Memo from the RTC: Pssst!
Want to Buy a Bridge?
By Norm Scott
RTC master builder Tony Homsey and his crew, of which I am a
proud member, completed one of the more complicated sets weeks ahead of the
Sept. 21 opening of Arthur Miller’s A
View From the Bridge, directed by the talented Frank Caiati who has been
with the RTC since he was 17 and is now in his early 30s. Talk about how the
RTC community nurtures talented people. Frank insists on bringing serious
dramas to the Rockaway community. Last year he directed and acted in Elephant Man.
The serious dramas at the RTC are overlooked by some of the
regular audiences who attend musicals. Anything directed by Frank is not to be
missed. Having been around him during construction of the sets at his plays (he
is always part of the construction crew) I can see how his creative mind works
as he makes decisions about the set (Frank is also a very talented set
designer). When he directed Toxic Avengers almost the entire set consisted of
60 oil drums mounted on top of each other. This time Frank wanted the entire
stage to tilt forward at a sharp angle, which meant building a new stage on top
of the current one. Then Frank wanted a ramp running along side and in the
back. Oy, did that present a few complications. Then he wanted a door on top of
the ramp so we had to build a platform and steps going down to the tilted
stage. Oh, and a sidewalk in front of the stage. And a 10 foot telephone pole.
And transoms. And…. Then Frank led the
painting crew to make all that wood, which could fill a forest, look natural.
As usual, Tony did it all without blanching. Tony is not a passive construction guy just executing the wishes of the director. He puts his 2 cents in on making things look as perfectly as they can (and he is a perfectionist). Watching Tony and Frank collaborate is part of the pleasure of working with them – actually, I often do more watching than working. Also, as part of this creative team is Cliff Hesse, also a set designer who has a role in the play, in addition to being a renaissance man who can converse on anything related to the theater and just about any other topic. Another regular on the set construction crew, and chief painter, is Frank Verderame, my political sparring partner. If you stop by and see Tony holding his hands over his ears, you know that Frank and I are not working but arguing politics.
As usual, Tony did it all without blanching. Tony is not a passive construction guy just executing the wishes of the director. He puts his 2 cents in on making things look as perfectly as they can (and he is a perfectionist). Watching Tony and Frank collaborate is part of the pleasure of working with them – actually, I often do more watching than working. Also, as part of this creative team is Cliff Hesse, also a set designer who has a role in the play, in addition to being a renaissance man who can converse on anything related to the theater and just about any other topic. Another regular on the set construction crew, and chief painter, is Frank Verderame, my political sparring partner. If you stop by and see Tony holding his hands over his ears, you know that Frank and I are not working but arguing politics.
Here’s the announcement:
You are invited to A
View From the Bridge
The Rockaway Theatre Company Proudly Presents
A Great American Drama
SHOWTIMES
September 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th, October 5th & 6th at
8pm
Matinees September 23rd, 30th & October 7th at 2pm
Tickets may be purchased on our website
www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org
Ticket Prices:
Adults $20.00
Seniors/Children $15.00
**Please Note: Online ticket purchases close 48 hours prior
to the date of each show, but tickets are still available for purchase, at our
box office, one hour prior to showtime.
Reserve now!
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