Theater director gets a taste of film
Timothy Douglas has directed at prestigious theaters from the Kennedy Center and Yale Repertory Theatre to off-Broadway and even in Shanghai. But he has never directed a film — until now.
Douglas is directing Maiesha McQueen in Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s first-ever filmed production — the New England premiere of “Until the Flood” by Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith. The documentary-style play will be available to view via video on demand from April 21 through May 5, starting at 7 p.m.
“I’ve always wanted to direct film, and now I’m getting to experience that fantasy,” said Douglas last week.
“Until the Flood” is based on a series of interviews conducted by the playwright after Michael Brown, a teenager, was shot and killed in 2014 by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. The incident sparked weeks of protests and riots, and Orlandersmith interviewed a wide cross-section of residents to create eight composite characters. The drama eschews politics and the shooting specifics to explore the hopes, fears and struggles of the community.
“The material is so relevant to today,” said Douglas, who received the Lloyd Richards Director Award from the National Black Theatre Festival and is currently the Distinguished Artist in Residence at Emerson College.
Courtney Sale, MRT’s Nancy L. Donahue artistic director, agrees, noting that even though it is set in 2014, the play “remains painfully relevant in 2021.”
“Her work is the ultimate act of witnessing, and we are honored to share that experience with our audiences,” Sale added.
Douglas has directed McQueen in productions of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and “The Color Purple” at Portland Center Stage in Oregon. Sale hired Douglas for the MRT job based on McQueen’s recommendation.
It feels great to direct again after over a year due to the pandemic, he said. But there are challenges to the process.
“We are doing this without a live audience, and we’ll never have that with this show,” he said. “We addressed that in rehearsal today, and I will have to be her audience since the only people allowed in are people working on the show.”
The film-directing experience has made Douglas eager for more — and he’ll follow that dream this summer.
“The pandemic has opened the experience to me, and I’m going to go to L.A., and shadow some TV directors,” said Douglas
ut for now, he’s enjoying the MRT experience and looking forward to sharing “Until the Flood” with online audiences.
Tickets start at $19 per household and are available by calling the box office at 978- 654-4678 or visit www.mrt.org/flood. Current MRT subscribers do not need to reserve for the show; a link will be emailed before the viewing period.
In the wings
PACK A TRUNK FOR ‘ BABAR’: Chelmsford Center for the Arts hosts “Babar and Friends,” a free family, on Saturday, April 24, at 11 a.m. Pianist Dan Rodriguez and soprano Katie O’Reilly will take families on a virtual musical journey into the world of composer Francis Poulenc’s “L’Histoire de Babar, le petit elephant.” The story of
Babar, the little elephant, has been a favorite of kids worldwide for 90 years. In the 60-minute pro
gram, the Boston-based musicians will share the music and present some of Babar’s favorite friends. Free to the first 200 registrants. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/babar-andfriends-tickets148413006297.
SEACOAST ROUNDUP: Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, N.H., presents a fresh, innovative, reinvention of “Godspell,” starring Stu Dias of “The Soggy Po’
Boys” as Jesus. The musical, based on the gospel according to St. Matthew, plays in-theater April 15May 30 and on livestream April 16-May 30. “Fun Home,” the Tony Award-winning musical based on Alison Bechdel’s award-winning graphic novel, is on as well, playing in-theater only through May 28. Price range for live performances is $32-$44 and starts at $25 for livestream. Visit www.sea
coastrep.org for info and purchase links.
ON THE HILL: Tune in to an Indian Hill Music virtual conversation with Patrice Rushen, the Grammy-nominated musician/composer/producer/educator, on Friday, April 16, at 8 p.m. She will talk about her life and work, share clips from live performances and answer audience questions. Jazz guitarist Dr. Bill Banfield will host the event. Tickets for the live Zoom event start at $15 and are available at indianhillmusic.secure.force.com. ... Coming up at Indian Hill on Saturday, April 24, at 8 p.m., is a live-stream concert by virtuoso violinist Robyn Bollinger. Her pro
gram features works by von Westhoff, Bach, Ysaye and Knox. Tickets start at $10 at indianhillmusic.secure.force.com/ticket/#/ instances/ a0F1L00000pSQZGUA4.
: ‘ THE LAST FIVE YEARS:’ Cannon Theatre presents Jason Robert Brown’s romantic, powerful, two-person musical “The Last Five Years” in an online format April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 individual and $40 family/household at https:// www.showtix4u.com/ event-details/47295.