When Brian Matuszak isn't penning his humor column for the Budgeteer and, ahem, working at his "real job," he runs a little theater company called Rubber Chicken. Perhaps you've heard of it?
His dedicated crew's latest production is "Shout! The Mod Musical," which The Shack in Superior is hosting through Sunday, Sept. 26.
To glean a little more intel about this swingin' show, we asked a few questions of Amanda Imberg, one of its five leading ladies:
Budgeteer: How would you describe the feel of "Shout!" From its description I can't tell if it celebrates or satirizes the early days of the women's liberation movement....
Imberg: I think that "Shout!" is meant to be a celebration of the early days of the women's liberation movement.
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How do the five leading ladies fit into the story?
We have the orange girl, who is domestic and maternal; the red girl, who is shyer and somewhat of a misfit; the blue girl, who is beautiful and conceited; the green girl, who is the promiscuous one; and the yellow girl, who is bold, impulsive and American. Each character has her own story to tell, and it's really neat to see how they change as the times change. That being said, each character is essential to making the show a cohesive production.
How did you prepare for your role? Did Brian make you watch any movies about the '60s for inspiration?
I looked to my script for clues into my character. This helped me find my character's motivation and role in the show. Since all the characters are unnamed in the script, each of us came up with our own names for our characters. It made the character seem more real when she actually had a name rather than just "blue." Tammy Ostrander, director and actor in the musical, assigned each of us to watch a James Bond movie. I watched "Goldfinger" which really helped me understand the '60s style and culture.
As a student at St. Scholastica, was it a daunting decision whether or not you wanted to tack on a production to your class responsibilities?
I was originally concerned about auditioning for "Shout!" because of my responsibilities at the College of St. Scholastica. Tammy and Sharon (Dixon Obst) were both extremely considerate and flexible. The key was good communication and hard work. Everything balanced out beautifully.
Finally, what's next for you? Do you have any roles lined up for when this show closes?
I am hoping to be involved in the College of St. Scholastica's production of "Twelfth Night," directed by Tammy Ostrander. I have always wanted to try Shakespeare and would love to work with Tammy again. I am also considering auditioning for the Duluth Playhouse's "Into the Woods," which would be showing in July of 2011.
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For now, though, I am focused on "Shout!" -- and loving every second of it.
NEWS TO USE
Rubber Chicken Theater will present "Shout! The Mod Musical" through Sunday, Sept. 26, at The Shack in Superior. Thursday dates are show only (no dinner); performances start at 7:30 p.m. and cost $15. Friday and Saturday dates include a meal; seating is at 6:30 p.m. and the shows cost $35. Sunday dates also include a meal; seating is at noon and the shows cost $30. Call (715) 392-3463 for reservations.
