John & Kaitlin sitting in a tree.
Making T-H-E-A-T-R-E…
In this week’s meet & greet, we’re chatting with theatre artist dynamic duo John Coker & Kaitlin Muse. One reason Zach and I love San Antonio so much is this community of artists is filled with families (theatre making duos, directors, teachers, actors, designers, theatre babies!!! Theatre dogs? Why not!).
So let’s talk theatre and life with our stage manager + lighting designer Kaitlin and our sound + music designer John! My direction for 9 Circles is to highlight the contradiction between the real, concrete world and the world of Daniel Reeves’ mind, and to navigate this magical boundary, our use of light and dark, sound and music, will be especially important. These two designers are a match for this style and certainly a match for each other too!
EVA: Ok, John, Kaitlin, y’all where are you from?
KAITLIN: Born in Kansas, raised in Texas, and I spent many formative years in California.
EVA: I’m from California! But spent many formative years in the South, in Atlanta. So it’s like we’re the same! But opposite…
JOHN: Born in Heidelberg, Germany; Army brat, but San Antonio is where I spent most of my childhood.
E: Why did you choose to work on this project?
K: Great script, and the chance to do some cool stuff with lights. 🙂
J: I love uncomfortably deep works.
E: Favorite color?
K: Either blue or green, depending on the day.
J: Violet
E: That’s interesting you are both loving the cool end of the spectrum. Favorite scent?
K: My husband making me coffee in the morning. Also roses, and baking bread.
J: Lavender
E: Your house must smell amazing! Ok, you’re eating your favorite foods, what’s on your plate?
K: Chips and fresh salsa. Can’t beat it.
J: Pho soup
E: It’s Saturday afternoon, what are y’all up to?
K: Doing deep-tissue massages (my other job), while secretly listening to books on tape.
E: You’re one of the best massage therapists around! And now I know your secret when you’re working on me!
J: Practicing (the double bass); maybe watching some old horror movies.
E: I feel like you two must have a fun, zen, calm sort of home life…unless you’re watching the horror flicks, I guess! And now, my fave: from the famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire made famous by Inside The Actors Studio:
E: What is your favorite word?
K: Bog. It’s fun to say, and immediately conjures detailed images in your head…oddly poetic for such a short word. Makes me think of Labyrinth and David Bowie, which is also good.
J: Effervescent
E: What is your least favorite word?
K: Panties
J: Cunt
E: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
K: Enthusiasm, and being genuine.
J: Depth
E: What turns you off?
K: Arrogance.
J: Irrationality
E: What is your favorite curse word?
K: FUCK!
J: Fuck!
E: AAAAHHH, that’s so sweet! You both have the same favorite curse word. Ah, cute. Ok, what sound or noise do you love?
K: Cat chirps.
J: A magnificent pipe organ.
E: What sound or noise do you hate?
K: Anything high-pitched and scraping…like cutlery on a plate. (SHUDDER)
J: Gnats
E: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
K: Veterinarian, or ASL interpreter.
J: Neuroscientist
E: What profession would you not like to do?
K: Dentist. Ick. Bad breath all day?? Why??
J: Politician
E: And finally, if Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
K: “I told ya so.” –wink wink, double guns gesture–
J: “Surprise!”
Check out the John & Kaitlin’s design work in Bill Cain’s 9 Circles June 15 – 25, 2017 (performances located at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio – tickets available soon at http://www.classictheatre.org)
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