By William Derringer
As far as I know at least since 1991 there has been discussion about organizing a forming an Albuquerque Theatre Guild not only here but in surrounding areas. We needed to find a unity of theatres and this also includes the Theatre lovers from the schools, UNM and the College of Santa Fe. There is a theatrical family that does exist here, not only in our city but throughout the whole state of New Mexico. We needed to unite and skillfully reach out to as many theatergoers as possible. Awhile back the Vortex Theatre celebrated their 30th Anniversary at their present theatre and it was a joyous and hopeful encouragement. The Adobe Theatre also reaches out to not only The Rio Rancho area but for the last few years has been growing and trying to present all kinds of theatre. They now have a consistent group of theatre goers waiting to see their next season. Albuquerque Little Theatre the oldest member of over 70 years of theatre here in our city and is adding a new agenda of theatrical highlights to their upcoming season. The Cells-Fusion Theatre is celebrating several seasons of theatrical magic to the agenda as they skillfully bring a professional theatre to our city.
We have a wonderful theatrical family of not only talented theatre Directors, Actors, Stage Managers and hard working and reliable technical assistants. We also have a hopeful growing audience that will attend, support and enjoy the theatres here within our City and State. Thanks to Ray Orley, Claudia Mathes, TJ Cardella and several other theatre people in our City who were able to organize and give to us our first positive move of Theatre Unity and support.
We all need to support and encourage all of the new theatres that are opening and as theatre people we should support every new group and nourish not just the larger theatres but the small groups that are trying their hands and talents in doing the cutting edge plays, the classics, the uplifting comedic plays that in their delightful way brings back the entertainment of the theatrical scene. .
Most tourists who don’t know about our growing theatre scene have to be reached out to, and told about the blossoming theatre scene here in Albuquerque. Just because the theatre is there doesn’t mean that they will come. They have to know regularly what is happening in our City and our State.
I remember when we moved here in 1991 that I heard a comment from a tourist passing through Albuquerque. During our chat they spoke out and said that all they saw as they traveled through Albuquerque was grocery stores, Wal-Mart’s and Movie Theatres. That floored and amazed me. Before we moved here my Partner Bob and I each time we would visit we would check out the Albuquerque Journal and the weekly pages to find out what was happening with the theatre scene. We would attend every theatre we could. The Vortex, Original New Plays and Classic plays. The Adobe who not only presented entertaining comedies they did venues of Shakespeare productions that included Twelfth Night by the Swap Lab Organization and many other chosen productions.
The \CenterStage. at that time was a blossoming theatre on Central Avenue that was produced and run by the talented Director, Actor, and teacher (THEATRE IN THE MAKING) one of my favorite directors Paul Ford. What a joy it is to work with him.
He’s a gift to writers and actors. Within two weeks from our moving and living here in Albuquerque in 1991, I was already getting open arms to be part of the theatre scene here. I was called by Phil and Barbara Boch to come and audition for a replacement role in SOCIAL SECURITY at The Adobe Theatre and within five minutes of my audition with the director Kathryn Howell it was a instant bond for both of us and for the next two years we worked continually together at the Adobe and later at other theatres. Again at the Adobe I was joyous about being cast by Kathryn Howell as the American Character Actor’s dream role of Willy Loman in Kathryn’s upcoming production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN and I was definitely enriched by playing this role and working with her again.. We were blessed with a talented ensemble of actors and we all treasured being in the Adobe’s Production.
For the next nine years I viewed and became part of a very rich and growing theatre scene from the fine work done at The Vortex Theatre. ACLO a –musical theatre who throughout the city added many fine productions of Musicals – The extremely successful production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, GUYS AND DOLLS, and more recently over at the Highland Theatre the groups name was changed to MTS which presented Candide and in the smaller space next to the Highland did a very special and intimate Musical production of “A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE directed by Hal Simons Within the late nineties, I was fortunate enough to direct the highly successful Neil Simon Play LAUGHTER ON THE 24TH FLOOR at the Vortex Theatre. It was so great to see audiences lining up around the corner of the theatre and with fine reviews we were fortunate to play this robust comedy to several sold out houses. I felt very grateful to have a wonderful cast and we all enjoyed the whole experience. A more recent gift was working with Peter Kierst at the VortexTheatre, who directed with gifted hands, a sterling production of Hamlet played by Chad Blummett of the TRICKLOCK Theatre and an extremely talented cast.
Within those nine years of working with The Riverside Rep Theatre which in the last few years became the Tricklock Theatre within their space at UNM. Again I was fortunate to be cast by director by Leo Shapiro who directed this very gripping production of Chekov’s “THE SEA GULL” which we presented at the Kimo Theatre and at that time The Match Box Theatre where we were spotted there by a theatre company in Baltimore and we later toured the production there for a very successful two weeks run. The history of theatres is still within many memories and with the help of our new theatre league we will be viewing live theatre in New Mexico for treasured decades. So many new and exciting companies will join the already established theatres, and we will get the news out there that Talented, Gifted and Dedicated theatre groups are constantly at work. A younger generation of actors, writers, and directors are here in New Mexico from all over the country sharing, learning, and nurturing their talents with many devoted audiences. It’s time for tourists who visit our gifted state to get to know that there are all kinds of art events, museums and theatres here in The Land of Enchantment.
By William Derringer
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