Director Benjamin Brian McCarthy
they will present their first production
PLAY ON WORDS, August 8 & 9 at Theatre Charlotte
Hi, Ben. You graduated from Northwest School of the Arts. What
experiences did you have there that led you to consider
directing as a profession?
While studying theatre and musical theatre at Northwest I always had an urge to be a director. I observed my
directors at school and outside of school and tried to
gain as much as I could from them.
Directing is now your major in college, right? Do you plan to make it a career, or would you like to include/try other areas of theatre?
Yes, I am a directing major at Greensboro College.
However, the degree is for Stage Directing/Management,
which includes stage management and theatre management. I do plan to make this my career. I see myself being a
director and theatre manager; whether it will be in Charlotte, I'm not sure.
How did you get the idea for Yellow Bird Theatre Company?
The name came from "The Crucible," the first play I
directed. It's from the famous courtroom scene when Abigail Williams claims she sees a "yellow bird" in the rafters. After researching local theatre companies I found a lack of companies focusing on plays that are
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender themed. I wanted to bring a new ground-breaking group to the Charlotte scene that will offer those scripts to the public and hopefully bring in a new audience.
As a first time co-producer (with Theatre Charlotte) what have you learned about producing that's surprised you?
I will say: it's extremely hard. However, I find it to be exciting and interesting. Every day I am getting good news and bad news regarding our production. We have, thus far, been successful getting attention with articles in some local papers and on websites.
You are producing a new play. How is working with brand new material different than you are used to? What has the experience
of working with a living playwright been like?
I really enjoy working on new plays. It gives me the
chance to really play with the script and work to find out what it really means. Working with a living playwright has been extremely rewarding, I love that I am able to call up the playwright and ask any questions about the script.
The play has a gay theme (and a multi-racial cast), but it's really a love story. Are you concerned about the controversial nature of the play?
I am somewhat concerned about it, but it is 2008. I am aware that bringing this type of piece to Charlotte is ground-breaking in many ways. I sent the script to a colleague here in Charlotte and he told me: "To show a gay love story is bold, but for it to be
set in high school and with characters from 9th grade to 12th, of course, is even bolder. I can see why you're excited to work on this."
It gives a level of excitement and concern, but I believe that people can look past it. It's a story of first love that anyone, of any gender, sexual orientation, race, age, should be able to relate to. It's about what can happen to love when you add the destructive effects of drug addictions, alcoholism, and abuse. It is a learning experience for every character in the play.
The majority of your cast are college students like yourself. How do you like working and directing your peers?
I am extremely comfortable directing my peers. In fact, I feel at times it works to my advantage. I am able to
relate with them on certain topics in the piece and give them a little bit more to work with as an actor.
What most would you like the audience to take away from the play?
I want the audience to leave the theatre thinking. It is a love story. When love gets mixed in with drug addictions and alcoholism there will be trouble. The most important thing to me in this play is that fact that it tells one individual's story. It shows the change of a single person throughout four years; it makes you question what's going to happen, and what the main character should do. And hopefully from that, makes you think about yourself as a person and lover.
Thanks, Ben. Break a leg!
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