SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts’ October production of “Sylvia” by A. R. Gurney is cast and in rehearsal.
After what OTA officials said was an unexpectedly large turn-out at late August auditions, director Tia Stephens has cast for the play and is working with her team to prepare for the Oct. 19 opening.
Though Stephens studied theatre at Western Washington University and worked backstage and on stage as a director, actor and sound designer, this is her first directorial role at OTA.
“I’m thrilled to be working with such a talented, thoughtful group of actors and designers,” Stephens said. “There were no easy casting decisions.
“I really went through all these different combinations and tried to imagine all these possible combinations, and a lot of it did come down to chemistry between people.”
Dog days
“Sylvia” is a modern romantic comedy about Greg (played by Edwin J. Anderson III), his wife Kate (Jennifer Horton) and the entangled and hilarious issues that arise when Greg brings home a very energetic and sometimes salty dog named Sylvia, played by Melissa Karapostoles.
“I’m just so excited to get to play this part,” said Melissa Karapostoles, who is cast in her first titular role after acting in “Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike,” and playing Anderson’s sister Sammy in “The Tin Woman” — both OTA productions.
Karapostoles had worked with Stephens and Anderson in a small preview of the production at OTA’s Season Unveiling event in June, but the part remained open until the official auditions.
“When I saw how many great people showed up to the auditions I really felt like I wanted to give it my all and show all that energy the character of Sylvia can have,” Karapostoles said.
Anderson and Horton are once again portraying a husband and wife team, having played the dramatic pair of James and Sarah in OTA’s production of “Time Stands Still.”
“I am stoked. I love working with Jennifer,” Anderson said. “I reached out to her on multiple occasions asking if she would audition for this.”
Horton performed with both Anderson and Karapostoles in “Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike” in 2016, as well as playing the lead in “Time Stands Still” with Anderson.
“It’s nice that they have that chemistry and have worked together and kind of know each other’s acting quirks, but it will still be new and different,” Stephens said.
New to the stage is Michael Sickles, cast to play the multiple roles of Tom, a fellow dog enthusiast, Phyllis, Kate’s girlfriend, and Leslie, a gender ambiguous marriage counselor.
“Playing such extremely different roles allows me to tap into pieces of myself that I don’t normally get to in daily life,” Sickles said.
“Michael just came out of nowhere,” Stephens said. “He already has really good instincts, is really good at projecting, has really great presence, and is just really enthusiastic, which is great.
“It’s nice having a mix of people that I know are fantastic and reliable and have worked together, but also they can help bring in someone new,” she added.
“It’s already a tight cast and we’ve only had two read-throughs.”
About ‘Sylvia’
“Sylvia” will run Oct. 19 to Nov. 4, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances set for 7:30 and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $18 for the general public, $16 for OTA members and $12 for students with school identification card, and are available at the theatre box office, 414 N. Sequim Ave., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Or, get tickets online at olympictheatrearts.org.
For more information, call the theater at 360-683-7326.
For any performance, students purchasing a ticket at the door five minutes prior to curtain pay only $5 if available.
Preview night is Oct. 18, when admission is free for OTA members and $10 for non-members.
Pay What You Will Night is Oct. 25.
Talk Back Night is Nov. 1, with a 6:30 p.m. curtain. Talk-Back Night gives patrons an opportunity to ask about the process of creating the production.
Members of the cast and crew will be present for conversation over complimentary hors d’oeuvres. OTA’s beer, wine and cocktail bar will also be open.
