Get to Know Roni Lancaster II

What a week it will be! Pay-What-You-Can Previews for Kit Marlowe start on Thursday this time around, so those of you who are used to having a PWYC on Wednesday, you have the night off plan on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

Opening Night is Sunday at 7pm.

Get it? Got it? Good.

We have a return appearance here on the Get to Know Me Show. Roni Lancaster returns for her turn upon the wheel of fate. Here are Roni's answers from her birds interview, let's see what tid-bits she shares this time. Enjoy!

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Sound Designer

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

Nope. This is my second go-round. My last time at this rodeo was as TD for birds. (And a partial time before that I lent a hand and a paint brush to Dali.)

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Hmm. I'd have to say the scarab beetle. There's all that mythology about creation, and living forever, and transformation and stuff. (The golden tortoise beetle would be my next choice, because it so like a chameleon...but the scarab has a lot more interesting facets to it.)

beat . . .

Oh...wait! You were asking about The Beatles....well, in that case, I would have to say the play is more like the 5th Beatle. I forget his name...Pete, or Stuart, or George, or maybe it was Neil...

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The smell. We already play around with the "look" and the "sound" of that time period. I say Rorschach should go for broke and make it as authentically smelly as possible.

5. For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

I was once asked to create the sound of "musty water." (That required a little interpretation.)

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do? Kit Marlowe living up the night life?

Nope. I don't see it happening. He strikes me as the kind of guy to sit at home in his footy pajamas, veggin' on the couch, watchin' a movie...

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Well, honestly, I can't say that I think being killed in any fashion would be very pleasant. I'm kind of attached to living. Tho I do suppose anything slow and painfully drawn out would be worse than in the eye. Drowning in one's own blood comes to mind. Or memories of that scene in Braveheart where he is eviscerated slowly.

Get to Know Roni Lancaster

I don't know much about Roni personally. Only know what I see in the set construction photos for the set of birds. So this is just much of a chance for me to Get to Know Veronica "Roni" Lancaster as it is for you. Be kind people she is new and works hard.

1. What is your job in producing birds?

Technical Director

2. When you were a child what if any stories or fairy tales effected you the most?

I think I've always been partial to the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. And I don't just mean the Disney version. (Though that was definitely one of my favorite movies as a kid.)

3. Is this the first time you have worked for Rorschach? If no, when have you done for us before? If yes, why did you decide to come and play in our sandbox?

Technically, yes, this is the first time I've worked for Rorschach. (I helped the set designer on the last production for a couple of days .)... The sandbox over here just looked inviting. The people seemed nice - like they wouldn't gobble me up whole. Also, on a funny kind of note, Randy and I have played email tag for the last couple years. Unfortunately during that time I had the crazy schedule of an undergraduate and never had time to work for the theatre. Now that I got my papers and have time, it seemed like the timing was finally right.

4. What is one impossible thing that happens in birds?

You only want one thing?

5. What is you favorite bird?

The Australian (Southern) Cassowary. Have you ever looked at one up close? They're just cool - in that freaky kind of way. With talons like a prehistoric raptor, yet a frugivorous diet; a funny bone sticking out of their skulls; and brightly colored necks, complete with wattles like a turkey's. C'mon - what could be cooler?

6. How do you think or hope audiences will react to birds?

I hope audiences walk away sated. It's a good story about not letting your past control you. Ultimately you control your life and are responsible for its outcome.

7. If you had a theme song what would it be?

It often changes, but lately it's been "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.

Ready, Set, Photo

Roni Lancaster is our go to lady for all things set construction. Officially listed as Assistant Set Designer, but that only begins to scratch the surface of what she is being called on to do in order to bring Jacob S. Muehlhausen set to life.

Tomorrow I will be running Roni's answers to the Questions of Doom, but today Roni has forwarded on these shots of set construction for birds. Roni sent this note along with her latest batch of photos:

Hey Scott,

Yesterday we had a giant push to work on lights and scenery in the space. (YAY for lots of helping hands!)Got a few more photos of things in progress, if you are interested. But again, feel free to do with the photos as you will. Enjoy!

~Roni