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Behind the Scenes Name: Deborah L. Sherman Birthplace: Valley Stream Long Island, New York City of Residence: Miami Occupation: Co-founder of The Promethean Theatre, actor, producer and clown Name: Beth McIntosh Birthplace: Ft Lauderdale, Florida City of Residence: Fort Lauderdale, though I spent time in Gainesville, New York and Los Angeles before coming back home Occupation: Co-founder of The Promethean Theatre, actor, producer, and industry relations coordinator for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Deborah L. Sherman & Beth McIntosh List some of your credits and awards: Sherman: Lindy Love in House and Garden (Actor's Playhouse); Rosannah Deluce in Brilliant Traces (Hollywood Playhouse), Julia Bryant in Ten Unknowns (Best Supporting Actress Miami Sun Post 2004, GableStage); Emilia in Othello, Olivia in Twelfth Night and Conchita in the World Premier of Anna in the Tropics, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Best New Play, New Times Best of Miami in 2003 (New Theatre); and Laura in The Glass Menagerie (Runner-up Best Actress Miami Sun-Post 2002, Theatre Illuminata) McIntosh: Evil Spell of the Butterfly, off-Broadway, Lamb's Theatre (5 ACE Awards, winning for Best Play); Hot L Baltimore, Santa Fe Theatre (FCAA Best Actress); Beyond Java Mountain, Orlando Theatre Alliance; Orange Flower Water, The Promethean Theatre; Brooklyn Boy, GableStage (Carbonell nomination Best Supporting Actress). Honored by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as one of “Fort Lauderdale's Finest” for philanthropic and community involvement in South Florida. In L.A. I worked as a junior talent agent and manager for The Chasin Agency, The Personal Management Company and Endeavor, where I was accepted into Endeavor's prestigious Agent Training Program. What got you interested in theatre? Sherman: Being in my Hebrew school play in first grade. McIntosh: My first play (The Music Man) was at the age of 8 and I knew I never wanted to do anything else. Though at college (UF) I thought I should major in something “real.” so I was pre-law. I took Acting for Non Majors as an elective just for fun and after the first class I walked straight to the theatre department and switched my major. I never looked back again. You both began in the acting side of theatre. What made you start your own company, The Promethean Theatre? Sherman: I have dreamt of starting my own company since junior high. I wanted to be able to choose plays that excited me as an actor and audience member and give actors, directors and designers a place to do their craft fearlessly. McIntosh: While at Endeavor in L.A. I got to work with some of the most talented and inspiring artists and industry professionals—Gary Sinise, David Duchovny, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Javier Bardem—and a passion for producing was born. Deb and I met when John Rodaz cast us in The Real Inspector Hound at Hollywood Playhouse. Looking forward to our opening weekend we found ourselves in the middle of a major problem: Hurricane Frances. The management decided to close the doors of the theatre—in other words, they were out of money and we out of a job. Instead of mourning the loss of weeks of hard work, a spark was ignited that lead us to the reshaping of our place as theatre artists and The Promethean Theatre was born. And I do have to say TPT truly was Deborah's vision and dream. Without her it simply would not exist. I am just proud to be along for the ride. What is involved in producing a show? Sherman: Are you kidding? Ha ha! Choosing the play, hiring the cast, staff, crew, director, designers, getting all of these folks in the same room at the same time, financing the show, purchasing all of the props, set pieces, costumes, calling in favors and begging and borrowing supplies and equipment from other theatres, making sure the press gets info, the programs get done and that no one kills each other while doing it. McIntosh: What isn't involved? From deciding your season then acquiring the rights to the shows you want to produce, to the casting and putting together the design team, to marketing and PR, fund-raising, scheduling, keeping everything under budget, keeping everyone happy and keeping the creative vision for the show intact—it’s amazing it all comes together in the end, but it always does. I'm learning every day. What aspect of The Promethean Theatre do you handle? Sherman: Wow, we all do everything at some point in the process. I assembled this ragamuffin group of people that I met throughout the last six years of working as an actor here—that’s how I met my lovely producing partner Beth—and everyone I talked to was excited and gung ho to move forward with a company that they could call their own. Beth jumped on board immediately and became co-founder with me. My main role I guess is to serve as a production manager and cheerleader in addition to producer. We work as a collaborative team, but each person has their own special area of expertise and I love them all. McIntosh: As co-founders and producing partners, Deb and I really share and collaborate as much as possible. It is important for us to have that collaboration throughout TPT. We want everyone who works with us, whether as a designer, actor or in any capacity, to feel that there is a reason that they were hired—for their talent—and that their opinion and expertise is as important as ours in the final product. Deb and I do wear a lot of hats but when it comes to the day to day stuff, I would say my specialty is the PR, marketing and fund-raising and then Deb and I collaborate together with uber-talented Margaret Ledford (our resident director) on the major creative decisions—deciding the season, casting, etc. What is the biggest challenge with The Promethean Theatre? Sherman: Ha, ha, ha—money, money, money. I think with any arts organization you will find that money is the main obstacle always. We have been lucky enough to be surrounded by the greatest people creatively—Margaret Ledford, Nate Rausch, Tate Tenorio, Ananda Keator, Juan Sanchez and all of the actors who have worked with us so far—so for them and the audiences that have followed us so far we are so fortunate. I just wish that we had an endowment of some kind that provided us with the financial stability we need to not worry about money. We don’t need millions, just enough to cover our season with no fear that this show may be our last—fiscally, that is. McIntosh: Money! I think for non-profit theatre companies it is always going to be about money—raising money, finding sponsors and donors, qualifying for grants, putting together the right board that can find ways to support your goals and keeping your creative visions in line with your budgetary limitations. What inspires you? Sherman: Man, that’s so hard on so many levels but also so simple: I love my family and friends. My mom had a stroke in December and it was pretty massive and seeing her fight to come back into her wholeness again has been amazing. I also just gave birth in January so that put my life into a tailspin of another kind. I live for my family and friends and seeing them happy. Watching people do what they love is inspiring always. McIntosh: Getting to do what I love every day. Not many people can say they love what they do but I truly, truly do. And for me, the other people I get to work with at TPT inspire me every day to be a better artist and person. What has been the most gratifying part of creating The Promethean Theatre? Sherman: Watching these amazing creative people I love make theatre happen. We don't have a lot of money, but we have heart, and we love what we do more then anything. McIntosh: For me, seeing the finished product on opening night and knowing what it took to get there is so exciting—every time—and always will be. I do this because I love the theatre, I love the work, I love the actors, I love the process and I love what I do. What could be better than that? Do you still actively seek work with other theatres? Sherman: Absolutely! We encourage it for our designers and actors and for ourselves. Beth is going to be in This is How It Goes at GableStage this summer, Tate is the technical director at Parker Playhouse, Nate is the sound designer at Actor’s Playhouse, Ananda costume designs there too, Margaret is directing for Summer Shorts this summer and Juan Sanchez works at Actor’s Playhouse doing box office. We continue to grow as a company and as professionals by staying employed. I was just bugging Joe Adler [artistic director at GableStage Theatre] the other day about working for him again as an actor, so, yes, actively seeking always. McIntosh: Of course. Why, do you know someone looking to hire me? I have my résumé ready… But really, there are so many great theatres out there and each of them offers the South Florida community something different, so as an artist getting to work with other companies lets you grow and learn from each experience and that can only enhance what you bring to your own company. And as a matter of fact, I will be appearing at GableStage this summer in This Is How It Goes by Neil LaBute. It is my second time working with Joe Adler and hopefully not the last! Any plans to appear in your own productions at The Promethean Theatre? Sherman: Beth actually appeared in our first production, Orange Flower Water and she was great. I may be in a show of ours soon but I can't say when for sure if at all. McIntosh: I was in our first show, Orange Flower Water and Deb has chosen (at her own insistence) to stay behind the scenes, but she is an amazingly talented actress who has worked all over town, so don't be surprised if you see her gracing our stages in the fall (if all the stars align)! And if the right role presented itself in the future I would love to do another show again as an actor...we do good work! What do you consider your proudest professional moment? Sherman: Opening night of Orange Flower Water (our first show) for sure. McIntosh: I don't think I have one major moment yet in my career, but I am proud of a lot of things—TPT's first show, the world premiere of Juan C Sanchez’s brilliant play Buck Fever, the Carbonell Awards this year with TPT getting a nomination in our first season and my first nomination as an actor, opening my first show off-Broadway. What show or project have you most enjoyed working on and why? Sherman: I love working on all of our shows—I learn a new lesson each time—but as an actor I have to say I’m torn between Brilliant Traces when John Rodaz was the artistic director of the Hollywood Playhouse (two-person show, super intense experience) and working for Joe Adler at GableStage doing Ten Unknowns. McIntosh: All of them—they all teach you something. I most enjoy whatever show I am currently working on. It's like a new adventure and chance to learn something about yourself every time, and that is one of the best parts of this job. What do you hope to accomplish with The Promethean Theatre Company? Sherman: I really would like us to be around for the next 50 years and be one of the best regional theatres in the country. McIntosh: To do good work with good people and have a good time while we are doing it. We take each step one day at a time with TPT. If you had told me a year ago we would be standing where we are today, it would have been overwhelming. We just continue to set goals and then figure out ways to make them happen. You never know what is just around the corner. And of course long term, I want TPT to be one of the top regional theatre companies not just in South Florida but the country. What is the best thing about working in South Florida theatre? Sherman: The fact that it is such a small community. Knowing everyone is awesome, and I think South Florida is filled with some of the most talented people in the country, hands down. McIntosh: I grew up here and South Florida itself has grown by leaps and bounds and an artistic and theatre community has emerged with a talent that I think rivals any of the other cities out there and I am just proud to be a part of it. Current and upcoming projects? Sherman: TPT has a fundraiser coming up and Miss Julie in the summer. I think I am ready to get back to work as an actor—it has been over a year since I performed myself. I am also trying to be a good mommy to my new son Julian and good wife, sister and daughter—corny, I know, but you asked! McIntosh: Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall opens Friday, April 28 and runs through May 14. It’s directed by Margaret M. Ledford and stars Colin McPhillamy (he has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, The Royal National Theatre, The Old Vic, The West End, The Guthrie, The Mark Taper Forum, The Actor's Theatre of Louisville and Florida Stage, among others) with Christopher Kauffmann and Sheaun McKinney (Carbonell-nominated for A Lesson Before Dying at GableStage). Blue/Orange is an incendiary tale of race, madness and a Darwinian power struggle at the heart of a dying National Health Service. It is the winner of Britain's Olivier Award, London's Evening Standard Theatre Award, and the London Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play. We are in a new space in Broward County and could not be more thrilled to bring Blue/Orange here. If you are one of the people out there who have not come out to see one of our shows, you do not want miss this one! The Promethean Theatre’s new space is the Mailman Hollywood Theatre, located at Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Ave., Mailman Hollywood Center, 2nd Floor, Fort Lauderdale-Davie. For more information, visit www.theprometheantheatre.org or call 786-317-7580. |
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