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Kathy Call discusses how her theater-in-a-suitcase concept delights audiences.
Veteran local theater impresarios Dan and Kathy Call, founders of Tulsa Repertory Musicals (TRM), have been packing up (and “packing in”) their shows and taking them on the road for six years.
Who hasn’t seen TRM’s popular (and longest-running) “Forever Plaid,” or the recent “Are We There Yet?”? Both shows (and several others) are part of TRM’s clever “Theater in a Suitcase” performance concept — small casts performing shows in smaller venues.
TulsaPeople visited with Kathy Call to learn how the concept works.
How did Tulsa Repertory Musicals begin, and how did you come up with the theater-in-a-suitcase concept? As with many things, the concept came out of necessity. We had been performing “Forever Plaid” in one location for almost two years, and that building was slated to be torn down. At the same time, there were still audiences that wanted to see the show and groups that wanted to book it for their own entertainment, so we packed up all the props and costumes and took our show on the road.
How many shows has TRM produced over the years? TRM has produced hundreds of shows for thousands of people in dozens of venues over the last six years.
How many different casts (and number of members) have been involved in your signature show, “Forever Plaid”? The number of casts is a mathematical problem we’ve never actually figured out. For the two years mentioned above, we had at least two actors who covered each of the four parts, and we would mix and match whom they performed with. It was an exciting way to plan a show and the audiences never knew whom they were going to see until they came to the theater. There have been a total of 11 official “Plaids” over the last 14 years, and two of the original cast are still part of the show.
Which shows are part of your itinerary? We currently produce “A Year with Frog and Toad,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Cotton Patch Gospel,” “Forever Plaid” and “Pete ’n’ Keely.”
Can you use the same costumes, props, etc., for multiple shows? Each show has its own “stuff” in its own suitcases, plastic tubs, set pieces, etc., which means every time we load the van, we have a separate packing list.
What types of audiences do you try to draw? For the most part, our productions are family friendly because education and introducing children to live theater are part of the TRM mission statement. While “A Year With Frog and Toad” is based on a series of children’s books, it is completely entertaining to adults because of the sophistication of the music and the quality of the performances. At the same time, “Forever Plaid” and “Cotton Patch Gospel” are not written for children, but elements about both of them appeal to young kids — particularly little boys!
What is the hardest part about doing this type of theater? The easiest? The hardest thing would be scheduling the actors for rehearsals and performances. They all have jobs and families and many perform with other area theater companies — or live out of town — so getting them all together is always a challenge. The easiest part of this type of company, however, is when you do get them all in the same room at the same time. The individual talent and the chemistry of our casts is outstanding, and we are so pleased they continue to want to work with Tulsa Repertory Musicals.
How far away from Tulsa do you travel with your shows? We have been pretty much all over northeast Oklahoma. We have performed at the Coleman Theatre in Miami several times and in Pryor, Okmulgee, Bristow and in most of the smaller towns right around Tulsa.
How many rehearsals are required before a show is polished for production? That answer depends on which show is scheduled and how long it’s been since the last time we produced it. “Forever Plaid” requires one or two rehearsals. “Are We There Yet?,” which we just performed in August took us about two weeks — spread out over two months.
What is the average number of cast members in any given show? None of our shows have more than six people on stage, and that would count the two shows where musicians play a part in the production.
What holiday shows are on your drawing board? We have decided to take a break from our “New Year’s Eve with the Plaids” this year, but there may be an opportunity to celebrate “Merry Almost Christmas” with Frog and Toad.
