As we move ahead from Encore’s momentous 50th Anniversary season, we wanted to sit down with Artistic Director Susan Keady to reflect on Encore’s glorious past and promising future.

Encore: If you had to capture the essence of Encore in just three moments, which would you choose to share?

Susan:
• Sitting in a dark theatre and listening to the joyful laughter of children in the audience of an Encore show.
• The ongoing privilege of time with Encore families as we spend years and years working with their children as the child moves forward through the elementary program, growing into tweens, reckoning with the teen age years and returning to visit as young adults.
• Working alongside a smart brilliant team in education, administration, and production. The Encore staff bubble over with creative, imaginative, daring ideas to assert Encore’s mission.

Encore: What’s been the most rewarding aspect of being Encore’s Artistic Director?

Susan:
• The process of working with children and experiencing the wonder of theatre after the hard work is done and they perform on stage. It never gets old.
• Overseeing Productions from every aspect and building the organization with our team to grow in every aspect of the Theatre. Growth is everything. Plus, we have a lot of fun.

Encore: What’s the most significant challenge Encore has had to overcome?

Susan: There is physical stage deficit [here in Arlington] that is highlighted by Encore’s need for venues that will accommodate the sheer number of classes and productions we offer. Lack of space creates a constant logistical challenge. [To support Encore’s goal of our personal theatre space, visit our Donation page!]

Encore: In what ways would you say that Encore has changed since you began working here?

Susan: The amount of participants has increased significantly. The staff offices are now at the St. Andrew’s campus and that is a relief! I am always excited about how change furthers Encore’s mission.

SEASON – The production season has grown significantly. When I began working, our season consisted of four shows: three children’s productions and a summer adult show. Within a few years, and many requests later, we were granted a fifth production venue during the holidays and that upped our schedule to five shows, offering more opportunities for tech crews and casts. We continue to request additional space and venues because we want to accommodate as many children as possible. A few years ago, we were granted another venue and we added a sixth show. And yet another first for Encore – the sixth show runs three weeks. Our season has grown to nine productions. [Encore has also launched our Theatre for the Very Young series, geared toward the youngest of theatre lovers.]

STAFF – The Encore staff consisted of an all-volunteer group, with exception to the education director and me. With the appointment of an Executive Director and her budget capacity success, Encore now has seven staff members working in our offices full time and at least a hundred amazing guest artists who work in various capacities. Our staff mentors college and high school interns who are interested in the business of theater whether it’s in costumes, lights, set design, or helping develop resources for Encore. Two seasons ago, we added an apprenticeship for college students. Our apprentices are recent grads that work with us for a year in production, education, and administration – wherever they are needed.

CAST – With the help of directors and producers, who understood the need to provide a safety net for children to step up and audition, we decided to cast and rehearse with the ensemble technique. I also stressed the importance of the child’s imagination and the choices one derives from critical thinking skills. Give me choices and imagination over Method acting any day! Especially with children, ensembles emphasize that everyone cast in the show matters. The work we do each time there is a rehearsal, whether it’s blocking, vocal, or physical must include everyone.

I developed the peer mentor system so that alumni who have been successful in previous productions are expected to spend time with the younger, inexperienced children and keep those children on task. For example, a seasoned actor in our group can offer a new actor a little companionship and advice and be there for that little one. Friendship from a junior in high school to a 7th grader in middle school really does go a long way.

The concept for students is simply that we are all here in this place, at this time, and we are all important. Children, developing self worth, are super lucky to be selected and in the show, no matter what their role. The craft of directing children is to find what every child likes to do, who they are and what they can contribute to the rehearsal process to be their very best when the show opens.

CREW – With the help of super smart high school and college students, we changed the procedure for tech crew opportunities. When I started at Encore, the tech crew was called a week or two ahead of the show and thus the Stage Manager was the only student with essential backstage theatre knowledge. I began a training initiative with tech crew participants, which has evolved so all the tech crew understand the privilege and importance of working backstage. The skill sets we encourage are substantive and deeper than most adult and children’s theatre.

Significantly, over the years our current stage manager program ranks supreme. When Stage Managers go off to college or to work in a different theatre company, they are super competent and able to run nearly every backstage job.

Encore: How would you describe the vision for Encore moving forward in the next five, ten, even fifty years?

Susan: Encore will continue to be a bigger and better place for generations of theatre-goers to experience the complex and wonderful worlds we create on stage. Encore is an amazing resource in Northern Virginia for families, children, volunteers, and dramatic artists to thrive. The excitement and adrenaline that Encore creates has always held appeal for children, adults, businesses, and philanthropic organizations. We will continue to be a community treasure. Encore is like a precious child and everyone who has walked the boards on our stage understands.

Encore: What are you most looking forward to this coming season?

Susan: Everything! I struggle through the season selection to craft a perfect selection of shows that will encourage kids who want to audition and act. By the time I select the season and the order in which we will present the shows, I am so happy and want to direct all the shows! Five of our six selections are new to our company so that’s exciting.

The first show is a familiar one called Ghostchasers and its silly and scary – Encore loves the Halloween shows. The next show is a musical that was based upon the great read-aloud book How I Became a Pirate and is called Jingle ARRGH the Way. I don’t want to give anything away but it’s about pirates and they dance and sing.

The winter show, The Enchanted Bookshop is about a bookshop that comes alive at night with fictional characters that literally step out of their books! The following show is Robin Hood, a perennial favorite. Enough said.

Our summer show is NEWSIES and everyone is already singing the Broadway score in our offices. It’s fun to attend auditions and see college students and graduates return year after year to Encore to hone their acting, dance, and vocal skills. I am especially excited to visit with students who started with us as practically babies.

Last but not least, recently I was organizing my daughter’s books from elementary school when I came across her copy of the book Clementine. Encore will be producing the premiere of the musical Clementine in the spring. We are working with the author and a creative musical/lyricist team and a brilliant script is beginning to emerge. The book was a super cool find for me. It’s a chapter book and a great book to read with your child at night. And…oh yeah…I am directing the show! See you in the theatre!

Thank you for sharing with us, Susan, as well as for all of your perseverance, insight, and dedication over these many years. We can’t wait to see what this season (and beyond!) have in store. Join us for the first production of the 2018/19 season, Ghostchasers, opening Friday, October 5th at 7:30 PM.

You won’t want to miss a moment of Encore’s thrilling 2018/19 season – best secure your ideal seats now with a Season Subscription! Save between $15 to $38 per adult and $6-$20 per child, student, or senior. These savings can’t be beat! Purchase your subscriptions by visiting our website or by calling our Box Office at (703) 548-1154.

Photos by: Larry McClemons, Rosemarie O’Connor, and Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.