Stage II turns up the heat with 'Hot Trash'
Emma Fromberg
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: Variety
Years ago, two friends embarked on a journey. It began with a rumor of a "glam- rock" party, mixed in with some out-of-date fashions and intense role-playing. This dream has become a reality and now a masterful performance.
Next week, UMD's student-run theater company, Stage II, will present a play written, directed and performed by students.
"Hot Trash" is the story of a British rock band that gets back together a decade after their lead bassist dies.
The band attempts to release a new album without their late star. However, they are lacking in talent and too caught up in drugs, egos and the rock lifestyle to really get anything done.
"It's like if Sublime got back together," said writer and director Josh Hinke, "with a rapper."
Hinke and his friend, Jake Neuman, both seniors, wrote this play together after the idea sprung up at a costume party.
Hinke is directing the play, but Neuman is often present during practice to make sure the play is going as planned.
"It is weird to direct your own writing," Hinke said, and that he was glad to have Neuman to remind him of the importance of the lines they wrote.
"It's hard to be objective when it's a new show that no one has done before, and you've never seen the play up on its feet," he said. "Every writer hates everything they write, but Jake can see it from a writer's perspective while I'm directing. I will want to cut, change and move things, and Jake comes in and says don't."
Hinke said the hardest and easiest aspect of "Hot Trash" is the improvability of it.
The cast has been through a unique process to settle on the finished product. The writers often rewrite scenes on the fly, and Hinke said they also encourage the actors to develop their own characters and lines through improvisation.
"I cast them because they are all great artists," Hinke said. "I didn't have to hope that they'd be able to find the characters."
Phil Jents, a junior, who will be playing the lead guitarist, Gunnar McGowan, is soaking up the opportunity to work with Hinke.
"Josh not only tolerates but encourages us to follow our impulses when it comes to changing a line or adding a line," Jents said. "There is a very fine line between us screwing around as friends and us screwing around in character, and I think our director and stage managers would agree to that."
The five other cast members are Kinsey Diment, Joe Heaney, Amanda Speare, Brandon Roberts and Kendra McMillan. For the play, their alternate personas will consist of characters like "Vixie" and "Papa Cap," complete with some rockin' outfits.
"Hot Trash" will be shown at the Play Ground Theatre, 11 E. Superior St., from Feb. 25-28. Shows will start at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m., and an extra performance on Feb. 28 at 10:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for UMD students and $10 general admission.
Next week, UMD's student-run theater company, Stage II, will present a play written, directed and performed by students.
"Hot Trash" is the story of a British rock band that gets back together a decade after their lead bassist dies.
The band attempts to release a new album without their late star. However, they are lacking in talent and too caught up in drugs, egos and the rock lifestyle to really get anything done.
"It's like if Sublime got back together," said writer and director Josh Hinke, "with a rapper."
Hinke and his friend, Jake Neuman, both seniors, wrote this play together after the idea sprung up at a costume party.
Hinke is directing the play, but Neuman is often present during practice to make sure the play is going as planned.
"It is weird to direct your own writing," Hinke said, and that he was glad to have Neuman to remind him of the importance of the lines they wrote.
"It's hard to be objective when it's a new show that no one has done before, and you've never seen the play up on its feet," he said. "Every writer hates everything they write, but Jake can see it from a writer's perspective while I'm directing. I will want to cut, change and move things, and Jake comes in and says don't."
Hinke said the hardest and easiest aspect of "Hot Trash" is the improvability of it.
The cast has been through a unique process to settle on the finished product. The writers often rewrite scenes on the fly, and Hinke said they also encourage the actors to develop their own characters and lines through improvisation.
"I cast them because they are all great artists," Hinke said. "I didn't have to hope that they'd be able to find the characters."
Phil Jents, a junior, who will be playing the lead guitarist, Gunnar McGowan, is soaking up the opportunity to work with Hinke.
"Josh not only tolerates but encourages us to follow our impulses when it comes to changing a line or adding a line," Jents said. "There is a very fine line between us screwing around as friends and us screwing around in character, and I think our director and stage managers would agree to that."
The five other cast members are Kinsey Diment, Joe Heaney, Amanda Speare, Brandon Roberts and Kendra McMillan. For the play, their alternate personas will consist of characters like "Vixie" and "Papa Cap," complete with some rockin' outfits.
"Hot Trash" will be shown at the Play Ground Theatre, 11 E. Superior St., from Feb. 25-28. Shows will start at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m., and an extra performance on Feb. 28 at 10:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for UMD students and $10 general admission.
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