage craft was fantastic. I was a regular usher there at the time. And I was in the habit of taking dates (girls and their parents were very impressed when I invited the girls to “The Theater”. I wouldn’t tell the girl we would be ushering until we arrived at the Todd Wehr Theater.) I enjoyed the English Mystery Plays so much I went twice- two different dates.

A very close second would be “Our Town” put on as a collaboration between the Rep and the National Theater for the Deaf. Each character had two actors, a regular speaking player and one that signed. Instead of being confusing, it gave a whole new perspective to language.

6. Why THEATER?: It’s live, immmediate, intimate. You can’t get that in a movie, even if it’s in a lush, big screen movie house. The most powerful stories are oftent the “little” ones. The ones that deal with relationships, with ethical struggle, with indecision. Live theater captures that best. It is best suited to teach how to deal with conflict and its resolution. Or its great cost when it can’t be resolved.

This post was submitted by Tom Dunigan.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: A musical revue in which my parents performed. I was about five. I remember seeing a college production of “Bye, Bye, Birdie” when I was about 10. It looked like they were all having tremendous fun.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: I love British farce - “Noises Off,” for instance. I laugh until it hurts. The funniest thing I’ve ever seen on a stage was the Broadway production of “The Producers.” As to tears - I found myself crying at the First Stage production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The Rep’s production of “Wit” about did me in. “Lear” a couple of years ago at Stratford…”Howl,wind”…and I was gone. That said, the wordless, Milwaukee Ballet production of “Romeo and Juliet” got me. It’s a combination of honesty and directness that gets me - and it often sneaks up on me.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: At the moment I would say Brian Bedford, of the aforementioned “Lear” in Stratford.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Seeing theater often changes, or perhaps more accurately broadens my perspective, which, in turn, changes my life. A couple of years ago I saw “The Merchant of Venice” with Native Canadian actor Graham Greene in the role of Shylock. He was not the finest Shylock I’ve ever seen, but hearing a Native man deliver those lines about hatred and discrimination was amazingly powerful and still haunts me. It lifted Shylock’s lines out of the context of the story and made them universal, which left me ruminating on the human condition…

Working on a production, which I’m sorry to say I haven’t done in years, has always has a more profound effect that merely seeing the same play. I’m quite sure it’s a matter of living with the work - it’s more like living in the work - that makes the difference.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: HORRIBLE QUESTION! Play: “Midsummer Night’s Dream,”which I’ve seen often beginning with working on a production in high school. It’s brilliant and I never tire of seeing it. Musical: “The Fantasticks.” I worked on a production in high school, played Luisa in a college production and saw the Off Broadway production in 1981 - others since. It’s sweet, poignant and takes me back to a wide-eyed time in my life.

6. Why THEATER?: It’s live and therefore immediate, dynamic and sometimes imperfect. Time and place drop away when the curtain rises, and the storytelling takes over.

This post was submitted by Elaine Schmidt.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: THE FANTASTICKS. It ruined me. I thought all you needed to make a play was trunk full of cardboard props and a harp. I loved the music, made my mom buy me the soundtrack for my 5th grade birthday, and the rest is history.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: I am a tough cookie - can I say that here? So the answer is always “the unexpected”. The production of OUR TOWN directed by David Cromer that just went to NYC made me cry so hard I thought I was going to throw up - and I have seen that show literally dozens of times and directed it once.

What makes me laugh is harder - although I have a brilliant memory of seeing a high school production of NOISES OFF that nearly killed me. I was 17 when I saw it, and it has crystalized into an unrealistically perfect production in my memory.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: In Milwaukee, I love Gerry Nugent. I remember him when he was student at Marquette, and its amazing to see how far he’s come. In general, I loved seeing Michael Shannon onstage at Red Orchid in Chicago. That’s a tiny theatre, and he gave me goosebumps.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Being in theatre clearly changed my life. I barely got out.

Seeing a production of PILGRIMS OF THE NIGHT at Theatre X changed my perspective on what theater could be.
A production of Sarah Kane’s CLEANSED by Defiant in Chicago made me feel raw for days.
Seeing Adam Rapps NOCTURNE caused me to break up with my boyfriend at the time because I just couldn’t see being with anyone who didn’t get all that beauty.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: I love ART by Yasmine Reza. I also love TOP GIRLS by Caryl Churchill, and MACBETH by Shakespeare. I can’t pick one - that would be insane.

My favorite performance of a play would have to be the HAMLET that I saw at South Coast Rep a year or two ago, staring some guy from a TV show. I was prepared for it to be horrid, but it was amazing! For the first time I felt I had an understanding of the castle as a small isolated place with too few people, and of Hamlet as young man way over his head in emotion, making decisions in an escalating hysteria. It was full of relationships and identifiable characters as opposed to simply Shakespearean archetypes. I mourned for Hamlet when he died. I felt like I had been through an experience.

6. Why THEATER?: It’s important to sit in anticipation in the dark with people you barely know for reasons other than an alien invasion or imminent bombing. But seriously, we need to be together, we need to experience things together, and we need community, no matter how much stuff we buy in this country to effectively cut us off from each other.

Stories are how we learn, and having them acted out in front of us can be (isn’t always) a revelatory experience. When we share something beautiful/moving/frightening, we become more human to each other, we remember that we are the same, and ultimately it makes us more humane.

A million years ago, when Inertia Ensemble still existed and I was a part of it, we were asking people for 5$ if they were going to stay for the performance at the cafe we were performing in that night. One guy bitched and moaned about it, but eventually parted with it and stayed to watch. After the show, he gave me the most profound compliment. He said, “I’m glad I stayed. I feel better.”

This post was submitted by Stephanie McCanles.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: I have a recollection of seeing several musicals while in elementary school. As for plays, I have a vivid memory of seeing THE CRUCIBLE while I was in middle school. I remember that the production was performed on raked stage. I want to say that I saw it at the Attic Theatre in Appleton but I don’t think that their theatre group actually put on the performance. I was so impressed by the actors working on the raked stage as if they were on flat ground. The drama of the play was incredible and set, lighting, and sound really enhanced the mood of the action on stage.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: While pratfalls and physical comedy are funny, I laugh more at a show that contains sharp wit and subtle sarcasm. I remember seeing THE FOREIGNER a couple of years ago and laughing so much that my face hurt when the show was over. As for crying, I can cry at a comedy as well as a drama; especially when the actors draw you in and get you to really feel their emotions, be it pain or joy. There are a couple of scenes in LOST IN YONKERS and OVER THE TAVERN that have taken me there.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: I have not yet been lucky enough to take in a theatre production in a place like New York or Chicago. That being said, I believe that the quality of actors in the Milwaukee metropolitan area is phenomenal. Being involved in community theatre, I am truly amazed at the number of excellent actors around here that rarely get paid and when they do, it isn’t nearly enough for what they do. The actor that I have been most impressed with recently is James Pickering from the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. His performance in A CHRISTMAS CAROL every year is outstanding.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Many people may answer this question from the side of seeing theatre. I would like to answer it from the perspective of being involved in theatre. Theatre has totally changed my view on the arts as a whole. I have really learned to appreciate the effort and commitment that goes into all artistic endeavors, especially theatrical ones.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: There are so many great plays that it is really hard to choose just one. For sentimental reasons, I would have to choose LOST IN YONKERS by Neil Simon. A few years ago, my son played Arty for the production at Waukesha Civic Theatre and I helped out as a dresser backstage. During the final weekend, my wife took over my backstage responsibilities for one performance so I could see the show. Although I knew all the lines from hearing them every night, seeing it for first time was an awesome experience. The emotion of that show has you laughing one minute and crying the next.

6. Why THEATER?: Because you never know what is going to happen. Every performance of a show is different. There are so many variables that come into play during a live theatre performance. You may have seen a particular play many times but the timing of the actors, the set design, the use of costumes, and overall direction will make each particular performance unique and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This post was submitted by Kurt Magoon.

Susan Loveridge filled out the Your Live Theater Story Form.  You can too by clicking here.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: Gypsy with Ethel Merman and Jack Klugman. I was 11 years old and the show began my love affair with theatre, sparking my desire to be an actress.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: Human connections–made and lost.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: Beth Mulkerron, for many reasons.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Life-changing…see number 1. Perspective…I think my mind is opened a bit more with every production I see.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer. A world premiere at Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, it simply took me by surprise with both its thought-provoking content and the fascinating production choices made to tell the story.

6. Why THEATER?: Within an hour of my first trip to New York City, in the middle of a warm afternoon, a stage hand pulled a few volunteers into the theatre where Into the Woods was playing. Bodies were needed to fill the seats for the taping of that week’s Tony Award excerpt. As I sat in that darkened theatre watching take after take, I realized that when the overture begins–for any musical theatre production–I feel more fully alive than when I’m doing anything else, as if the music itself has replaced the blood coursing through my veins. I fill my life with volunteer theatre activity in my community because I am passionate about its potential for soul-deep connections–to each other and to our own humanity. I want to ensure that future generations are offered the same artistic opportunities that have shaped and blessed my life.

This post was submitted by Susan Loveridge.

Rex Winsome filled out the Your Live Theater Story Form.  You can too by clicking here.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: Christmas pagaent.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: I sometimes laugh at stupid shit, but i don’t like that. I like when i laugh at something that only means something in the context of the peice, when something contained within one of the characters becomes funnny. I cry when characters are caught within situations that turn their attempts at ethical or even rational action into devastating unintended consequences and they become aware of it and don’t know what else they can do.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: My favorite performance was a guy doing notes from underground by candlelight. I don’t know that guys name. Ice Volt also kicks ass.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Changes my perspective often. Though, very little i’ve seen on stage in Milwaukee ever has. Every aspect of my life is currently shaped to best serve producing theatre.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: I can’t narrow down to one. Notes From Underground at the Brick in NYC, Conversation Storm at Darling Hall, 7 Jewish Children at Rooms in Chicago, Depth of a Moment and Deviants at MN Fringe are all up there.

6. Why THEATER?: The traditions and institutions of theatre are currently in crisis mode like no other medium, there’s tons of dead stuff that needs to be learned from and then shoved aside, as a result there is so much that can be done with theatre that’s barely been tried. It provides unique ephemeral experiences, while other mediums provide unique objects or mass producable simulations of experiences.

This post was submitted by Rex Winsome.

Dawn Molly Dewane filled out the Your Live Theater Story Form.  You can too by clicking here.

1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: “Everybody Loves Opal” — an absolutely dreadful play that, of course, I found absolutely enchanting as a kid. The high school was producing it so our class got the privilege of walking a block to the high school to see the play. I also remember “being a good audience” lessons, something I wish was taught today.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” with Stephen Hemming was laugh-out-loud, pee-in-your-pants funny. It was a perfect marriage of casting, timing and material. I love farce and a good production of “Noises Off” or “Lend Me A Tenor” or “Flea in Her Ear” will keep me laughing. I also remember a Milwaukee Repertory Theater production of “Noises Off.” There’s a bit in the last act when a character makes his entrance, not realizing his shoes have been tied together. The pratfall was so well done that I laugh thinking about it. The show had the biggest platter of sardines I’ve ever seen, too.

The Milwaukee Repertory Theater co-produced Shusaku Endo’s “Silence.” Lee Ernst had agonizing moments as the priest asked to renounce his faith. I could feel his emotions as if I was experiencing the feelings. Acacia Theatre produced “The Belle of Amherst” in a tiny space. I was excited to see the show, one of my favorites, and the show did not disappoint. In the second act, Emily Dickinson talks about her father’s death. In the hands of a lesser actor, the scene would be sad but Janet Peterson gave the scene so many levels that the scene became incredibly moving. Later in the act, Emily Dickinson talks about her nephew’s death. Like I did with Lee Ernst’s performance, I felt the emotions as I was doing the scene. I also saw “Master Class” at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. There’s a scene in the play when Maria Callas talks about not being able to perform. The script never has the actress playing Callas sing; rather the actor has monologues with recordings of Callas playing in the background. Angela Iannone is an amazing actress and she played the scene with so many levels that you felt Callas’ anger, sadness, grief and determination all at once. I found myself lost in her performance. I was watching Callas, not Angela Iannone playing Callas.

I guess that’s the best way to describe what makes me cry and/or laugh in a theater — the actor’s abililty to make me believe the reality he/she is creating. As an actor, I see many, many plays and there are not that many where I can say that is true.

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: Jonathan West (and I’m not just saying that because it’s your site, Jonathan :))-his performance of Toby Belch in “Twelfth Night” was side splittingly funny. Jonathan has impeccable comic timing. I know I will laugh if I see him in a comic role.

Angela Iannone-she is amazing! Her Gwendolyn in “The Importance of Being Earnest” was hilarious. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the line “The suspense is killing me” delivered so well. Her Maria Callas was so real and incredibly moving. Her role in “Napoli Milionaria” had so many levels. There’s a scene at the end where her character needs medicine for a child and she has to ask a character whom she turned away when that character needed assistance.

Lee Ernst-I think he was so much range. I remember thinking Renfield was odd casting for him. When I saw Steven Dietz’ “Dracula” in the Stiemke, I was amazed at the physicality he used to become Renfield. I loved his Fool in “Servant of Two Masters.” His priest in “Silence” was wonderful. Even in a light role like Willum in “The Nerd”, Ernst brings great presence and skill, both comic and dramatic, to the stage.

Rose Pickering-I love Rose’s work. She is a great character actress. Her dowager character in “The Importance of Being Earnest” was hilarious. Her character in “The Nerd” is still memorable. I can still picture her taking out a handkerchief, small hammer and demitasse plate; setting each item down; wrapping the plate in the handkerchief and then smashing the plate to bits. I’ve seen Pickering in so many roles over the years and she never disappoints.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Of course! Before theater, I was shy. Acting classes gave me self-confidence and helped me be more verbally articulate. I read plays growing up, learning about the world’s great playwrights. I became interested in opera through theater. I learned about theater as a vehicle for social awareness and change. I grew up in the 1980s. AIDS was the taboo few dared to mention. When Tony Kushner wrote “Angels in America”, it brought a difficult topic to the forefront. Plays like Shanley’s “Doubt” make it easier for the public to talk about the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandal. Playwrights like Sarah Kane use graphic situations and language to be “in your face” about difficult topics. I doubt I will ever read as brilliant dissection of an unraveling mind than “4:48 Psychosis.” Who ever would have thought Stephen Sondheim could write a musical about presidential assassinations that would be enjoyed by audiences? Before theater, I was a “nice girl” destined to be a nurse or teacher as such girls become. I read the Bible and popular fiction. After theater, I still read the Bible (for faith and also as a historical basis for literature) and I read literature, pop fiction and, of course, plays.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: “You Can’t Take It With You”-This was the second play I ever saw. It was a high school production — another field trip in grade school. It’s also a play I’ve performed three times. To me, it’s a perfectly crafted comedy that is difficult to ruin. The comedy literally jumps from the page. I think I’ve seen “You Can’t Take It With You” at least 25 times. Yet each time I laugh when Kolenkhov wrestles Tony’s father and at Essie’s terrible ballet.

“Our Town”-I saw the film before I saw the play. I saw a community theater production of “Our Town” first. I vividly remember the third act because it was so well delivered. I remember crying as Emily realizes life goes by too quickly. I also remember this was the first play I’d seen without an actual set. It was new to me and I looked up everything I could find about Thornton Wilder and the play at the library. This was before the Internet so I had to use the card catalog. I was fascinated the play was considered somewhat avant-garde for its time and that Thornton Wilder played the Stage Manager for a short time during the run. I’ve acted in “Our Town” four times and seen “Our Town” at least a dozen times.

“The Music Man”-I love, love this show! It’s the one musical I can see over and over without tiring of it. I’m very much like Marian Paroo and Marian is my absolute favorite stage role.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream”-I’ve seen this show at least 20 times. The first time I saw this was at a college. Some productions were good; some mediocre and some downright dreadful. I still love the characters and comedy, though. Shakespeare’s text never disappoints and always enthralls. “As You Like It” and “Taming of the Shrew” are close seconds.

“Richard III”-my favorite Shakespeare history play-Richard III is one of those larger than life characters the audience loves to hate. The first time I saw this was a professional production in New York. His scene with Lady Anne is brilliant. The audience sees the subtle manipulation and sociopathic nature of Richard III. I took two friends who had never seen a Shakespearean play to see “Richard III” and they loved it. To me, it’s not as long or boring as some of Shakespeare’s other history plays.

6. Why THEATER?: I love the energy of live entertainment. I love seeing people create characters in front of me. I love creating characters for an audience and having (hopefully) the audience believe I am that character. Shakespeare inspires many theaters to update his plays. That may mean switching character gender (Taming of the Shrew). It may mean modernizing the setting (Julius Caesar). It may be a concept production — “Macbeth” done Kabuki style, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” set in a bedroom and “The Tempest” set in a mental hospital. Seeing creativity come alive is exciting. It makes me want to be a part of it. I will always choose a play over a movie.

This post was submitted by Dawn Molly Dewane.

Taken from a recording with Michael Wright at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre offices on March 19, 2009.

1.     What was the FIRST play you ever saw? I’m not sure it was actually the first play I ever saw, but my first really vibrant theater memory was when I was in elementary school and I was looking for a high school to go to and I applied to some private schools. I went to a play, more of a variety show, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, an all male Catholic school, and I fell in love with the school because of this production.  I ended up getting a scholarship to this school, but it was because of this show, I just fell in love with theater.  I can remember distinctly just the joy of seeing this show.  It was really well produced, and they had a great theater program.  It was just something they threw together.  Something like, “St. Joe’s Follies.”

2.    What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater? I always laugh and cry in a theater.  My strongest memory is seeing Tom Aldrich in ON GOLDEN POND in New York.  I remember sitting there and literally laughing and crying simultaneously, the guy was so brilliant.  So that’s always been something that’s stuck with me.  That’s my favorite theater, when you’re laughing and you’re crying at the same time because it’s so true, so honest, you recognize human foibles and human misery at the same time.

3.    Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR? Well, I’ve got many.  I love Tom Aldrich because of that experience with ON GOLDEN POND.  But I think we’ve got great local talent.  I love Jim DeVita.  I love Gerry Neugent.  I love Colleen Madden. Tracy Arnold.  Jim Ridge.  Brian Mani.  I think we have incredible people here, so that’s immediately where my heart goes.

4.    Has theatre ever CHANGED your perspective? I feel like often when I see theater, it opens my eyes, it opens my heart.  I do think it has the power to change people’s perspectives always.  So, yes, absolutely.  It’s a powerful communal experience viewing theater, seeing yourself up there.  Seeing your neighbors, your colleagues.  Who you want to be. Seeing your heroes up there, being inspired by that.  Theater changes lives.

5.    What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Usually one I’m working on.  My current favorite play is BROOKLYN BOY (which Michael was working on when we spoke).  I love this play.  Part of it is just loving the digging into it.  The experience of, the searching, and I don’t mean just looking through encyclopedias, just visualizing, thinking about a play.  Casting a play.  Design discussions. To me that is so rich.  My favorite play is always the one I’m working on right then and there.

6.    Why THEATER? Because there’s nothing like it.  That idea of sitting with a bunch of strangers in a safe environment and experiencing something collectively, recognizing that we’re all alike, although we’re all different, that we’re all part of the same family.  There’s nothing like it.

Michael Wright is the Artistic Director of Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.

Taken from a recording with Ray Jivoff at Skylight Opera Theatre offices on March 19, 2009.

1.     What was the FIRST play you ever saw? (Sharp in take of breath to kick things off) I think the first play I ever saw was when my elementary school put on a reduced version of CARMEN.  So it was a fifth grade girl singing “La Habenera”.  And then the next year they did HMS Pinafore.  (When told CARMEN is an opera and not a play, Ray reconsidered his answer.) Play?  That was so long ago.  I’m sure it was something like OEDIPUS at the amphitheater.  I was so distracted by the Parthenon, I don’t remember.  The Rep theater in the town that I grew up (Syracuse), offered high school tickets, and the school had a bus, and we would ride down and come back. And the only one I really remember is SHE LOVES ME.  But it’s not a play.  It’s a musical play.  I loved it.  And then years later I performed in it.  I’m sure that when I saw it I thought, “Oh, I’d be so good as Amalia!” but then I ended up playing one of the guys.

2.    What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater? I always like it when people fall down.  If they can’t get back up again I cry.  If it’s obviously a pratfall, I laugh.  Crying, I think it’s usual guess like someone being real nice to their mom.  That always makes me cry.  I’m one of those ones where people turn around and look at me when I laugh.  Not the most recent production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at American Players Theatre, but the one before that, I howled a lot during that.

3.    Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR? Cherry Jones, who we saw in New York in DOUBT. The other one about the penal colony…(Ray searches for the name of the play in a lot of different ways, including a quick Google search on his office computer)…OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD.  (Ray also realized from his Google search that Cherry Jones had done MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN and goes on about how great Laurie Birmingham was in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater production he saw several years ago.)

4.    Has theatre ever CHANGED your perspective?  Your life? I think it’s made me compelled to say something to someone, or to try and be truthful about something, or treat someone differently, or think about something different.  You know someone whose situation I might not have a connection to, so you learn something, like a minority or a kid or someone like that.

5.    What is your FAVORITE PLAY?  Where did you see it?  Why is it your favorite? There’s so many.  I do love MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.  Seen it a million times, directed it at the high school.  Love it.  Might be too easy though, because it’s so charming.  I’ve always wanted to see A LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.  (Ray decided his love of MIDSUMMER needs further explanation.) I just think it’s really well constructed, really funny.  Love the language, love the characters, love the three worlds kind of rotating around.  I probably have seen that one more than any play.

6.    Why THEATER? Cause it’s live.  It’s happening right there in front of you. (I ask the question again, for  new answer.) Why not? (I ask Ray the A-B-C version of the question for three new answers) A. Because you’re in a room with a whole bunch of other people and they’re all experiencing it together.  B. It has everything about life all wrapped up inside it.  C. Someone took the time to make it up so you might as well help them achieve what they were hoping to achieve.