Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean is performed in-the-round, giving the audience a 360 degree view of the entire performance. Director, Linda Chambers, isn’t bothered by this because her crew and cast came out of the gate embracing the process. Her only challenge with this production is keeping up with them!
Linda began her career with Cockpit in Court about 13 – 14 years ago. She was invited by Anne Lefter, Executive Producer at Cockpit, to direct Crimes of the Heart, a warm, funny play about a crazy family. Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, who plays Juanita in Jimmy Dean, was also in that production.The following year, Anne asked if she’d be interested in directing An Inspector Calls. Linda says this was another great experience, a play about a family, but a completely different kind, a cold, deadly piece. She’s directed seven productions in the Cabaret Theatre and says each one is a different challenge. Linda would love to create a piece/production, starting at ground zero and working her way up. By day she’s a freelance writer and teacher. And when not in the theatre she watches a lot of television, enjoys doing artwork and is working on a book.
Every production needs someone to call the shots, and TraceyAnn Tokar Smith, Stage Manager, can be heard calling out “1 hour ’til show time”. She’s been with Cockpit in Court since 1999 when she directed Three Tall Women. She has enjoyed directing and stage managing several productions, Directing Shadowland, Stage Managing The Bridges of Madison County, The Musical and Props for Catch Me If You Can, all at the Dundalk Community Theatre, to name a few. She took a break for family and children, her baby is now 17. Lisa Boeren, Properties Master at Cockpit, called and she said “Yes!” to stage managing Jimmy Dean. She says the most challenging part of her job is coordinating calls, sequence & timing. When she’s successful everything looks effortless and magical.TraceyAnn enjoys the people (actors, directors, crew, design team), because they are interesting, unusual in a wonderful way. And when everything happens like it is supposed to, its fun, like Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – waving his wand. Next on her schedule will be stage managing for DCT coming shows A Year with Frog & Toad and Mama Mia.
