Published in the Woodlawn Theatre blog:
Interview with Matthew Cassi, director of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
by Hannah Wood October 30, 2013
Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Matthew Cassi, director of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. It’s coming out November 8th in the Black Box and it sounds like tons of fun. You know how people tend to get really bright-eyed and excited when you ask them about something they like to talk about? That’s Matthew Cassi personified. Thus, he was an extremely fun person to interview.HW: How long have you been working here at the Woodlawn?
MC: This is the second production that I have directed. Last season, I directed a play called Eurydice here in this small Black Box space as well. I’ve worked with Greg Hinojosa, the artistic director of the Woodlawn a few times at other theatres, so we’ve had a working relationship for four or five years. But this’ll be my second production here at the Woodlawn.
HW: What is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson about to you?
MC: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is an comedic, punk rock view into politics of the 19th century, including the eradication of the Native Americans. It looks at the president like a celebrity and it looks at him – you know today’s perspective of how we look at celebrities and how celebrities act? It looks at the presidency of the seventh president from that perspective and reveals things that correlate it to today, politically and socially as well.
HW: How does this show measure up to others that you’ve directed? Is it more difficult or less difficult? Why? And why do you think so?
MC: I’m kind of known, and I say that unpretentiously – if there’s a way – I’m kind of known for directing comedies and dramas. [. . .] I’m originally from Seattle and I’ve been here about seven years. I went to school in Seattle and worked as an actor and director for several years before I went here. So, in this town, I’m more known for farces and over-the-top comedies and dramatic plays. People don’t know me as a director of musical theatre. It can be pretty challenging. I wouldn’t say it’s any more challenging than any other production I’ve directed. Every production has some challenges. Comedies are hard, dramas are hard, musicals are just as hard.
Some of the elements in this show are harder because I have 13 cast members and each of them has about five or six different characters they play. So, multiply 13 by five or six and that’s the number of costume pieces that I have to coordinate with props and all of that. That can be pretty complicated. So, some of the elements in this production consume more time for me as a director and for the actors as well.
It can get pretty tiring and cumbersome. But, I don’t look at my productions as harder than the rest. I look at every one as just as challenging as the last. And, the way I approach things, I don’t want to do things I can do in my sleep. I want to be challenged and this is just as challenging as the last four or five that I’ve done. With each show, I have to examine the complexities of it and set a game plan. I do a lot of preparation and research even before I get into the rehearsals for a production. And that’s just me. For me, I look at every production from the same lens. And I just have to adjust accordingly based on the complexities or requirements of the things within the show. . . . Does that make sense?
Read more at the Woodlawn Theatre blog. . . .
Interview with Matthew Cassi
on October 30, 2013 in Main Stage with No Comments
Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Matthew Cassi, director of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. It’s coming out November8th in the Black Box and it sounds like tons of fun. You know how people tend to get really bright-eyed and excited when you ask them about something they like to talk about? That’s Matthew Cassi personified. Thus, he was an extremely fun person to interview.
HW: How long have you been working here at the Woodlawn?MC: This is the second production that I have directed. Last season, I directed a play called Eurydice here in this small Black Box space as well. I’ve worked with Greg Hinojosa, the artistic director of the Woodlawn a few times at other theatres, so we’ve had a working relationship for four or five years. But this’ll be my second production here at the Woodlawn.
HW: What is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson about to you?
MC: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is an comedic, punk rock view into politics of the 19th century, including the eradication of the Native Americans. It looks at the president like a celebrity and it looks at him – you know today’s perspective of how we look at celebrities and how celebrities act? It looks at the presidency of the seventh president from that perspective and reveals things that correlate it to today, politically and socially as well.
HW: How does this show measure up to others that you’ve directed? Is it more difficult or less difficult? Why? And why do you think so?
MC: I’m kind of known, and I say that unpretentiously – if there’s a way – I’m kind of known for directing comedies and dramas. I’m not really know for musical theatre in this town. I’m originally from Seattle and I’ve been here about seven years. I went to school in Seattle and worked as an actor and director for several years before I went here. So, in this town, I’m more known for farces and over-the-top comedies and dramatic plays. People don’t know me as a director of musical theatre. It can be pretty challenging. I wouldn’t say it’s any more challenging than any other production I’ve directed. Every production has some challenges. Comedies are hard, dramas are hard, musicals are just as hard. Some of the elements in this show are harder because I have 13 cast members and each of them have about five or six different characters they play. So, multiply 13 by five or six and that’s the number of costume pieces that I have to coordinate with props and all of that. That can be pretty complicated. So, some of the elements in this production consume more time for me as a director and for the actors as well. It can get pretty tiring and cumbersome. But, I don’t look at my productions as harder than the rest. I look at every one as just as challenging as the last. And, the way I approach things, I don’t want to do things I can do in my sleep. I want to be challenged and this is just as challenging as the last four or five that I’ve done. With each show, I have to examine the complexities of it and set a game plan. I do a lot of preparation and research even before I get into the rehearsals for a production. And that’s just me. For me, I look at every production from the same lens. And I just have to adjust accordingly based on the complexities or requirements of the things within the show. . . . Does that make sense?
- See more at: http://woodlawntheatre.com/blog/?p=52#sthash.JIz6vYWU.dpuf
Interview with Matthew Cassi
on October 30, 2013 in Main Stage with No Comments
Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Matthew Cassi, director of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. It’s coming out November8th in the Black Box and it sounds like tons of fun. You know how people tend to get really bright-eyed and excited when you ask them about something they like to talk about? That’s Matthew Cassi personified. Thus, he was an extremely fun person to interview.
HW: How long have you been working here at the Woodlawn?MC: This is the second production that I have directed. Last season, I directed a play called Eurydice here in this small Black Box space as well. I’ve worked with Greg Hinojosa, the artistic director of the Woodlawn a few times at other theatres, so we’ve had a working relationship for four or five years. But this’ll be my second production here at the Woodlawn.
HW: What is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson about to you?
MC: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is an comedic, punk rock view into politics of the 19th century, including the eradication of the Native Americans. It looks at the president like a celebrity and it looks at him – you know today’s perspective of how we look at celebrities and how celebrities act? It looks at the presidency of the seventh president from that perspective and reveals things that correlate it to today, politically and socially as well.
HW: How does this show measure up to others that you’ve directed? Is it more difficult or less difficult? Why? And why do you think so?
MC: I’m kind of known, and I say that unpretentiously – if there’s a way – I’m kind of known for directing comedies and dramas. I’m not really know for musical theatre in this town. I’m originally from Seattle and I’ve been here about seven years. I went to school in Seattle and worked as an actor and director for several years before I went here. So, in this town, I’m more known for farces and over-the-top comedies and dramatic plays. People don’t know me as a director of musical theatre. It can be pretty challenging. I wouldn’t say it’s any more challenging than any other production I’ve directed. Every production has some challenges. Comedies are hard, dramas are hard, musicals are just as hard. Some of the elements in this show are harder because I have 13 cast members and each of them have about five or six different characters they play. So, multiply 13 by five or six and that’s the number of costume pieces that I have to coordinate with props and all of that. That can be pretty complicated. So, some of the elements in this production consume more time for me as a director and for the actors as well. It can get pretty tiring and cumbersome. But, I don’t look at my productions as harder than the rest. I look at every one as just as challenging as the last. And, the way I approach things, I don’t want to do things I can do in my sleep. I want to be challenged and this is just as challenging as the last four or five that I’ve done. With each show, I have to examine the complexities of it and set a game plan. I do a lot of preparation and research even before I get into the rehearsals for a production. And that’s just me. For me, I look at every production from the same lens. And I just have to adjust accordingly based on the complexities or requirements of the things within the show. . . . Does that make sense?
- See more at: http://woodlawntheatre.com/blog/?p=52#sthash.JIz6vYWU.dpuf
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