Into the Fire at Burning Coal Theatre

Episode 41: Ketti Shum

In this episode of Burning Coal Theatre podcast “Into the Fire” with Jerome Davis, Ketti Shum, the Costume Designer for David Hare’s Stuff Happens, tells us what it really takes to be a dedicated customer. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ketti came to the states for her undergraduate education, but had a very different idea of what her career path was to be. Beginning in a pre veterinary track, Ketti describes what drew her to theatre and what caused her to change majors. Jerry, and Ketti discuss the differences of costumes in film and stage, as well as the gap between traditional and contemporary theatre in China and other countries.

0:01 - Intro

0:28  - Jerry’s introduction

1:00 - Introduction to Ketti

3:45 - Ketti’s connection to Burning Coal Theatre

5:00 - Ketti’s theatre experience in Hong Kong

5:54 - Theatre in Hong Kong

7:34 - Closing the gap between traditional and contemporary theatre

9:25 - Resistance to western drama/culture in Hong Kong

10:45 - Ketti’s time spent with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte

12:04 - Difference between chinese opera and newer works

14:07 - What caused you to change majors from pre vet to theatre

16:41 - Steps to prepare for the production

19:50 - with actors that play multiple parts we make simple and clear chances to the costume do you work with this style frequently?

23:07 - Is there anything as a costume designer you would like to do that you haven’t yet?

24:00 - thorough costuming in film

25:43 - Costume continuity in film

27:37 - the frustrations with costume designing

31:48 - the joys of being a costume designer

33:05 - Outro

Episode 40 - E.D. Intemann and Kirk Pearson

On today's episode of the podcast, Jerry joins designers E.D. Intemann and Kirk Pearson by phone to discuss the many elements at play in Stuff Happens!

Episode 39: Ray Dooley

In this episode, Jerry speaks with Ray Dooley, a longtime member of the PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They discuss Ray’s acting background, the value of a company of actors, and more!

 

Ray Dooley has been a company member of the PlayMakers Repertory Company since 1989. He has earned a MFA at the American Conservatory Theater and a BA from Hamilton College (Phi Beta Kappa). Along with his work with PlayMakers, Ray also serves as a Professor in the Department of Dramatic Art at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has performed on Broadway (Macbeth, Circle in the Square), Off-Broadway (Three seasons with Classic Stage Company), Internationally (The European premiere of Doubt, Amadeus, The Lark), and on film/TV (Changeover, The Trial of Standing Bear, Stonebrook, One Life to Live, Guiding Light).

 

00:00-00:27 Intro music

00:27-00:53 Welcome

00:53-07:45 Ray Dooley background

07:45-11:37 Inspirations and continuation of background

11:37-13:23 Working with underrated artists

13:23-15:35 Working with Bill Ball

15:35-21:39 What is the value of a company of actors?

21:39-26:12 Interesting experiences in New York

26:12-29:21 How he was hired at Playmakers

29:21-34:56 Teaching

34:56-37:27 Current season

37:27-37:52 Goodbye

37:52-38:26 Outro

Episode 38: Summer Interns 2018 (Part 2)

In this episode, Jerry speaks with four more of Burning Coal’s summer interns: Kayla Booth, Vishaal Chaganti, Jenna Voris, and Jackson Wellborn. They talk about their experiences with theatre, why it is considered to be a “dying art form”, and the future of the arts!

Kayla Booth is originally from Charlotte, NC and is a current rising sophomore in the Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program at the University of Oklahoma. Her credits include: OU Gilson Lab Theatre: Shakespeare’s Other Women (Portia, Elizabeth Shore, Nemesis), Student Playwright Festival (Pamphlet Lady) and Helmerich Literature Alive Tour: The Suessifciaiton of a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena). In the future she wishes to continue working in the performing arts field. She is very thankful for this opportunity with Burning Coal Theatre and she looks forward to expanding her knowledge and
experience through all aspects of theatre.

Vishaal Chaganti is an artistic enthusiast who has been heavily involved with the performing arts for well over a decade. Starting off as a hip hop dancer, Vishaal has expanded his artistic scope by being involved with Indian classical dance, acting, musical instruments, and even singing. Vishaal has performed in a production called “Ashok” an Indian medieval play about betrayal. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree from a renowned arts institution in Pune, India for the Indian Classical dance style known as Kathak. Along with the arts and his involvement with integrating Western and Indian cultures together, Vishaal is interested in law and politics and is a Minnesota native that has been living in Raleigh for 3 years.

Jenna Voris is from Indianapolis, Indiana where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Bachelor of Science in political science at Butler University. She loves theater and previously interned at Booth Tarkington Civic Theater in Carmel, Indiana. Jenna has performed with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard for multiple seasons over the past four years. She’s grateful for this opportunity at Burning Coal and hopes to use it to transition into a full-time theater marketing career.

Jackson is a rising Sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Education and plans to teach theater. He is passionate about all aspects of theater and is always looking for ways to be involved. 

00:00-00:27 Intro music

00:27-01:17 Welcome

01:17-02:20 Introduction of Vishaal and Indian culture

02:20-03:33 Introduction of Jackson and the combination of music and theatre

03:33-04:49 Introduction of Jenna and her relationship with theatre

04:49-05:45 Introduction of Kayla and her love of theatre

05:45-08:45 Theatrical role models how they got involved in theatre

08:45-12:56 Vishaal and Indian dance

12:56-14:15 More theatrical role models

14:15-20:35 Why is theatre referred to as a “dying art form” and is change good?

20:35-21:35 Jenna’s future plans

21:35-29:03 If you could change anything to strengthen the art form of theatre, what would you do?

29:15-29:47 Goodbye and outro

Episode 37: Summer Interns 2018 (Part 1)

In this episode, Jerry speaks with four of Burning Coal’s summer interns: Emily Prins, Kameron Mills, Colin Freund, and Graham McAlexander. They discuss what inspires them, their future plans and hopes for the future, and more!

Graham McAlexander is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is majoring in New Media which focuses on the combination of technology and design. His goal is to become involved in the post-production process of feature-length films as well as other types of audio/visual production. He has lived in Raleigh for the past ten years and is very excited to be able to further his skills at such a unique theatre company.

Colin Freund is a rising junior at Athens Drive Magnet High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has been a part of his school’s theater program since his freshman year and is an active member of the International Thespian Society. Past work includes assistant sound design on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and In The Heights at Athens Drive, and Assistant Stage Manager for the STC Jr. show at Burning Coal. He also has acting experience and has appeared in Romeo and Juliet as Benvolio, The Apothecary, and The First Watch, Antigone as Haemon and Camp Chaos as Kent at Burning Coal’s Summer Theatre Conservatories. He hopes to continue working in theater doing both acting and tech and is honored to be a part of Burning Coal Theatre Company.

A Raleigh native, Kameron Mills is a senior at New York University currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Kameron has studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and NYU’s Meisner Studio. Most recently, she studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Past performances include Angelo in Measure for Measure, Polinka in Anton Checkov’s Polinka and The Showman in Woyzeck.Kameron has also acted in several short films and is an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at NYU. She is also certified in broadsword fighting by the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat and plans to use this training to become a Jedi after graduating from NYU in 2019.

Emily Prins has lived in the triangle area since 2005 after moving from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is a rising senior at Fuquay-Varina High School, where she is heavily involved in their theatre and chorus programs. Emily has served as historian, vice president and sergeant-at-arms of the FVHS chapter of the International Thespian Society. She has also served as vice president and president of the Tri-M Music Honors Society and will serve as a student director for the top choral ensemble. After graduating, Emily plans to attend a four year university to study journalism and film studies. She is very grateful for the experience she will gain while working at Burning Coal Theatre Company and is incredibly thankful for the opportunity.

 

00:00-00:26 Intro music

00:26-01:12 Welcome

01:12-02:29 Introduction of Graham and New Media

02:29-03:22 Introduction of Kameron and New York

03:22-05:06 Introduction of Emily and how she found Burning Coal

05:06-06:45 Introduction of Colin and his history with Burning Coal

06:45-09:15 College plans and advice

09:15-10:27 New York City

10:27-12:29 New Media

12:29-15:15 Documentary media and verbatim theatre

15:15-17:10 Tech theatre and transitioning to acting

17:10-20:33 What lit your fire?

20:33-26:15 What do you want out of your world?

26:15-26:18 Goodbye

26:18-26:54 Outro

Episode 36: Kayla Kaufman

On this week's episode of the podcast, Jerry is joined by the director of Crumble: Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake: Kayla Kaufman!

Episode 35: Renèe Nixon

On this week's episode of the podcast, Jerry is joined by Renee Nixon, the playwright behind Worried!

Episode 34: Randy Rand

On this week's episode of the podcast, Jerry is joined by Randy Rand!

Episode 33: Karen O'Brien

In this week's episode of the podcast, Jerry is joined by the director of King Charles III: Karen O'Brien!

Episode 32: David Henderson

On this week's episode of the podcast, Jerry is joined by David Henderson - Join us for an in-depth discussion of the state of the arts in North Carolina, and a peek into what's up next with Honest Pint Theatre Company!