Pier 1.0: Staging Reality - Meet the Players!
Pier 1.0: Staging Reality
a new musical by David Webster
directed by Laura Norton • assisted by Maggie Quarton
music arranged & directed by Karen Strid • Vocal coaching by Mark Robinson
Is community theatre dead? Has technology and streaming taken the place of live theatre? Can technology SAVE theatre? Local playwright and songwriter David Webster explores these ideas in a zany, fast paced, original musical.
Performances will take place August 24-27 and 31, and September 1-3.
Masks are required for the Sunday, August 27 performance.
Introducing - The Playwright
David Webster
I wrote this script, a letter steeped in love
To prove that there’s a place in heav’n above
For theater folk who tread the boards with pride
To offer a small space where you abide
For some brief time far from life’s cares and woes
And bask in other’s trials hearing prose
Or poetry in meter quite iambic
I must admit it’s often seen a cheap trick.
These lines I offer as a simple cure
Some words I hope flow from my heart to yours.
I’ll bare my soul to you on stage tonight
I’ve written lines, I’ve tried to do it right
But if I’ve failed, just know I’ve done my best
To while away the hours before your rest
Good night my gentle audience, good night
If you take one thing from this house tonight
Just know that you are loved and you must give
That love to others and their faults forgive.
Introducing - The Directors
Laura Norton as Director
My Reality TV Show script begins in 1981 with my marriage to Peter and our relocation from Clinton, NY to Homer, AK. The story follows us as we raise three amazing children and numerous cats and dogs and discover that Homer is a hotbed of talented individuals who love to participate in the performing arts. Pier One Theatre becomes our second home and a pivotal influence on all our lives. The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra allows me the opportunity to keep playing my clarinet and to learn to sing through choral projects. Eventually I became the production manager of KPO as well as Pier One and, among other things, had the immensely satisfying experience of facilitating and participating in three performances of Beethoven's Symphony #9. Our children have grown up, still live in the area, and presented us with four grandchildren to enjoy. When not actively engaged in singing, playing, directing, supporting or otherwise participating in the performing arts, I will be found either reading or creating jewelry.
Maggie Quarton as Assistant Director
Weekdays Maggie can be found upstairs at Nomar inspecting the goods (think fleece, tote bags) to make sure they are perfect while listening to podcasts.
Sometimes she reads a book. She eschews processed food except for pizza slices from Save You More.
Karen Strid as Musical Director
As a retired jazz prof, my reality is maintaining good grooves, good harmonies and good melodies. Trapped in a continuous battle of keeping things together; remembering intros, outros, cues, and tempos. I hope to play a great piano solo. Someday… I will.
Mark Robinson as Vocal Coach
How’s this for a reality show plot?:
Law school dropout from Indianapolis who has never been in an orchestra, doesn’t really play an instrument, nor sing very well, moves to rural Alaska and ends up conducting Brahms Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Carmina Burana, Beethoven 9, Rent, West Side Story, Les Mis, Fiddler (and many more) and conducts in St Peter’s Basilica, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral and more…
Nah… never mind. Completely far fetched. No one would believe it.
Ireland Styvar as Choreographer
Ireland Styvar is a High School student with a passion for musical theater and dance. She is also a hiker, ski-hippie, fisherwoman, adventurer, and mountain lover. If Ireland Styvar was in a reality TV show, she would be a hiking guide in Mountain Movement, a show where she guides hikers through international mountain ranges using the life lessons dance and theatre have taught her. Her hikers would tell you that nothing keeps the bears away like a good show tune and a few kick-ball-changes!
Cristen San Roman as Stage Manager
Growing up as a young child in the early 2000’s, Cristen was exposed to the finest era of reality tv. She enjoyed shows like Fear Factor, Rob & Big, Punk’d, The Bachelor, 16 and Pregnant, Miami Ink, The Duggars, Say Yes to the Dress, etc… Her favorite were the competition reality shows, and in particular Tyra Bank’s America’s Next Top Model. She loved to critique the contestants on their runway walk and “smize”, and knew if she ever got a chance to be on the show she would DESTROY the competition, win the $100,000 Covergirl contract and end up on the cover of Seventeen Magazine... truly though, Cristen had no desire then or now to become a model. She just gets really riled up about reality tv! These days if she’s watching, it’s usually Love is Blind, 90 Day Fiancé, FBoy Island or some equally unfortunate and uncouth show… they are a true guilty pleasure.
Introducing - The Actors
Peter Norton as Dylan
Former patternmaker (Most have no idea; feel free to ask.); Homer’s first Letter Carrier (It’s quite specific.); Reanimated trombonist (There’s a story.); Long-time actor (Judge away!).
Mary Jane Shows as Emily
Homer Gardening with Friends is a show about girls getting together to create a bounty of wealth in this little Hamlet by the sea. It is everything one needs to nurture the soul. Thanks to my many years being involved in Pier One theatre I have the expertise to use many of my passions; theatre, singing, gardening, friends, family and community to show people how Homer is my home and I love it here. I’ve been here over 45 years now. Wow I’m OLD!!!!
David Schneider as Jack
David Schneider, Pier One semi regular.
You may have imagined me in my imaginary reality TV show 1044 MAGNUM.
Wherein I, along with my team of skilled forensic accountants, uncover and take down corrupt politicians, mob bosses and unscrupulous coupon clippers. Accounting Today praises the pencil chewing tension and tactful use of present values and the rule of 72 to push criminals into a new bracket. This one made of iron bars. Now in its fifth imagination.
Gretchen McCullough as Brooke
The reality TV show Gretchen would be starring in would be one a lot like this play, all about musical theatre. People who say musicals aren’t realistic because people don’t randomly break out in song have obviously never been to Gretchen’s house. And while it’s been 19 years since she has been on stage, music and dancing were never far from her life with church and Zumba. She’s excited to finally have the opportunity to join the Pier One Theatre family and all the wonderful players.
Lila Myers as Olivia
I’m New York City’s rising star spending the summer in Homer, Alaska. I drove up here all the way from South Carolina to here to work for the summer and I somehow managed to get involved in some theatre while doing so. The adventures are wild and the wild is adventurous!
Dayus Geysbeek as Owen
Dayus Geysbeek is the star of a fictional reality show called Descent Into Chaos, wherein a idiotic teenage actor's ego slowly inflates the more and more shows he’s in. It’s ultimately about how weird theatre kids are, but I digress. Dayus is the epitome of a theater kid, as well as a self proclaimed movie critic, comic book fan, and of course, your average musical enjoyer. You may have seen him onstage at the Mariner Theatre this spring as Jack Kelly in Homer High’s production of Disney's Newsies, as well as on the Pier One stage in Cosmic Hostel, and behind the Pratt Museum as a cannibalistic miner. He also hopes you enjoy the show!!
Kyle Schneider as Luke
If Kyle were in a reality show, it would definitely be something involving traveling by rail from city to city around the world, being immersed in the local culture and cuisine, whilst also discussing the the hospitality practices of those places.
Val Sheppard as Kristen/Nancy
If Val had her choice of reality show to star in, she'd probably want something similar to the concept proposed by her character and cohorts in this very show (albeit with a bit more of a reasonable and well-paying contract) because quite frankly, she can't think of anything she knows or does better than Pier One Theatre and could tell quite a few stories as a result. She's been deeply entrenched in the world of community theatre for more than a decade and has been an on-and-off piece of this organization's history for basically her entire life. In addition to directing nine plays for Pier One and starring in a great many more productions, she also had the distinct privilege of helping David Webster devise the initial concept for what this show would ultimately become. She thinks that what David has done with this show is nothing short of extraordinary and while it's quite different from what she had initially envisioned, she couldn't be happier to see how far he ran with that initial idea and what her directors and co-stars have done with this rich and absurdly self-referential material. She's eternally grateful to every last one of them, and hopes that you will have as much fun enjoying this meta experience as she and everyone else has had in creating it. Ave Theatrum!
Sally Oberstein as Suzi/Vanessa
Sally Oberstein is a sucker, tropical fish owner and tropical fish killer, back-seat driver, M*A*S*H fan, second-hand shopper, theater junkie, bird nerd, travel addict, tarantula lover, and avocado-aholic. If Sally starred in a reality TV show, it would be called The Tasmanian Devil and Mr. Wizard, where Taz relies on Mr. Wiz (who appears in many forms) to rescue her as she chases farcical dreams and predictably spins out of control.
Michael McKinney as Ace/Larry
Michael mckinney is a generally happy, optimistic guy, whose goal is to enjoy his life and celebrate the value of the people who surround him. If he was in a reality show he would be a time traveling historian who wrote speeches and stand-up comedy for famous Americans, like George Washington, Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln. Obviously these guys are not known for their witty comebacks, so they need his help. Imagine how much more fun it would be to study history if these fellows were funny.
Sascha Petersen as Silas
Having grown up in Homer, Sascha spent time commercial salmon fishing in Bristol Bay and more than a decade behind bars. The Hollywood writers strike has allowed Sascha to take a break from his day job where he is the charismatic host of Rehab Reels: From Cells to Streams. Each episode of this unique reality TV series is based off of Sascha's personal story of growth, redemption, and transformation. The first half of each episode focuses on life inside correctional facilities, while the other half explores the serene world of fishing and nature. The show engages viewers with a unique blend of introspection, empathy, and the beauty of nature. It underscores the potential for personal growth and transformation, regardless of one's past mistakes and can be streamed weekly on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network).
Freya Bartlett as Belle/Puck
First bio, I could say whatever I want! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Hi, I'm Freya and I'm 12 years old, and this is my second public performance. You'll see me again... Mwahahahahahaha!
Otto Kilcher as Gulliver
My whole life of 71 years has been a reality show. I’ve gotten paid for 11 of them. The rest are a blur of many parts and many hats where “keeping up with the Joneses" and “looking good for the governor” were real. Many directors, bosses, and judges. I took a break from Pier One in ‘94. I’m excited to be back with my loving, understanding, and supportive teammates at Pier One.
Sara Woltjen as Grace
Tired of nothing but explosions, car chases, drama and sex on your TV? Check out television's burning Yule log for all seasons with The Quietude. The Quietude follows the mild and calming home life of Sara Woltjen through serene evenings and weekends of cuddly pets and knitting. Take a break from the fast lane, sit back and relax as Sara sits in her easy chair making blankets and listening to The Lord of the Rings audiobook trilogy over and over again.
Sunrise Sjoeberg as Eleanor
Reality show? Since I’ve not yet achieved the status of reality in my own life, and have been doing my best to with that I’ve been given to act out what I may have become on a less tumultuous path, the most genuine thing I can say is I would make my show about helping fellow PTSDs to find reality; next I would help people achieve one thing on their bucket lists; and lastly, travel the world with little Greta Thunberg to somehow make a difference in raising awareness about our calamitous warming of the globe.
Mike Selle as Lincoln/Macbeth
Mike's reality show might be called I'll Try Anything, Once. Welder, cook, record store know it all, delivery driver, grocer, film studio manager, gaffer, film set electrician, carpenter, hardware store clerk, building manager, stay at home dad, audio technician, recording studio owner, museum preparator, artist, musician, actor, door to door pizza salesman. His many different experiences have given him a lot to draw upon for his role in this wonderful musical.
Cathy Stingley as Haley
My reality is loving family, friends, my horses, ducks and chickens. It is playing fiddle with fellow musicians and being on stage or backstage. It is being outside and working in any environment. It is being a caring helper to those in need. It is being here with you as an active part of Pier One Theatre!
Hope Geysbeek as Becky
If a reality show was going to be created for Hope, it would be a show like Hoarders or something involving Marie Kondo but only about the mounting collection of books and mugs. Each episode would feature Hope reviewing books and rearranging her mug shelf all while family and friends are staging interventions to save her from making her house look like a thrift store exclusive to literature and drinkware.
Introducing - The Band
Scott Bartlett on Percussion
Following his stage debut singing Home on the Range at a Community Center talent show at age four, production crews fought over the rights to Scott Bartlett's attempt to perform every musical genre and instrument imaginable as the Monomaniacal Musician. Comprised of mostly very short stints ranging alphabetically from accordions to xylophones, he's had layovers in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, European/American folk, and jazz. Mostly, but not exclusively, Scott prefers to hit things. Musically.
Josh Krohn on Bass
Once a full-time occupant of the techie lounge on the second floor at Pier One Theatre, I'm happy to be back at the spit theatre participating in this original production, playing bass with the band. I've enjoyed being a part of many Pier One productions, debuting as Workhouse Brat in Oliver, 1986. Happy 50th, Pier One!
Hope Stearns - Sound
If Hope was the star of her own reality TV show, it would probably be a mix of every genre, theme, and plot line. Her life is one dramatic event after the other. Maybe that’s why she loves theater.
Jesse D. Bolt
With only twenty years of Pier One experience I may still be the new guy, but I owe Lance and Pier One my professional existence. I am lucky to be a part of our fiftieth season out on the spit.
