Artistic Director Jeff Frank shares his experience putting the Rankin/Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on stage for the very first time at First Stage in Milwaukee. Listen to this episode to learn how problem solving flying sequences in the world premiere of Peter and Wendy led to the key design elements of Rudolph and how getting every scenic and costume element just right down to the specific colors of polkadots brought the “homespun, hand crafted” feeling of the holiday special that we love to the stage. Jeff shares some of First Stage's core values in this interview including the ways that the organization raises community artists!
More about First Stage:
WEBSITE: https://www.firststage.org/
INSTAGRAM: @first.stage
See a regional production of Rudolph:
At Northwest Children’s Theatre and School (Portland, OR): https://nwct.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S6T00000preupUAA
The Coterie (Kansas City, MO): https://thecoterie.org/2023-2024/rudolph-2023/
Childsplay (Phoenix, AZ): https://www.childsplayaz.org/rudolph23
and touring everywhere in between: https://www.rudolphthemusical.com/tour
This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "The Happy Elf" from Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick, Jr.
Listen to the Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party playlist here!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/11/episode-32-jeff-frank.html
INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories
EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com
Host: Stephen Fala
Artwork: Stephen Gordon