Interview with John Bell Director of the upcoming Rosarito Theatre Guild Production
Interview with John Bell Director of the upcoming Rosarito Theatre Guild production of The Cemetery Club
I was browsing through the library at Sam French looking for plays for older players
John you’ve Directed a number of the Guild’s plays, how did you pick The Cemetery Club for this September’s production? Skimmed several, bought several and loved this on.
I frequently go into Samuel French (a retail store that sells only plays – it’s the largest play publisher in the world After looking for 2 hours I asked the girl at the front desk I asked are they any plays where the cast were in the 60+ range. I read it and knew right away that I would like to do it.
Is that how you typically pick out the play,
Mostly I am always on the look out for plays that feature retirement age people
I’m not familiar with the Cemetery Club but it sounds a little dark.
Oh quite the contrary./
What is it about? It’s about 3 couples who had been friends for many many years. All three husbands passed away and the women continued their friendship by among other activities visiting the cemetery once a month where their husbands are buried. There are tons of laughs, as well as touching and painful moments. I would say its cut in the same mode as Steel Magnolas was. A sort of Romantic Comedy. It takes place in both the cemetery and the apartment of one of the ladies. The plot is moved along as one of the women finds a suitor, who’s wife is buried at the cemetery. The other two women are concedrned about how their life will change with one of the trio possibly moving on. Thus resulting several intreging sub-plots.
How do you put together a production? (step by step)
Select a play
Get agreement of the Board of Directors
Put out a casting call
How do you do you get the casting call out
The Town Crier and e-mails and word of mouth
Once the characters have been discussed I “block” the play, which simply tells the actors where to stand, when to move and where to move to.
After they know where to move then I start throwing in the props.
After that costumes are added – which means making sure there is time for costume changes between acts.
All the while working on characters, timing and line delivery
After this we rehearse time and time again as many as 22 rehearsals
Finally we start working on lighting sound scene changes and completing the final touches. Hopefullly resulting in an exciting production that the audience enjoys and we can be proud of.
Once cast is in place we have several “read through” to familiarize the players with “type of character” they are to portray
How did you get involved with the RTG?
I moved down here 5 years ago and heard about it from some friends and because of my theatre background was anxious to get involved.
To me, The stage is the canvas, the sound lights, costumes and especially the actors are the paints and brushes . the directors job is to paint as attractive a picture as possible that holds true to the playwrites intent.
What is your background?
I got lucky in high school and one of the English teachers asked to play the part of the comic lead in Oklahoma. I fell in love with the theater!
Then I got even luckier and tried out for a play in college and much to my surpise got the part. I immediately changed my major from retail marketing to Theatre Arts. Completed my degree at Morningside College, a fine arts school in Sioux City Iowa. Within 2 months after graduation, packed up and moved to Hollywood. Where over the next 15 years worked in repertory theater. Made my primary living working a various studios in post production. Retired down here 5 years ago