Summer playhouse actor directs BCPT production

By Jacob Doran / Bigfork Eagle

Unbeknownst to many who enjoy the Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre, Playhouse music director and company manager Brach Thomson often turns over directorship of BPCT productions to one of the summer playhouse's talented performers.

For latest BPCT production, "Once Upon a Mattress," that honor was given to one of last season's summer playhouse thespians, Timothy Joyce.

Joyce made his debut at the Playhouse during the 2007 summer season, with such roles as Gaston in "Beauty and the Beast" and Daniel in "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," while also performing in "1940's Radio Hour," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Sugar."

Prior to his work with the summer playhouse, Joyce enjoyed a year-long tour at Theatre IV in Richmond, Va., where he appeared in several productions, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2006 with a BFA in Acting.

Although acting has long been a passion for Joyce, "Once Upon a Mattress" presented him his first opportunity to direct. Thus, he jumped at the chance to try his hand at a new aspect of the theatre, when Thomson proposed the idea.

Even so, he notes that the challenge became more than simply directing. Directing children, he found, was a whole different world, which took him back to his own school days.

"I found myself having to remember what people go through in high school," Joyce said. "They're not just acting. They're trying to balance the theatre with sports, gymnastics, band, homework and whatever else their schedule holds."

Joyce said he was impressed with how well that the children were able to do so, while learning their lines and adapting to their parts.

"The auditions are very quick," Joyce said. "They basically get 30 seconds with a monologue and one song. I'm absolutely amazed that they get it all done in two and a half weeks and are ready to perform in front of an audience at that time. These kids helped with every part of this play, including building the set and working behind the scenes, so they got kind of crash course in what theatre's all about.

"The kids are really hard workers, here. Some of these kids have performed in twice as many plays as I have, and I've been doing it for twice as long. I have a great deal of affection and admiration for these kids."

Joyce described his work with the children as an enjoyable experience and said he had a great time helping them prepare for the show. Joyce and Thomson cast the children together, after which he had the opportunity to coach or mentor each of the children.

"I was able to teach some of things that you tend to take for granted after four years of college," he said. "I've been doing it for so long that I do some of it without even thinking. Now, I get to pass it on to someone whose mind is fresh and eager to learn. I think this is a good way to start directing, by starting out in children's theatre."

Joyce said he appreciated the youthful energy that each of the children brought to the process, which he believed to be a necessary component for a musical about a fairy tale.

As a director, the challenge was to make full use of what limited time he had with the children. Due to the shortened schedule between casting and performances, Joyce was able to spend between 15 and 30 minutes of one-on-one time for each scene, coaching the entire group.

"I give them some pointers after each performance, but most of it is up to them," he said. "They changed a lot between the dress rehearsal and their fist trial performance, in front of the elementary kids. As a director, all my work is done before hand, and the show is theirs to take and run with."

In addition to being hard workers, Joyce referred to the children as fast learners, who adapted quickly from scene to scene. He also credited the older children for helping to lead the younger ones through the process.

Joyce will return to summer playhouse for the 2008 season, before traveling to New York. However, with such a great first directing experience, he added that he would like to try directing again.

The BPCT production "Once Upon a Mattress" will enjoy one last weekend, this Friday and Saturday. Show times are 7:30 p.m. both nights.