Who are you and what is your role in this production? Barbara Mah. I’m the director of this show (more like traffic director given there are 20 actors).
What is your background in theatre? With Walterdale? This is my fourth time directing with Walterdale (Sweet Charity 2005, Anything Goes 2013 and Follies 2017), but my first time directing a play with them! I’ve choreographed countless shows at Walterdale and have worked behind the scenes with the costumes people from time to time. My sister and brother-in-law met at Walterdale doing a one-act play that I wrote. They were married on the Walterdale Stage! I consider Walterdale my “home” but I have also directed musicals for a number of theatre companies in town (ELOPE, Festival Players, Foote in the Door, Two One Way Tickets). I also teach musical theatre classes at the Citadel Theatre School. I have a few “graduates” from the classes in this show!
Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? The fire itself seems to fascinate people. I’ve seen a number of documentaries on it and there is a lot of fiction (movies, books) that use the fire as a jumping off point. The historical significance of this fire still affects us today through building codes, workplace safety legislation and workers’ rights. Not to mention, this fire happened during the women’s suffrage movement. As women were unable to vote, they could not vote in politicians that could pass workplace safety laws.
I know plays that deal with “significant” issues can sometimes be boring — well, I don’t do boring. The actors in this show have worked very very hard and will be presenting a very gripping drama.
Since this show deals with workplace ‘issues’ – what is the funniest thing that ever happened to you in a workplace situation? I once had a student in my adult musical theatre class tell me that he didn’t want to sing or dance in my class. When I gently suggested he might want to investigate an acting-only class, he responded with “but I want to star in musicals on broadway”.