Joshua Stucky

A Distinct Society, by Kareem Fahmy begins in the tranquil hush of a library that straddles the U.S. – Canada border, where life is about to change. Much the same could be said for Cooper Schairbaum, the youngest in the cast who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the show. Schairbaum plays Declan Sheehan in the play directed by Brant Russell at the Human Race Theatre Company.

I was thrilled to get to chat with the rising star about his love of acting and any future productions.

937: Hi Cooper. I understand you are a local high schooler…right?

CS:  Yes. I am junior at Oakwood High School.

937: And….I heard you have some acting experience under your belt? What shows may have the readers perhaps seen you previously perform?

CS: I have played Billy in On Golden Pond, Sky in Mamma Mia, Jack in Into the Woods, and Windward and Cop in the Muse Machine’s The Little Mermaid and 9 to 5.

937: WOW! You have been bitten by the theater bug!! Where did this all start for you?

CS: My first show was The Addams Family in fourth grade, and I guess it all started from my mom who did theater in college and still loves it, so she really motivated me to participate in theater.

937: Well it is one of the few things you can do from cradle to grave. So, thank mom for getting you into something that can last a lifetime! What can you tell us about the show?

CS: It is inspired by true events. It focuses on all the things that can, in some cases, divide us…or unite us. It has a lot to do with connection…and how life can change.

937: And, people are really enjoying it. So, in doing this and other shows, does it make you want to continue with acting in your future?

CS: It really made me believe that theater in the future is a viable option for me but throughout this whole process I have realized that this is so demanding and I don’t think this is for me after high school.

937: Amen brother, it is hard work…but, keep that door open! Do you have advice for others looking to do community theater?

CS: Do it. You will always meet new friends that care about you. They will be friends to you for the rest of your life.

937: Congratulations Cooper. Bravo!

You can catch A Distinct Society at the Human Race 2/11-2/17. Shows Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm.

More info at https://humanracetheatre.org/

TheatreLab continues to do some ‘outside of the box’ things in hopes of catching new theater-goers and launching new relationships. This time around, the company has joined forces with the University of Dayton to take us ‘Into the Woods‘ via the Sondheim Classic. I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to 2 of the stars of the show….Kyle Channell and Madeline Stern.

JS: First of all, thank you for meeting with me. I know you are so excited to share info about the production!! Tell me what made you interested in being part of ‘Into the Woods?’

KC: Well, I feel like Into the Woods is a rite of passage for every theatre performer. It’s hard not to go for it when a production is being staged. There are so many iconic archetypes and characters throughout, so any chance to get involved is so tempting. TheatreLab Dayton is a name that has been popping up on my radar for a while, so when I heard they were doing ITW and I could make it work with finishing undergrad, I had to go for it.

MS: And for me….I will take any opportunity I get to be in a Sondheim show! My parents work in the theatre industry and had the incredible opportunity to work with Sondheim, so I was exposed to his music at a really young age. His shows have always been part of my life and musical DNA.  I’m so grateful for the way his art has impacted and inspired me as a performer through the different phases of my life.

JS: Wow Madeline, so cool. You both have roles that are intricate and important to the ‘story-telling’ that makes ITW such a beloved story. What resonates with you about your respective roles….Madeline, you first this time!!

MS: (the WITCH) The Witch has such an interesting emotional arc through the show. Her story is about intergenerational trauma and how we’re all just trying to do better than our parents did, and their parents before them. Her mother cursed her with ugliness because the Baker’s Father stole her beans, which was completely outside of her control. Not something a kind and loving mother would do, if you ask me! The Witch tries so desperately to be a better mother than hers was, but ends up holding on to Rapunzel too tightly. She loves her so deeply and tries to do right by her, but continues to make mistakes. It’s just so human to love so deeply and be so flawed. I think we can all see a bit of ourselves in that dynamic.

JS: Ummm, that’s like a spot-on description of the role….take notes folks….Kyle?

KC: The Baker is a complicated, beautifully flawed man. However, what is truly endearing about him is his willingness to change – that is a rare trait in so many men and male characters throughout theatre canon. The complicated relationship between him and his father directly dictates his relationship with fatherhood, so his evolution has been a treat to explore. I’m fortunate to tackle paternal roles frequently, but I have yet to find one I connect with so personally as I do with the Baker.

MS: I love roles that allow me to blend my classical and musical theatre training. I would love to play Amalia in She Loves Me, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Rodgers and Hammerstein- basically everything Kelli O’Hara has done.

JS: You two need to write ‘character descriptors’ for script companies.  HA HA! Keeping that in mind, what role are you still wanting to tackle in your career?

KC: Good question. There are so many amazing characters I want to play. I’d love to tackle Vanya, Hamlet, Phil Connors in Groundhog Day, Sweeney Todd, Tony in WSS, etc. The Baker was a big one, but I’m happy I got to tackle it the first time.

MS:I love roles that allow me to blend my classical and musical theatre training. I would love to play Amalia in She Loves Me, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Rodgers and Hammerstein- basically everything Kelli O’Hara has done.

JS: OMG….quick story. I met her, didn’t know who she was…it was literally 20 plus years go…and she was in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ on some tour back then. 10 years later she’s doing ‘South Pacific’ and I’m like, that’s that lady who people said would be famous some day…um….I think she’s been nominated for 8 Tonys..and of course, now the ‘Gilded Age.’ Sorry, I digress…

So when did you know acting was ‘for you?’

MS: My parents love to tell the story of me at about 3 years old, coming out into the living room and singing “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat in the lowest notes I could possibly squawk out. I knew from the time I could talk that I was going to be a singer.

KC: The theatre bug bites early and hard. My work in the theatre began when I was about 8, and honestly, it’s been an inextricable element of who I am ever since. Whether I would pursue this professionally was never really in question, it’s just a matter of who I am.

JS: You two are a delight to chat with. Thank you both so very much. Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

MS: Well, hmmm, in addition to performing, I teach voice lessons through the Madeline Stern Vocal Studio online. I also love creating content for singers on Instagram and TikTok @SingwithMadeline. Check out if you want to learn more about me!

KC: Feel free to follow me at kyle.channell on Instagram or check out my website at kylechannell.com! I hope you enjoy the show and please keep supporting the theatre scene wherever you are. This is an industry still recovering from COVID so your patronage is what keeps the theatre scene both in Dayton and beyond alive.

JS: Well said Kyle. I am hoping you both ‘break-a-leg’ this weekend and continue to entertain on that stage for a lifetime.

Come see Kyle and Madeline….

• May 16 – 19, 2024
• Boll Theatre at the University of Dayton, 300 College Park Avenue, 45469

For more information and tickets to TheatreLab Dayton’s Into the Woods go to http://bit.ly/TLDIntoTheWoods

For those of us who went through mythology classes, we know the story. We know the beginning, the middle, and yes, the END! THAT ENDING! Like most of the Dayton audience, I felt the need to change it up…to make it different….to stop the inevitable….but ‘It’s a sad song, and we’re gonna sing it anyway!’ From the jump, ‘Hadestown‘ dives right into the story. Our focus falls to Orpheus (J Antonio Rodriguez…with a falsetto like no other)  and his love for Eurydice (Amaya Braganza, with her smooth, solid voice). The tale is rough and wrought with issues…hunger, poverty and longing. It grinds…until the frenetic Persephone makes her entrance. The character, one for the mythological ages, is played with an almost gymnastic quality by Lana Gordon. (She will wow you in the second act!) If you recall, Persephone lives half of the year with her hubs Hades (Matthew Patrick Quinn…who adds an emotional quality to his character, which I’ve not seen in previous performances). Their troubled relationship ebbs and flows throughout, delivered with voice and VOICES!

The story moves on the ‘track’, taking us from Eurydice‘s strife of freezing and needing sustenance; through Orpheus‘ idealism and hope to bring Spring along; Persephone‘s time ‘down below’ casting the world into cold and dark; and Hades strict control of his underworld, where lyrics on building walls, and silencing uprisings seem timely, today!

As the train continues forward…barreling into hell, we wish we could stop things…the decisions Eurydice‘s makes for her future; the anger Hades feels for the world he cannot control; the choice of Orpheus to take the ‘test!’ (DON’T DO IT!!). And throughout, there is this emotional current pulling at our heartstrings as we go. (There were tears from many in the audience as fate deals us that ‘blow.’) All the while, we relate. We relate to the themes whispering in our ears….doubt, worry, survival. Those voices brought to life through strong vocals from the Fates ( Marla Louissaint, Hannah Schreer & Lizzie Markson.)

Throughout our show, the onstage musicians take us on a musical ride that truly is dynamic. They are, each and every one, masters of their craft. You almost want a concert featuring…well…just them! And along with them is Hermes (played by the endearing Will Mann). He connects so well, reminding us that this not gonna be easy!

No doubt, the story could drag, but the visuals (the lighting, the special effects), the set (with its nod to New Orleans) and the sounds (especially during the beloved ‘Why we Build The Wall’) keep us enthralled and engaged. It is hard to let your attention wander.

Look, this isn’t your run of the mill Broadway show. It’s obscure, and handles political issues seamlessly. It has songs that are beyond our everyday Broadway experience (‘Doubt Comes In‘, ‘Our Lady of the Underground‘, ‘Hey, Little Songbird‘) It tackles a classic tale with hope for a resolution, and then takes us where we knew were going all along. It’s eerie and odd, beautiful yet broken.

There’s a reason ‘Hadestown‘ can at times be polarizing. Strong feelings on both sides of the aisle. In the words of a friend in attendance ‘I hate unhappy endings.’ To that I say, ‘It’s a sad song, and we’re gonna sing it anyway!’ 

For further information on times and tickets, click below!

https://www.daytonlive.org/events/hadestown/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwncWvBhD_ARIsAEb2HW8ljCZApo1EYrwidJ44OSIL-nmV5nvo_HqgQhqj3WBzQlcyRhcqsN8aAmS4EALw_wcB