Q&A: CATS Director and Choreographer Lorianne Dunn

Springfield Little Theatre Education Director, Lorianne Dunn

Lorianne Dunn has been involved in Springfield Little Theatre for nearly eight years. A true SGFer, she was originally hired by SLT as a Volunteer Coordinator, but quickly moved into the role of Education Director. While Dunn has been involved in an unreal number of stage productions at the Historic Landers Theatre, but is currently preparing for her favorite – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award winning and world renowned CATS – as both director and choreographer. It’s SLT’s first run at the song and dance musical, which features a large onstage cast. TAGsgf.com caught up with Dunn as she continues to prepare for SLT’s season opener on September 10.

TAGsgf.com: CATS is right around the corner, everybody knows the name, but what make this such a special performance?

Lorianne Dunn: Based on the whimsical poetry of T.S. Eliot (Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats), CATS, through spectacular song and dance, tells the story of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats at which time one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer (a sort of “cat heaven”).  The multiple Tony-award winning CATS, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera, etc.), has conquered the world as the longest running musical in history, been translated into 20 languages, and features a magical score including “Memory.”  The energy and elegance that has elevated CATS to world popularity makes it a purr-fect show for the whole family to experience.   A true musical theatre phenomenon. A first for Springfield Little Theatre.

This is SLT's first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical.

L.D.: CATS is entirely told through music and dance, so it is a natural fit for the choreographer and the director to be the same person.  I am also extremely lucky to have the constant support of a wonderful Musical Director, Susan Gravatt.

TAG: Is there a singular role you prefer?

L.D.: It just depends on what kind of show it is.  If it is a show like Once On This Island, Seussical, or the upcoming Children of Eden — a show that I very much connect with on an emotional level and features more music than text — I prefer to be the Director/Choreographer.  If I’m serving as Choreographer on a “book” show with another Director, I enjoy the collaboration, the discoveries that only that kind of synergy can bring, and the opportunity to learn from the way another director works and communicates with their cast.

TAG: Springfield Little Theatre is different from the touring productions with the “amateur” label. Everybody’s working other jobs, but has an incredible level of commitment to the production. Is it ever difficult to get everyone on the same page?

L.D.: We have assembled a very talented and dedicated group of volunteers.  They believe in their craft and are committed to doing their very best.  They excel because they are passionate about their art, and they hold each other to a very high standard.  Many of the cast members have an extra special fondness for the show, claiming seeing a production of CATS was their first exposure to musical theatre.  They are thrilled to now, not only have the opportunity to tackle such challenging material as performers, but also, to perhaps give another young audience member an experience similar to their own.

Cast members of CATS: Gary Lyons (center) as Monkustrap; Emily Bowen as Grizabella; and Anna Kicker, from Petra Ballet Company, an ensemble member.

TAG: There’s a lot of talent in the area. What are the names of some people we should keep an eye out for?

L.D.: CATS features 41 onstage performers and 6 offstage vocalists.  I anticipate our audiences will be impressed with all of them!  Principle players include Gary Lyons as Munkustrap, Alberta Smith as Jennyanydots, Josh Inmon as Rum Tum Tugger, Emily Bowen as Grizabella, Dean Price as Bustopher Jones, James Brandon Martin and J. Mackenzie Huley as Mongojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Derrick DeVonne King as Old Deuteronomy, Taylor Haverstick as Jemima, Dale Haverstick as Gus, Jana Thomas Coffman as Jellylorum, Cody Collier as Skimbleshanks, Chris Jasinski as Macavity, Mackenzie Lollar as Demeter, Sally Trtan as Bombalurina, and Kim Alvarez as Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.  We are also thrilled to have seven members of Petra Ballet Company in the cast of CATS.

TAG: You’ve been involved in a lot of productions, are there any that stick out as your favorite?

L.D.: The production I’m currently working on ALWAYS has to be the favorite.  I love the work.  Looking back, I have so many “favorites”— Curtains (a top notch cast and funny, funny show), Once On This Island (the most beautiful music and stellar storytelling), Seussical (crazy fun cast of 97 performers and delightful material), The Full Monty (a radical departure for SLT at the time), Beauty and The Beast (elevated the standard of production at SLT), and Godspell (new orchestrations and inventive staging), to name a few.

TAG: How did you get started in theatre, was stage production always your passion?

L.D.: I was terribly shy as a child.  I began ballet lessons at the age of 8 with Springfield Ballet and soon ballet became my life.  At the age of 11, I attended my first summer program away from home at Missouri State Ballet’s Webster University camp.  I, then, would sometimes ride the bus back and forth from Kansas City to take classes with their company.  At 13, I began attending the School of American Ballet (Balanchine’s official school of the New York City Ballet) summer workshop and then at 15 was invited to stay for the school year.

I studied there for the entirety of my sophomore year while attending academic school just a couple of hours a day at Professional Children’s School, an academic school that is accommodating to a young person’s professional schedule.  After coping with an injury, I decided to come home and finish out high school as a “normal” kid.  That’s when I became involved in theatre.  I had always loved theatre and living in NY had given me the opportunity to see a lot of incredible theatre.  I attended Missouri State University, was active in their Theatre and Dance Department, did Tent, taught, choreographed, and then became involved with SLT.  There were a couple of other chapters in there, too, along the way, but for the most part, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…and the rest is history!

TAG: Have you ever hit the mental panic button when a show is about to open? What’s the nerve factor backstage right before a show opens?

L.D.: No, my anxiety always hits closer to the beginning of the process.  “What have I gotten myself into?”  “Why are my ideas not flowing freely?”  “Why can’t I commit to this choreography?”  “Have we taken on too much?”  Blah blah blah.  Usually, by the time a show is about to open, I am so confident in the work that we have done to get to that point, that I am THRILLED for the cast to finally have an audience to share it with.  They truly crave it by that point.  The energy backstage is definitely tangible.  The actors have to channel that nervous energy into positive energy.  I just pray for their health and safety and leave the rest to God.

TAG: The curtains close and it’s time to blow off some steam, where do you head in SGF to relax?

L.D.: After the show—either the Mud Lounge (where everybody knows your name) or Harlow’s (please don’t tell, no one knows me there and it’s great) or my own front porch swing.  On a “dark” (meaning a non-show day in the middle of the run) day—Bodhi Salon for a massage.  After the production run—the lake!!!!

TAG: Favorite musician?

L.D.: My parents.  My mom and dad are both musicians.  My mother is a pianist and my dad started his career in education as a band director.  Music was a huge part of our family life growing up, at home and at church.  I owe my musicality and my love of music to them, and their examples of hard work, dedication, and follow through have made me a better teacher and creative artist.

TAG: Favorite author(s)?
L.D.: Stephen Schwartz, Alan Menken, Tim Rice, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens