“This laugh-a-second, multi-millennia mindbender shouldn’t be missed.” “The Skin of Our Teeth” by Thornton Wilder ran at Seattle Rep from Sept. 26 through Oct. 20. It is the story of a couple who has been married for 5,000 years and constantly goes to great lengths to save the world from ending. Having witnessed this play myself, I can vouch for the fact that this play should not be missed. In fact, this play also had two special ways of involving the community: community ensemble and walk-on performers.
Let’s start with the community ensemble. A group of non-equity actors were hired to participate in the performance. The auditions took place just before summer, and a staff member from Seattle Central College, Shelley Douma, and a student, Kai Sothard, were part of the community extras cast. All community members were divided into the blue cast, the orange cast, and the green cast. They rehearsed all summer for the performances and participated in quite a lot of shows.
Now, let’s get to the walk-on performers. For those who cannot commit to practicing the whole summer, there is the walk-on performer option in which one has to sign up on the portal and simply be present two hours prior to the show. Then, the wonderful crew takes you backstage to practice and get an idea of what to do on stage.
This is a wonderful opportunity for those planning to enter the drama field, those interested in learning about production, or any theater enthusiasts.
There are two types of walk-ons: speaking role walk-ons and the non-speaking role walk-ons. The main difference is that speaking role walk-ons have a few lines to say on stage, while the non-speaking role walk-ons do not. As a walk-on, you start with a tour at the Seattle Rep facility and are escorted to the main practice area. You are asked to introduce yourself and talk about what brought you there. Then, you are told the whole story of the play and your role in it. Afterward, the practice starts, and you rehearse your role in the play and the exact positions you are supposed to be in. Soon after, you are taken to the costume room to pick costumes you are comfortable with that are suitable for the scene.
When production starts, you are able to watch the production from the green room and are alerted when to be on stage. Once on stage, you play your role, and a special moment happens at the end of the play. After taking the final bow with the whole cast, you stay back to click a production photograph. This photograph will be emailed to you afterward. After the performance, you are free to leave, meet the cast, or greet your fans in the lobby. You are also handed a small souvenir to cherish forever.
On the whole, as a walk-on myself, I found this experience absolutely enjoyable. It was short, sweet, and memorable. It is the perfect place to meet fellow theater enthusiasts, ranging from teenagers to people in their 60s. A very happy and positive environment is fostered, and everyone around you seems to bring out the best in you.
Like the show, I’d also want to end the article with the same note it started – oops, spoiler alert! The Seattle Rep show is coming to an end today, Oct. 20, so even if you didn’t get an opportunity to make it as a walk-on, do ensure that you watch the play as “This laugh-a-second, multi-millennia mindbender shouldn’t be missed.”
Author
Vrindha, an international student from India, is fueled by her fervent love for diverse art forms such as dance, drama, music and theatre. Eager to immerse herself in new experiences and broaden her horizons, she sees her involvement with the Collegian as a gateway to both sharing her passions and delving into new realms of knowledge.
As always the best topics by Vrindha. However, I read the original article, it was much better spaced. The editor has done poor work.