Devising an Online Cabaret - Chris Roche's "BREAKING NEWS!"
- Erica Gerold
- Oct 19, 2020
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 22, 2020
"When we're together and doing this stuff I have students say, "This is exactly what I needed right now." We're all seeing each other, and even if it's only for three hours today, we're feeding our soul in a really positive way." -Dr. Chris Roche
RUTDInsider is BACK covering the Rowan University Department of Theatre & Dance's work in brand new formats! The annual devised cabaret is the first of many of our productions seeking out new, creative, and most importantly safe ways to keep the arts alive. Associate professor and musical theatre concentration coordinator Dr. Christopher Roche is directing the production for his fifth year. By his side are choreographer Dr. Leslie Elkins and resident music director Jessica Arnold. Their fall cabarets send up the spring musical and this year's is no different; "BREAKING NEWS!" teases RUTD's upcoming radio show version of Heathers filled with all the 80s music your heart could desire.
Keep on reading to hear from Chris about his devising process, creating in an online format, and social justice's place in theatre and dance.
Can you tell us about the themes and ideas we can expect to see explored in your latest cabaret, "BREAKING NEWS!"?
"Our first task was to have each student involved listen to a couple of songs from the 80s and tell us their favorite. We had some crossovers like "Cruel Summer" and "Under Pressure". Leslie, Jess, and I originally thought of something more MTV (Music Television) or BET (Black Entertainment Television) and for those of you who are local, we have a news channel called Action News. I grew up with this, as did many people in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region. We thought, "Oh, that's interesting! A news program, but they also have an informative yet entertaining quality."
***The story of "BREAKING NEWS!" goes through pre-covid life, quarantine, recession/unemployment, the state of the union, and the Black Lives Matter Movement which Chris noted they wanted to give the most time to.
"When we get to the Black Lives Matter section, there are so many answers that we ask BIPOC students in the ensemble of, "Tell us what you think. Please take the lead on this." because you know I'm a 52-year-old gay white man and I don't want to appropriate anybody's reality of life. There have been ideas that we thought might work initially; we were going to do a song but it didn't feel appropriate so we had to have that talk. The students of color said, "Let's come up with something different!" and I think the cool thing about devising is like, "Alright, cool! Let's come up with something different." We don't have a hardcore script that we have to stick to, so tell us what you want to say. Even with the recession and unemployment section we thought about different signage but thought we were diminishing the message of what it's really doing to people if it's all just about murder hornets. How do we find the mix of something humorous like working online Tinder dating during "How Will I Know" but how does it get more serious as we move on towards the recession, BLM, and the state of the union?"
Songs have been cut down and adapted to roughly over a minute in length. He went on to tell me what is being sung, but I'd hate to spoil the cabaret! Tune in this winter to see the music videos to the songs I was so excited to see included.***
I think we (the cabaret) ran about 50 minutes last year. This year we're trying to do, at most, 30 minutes. Jess recorded the music on the keyboard and we put our own funky themes on it. Then, the students had to send a recording of them singing to Jess so that we can overlay on top of the music. They are going to lipsync everything that we're doing videos for, so lipsyncing becomes a big part of it."
Being a RUTD student and having done the cabaret last year, I know that you do something called devised theatre. A lot of people might not know what that means! -so how do you define devising?
"Devising is creating new work, creating work from scratch. We do not have a script, we do not have a solid idea coming in... it is really about creating something new based on the ideas and themes presented by the ensemble, and decide what direction we want to go in. It always feels more horizontal to me in terms of people having a say about what they can or want to do, as opposed to having a scripted show.
Devising really in essence, and I don't want to oversimplify it, but it is the act of creating something new. I think it's really important for every artist to learn how to self-generate, do research, and come up with ideas because it is a way to create your own work maybe when you can't get cast in something else. Like right now theatres are closed; Broadway is closed. How do we create new work for ourselves? I think it is a really great approach to creating art."
I could go on forever about the importance of devising, but I should probably address the elephant in the room... how are you creating this narrative in an online format?
"Coming up with a schedule has been really essential. We rehearse multiple days a week and there is something so interesting about navigating Zoom fatigue. One day we had a dance party where everyone came in with their three favorite 80s dance moves. We also showed what kind of 80s costumes we might have where we are. We're working with students that may not be on campus or podding on Zoom and they're going to film their parts. We found out exactly what cameras people might have had, (junior theatre and RTF major Faith Lynn Diccion helped with her access to some cameras), people from Radio, Television, and Film are helping with editing. I said for the people who are on campus I would come out Saturdays from 11-2. Everyone would have to wear a mask, we would have to film outside, and we would have to physically distance ourselves. I had Leslie and Jess on Facetime (or SM sophomore theatre major Bella DeNapoli would) so we can give notes and guidance.
There are still freshmen I haven't met yet so not only did it feel efficient to go out and create that work, it felt like it was good for ensemble building and morale. Having some deadlines has been great too; Jess has already gotten the music done and we're going to give all of it to RUTD sound designer Dave Cimetta on Thursday so we can begin to edit and mix that. Having hard deadlines, having fun, and talking about such relevant issues to where we're at right now have the students really invested in it; it's not unrelatable. -and again, everyone has the chance to shine. Unlike the cabarets of the past where it could be longer, we couldn't give everybody a solo. We gave duets and trios but hopefully, everyone will have a moment to shine. There are some people that can't come to campus but I said we'll still create with you and figure out a way to do this."
Going back to your previous mentions of social justice, how are you able to come up with new ways to have conversations about social change through theatre?
"Being a good performer means actively listening. I spent most of my life being a performer and I keep trying to actively listen. I think being a really good teacher you have to actively listen, and it's okay to not know everything. I don't know if you've ever been in a class where the professor makes something up as opposed to saying, "I really don't know the answer to that question." I think it's really okay to say I don't know the answer, but I'll look into it. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family that really celebrated social justice and encouraged us to be activists, to be good citizens. I want to be able to share that."
Do you find a lot of your mission in theatre is tied to social change?
"I do- for me it is. Theatre can really be an active social justice. As much as I love 42nd Street: the Musical, there's other stuff out there too that's really important."
For many artists, it has been tough to have hope to keep creating. How has your cast and production team been reassured that this is going to be another great year of the cabaret, and found positivity to do it?
"I think people were excited to do something creative. I think it was an interesting summer; we didn't know what was going to happen. When we decided on the songs and the topics, it infused a sense of vigor for people which has really helped promote curiosity. When we're together and doing this stuff, I have students say, "This is exactly what I needed right now." We're all seeing each other and even if it's only for three hours today, we're feeding our soul in a really positive way. You're right; it is tough. I think in the arts we are really fortunate to live in periods of creativity and still be able to say something important, but through our voices."
"I think people were excited to do something creative. I think it was an interesting summer; we didn't know what was going to happen. When we decided on the songs and the topics, it infused a sense of vigor for people that have really helped promote curiosity. When we're together and doing this stuff, I have students say, "This is exactly what I needed right now." We're all seeing each other and even if it's only for three hours today, we're feeding our soul in a really positive way. You're right; it is tough. I think in the arts we are really fortunate to live in periods of creativity and still be able to say something important, but through our voices."
Did you have a favorite part of the rehearsal process?
"I have to say last week when I went out for the very first time in seven months and saw the students in Glassboro Park, that's been my favorite part. It was really special; it was more experiential to be at Rowan filming with these people. It's like, "Oh! We do exist outside of these (Zoom) boxes!"
What do you hope audiences take away from watching, "BREAKING NEWS!"?
"I hope they listen to these songs with a new ear and I hope they see how they're still relevant to today's issues. I hope they can enjoy but learn, that they will be activists for America, and I hope they will have hope. We decided early on we don't want to sugarcoat stuff, but we don't want to make anyone feel like an outsider or "othered". We wanted to do it in a way where we are just presenting what's going on, do it through 80s music, and maybe give you some food for thought. The first cabaret (in 2016) became a space for people to release and laugh. There will still be moments where people are amused, but still make people be critical thinkers."
Finally, how can audiences view this year's cabaret?
"There is going to be a way to access this package through the department website. They will be able to watch it at any time of the day; I think it's going to run 3 or 4 days. It will all be able to be accessed online and not have to be viewed at 7 pm on a Friday night. There will be freedom to watch it when you want to watch it."
***UPDATE: This production is available to be streamed anytime between December 11 - 20, 2020. Reserve your free tickets at: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35360/production/1033357?performanceId=10587080
Keep on the lookout for Dr. Chris Roche's, "BREAKING NEWS!" this winter by following @rowantheatredance on Instagram and liking us on Facebook! Updates on all virtual performances will be promptly posted about through social media.
See you next Monday!!
Erica Gerold
Musical Theatre & Public Relations '23
(Right) Director, Chris Roche featured with some of the "BREAKING NEWS!" cast and creative team.
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