Episode 12 - Twelve Angry Jurors Interview (Featuring Madison Tobeck and Amanda Johnson)

This week, Madison Tobeck (director) and Amanda Johnson (cast member) join us to talk all things Twelve Angry Jurors!

Website: artscenterofcc.com

YouTube: The Arts Center of Cannon County

Email: castlist@artscenterofcc.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

The new cast list is up in five, four, three, two, one.

SPEAKER_03 0:08

Say live and let die.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Welcome back to the cast list, everyone. Episode 12. I'm Patrick.

SPEAKER_04 0:24

And I'm RJ. Thanks again for always joining in. I know we missed you all last week.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Um Patrick is recovering from either a strep throat or the plague.

SPEAKER_04 0:33

Yes, Patrick is uh one of the two. Suffering internally. Um maybe externally too.

SPEAKER_02 0:42

I mean, it's it is very hot outside, Patrick. It's very hot. I'm still suffering, but I'm on antibiotics now.

SPEAKER_04 0:48

But off about you, this is the official podcast of the Art Center of Cannon County. Thanks for joining in. We got so many things to talk about, don't we, Picture? Because it's not all about you. It's not. It's not all about me.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

Um, we have our first uh four-person episode today. That is a lie. Wait, no. Juni B. Jones. It's not our first person episode.

SPEAKER_04 1:09

You just said, hey, Juni B. Go jump in a hole in the river and I'm gonna forget about you.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

I didn't say that.

SPEAKER_04 1:15

That was the that was what we call reading between the lines.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

It's my pull it's my plague brain.

SPEAKER_04 1:20

You know what's happened? I've just realized here. We took uh that extra week off because of your illnesses and conservatory, and we've we have been very busy here at the Arts Center. But that has rejuvenated uh away from our soft-hearted mellowness, where I am now just on the attack. Yeah. And I don't know why, just as soon as you said start in recording, I just felt the need to come out guns-ablazing this episode.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

So you just got through both junior conservatory sessions. Yes, I have. I would love I mean I was here to witness it, but I would love for you to tell um the folks what it was like.

SPEAKER_04 1:58

So, for those of you don't know, our conservatory is our summer camp here, and we have three sessions, two junior sessions and one senior one.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Um technically have four sessions now.

SPEAKER_04 2:07

We do technically have four sessions because we have our tech camp as well, which there are still very limited spots left for tech camp for you to sign up for. Anywho, um our junior sessions are for elementary school age children, and hold on, I got a text message.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

Um is it in regards to the podcast?

SPEAKER_04 2:29

No, it was a personal thing. Sometimes, you know, I try to, you know, have a life, it's very difficult for me. Sure, sure. Anywho, uh the junior session was Winnie the Pooh for those who uh are tuning in for the first time. Uh and it's elementary school children, and it was just as cute as a button. It was but my goodness, it was like wrangling feral cats with a fire hose. It was like multiple combinations of things that just you know about 50 kids per session. No, we had about 30 the first one, and about 45 the second one. And yeah. We were deep in the hundred acre woods. And then how many do you have for senior? We are gonna have 70 teenagers for singing in the rain. Oof. Oof indeed. Um But we're gonna rally and we're gonna come out stronger and ever, and there'll be two casts, and it's a harder show. And I'm gonna have a great time. I'm just gonna go into it uh very positive every day, smiling. I just keep on smiling, like Wet Willie used to say. That's the name of a musician from the 70s. Well, maybe do some research. Sorry, sorry.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

Well, we have a good episode for you today. Um, we're interviewing Madison Tobeck and Amanda Johnson.

SPEAKER_04 3:48

Yes, the director, Madison Tobek, of Twelve Angry Jurrors, and one of the stars, jur number four, Amanda Johnson. Jur number four. Yes. This will be a fun little takeaway because when we had Caden on to talk about the Hobbit, it was interesting to have the director, actor here. But I was more of an interviewer. Sure. Where this time we get to have the director and actor here to sort of talk about that dynamic, which we've never really had before.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Yeah, that will be cool. That will be cool. Um, before we jump into that, um I don't want to get too much into it because we have an interview coming up right now. We do. I mean, not right this second. Oh, okay, sorry.

SPEAKER_04 4:24

I thought you were jumping the gun.

SPEAKER_02 4:25

No, no, no. Not right this second, but coming up. Um we do have a few other things to hit before we do that. Um, Dracula auditions are coming up. Um, directed by this guy right here.

SPEAKER_04 4:37

I am so excited for Dracula. I do love that show. It is the end of the month, July 26th and 27th. It's a very, very, very good script. It's have you read the script?

SPEAKER_02 4:50

I have so I've read one of them, to be honest. I don't know if it's the version we're doing or not. I can't remember. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 4:57

Um but well, this is the version that is written by Stephen Dytes. It's his original version because he redid it um, I think like 15 years later, but this is his OG from the 90s script. Um and it follows the book somewhat closely, pretty close compared to other adaptations. I have read 20 of the 27 chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Is the book good?

SPEAKER_02 5:29

That's the question. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 5:33

Big butt. Big butt. Yes. It's it it it it suffers from one of those things where it's it's like the first book. It's one of those those first gothic horror books. So, you know, like it's the first one. So all the tropes and all are there. And it's like, gosh, I know this, and it's and it's all written in journal form or like newspaper form. So it's like these people like, well, today I went to Whitney and we went to uh took a w a stroll down by the water and we looked at the boats, and the boat was this long and it had this, and you know, there's a lot of like BS, and then they're like, and it's very descriptive, which as a director is very helpful. I've taken so many notes of like what the what the playwright has taken from the book and put in and what he's trying to say, but what Stoker was trying to say with it, and how to incorporate that original text I dropped my phone into the play. So there's gonna be a lot of cool Easter eggs for people who know the book. But my goodness, it's like Yeah and then there was something's happened and she's lost all her blood, and we the reader are like, yeah, she was attacked by a Dracula.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

I wonder who it could be. So I don't I mean, I don't know nearly as much. I'm looking for my phone, but keep talking. I don't know nearly as much of my literature history as a bunch of people do, I'm sure. But I would imagine that for at least a few cultures that the story of Dracula was like people's like introduction to vampires. I know that vampire folklore goes back centuries. It does. I know that, but like to certain cultures, I feel like Dracula might have been their first experience with that. So that might be.

SPEAKER_04 7:16

So Dracula wasn't even the first Victorian-era vampire novel.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

I would believe it.

SPEAKER_04 7:21

I forget what the first one was, but there was one that came out before it. The reason, frankly, why Dracula stood the test of time is actually an accident. Because it was well received at the time, but it wasn't like this massive thing, you know? What happened was in the early 1920s, FW Mannow Moreau. I have to IMDB it so I say it right. Um, I'm I'm typing in my phone.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

I'm very curious as to what accident means.

SPEAKER_04 7:59

Yeah, I know, I know. Um FW Murnau was a German silent film director, and he directed the original Nosferatu. And Nosferatu was an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula. And uh Bram Stoker's widow sued that production. So that brought the Dracula story back into like the limelight, because it was this big uh sort of scandal in this lawsuit, and uh the prints were ordered to be destroyed of the film, and only like three survived. So you could still see the OG 1920s, no Suratu, but that's what sort of catapulted Dracula into like this big thing, and then he has become on stage uh not on stage, but on film and television, he is the most portrayed literary character of all time. No kidding. Yes, it's like he's like number six of characters portrayed all time. There's like God, Jesus, the devil, Santa Claus, I forget who the fifth one is, and Dracula. Wow. So that's yeah, so it's it's just sort of a story that stood the test of time, and people have taken many different cracks at it. There was an original play like back in the 30s that has been adapted in many different ways.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

So it's just and even if you haven't like read the the story of Dracula, like the odds are you will at least like recognize there are aspects, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:40

You'll recognize the figure and the s and most of the story. In every adaptation, there is uh aspects of stuff taken from the book, even from the adaptations that go like wildly off track. The names are usually the same. There's usually a scene or two that's very reminiscent straight from the book. Um but I'm very excited. Uh yeah, I got seven pages uh pages, I wish it were seven pages, seven chapters ago, about a hundred pages. And it's gonna be a great time, so come out and audition on July 27th, 26th and 27th.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Yeah. And then in addition to Dracula, we have Big Fish coming up. The big fish the biggest of fishes. The biggest of fishes already been cast, opens uh second week of August. Yeah, August 7th. Very, very, very excited. Um that's the show that makes me cry.

SPEAKER_04 10:36

Actually, I went on an adventure with the director of Big Fish yesterday as of day of recording. I'll get that in the case. Well, because you were sick and unavailable. Okay. I was uh called upon to step up for you. Oh. Um I m myself and director Matt Smith took a road trip to Rock Island, Tennessee to get a hospital bed. Oh. Yes. Um I have no idea where Rock Island, Tennessee was. Uh how far away was it? It was forty-five minutes from the art center. It's unincorporated in the middle. It's like in between here and Smithville and everything's sort of up. In between here and there. Yeah, in between here and there. But we had a lovely time going to get this bed. Um, but then we had to get out and get the bed off of these people's trailer, and it was uh you know, a hundred degrees outside. Yeah. It's a lovely weather we've been having. And it's a metal bed. And I also um needed like gloves. Needed gloves, but we went I went to the senior center to help with guys and doll senior, which we can get into. And I figured I should dress nice for the old folks. So I had a nice little button-down, nice little pair of shorts. I'm looking a little snazzy, you know. Was not in move metal hospital bed weather in a hundred degrees in Rock Island, Tennessee, uh, attire, to say the least. But we succeeded. So, what do you think of Guys and Dolls rehearsal? Oh my gosh. Guys and Dolls Sr.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

They're actually rehearsing right outside the door.

SPEAKER_04 12:08

They're actually rehearsing right outside the door, yes. It is the most and I've I've said this to a lot of people, it's not that I'm degrading it because it's not that. It is the most precious thing I have ever seen or been a part of. It is just so heartwarming and funny and joyous. Joyous is the word I've kept coming back to. It just fills your heart every time. Everyone is so happy to be there. All the sorrows of the world will go away while you're watching it. You forget about everything else. You're just like, oh, look at them go. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:47

I am really proud of them.

SPEAKER_04 12:48

And we're gonna have one of them on the podcast next episode. We are. Uh Miss Debbie who's um playing Sarah. Yeah. So excited. I asked her yesterday and I'm like, do you think and she uh she is one of our listeners. Um she said she's listened to a couple episodes, so now she gets to be on one. That's awesome. But she's thrilled to be a part of it. And yeah, we're just we're just trudging along here this summer. As uh as we said, we've actively have I th well it's dropped off now. But we have Singin in the Rain. Big Fish, because now that nine to five is closed, so we went from five to two.

SPEAKER_02 13:28

We closed nine to five and Winnie the Pooh.

SPEAKER_04 13:30

Yeah. So that took two hours. So we've gone from five to two. But uh by the time singing in the rain ends, Dracula is gonna be firing up. Which then leads to Patrick. As you can all tell, Patrick's still sick. He's just let me rent and rave. Sorry. I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

I like You just sit there and listen to me, Papa. It's all gonna be okay. I tell you, it is taking all of my strength to like sit upright right now.

SPEAKER_04 13:53

For those of you who aren't watching on the YouTube video, he's on a bench actively holding himself on the bench.

SPEAKER_02 14:02

Like he could collapse at any minute. So I'm I know that RJ is always like Patrick, you gotta bring energy and most episodes, I'm like, RJ, shut up. But like RJ is right for this one.

SPEAKER_04 14:16

I I'm gonna keep going. So but that brings us to something that was just announced today, as of day of recording. So when this comes out this Monday, when everyone's listening, tickets will already be on sale for the 2027 season reveal. It's already reveal season. Oh, I love the reveal. It's one of our my favorite events that we do here. Yep. And I'm uh I'm you're a part of the Secret Performance Committee.

SPEAKER_02 14:44

I'm in the Secret Performance Committee. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 14:46

It's gonna be very different from a brag or anything. It's gonna be very different from reveals in the past. Yes. Um the first and biggest and most disheartening thing to people is the fact that I am not hosting this year. That does be happy. I know I know that is gonna just dishearten a lot of people, but it's okay. Because I'll be behind the bar making mocktails in chatting with everyone who comes up.

SPEAKER_02 15:09

That also means that during the reveal you can't stand in front of 225 people and say that I'm an intern. Like you did. I did that a year.

SPEAKER_04 15:17

I did that at conservatory. I know you did. Yes. And then I know the director, so I will incorporate a an intern joke.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

Did I tell you that like conservatory parents came up to me afterwards? No. And uh they were like, yeah, RJ like told us to like come to the intern asking about like a form or something. Are you the intern? And I was like, Yes, I am the intern. Just threw my teeth.

SPEAKER_04 15:47

Oh sorry. Yeah. But it's a great joke. Just like a joke, we had a kid, and he's done a bunch of stuff here. He was one of the dwarves in the Hobbit. His name's Dawson. At some point during conservatory at lunch, we no no one knows how this has happened. Uh Dawson himself does not know how this happened. His shoes, including the inside, were covered with peanut butter. So much uh, so much, we no one knows how. I'm like, how does this happen, Dawson? He's like, I don't know, it's just there's peanut butter everywhere. Dawson doesn't know how. He does not. And I am like, alright. You can't wear your shoes the rest of the day because they are like it was on the inside of your peanut butter between your toes. Literally. And I just kept bringing it up, and I brought that up in front of the parents. I'm like, you know, heck of a week, you know, doing this, this, and that. Dawson got an award, and I go, even though he exploded peanut butter everywhere, we still love him. Oh my god. And he's like, Oh my gosh, I can't believe you. I'm like, well, I know exactly how he sounded when he said that too. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's how you sounded when you went, Yes, I'm the intern. But yeah, I um I'll be making mock tales, um, because the reveal this year, really cool. You come for hors d'oeuvres and uh some games and some chit-chat um here at the art center, and then you'll make your way in. We're uh director of the uh reveal this year, Miss Danielle Storbick, who's directed things here at the art center, such as Mousetrap was the most recent. You could see her as jur number ten in Twelve Angry Jurr. She was in Oklahoma as Edo Annie here. Yep. She was also a part of the ensemble in Leading Ladies. She was in the nerd, right? Huh? Was she in the nerd? Directed the nerd? She was in the nerd. That was years ago, though. I would say what character she played in Leading Ladies, but I can't remember the name of that character right now. But she was great. She wore roller skates that never broke, right? Maybe. Anyway. She's put together a great team, uh, including our intern Patrick here, Hugo. And uh they're gonna be doing some scenes and doing some songs, and there'll be a couple surprises. Yeah. And you'll get to find out all the shows we're doing in 2027, and we'll get to do that uh we'll get to do that uh talk all about the 2027 season. So in a couple episodes.

SPEAKER_02 18:27

Next month. Um in two or three episodes, we'll be talking about the upcoming season.

SPEAKER_04 18:32

Um, with that being said, I think it's time we go into our full-blown big topic of the episode, right? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We're gonna be talking twelve angry jurs. Right, Patrick? Yes. Just keep coming along for the ride, buddy. We're gonna make it. I'm gonna drag you through this. Like like uh what's it called? Like Hugh Jackman dragging Russell Crowe through the lameiz movie. We're gonna get through this. That's a crazy analogy.

SPEAKER_03 18:59

We're gonna get through this together. Well, you're heard.

SPEAKER_04 19:02

We're gonna bring him home. But we're gonna be talking 12 Angry Jurors, which is our black box series, which opens this Friday by the time the episode has aired, which that means it opens. Juli pulling up the calendar 10th and closes the 19th, and tickets are on sale. So let's bring in the director and one of the stars of 12 Angry Drewers. You ready for that, Patrick?

SPEAKER_02 19:28

In three, two, one.

SPEAKER_04 19:30

Woosh. And here we are, Patrick into the police useless or useless, useful or an electronic running on high break and running by method on the end of the moment, you know, you come.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

And was looking for suggestions, and this came up. I threw my name into the hat and said, Hey, I want to do this in the round. I think the black box space is a great opportunity for that. And I've been in the last two black box shows, and this is something different to bring to that space. So I'm really excited.

SPEAKER_02 22:17

Yeah, without giving away too much, can you, for people who don't know, can you give us like a brief rundown of the plot and what people can expect when they come to see the show?

SPEAKER_00 22:26

Yeah, I think this show is about 12 ordinary citizens who are have the light. Can you edit that? Yeah, I mean you.

SPEAKER_03 22:43

Just remember, you may have messed up your words, but Patrick couldn't remember Australia. No, I remember the Anywho. She's gonna tell us about 12 Angry Jurors.

SPEAKER_05 22:51

You're so new to him.

SPEAKER_00 22:53

Just cut them off.

SPEAKER_03 22:53

That's how every episode is.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

The show is about 12 ordinary citizens who get selected for jury duty. Um I'm setting it in the 60s. The original script was written in the 50s, um, and they have to decide on the fate of a 19-year-old kid's life. Um, and he's accused of killing his father, um, accused of stabbing his father, and so it's those jurors going through all of the evidence and deciding if the kid on trial is guilty or not, um, and what kind of takes place in the jury room. So people bring their all of their baggage from their personal life, they bring it to the jury room and it impacts decisions for real-life people.

SPEAKER_04 23:34

Now, you said it's theater and the round. For those who don't know what theater and the round is, that's basically the audience is completely encompassing, encircling the uh performance area and the stage. Amanda, for someone like you who is on the in the jury table and on the stage, what is that experience like for you to know that people are gonna be on all just have you surrounded?

SPEAKER_01 23:54

Well, this is actually the second show I've been in that's been in the round. How about that? Um the first one was Midsummer. Um, and so it's it's interesting because there's people just all around you, you're surrounded, and so there's really no place to like you're always projecting, you always have to have some sort of emotion that you're showing, and there's n everywhere you turn, there's people, so like you can't like turn to the back if you're gonna break because someone's really funny because there's so many funny people that are in this cast. Yeah. Um, I can't like just like turn and pretend I'm gonna cough or something and try and stifle a giggle because there's people back there, and that's not gonna be written.

SPEAKER_00 24:35

So I think the other thing about this show is that you all never leave the stage and it's in the rounds, so you really don't get a break. You come on, you only leave for intermission, and that's I'm sure a challenge as well. It's feeling it feels like being studied.

SPEAKER_04 24:51

Yeah, so with that with that being said, with um that's gotta be both a very, very interesting challenge. One is a director that you have actors on stage the whole time, and then you ask the actor that you are sort of trapped on that stage and can't get away.

SPEAKER_03 25:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 25:08

But and surrounded by people.

SPEAKER_03 25:10

Right.

SPEAKER_04 25:11

Um, so what is that experience like from the actor-director standpoint? Whoever would like to go first, just jump on in. As you might deal with the intimacy of it, of like of the space. Well, just the fact that you have to direct 12 people constantly. It's not like if you just saw 9-5, half the company left and you have to direct three people in the scene. It is 80 pages of 12 people constantly.

SPEAKER_00 25:38

Um it's a gigantic challenge. Um, but it's been cool to rise to that challenge, um, and it's exciting because every single person, every single person, because they're all seen at all times, I don't just watch whoever's talking. I'm having to watch it kind every scene 12 different times, which is one a challenge, but too exciting. The other thing is, is and um you and I have talked about this, but it's not really blocking, it's more choreography from start to finish. So you have to once they're on stage, at that point, they never leave, and it's a 14 by 20 space that I'm trying to make sure that the traffic patterns are all working, that the moments are intentional, and not just you know, get up and walk over there for no reason, and making sure that no one at any point is bumping into each other unless it's on purpose. Um, so that's been a challenge and super fun. And yeah, I think we've also realized in rehearsals too, these moments are not gonna work. Oh crap, that was a great idea in my head. This is too tight right here, tighter than we thought. So let's pivot. And I think that's been really fun as well.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

Yeah. Amanda, what about you?

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Um I was gonna say too, I feel like you've done a really great job about making it dynamic as well, because we're, you know, we're in a deliberation room, it's just 12 people sitting around a table talking, it could be real boring. And you've got it, like you said, you have us moving throughout the space, and sometimes there's I don't know, there's a beautiful balance to it whenever like somebody at this end of the table like stands up, and then they're being met by someone at this end of the table, and um I I've enjoyed just kind of like thinking about oh, why did you do that? Oh, that that's interesting. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

Yeah, have y'all have hang out? So so this is like a very this play deals a lot of realism, and it's very dramatic and very heavy and in intense in some areas, perhaps. Um as an actor, have you ever done material like this before?

unknown 27:49

And also, I want to hear about as a director as well, but just like what is it what has it been like dealing with this type of material?

SPEAKER_02 27:56

Because like your other in the round show was midsummer, which is kind of like as far away. Fantasy, yeah, it's like far away from this as you can get. Yeah. Um, so what what has this been like just from a material standpoint?

SPEAKER_01 28:11

Yeah, this is definitely the heaviest material that I have ever worked with, acted uh with. Um it it is it's a lot emotionally. Um like I mean, it's acting, so like I know whenever someone on stage is yelling at me, they're not actually mad at me, Amanda. Sure. But I still am taking that on because Jira 4 has to react to that emotion. So usually by the end of the night when we're done with rehearsal, I am silent on my drive home. Um, I'm going home, I'm going straight to bed, and just trying to, you know, unwind from all that. Um but I uh it's been really interesting seeing how and seeing and thinking about how people react in situations like if someone's uncomfortable, you know, some people will cower into themselves, other people will you know push out, other people are gonna get sarcastic and goofy smiles because they're so uncomfortable. So it's just kind of interesting to see how people react in those scenarios.

SPEAKER_02 29:14

Are you starting to because you're all on stage the whole time, are you all starting to kind of like pick up on like what other actors' like tendencies are and like you you can almost like you you almost like know what they're gonna do um in in a moment just just because the amount of like time that they're spending with each other does that make sense?

SPEAKER_01 29:39

Yes, and and yes that's true because there are certain times where I'm like I know I can't make eye contact with that person because I'm gonna laugh or someone is gonna break. Um but it there's definitely things that are like nuances that people have. Um I don't know, I'm trying not to read too much into it though, uh, because I do like to be surprised. I have noticed like some of the times when someone's like banging on the table, I'm not jumping anymore because I know it's coming. Right. And I'm trying to, you know, but I don't want to look fake, like, you know. I'm trying to let myself be surprised in those moments too.

SPEAKER_04 30:17

Um, an interesting dynamic I know of, um the producer. Um Amanda, tell us about juror number four, who you are playing, and then Madison, tell us about how your special connection with juror number four and how that has affected you.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

Yeah. So you can go first, Amanda. Um, juror number four is she loves facts. She loves logic, she loves reason. So in the deliberate deliberation room, she doesn't understand why people want to bring emotion into it. Um, so she's just like, hey, here are the facts. This is what I think about uh the kid's innocence or guilt, and I'm gonna stick to this. She's very confident, um, good speaker. Um she comes from a wealthy background and kind of feels like she's not better than everyone in the room, but above them. Okay. And um it's been really interesting to play her because I feel like she's more confident than I am in real life. So it's fun to be on stage and be like, oh, I'm very confident.

SPEAKER_02 31:31

So Amanda said, what is your connection?

SPEAKER_00 31:34

So I played Jur Number Four a few years ago, and um when Amanda auditioned, I was like, well, dang, I should have done that when I performed a few years ago. Um, so I have a special connection to this role specifically, um, but it's also crazy because my version of it and your version of it are actually more different than I thought they would be. Really? In like the most delightful way. So I love this show for that reason. And you were talking about realism a minute ago. Um I think you have to lean into what the actor's natural tendencies are. So this is my vision for this role, and maybe they're in this lane here, or maybe this is the lane I want them to be in, but maybe they're just off of that. So, how do I how do I take what they already have naturally as an actor and blend it to my lane so that we can get to where we want where I want them to be in that role because it's realism. Okay. I don't want them to be too far skewed, oh, so far away from where they are.

SPEAKER_04 32:41

So speaking of that, we had um the man of the myth of legend, Daryl Deeson, on last episode talking to him when he talked about nine to five.

unknown 32:50

Um, as you said, this is the second time you've directed it.

SPEAKER_04 32:54

When you're coming back to a material like this, what was it that, you know, like, besides loving it, obviously, like, what made you want to go back and go, here's what I want to do, here's what I want to do differently? Because also the script, there's no names, they're all numbers. It is such open to such a wide variety of interpretation. What was that thought process like of here's what I know that works that I want to keep, but here's what I know needs to be different and be interesting.

SPEAKER_00 33:23

The last time I did it, um, actually the last two times I've done it, it was modern day. So this is the first time I'm setting it not modern day. Technology has changed dramatically in the last five years, let alone the last you know, 15 years since uh wow, since I've 12, 15 years since I've done it the last time. So that's part of it. So I wanted to see I couldn't do it in modern day. I can't lean on, I can't rest on what I know people can bring to the table in a modern day setting. I wanted to go back in time. The other thing is, is I think that sometimes the show can get too caricatury to some extent, where people maybe like lean into, if you're not familiar with the script, you've really angry people, and anger can look like a vast range of things. And I think it's really cool to do a more realistic show where the range is more human, more what we experience in day-to-day life, and that is something that I wanted to do this time.

SPEAKER_02 34:22

Yeah, and then it's like, you know, there are shows like that, you know, like obviously it's not the same because it's a comedy, but like Clue is a murder mystery where each person brings like a very like specific, like something to the script, um, that is interesting that you're trying to like kind of avoid that by what you just said.

SPEAKER_04 34:46

With that being said, Amanda, when you're cast as Jordan 4 and you're looking at it, you are given that broad yet specific, like, here's what the character is. How did you take that and expand it into what you've crafted?

SPEAKER_01 35:01

So Madison had a really cool night for all of us where we basically sat in a circle and we talked about what we thought our character was like. And that helped me a lot too, because I mean, like you said, it's it is specific, but it's yet very, very broad. Um, because someone who has those same that same background could act very, very differently. So um I dove into it a little bit and um like gave her a name and um kind of gave her like a backstory that helped me kind of shape who she is. That's incredible. That's great.

SPEAKER_00 35:43

Yeah, thanks. I think not actually. I don't think in every show you have the time to do that, and this is a show that you have to make the time to do that. Because these characters don't have names, they don't have a lot of backstory in the script. It's up to us like myself and the actor to decide where are you going? And for one of the roles, I'm super excited. Um, draw number seven, we got to completely reinvent him a couple weeks later. He came to me and said, I'm not loving what I already created. I know we agreed on it. Can we pivot? And I said, Great, let's try it. And we had a whole hour, just him, myself, and Stephanie, um, my stage manager, and just said, What do you not like about him? What do you want to change? And we create all these things so that he could love the character, love what he was going with, and it has made a huge difference in the show. I mean, like confidence is just way bigger.

unknown 36:45

Speaking of stuff like that, what has it been like?

SPEAKER_04 36:48

Because we've all been through rehearsal processes where it's maybe the whole cast isn't there the whole time until maybe the last month or so, because it's hey, we're doing this show and we're working the first three scenes, and that you're not in until scene five. So, what's what has it been like camaraderie-wise, just with everyone around a table every night?

SPEAKER_03 37:17

Oh no, or oh yes?

SPEAKER_01 37:18

No, it's it's wonderful. We've we've all become really good friends, but the the problem is that Madison will want us to start and we'll all be chit-chatting and talking, and she'll be sit standing there staring at us and we're like, shh, quiet. It's only for like 30 seconds. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

Well, allegedly. But I will say you you tried that you hope that 12 strangers are going to like each other. That's your hope. And in this cast, there's quite a few of the cast members who are brand new to Cannon County.

SPEAKER_02 37:47

Um, which there's quite a few that don't like each other.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

And so you're bringing them in, and they really are strangers, and they don't have the background and they don't have the familiarity with each other. You hope that you're gonna get to that point. So at the beginning, you're trying to build camaraderie and and and trying to build that.

SPEAKER_03 38:06

No because their characters are antagonistic towards each other.

SPEAKER_00 38:10

You're trying to do that, and I might I might have done too good of a job because now I can't, they all just love each other and they won't stop talking, and then I'm like, oh my gosh, can we please get started so you can all hate each other? Um so, but it's it's great, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:28

Nice. So before we get into the rapid fire section, which I both I know that both of y'all are so excited about. So excited, um we like to ask everyone that comes on here what they hope the audience takes away from the show. Um so I actually love to hear that both from an actor standpoint and a director's standpoint.

SPEAKER_04 38:48

I hate to cut you off, Patrick. One question I do want to ask. No, before we get into this fun, actual deep answer, this show we did talk about is heavy.

unknown 38:59

But is it like it is very relatable and all to the world today?

SPEAKER_04 39:05

What would you say, it is rated PG, but I know you know there's some families and all listening, you have three boys, Amanda. What would you say is the best age range for this to like because any you could bring any one of any age to it, the but the words might go over their head. What do you think is like that best age group for them to fully experience the show?

SPEAKER_01 39:26

I'm gonna defer to the mom. Um, I mean, I my youngest is eight. Uh I'm he's coming to the show. I don't think he's gonna get a lot out of it. Um he's gonna understand that you know mommy's on stage and mommy's fighting with people. Um and he's gonna think that's really cool. I I do think if we're talking about children, um that like 10 to 16 age range, I think is like they're gonna get the most out of it. They're gonna understand what's going on and hopefully take a lot from it.

SPEAKER_03 40:01

Yeah, fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 40:02

I was gonna say thir like 12, 13 as like the youngest, maybe. But 10, you know, you know.

SPEAKER_01 40:09

I well it depends on your 10-year-old. Yeah, I yeah. I have a 10-year-old that likes to read and likes he's so know your kids. Yeah, know your kids. Good advice.

SPEAKER_02 40:22

Well, anyway, as Patrick asks, you you ready now? You go ahead. So, as I was saying, what do you all hope the audience takes away from this show?

SPEAKER_00 40:35

That's a really good question, Patrick. Um you have even have an answer. I do. And it's honestly your answer. Okay. Um the thing that keeps coming back to me is seek first to understand and then to be understood.

SPEAKER_03 40:51

Um that was probably the deepest we ever got on this podcast. My gosh.

SPEAKER_00 40:58

That is not my quote. I don't, I don't, I don't know who that quote is. You'll have to look that up and put it in a fact check or something. But um it's something.

SPEAKER_04 41:07

Our fact checker is Beth McCreary and Daryl Deeson. So Beth and Daryl, if you know it, send it to us.

SPEAKER_00 41:13

But that quote is something that I learned in I don't know, high school, and then it came up again through college, and then it's come up through my career. Um, I work in corporate, and so it comes through like different leadership classes, and that is what keeps going through my mind as we do this show.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

So that's what I hope. That's kind of what I was I know this is like a cop-out, like, yeah, it's exactly what she said. Um, but that is kind of what I was thinking. I I like that everybody in the room, we all kind of come from a different background, um, have different experiences, but we can still communicate and talk to each other, and the real work gets done when we're listening to each other.

SPEAKER_00 41:54

Yes. What you said. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 41:57

Good answers, good deep, thought-provoking answers. And that leads us to the not thought-provoking section at all.

SPEAKER_03 42:06

The rapid fire question section. Everyone's favorite section of the show. My favorite, my favorite.

SPEAKER_04 42:15

So here are the rules. Uh, that does not work here in the green room. You must answer. Um, so we're going to be asking you each a question. We're going to alternate. I'm asking Amanda questions. And I'm asking Madison questions, okay? Um, the point of rapid fire is just to answer with the first thing that you uh come up with. Now we may ask uh, ooh, that's interesting, why and explain, and just explain as fast as you can. No pressure whatsoever. Who's gonna go first?

SPEAKER_00 42:44

Amanda. Okay. Okay. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 42:47

Alright. And Amanda, what is your dream show to be in?

SPEAKER_01 42:52

Oh, I don't really have one. Pick one! You must give an answer.

SPEAKER_02 42:56

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, Amanda.

SPEAKER_01 42:58

No, you're making it worse. Um, I you know what? Our town. I've always liked our town. That's a good answer. Good answer.

SPEAKER_02 43:06

That's no. I love our town. Why?

SPEAKER_01 43:09

Why? Because I so I read it in high school and I loved the idea, and I still think about it sometimes like if you could go back in time, you don't go to these big moments. You go to these really small moments and they break your heart.

SPEAKER_03 43:21

I love the beast of that show. Great. It's Patrick Madison, dream show to direct.

SPEAKER_00 43:26

Uh, a piece of my heart. Why? Because it's telling real stories about real people and it's uh focused on women.

SPEAKER_02 43:33

Amanda, who would you rather be on stage with? Me or RJ?

SPEAKER_01 43:38

Patrick. Yes. Oh gosh. Because I told you right now.

SPEAKER_04 43:43

Madison, who would you cast first in a show, RJ or Patrick?

SPEAKER_01 43:47

Oh my god. Um Amanda. Patrick. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 43:53

Amanda. What other juror would you want to play if you weren't playing for?

SPEAKER_01 43:59

Ooh. So actually I wanted it to because I thought it would be fun to be weak and mild. So I was really surprised for people like four. I think Ted would be really interesting to play as well. And also step.

SPEAKER_04 44:14

Madison, which jerk is your favorite that isn't Amanda?

SPEAKER_00 44:18

Please mean the card.

SPEAKER_04 44:22

The question is which jerk is your favorite that isn't Amanda?

SPEAKER_02 44:32

I mean, which one is your children that's most likely to take up in the middle of the potato and screen?

SPEAKER_01 44:36

That's my mom.

SPEAKER_04 44:40

Amanda.

SPEAKER_02 44:43

Which one of the skins would you catch first in the chip? I mean that. What is the best way to eat a potato?

SPEAKER_01 44:52

The best way to eat a potato is take a pot. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 44:57

Which thing which is best?

SPEAKER_01 44:59

Uh rubber.

SPEAKER_03 45:05

That is it. That is a rapid fire.

SPEAKER_02 45:10

Um, are there any closing remarks? Advertising or anything you want to say about the people?

SPEAKER_01 45:17

Um, this was really fun. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 45:22

You're just proud of me that they chose you twice and that never you have to take in the leap. I never have to take all this right there.

SPEAKER_00 45:29

Um returns. Yes. It's great. Yeah. Amanda is spectacular, and my entire cast is spectacular.

SPEAKER_01 45:36

Everybody is so good. Oh my gosh, yeah. Sharing the stage with all those people has been intimidating because there's so much talent on that state.

SPEAKER_02 45:43

And what is the what day is the brand?

SPEAKER_00 45:46

July 10th through the 19th.

SPEAKER_02 45:47

July 10th through the 19th. Tickets on sale now, artsnrc.com. And they're limited tickets compared to normal shows. It's a black box, so it's fewer seats, so you have to jump on those tickets to get them now.

SPEAKER_03 46:00

Thanks for being on y'all so much. Patrick, whoosh us to the closing.

SPEAKER_04 46:04

Woosh. Well, that was a fantastic interview, wasn't it, Patrick? It indeed was. Alright, Patrick looks on the uh right side of death right now, so I think it's time for me just to wrap it up. As a reminder, Twelve Angry Jurors opens Friday, July 10th, runs through July 19th in the black box in the hall at the Art Center of Cannon County. You can get tickets now at ArtCenterofCC.com or by giving us a phone call at 615. I'm gonna remember the phone number. I'm pulling it up. 615-563-2787. It's a great, great, great show that is technically appropriate for all ages. There's no language, it is a little heavy, but it's just gonna be filled with great stage presence, great emotion. It's one of the best shows ever.

SPEAKER_02 46:57

Lots of realism.

SPEAKER_04 46:58

Lots of realism. You came back. That's wonderful. Um again, always something going on here at the Art Center. So thank you so much for tuning in to episode 1212 of the Art Center. Next episode, we're gonna be teenagers.

SPEAKER_02 47:14

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_04 47:16

Look at us go in that awkward phase. And we'll get Miss Debbie on here to talk about guys and dolls senior. Well, I'll speak for Patrick and Potato. I'm sure Potato's doing much better than Neo.

SPEAKER_02 47:27

Yeah, she's doing good.

SPEAKER_04 47:28

Patrick's gonna do be maybe better next week.

SPEAKER_02 47:31

Who knows? We'll see what happens. I promise I will be. I'm not contagious right now, so like that's why I'm here. But next week I'll be much more energetic and cheaper. But the cash listeners keep me going.

SPEAKER_04 47:47

Great! Thank you for keeping Patrick going. It's what we all need. But my name is RJ. Thank you again for listening. Please leave a five-star review at your podcast listener of choice. Hope to see you out here at the Art Center of Canon County real soon. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_02 48:08

You've been listening to the catch list. Hey, if you like what you hear, go ahead and leave the Art Center of Canada County in the review.