The Long Beach Shakespeare Company is presenting its final two performances of a daring new production of Lysistrata this Friday and Saturday. Denis McCourt, Co- Artistic Director, took some time to speak about his life, the Company’s storied past, and offer a glimpse into its future.
Denis: LBSC is a non profit theatre company that has been around for about 20 years. It was first called Bard in the Yard, mostly playing in outdoor venues and Renn fairs. Helen Borgers became the Artistic Director about 12 years ago, and she wanted to focus on bringing classic literature and Shakespeare to the stage. She has done an amazing job of that over the years.
Six years ago they moved into the Richard Goad Theatre up in Bixby Knolls. Two years ago, I moved to Long Beach. I took a year to “check out” the theatre community here,to see what was going on, to see where I could fit, and build on what was already happening. Although LBSC has been around a long time. I saw an opportunity to help it grow.
Most Shakespeare Companies have a prominent place in the culture of a community, with productions and outreach programming like The Old Globe in San Diego, doing a very diverse collection of programming, not just classic plays. So, I approached Helen, and we clicked. I proposed helping the company grow and becoming the CO-Artistic Director. She would continue on with the Classics, and I would bring a more contemporary and diverse voice to LBSC, including musicals. I also would help get the “house in order,” to expand capacity, and educational outreach programming. It has been just over a year now.
Sander: Have you seen the organization, or its audience, change as a result of your efforts?
Denis: Yes. We have begun to embrace the youth of Long Beach. We still have a lot of work ahead…but we have made great in-roads with our: Summer Drama Camp, After school Programming at EXPO and The Goad, “On Campus” programming at The Westerly School, and Kids Musicals: by kids for kids, the First Annual Sonnet Writing Contest, and the list goes on. I am now beginning to expand our reach to under served youth, but we need grants and relationships to do that. It’s coming along nicely.
Sander: Are you working with kids by presenting plays to them, or teaching them how to perform and produce?
Denis: Yes, both. We’re teaching not only about acting, but light, set, costume, sound design as well. I have a great Educational Team, lead by Cynthia De Cure, with Brandon Cutts, Cheri Harris and Daniel Chavez as our teachers.
We also were asked again to be part of the Sea Festival, and provide a childrens’ Shakespearean production at Bixby Park. Last year was The Tempest, and this year is 12th Night. It will be in August.
Sander: Before you came to Long Beach what were you doing.?
Denis: As a child, I embraced my creativity. I grew up in NYC and hit the stage at 5. I played the flute, danced (I was a nationally ranked Scottish Highland Dancer), but then I “grew up,” got married, went into the Financial Planning Industry, and became the Executive Vice President of Operations for a large multi- million dollar firm at the age of 29. (that was in Florida.)
By 33 I was dead inside. I ignored many parts of myself, including my creativity, so I stopped, went back to school, and got a BA in Theatre from the University of South Florida in Tampa. I worked as a professional Actor for three years, doing theatre, film and mostly commercials (to pay the bills). I had always wanted to live in Southern California but wanted my MFA before coming West. So, I auditioned many places and chose to go to U of Florida. While there I got to perform all over the world: Greece, London, Berlin…
It has been an amazing journey. There’s something about going to school in your 30’s. I got so much more out of it than I ever would have in my 20’s, and my partner of 11 years, Leon, and I packed it all up and moved to Long Beach. So today, I direct, write and teach, and take the stage now and again when the need hits me.
Sander: Back to your childhood, do you envision an opportunity to bust out your Scottish dancing for any productions?
Denis: Funny you should say that. Karen Reside and I have become friends, and we recently went to the Highland Games in Orange county. It was an amazingly fun thing to get involved with. It is VERY physical. I am 47. That’s all I’m saying. However, I would love to maybe bring Brigadoon or some original “Lord of the Dance” type show to the stage.
Sander: Well, there IS the Scottish play, and I could see mounting a production that had some dance in it.
Denis: Well…that’s Helen’s world.
Sander: Tell me about what’s going on now.
Denis: On the stage at the Goad for its final weekend is LYSISTRATA. It was directed by Brandon Cutts, an amazing kid. He is a great story for LBSC. He was going to Cabrillo High School when Helen and her team went in to do some work with the students. This was when he was 14 years old. He’s 25 now and, last year, graduated UCI with his theatre degree. He says “it saved his life.” So Helen wanted to give him his directorial debut with LBSC.
It ‘s a great, fun show. Very young and sexy. Aristophanes was protesting the 25 year war that was going on in Greece with this play. It is a comedy that has the female characters withholding sex from the men in order to stop the war. Being written so long ago, it is funny how contemporary and relevant it is to today. Of course all the actors were men back then, and all the audience members were men, but many feminists use this play to promote their agenda.
We have our 12th Annual Free Summer festival coming up. It will be in parks around the city. We historically have picked just one location, but the city wanted us to reach more people, so we are doing a Renaissance Fair type of production that can easily travel. It is called: A MIDSUMMER ADVENTURE. Also, this summer is an original production at EXPO. Historically, LBSC has always done a NEW WORKS series in the summer…so continuing that tradition…we are doing: THE CONJUGATED BELIEFS OF USALLICA. I will be directing that one. I am casting as we speak. It is an Absurdist’s look at our traditions, government and religions.
Sander: And you wrote that as well, right?
Denis: Yes I did.
We’re also doing OTHELLO and BENT in the Fall, the WAR OF THE WORLDS will be at Halloween, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL for the Holiday.
Sander: Any exciting new opportunities for the group?
Denis: Well….overall it has been a really exciting year. By all accounts the Company (the board, old and new patrons, and the creative team: Mikes Stokesberry Tech., Barb Josefsberg Costumes) and actors feel this new sense of drive and purpose behind LBSC. We have been connecting with The California Endowment Group to be a part of the change in the targeted areas of Long Beach. Using theatre arts to promote healthier living and violence reduction. That’s exciting for me. It is VERY important work.
Sander: What is it about theater that seems to be effective in these efforts?
Denis: The work centers on giving voice to kids that sometimes are not heard. It gives them tools and skills to create whatever world they want to have exist, and then it shows them that everyone has a time to speak and be heard. I think the hardest thing for these kids is they don’t see any other way except what is all around them so, if we can come in and give them some tools like refusal skills, speaking what they feel, it allows them to build self confidence and hope for the future.
Building is always a challenge, and it takes the support of the entire community. THE OLD GLOBE does not exist because the people that work there make it happen. It exists because the community wants to have it there…in THEIR community, and they see the value that it brings: culturally, educationally and fiscally. So the real question is: Does Long Beach want that here? And a year into the work…I would say the answer undeniably is YES!