Best Portraits of the 16-17 Season at The Playhouse
My first full season shooting for The Playhouse San Antonio has come to an end and I couldn't be more pleased with the numerous opportunities I had to meet the cool folks that populate the theater community and San Antonio on the whole. I started my tenure at the very tail end of the 2015-16 Season and I was able to shoot Two Sisters and a Piano, directed by Omar Leos who also directed Hairspray, this year's season closer. The Circle of Life.
For the nine shows in the season, I created a total of 56 images that made it into the public as official portraits. Of those, these are my favorites. Sometimes I chose them for the story behind them or merely that they pleased me the most. Feel free to have others be your favorites but here are mine.
Enjoy!
Beauty and the Beast
Jeff Jeffers - The Beast
Costume-wise, this is as difficult of a show as you might suspect so we only had time to create ONE portrait. The Artistic Director, George Green, wanted a show that was slightly darker and more ominous that previous iterations and the costumery and wardrobe that the team created certainly matched that.
Jeff is an accomplshed actor with a rich background and I think that he found the sweet spot between the scary beast and the wounded prince in his portrayal. Well done, Sir.
The Glass Menagerie
Gloria Sanchez-Molina - Amanda Wingfield
Without changing a single bit of the script or stage direction, The Playhouse and Director Molly Cox crafted an entirely new look at this venerable (koff - overdone - koff) classic and made history. The Glass Menagerie sold every seat for every show and gave San Antonio audiences an immersive experience in the mid-century mental hospital instead of a mere St. Louis apartment.
While 'Amanda Wingfield' was already a dynamic yet wounded character, Gloria's representation of her set a new standard, IMHO.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Nicholas Ponting
I've stated for the record that this is my absolute favorite piece of theater and I've been lucky enough to shoot it before. It's coming back again for the 2017-18 Season and we already have ideas on how to make the next round fresh and exciting.
This guy, Nick, is amazing. Not only did he have a hand in every show this season as the theater's Resident Designer, he has also performed in 3 of them. For All is Calm, he also served as the Musical Director, channeling the voices of all those trained singers into one magical wall of sound. As an actor, he was masterful at his ability to show strength through gentleness.
Fool for Love
Bill Gundry - The Old Man
If a photographer can't take a good pic of Bill, that photographer should just get rid of the camera. The character, history, and color on this man's face tell stories that others have never heard. As 'The Old Man' in the play, he was tasked to be a silent observer, always judging and occasionally chiming in with his faulty, biased memories and opinions.
"I got nobody now! Nobody!"
The Secret Garden
Corina Zars - Mrs. Medlock
Nobody should be this talented AND kind at the same time. Though I had already worked with her on Beauty and the Beast, I didn't really get to know Corina until this show. Up until then, her reputation as an artist and a super human was well-known but I just couldn't believe that she was as universally loved as folks said.
The rumors were true. From my first days in town, she has been simply wonderful on stage and off and she's earned all the kind words about her. Imagine my surprise when she portrayed 'Mrs. Medlock' as such a thoroughly repulsive woman!
The mystical nature of The Secret Garden inspired me to try a few new tricks and create the aged but ethereal portraits.
Disgraced
Megan Van Dyke - Jory
I chose Megan's pic for two main reasons. In the most simple way, the image captures what matters in the play; her quiet fierceness, the controversial art piece, a hint of wine, and the austerity of the NY apartment. Second, Megan's portrayal of 'Jory' was so very much in line with her presentation for the portrait. Quiet and fierce. Without unneccesary dramatics, she let you know exactly what her opinion was.
Urinetown
Carrie Daniels - Little Becky Two Shoes
Carrie is another person that has greatly helped the 2016-17 Season be the success it was as she has had her hand in all of the productions. She performed in Beast, The Secret Garden, and Urinetown, she was Stage Manager or crew for several productions in the Cellar and she worked on the creation of all the sets. On top of that, her on stage ability is superb, seemingly getting better with each show.
As 'Little Becky', Carrie created a dirty, loathsome little wretch that (forgive me) still managed to be very hot. Weird, I know.
I look forward to her stage appearances next season.
Crimes of the Heart
Rosa Gardner - Chick Boyle
This is another example of a super nice person portraying such a magnificent (rhymes with Witch) on stage. Rosa was with The Playhouse in The Secret Garden and is now in Hairspray.
We kept the portraits simple in keeping with the early 70s look and feel of the play but Rosa, especially, managed to make the viewer (or at least me) feel like her portait was about to say something snotty and rude.
Hairspray
Kass Ortiz - Tracy Turnblad
First, a confession ...
I didn't like this show before The Playhouse did it. I won't get into why but I'll state very clearly that this production won me over. It's the biggest cast I've seen on this stage and everyone of them moves with purpose and energy. No wasted moments.
THIS kid is front and center for almost every moment of it and for every moment, she is a radiant ball of fire. I suspected that would be the case when we created these portaits and Kass didn't disappoint.