Theatre Tuscaloosa blasts off world premiere of future-set play 'Launch Day'

The evolving Bean-Brown Theatre set looks unlike anything performed in the 24 years since Theatre Tuscaloosa opened its mainstage, at Shelton State Community College's Martin Campus.

Transparent acrylic-plastic furnishings reflect and refract the stage, its floor wound with segments of electric-yellow circuitry. Costumes pop, with hectic blends of cultural influences and shimmering fabrics balanced against more traditional contemporary styles and textures that, 86 years from now, might be viewed as nostalgic yearning for the past.

A countdown to blastoff will mark each 90-minute performance of "Launch Day (Love Stories from the Year 2108)," opening Friday and running through Oct. 30, lending urgency to entwined stories of folks not so far away, chronologically or organically, though rocketing through an uncertain future.

A world premiere

Any original play can be a hard sell for a company trying to keep fans, patrons, and boards happy, while also trying to loop in newer audiences. Chestnuts sell, so chestnuts get shelled out for, especially if a company already got in stock down-home or period costumes and set pieces, and when everyone knows the songs. Contemporary science-fiction comedies don't represent a deep well to draw from, even in 2022.

But Theatre Tuscaloosa's betting the shining novelty of a world premiere, the chance to see a spanking-new forward-thinking work by rising Chicago playwright Michael Higgins, could make all systems go.

The episodic "Launch Day" was chosen as one of six winners by the American Association of Community Theatre's NewPlayFest 2022, and Theatre Tuscaloosa was selected as one of the producing companies from across the U.S.

Higgins evolved it from some 10-minute plays he'd developed and produced. As a full-length script, it's received staged readings at Benchmark Theatre in Denver, Capital Stage in Sacramento, and Chicago Dramatists in Chicago, but Theatre Tuscaloosa's will be the first fully-realized production.

In an interview late last month, when he visited Tuscaloosa to give cast and crew input, Higgins said, after having written, published, and produced shorter plays, he'd sought a concept substantial enough to craft into full-length. He can draw not only from headlines, extrapolating where life may be headed, but also from an eclectic professional life, as a former legal affairs reporter for The Chicago Tribune, a garbage collector, and an assistant roadkill-scraper. The Cleveland native earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

"And I kind of hit on the idea 'Well, what if instead of making one idea that focus, what if I introduced a world in which a lot of new technologies have arisen, and show people dealing with that?' And at the same time," Higgins said, "they've got also the regular issues that everyone faces."

A hard sci-fi story might lurch to 2801 or 22108 AD, but Higgins chose for his "science-fiction comedy with heart" to envision 86 years ahead, a less-wild leap of time that helped craft the characters, their dilemmas, and the coming world's evolving technology, challenges, and demands. This future is conceivable; almost on-the-horizon visible. Someone watching this premiere run of "Launch Day" could, given longevity aided by continuing healthcare advances and other right genetic stuff, live to see the real year 2108.

"It's a comedy about six different couples in the future, and they're struggling to deal with relationship issues, but also the advanced technology of the age, including robots, supervisors at work, genetically engineered animals, and advertising firms that try to take control of your brain," he said.

"So they're up against a lot, but they're resourceful. And they're not giving up."

The show begins with brilliant engineer Jada (Margaret Carr) prepping to climb onboard an interplanetary colonizing launch, as ex-boyfriend Zegg (Gabriel M. Carden) takes this one last chance to convince her that both Earth, and their relationship, can be saved.

"I'm kind of disillusioned with life on Earth, as the writer put it," Carr said.

Zegg's also trying to suss out his future while fighting with his Strangelovian robotic arm.

"He left because he thought he was unworthy of her, essentially," Carden said, though Zegg has returned from war just to reach Jada. "He's no desire to leave Earth. He thinks that Earth can be saved. Jada thinks that it's doomed." The Zegg-Jada plot provides connective tissue throughout.

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Another episode revolves around genetic engineer Grevin (Steven Yates), who's trying to urge evolution along via gene splicing. He conflicts with zookeeper Brittley (Hallie Grace Hamner), who's struggling to keep alive bizarre hybrid creatures such as the pandaroo.

"The one that our director (Tina F. Turley, also Theatre Tuscaloosa's executive producer) particularly loves is the porcupotamos," Yates said, laughing. Dr. Moreau-like Grevin's also cooked up an octogator, cheetah-nocerous, koala-bunny, buffadillo, black widow cobra, hammerhead tiger, and banana-cumber, though the last of those may not fall under Grevin's "mammalsupials" category. "So we care for these animals that have varying levels of viability."

Like Zegg, Brittley is an optimist, butting up against boss Grevin.

"They're kind of having a little bit of an interpersonal conflict," Hamner said. "He wants to fire her for ... reasons that you'll find out if you see this."

Amaria Jackson, a Shelton State student, plays Garal, who struggles with the excesses of the rich and powerful.

"In the words of our costume designer (Jeanette Waterman), she's a domestic terrorist," Jackson said. "She's also kind of against the whole idea of living in this controlled world. She's a part of the counterculture."

Brandy Johnson, playing Keera, was intrigued by the idea of working in a new, non-musical show. As with the others, she's hesitant to give away too much story, feeling it's best experienced in the unfolding countdown

"What it's about ... that can happen, where like, we're on the road right now," she said.

Ebony Wesley plays Quillney, a cop moonlighting for extra pay, a person who hides her vulnerability.

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"She puts up this hard-like outer shell, mostly because she's kind of in a rigorous type of training," Wesley said. When she uncovers trouble with one of the characters, "that's kind of like her one-way ticket to getting more recognition."

Mileidy Crespo-Jones plays Taz, a bartender who's struggled with other jobs, a good-hearted person who may finally have fallen into the right role.

"She's funny, I guess, a little sassy; and she tries to help people," Crespo-Jones said. "And that might not be what she's supposed to do." But as with all the other "Launch Day" characters, Taz stands on the verge of change, tough choices that may lead to greater glory.

The cast is thrilled with bringing to life characters who've never been fully portrayed before. In staged readings, actors work with scripts in hand, moving through basic blocking, but usually without costumes, special lighting, sets or other touches, as if in an early rehearsal. Unlike a rehearsal, though, audiences are invited to watch the staged reading process.

"They're having so much fun," Turley said. "Like sometimes I have to go 'Remember, we're in rehearsal. I'm over here!' "

Insights were provided directly by the playwright, unusual in productions outside of theatrical capitals. Typically, once rights to a script are purchased, the director is the only guiding light. Higgins worked with Theatre Tuscaloosa for three days, letting all in on what he was thinking while writing, what he hoped to see in the characters, and the show. Also present for those days was a dramaturg − a person who researches and studies the text or score of work, to assist productions − Kathy Pingel, whose work came courtesy of the AACT.

Visiting Tuscaloosa nearly a month ahead of the opening was intentional, Pingel said when the process was fluid enough that Higgins could have a significant influence, and help steer actors deeper into the characters.

"I do think that was the big piece, was the character development," Yates said, "but also that sometimes we were headed in directions: 'No, that's not where I was going at all.'

"Great to hear!," he said laughing. " 'You've got three weeks to figure something out.'

"But it was very clear that these characters are very much alive in his head. ... The way he wrote this, some of these scenes have been around a few years. ... And I'm excited to see what he says when he comes back (for performances). I hope we get to hear more of his thoughts later this week."

Friday night, Higgins will be sharing thoughts at 6:30 p.m. in the Alabama Power Recital Hall, adjacent to the Bean-Brown, before "Launch Day"'s 7:30 debut on the mainstage. Higgins' pre-show discussion is free.

About the cast

As is often the case, a mix of experience levels populate "Launch Day." Though young, Carr's already shone through featured Theatre Tuscaloosa roles in "The Producers," "Grease," "A Christmas Carol," "Girls' Weekend" and more. Yates will be another familar face, from "God of Carnage," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," and "Mamma Mia!"

Others in the "Launch Day" cast debuted with Theatre Tuscaloosa summer 2022 "Mamma Mia!," such as Carden, Johnson, and Sam Hodo, playing Darge, though each has credits performing with other companies. For Hamner, Jackson, Crespo-Jones, Wesley, Kazarious "Biscuit" Brown, playing Brylo, and understudy Gracie Price, this will mark their on-stage debuts with Theatre Tuscaloosa, though again, each has other theatrical experiences.

Jessica Brianna Kelly, playing Rebissa, returns after playing Carol in "Girls' Weekend," and Callie in "Stop Kiss" for the company's Second Stage; likewise, DeAnthony Mays has worked with Theatre Tuscaloosa a pair of times before, on "Girls' Weekend," and its Festival of One-Acts.

Hodo, Jackson and Wesley are Shelton State students. Carden and Kelly are recent graduates of the University of Alabama's Department of Theatre and Dance. Price has worked extensively in Atlanta, and is currently working on her bachelor's in theater, and an MBA at UA. Yates is an associate professor in UA's school of library and information studies.

Others in the hired crew have extensive Theatre Tuscaloosa and UA connections, such as movement director Rebecca Kling, who earned her master of fine arts in acting from UA in 2013, and recently returned to her alma mater to teach. Scenic designer and Tuscaloosa native Jameson Sanford, who's also crafted Theatre Tuscaloosa sets for "Steel Magnolia," "Inherit the Wind," and "Girls' Weekend," earned his bachelor's from UA, before earning a master's from Northwestern University.

Lighting designer Lyndell T. McDonald serves as assistant professor and technical director for dance at UA, owns an event lighting and production company, 2L7, and recently worked with Birmingham's summer World Games opening and closing ceremonies. Hair and makeup designer Ava Buchanan has been more frequently seen onstage for her more than 30 years with the company, as title characters and leads in musicals such as "Mame," "Hello Dolly," "Gypsy," "A Little Night Music," "Into the Woods" and many others, along with dramatic roles from "The Glass Menagerie" to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" to "The Grapes of Wrath." But when there's not a role she wants, Buchanan has often stepped in behind the scenes, designing and helping performers build hair and makeup

How to get tickets

Performances will be in Theatre Tuscaloosa's Bean-Brown Theatre, in Shelton State Community College's Martin campus, at 7:30 p.m. Friday (preceded by a free pre-show discussion with playwright Higgins, 6:30 p.m. in the adjacent Alabama Power Recital Hall), and Oct. 27, 28 and 29; with 2 p.m. matinees Sunday, Wednesday, and Oct. 29-30.

Tickets are $19 for general admission; $17 for seniors, military, and Shelton State employees; $14 for students. For more, see www.theatretusc.com/launch-day.

Because of adult subject matter and content, "Launch Day (Love Stories from the Year 2108) is recommended for ages 13 and older. Each performance will run for about 90 minutes, with no intermission.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: World premiere of sci-f comedy 'Launch Day' at Theatre Tuscaloosa