For each production at TMT, we like to ask our cast and crew members a few questions, so we and you can get to know them better! Some questions are standard. Some are specific to the show these folks are working on. Some are biographical, some are philosophical, and some are completely off the wall! But all of these questions provide a little insight into the wonderful artists that make up our Magnetic community.
Meet the cast and crew of Fish and grab your tickets to come watch them in action, April 14th through April 29th.
For our final Q&A with this Cast & Crew, we’re diving into thoughts on theatre. Read their answers below to find out how they got here, what “here” means to them, and where they’re making their next splash once the Fish run is done!
Morgan Miller
Morgan Miller plays her character, True, with eerie intensity. She’s been seen at TMT in a wide range of roles and productions over the past year, including Court of the Grandchildren (April 2022), The Frankenstein Rubrics (October), and HappyLand (February 2023)— so, obviously, we think she’s great and can’t wait to see more! Here’s the scoop on Morgan’s theatrical magic:
How did you get into theatre?
I have always loved to sing and perform in any way I could, but I was ever really introduced to, or had an opportunity to take part in Theatre until I was accepted into The Theatre Program at a Magnet Arts High School.
How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
Working at The Magnetic feels like home. The Magnetic is fun, collaborative, professional and fully supports every part of its team in anyway they can. I always feel heard, safe, supported and so unbelievably happy to work with such a wonderful group of talented, caring and wonderful people. It’s the biggest pleasure to work with The Magnetic and I am so appreciative of all the hard work they do.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Big Fish at HART: May 19th-June 11th
Star Spangled Girl at Parkway Playhouse: June 30th-July 8th
Spamalot at HART: August 25th-September 17th
The Splatter Play at The Magnetic: October 6th - 21st
New Queer’s Eve at The Magnetic: December 1st - 16th
Evan Eckstrom
Evan Eckstrom has also been a recurring favorite on The Magnetic’s stage since ‘22, starting with Algorithm & Blues (February) and returning for Beautiful Cages (September) before sharing the stage with Morgan in both The Frankenstein Rubrics and HappyLand. His multitude of characters in Fish shows off his range as an actor, and his sense of fun shows why we just love keeping him around:
How did you get into theatre?
Being much younger than my 3 siblings, they used to pay me in Six cereal bits to perform tricks and dances for them. I ate it up - literally.
How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
I can always count on walking into a respectful environment, and better yet a friendly respect that allows room for teasing each other and building relationships. The profit sharing model is also a rare and awesome thing!
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Stage managing for The Splatter Play at Magnetic in October! You should come partake in the bloodbath!!!
Paula O’Brien
Paula O’Brien made her Magnetic debut in Traitor back in 2020. That show had one glorious opening weekend! Unfortunately, it opened in March, right before all COVID broke loose. So we cannot overstate how thrilled we were to have Paula come back to us for HappyLand and to drive home the complex and fascinating character of Laura in Fish! Whatever her role, Paula is a natural entertainer and simply enthralling to watch. And while she opted not to answer our first two questions this time around, we are beyond excited about her future plans:
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Working on bringing my one woman show Who Does She Think She Is? to the stage. Stay tuned!
Lilly Mills
Lilly Mills is another relative newcomer to The Magnetic stage, having made her acting debut in the 2022 One Act Play Festival in November, followed by Caroling by Gaslight in December. She brings natural sass to the wild woman Missi in Fish, but don’t be fooled by her character’s flippant approach to life— Lilly is one serious artist. A talented actor also skilled in stage combat and stage intimacy (which she used in her behind-the-scenes work on Beautiful Cages and The Frankenstein Rubrics last year), she’s in the business of telling hard stories under safe circumstances, and brings intensity and drive to everything she does:
How did you get into theatre?
When I was three years old my mom took me to see “Annie Get Your Gun” and I asked her how I could get up there and do what they do. She told me I had to learn how to read, and a few months later I was literate and an actor.
How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
They care about their actors and team. They care about safety. They are open to feedback, and know that we can make great art that isn’t harmful.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Assistant Directing and working intimacy on Wendy and Peter at Montford Park Players. Doing Intimacy on Star Spangled Girl at Parkway Playhouse.
Jason Phillips
Jason Phillips and TMT go way back— all the way to 2018, which is several millennia in theatre years. He’s been an actor, director, and writer (but not all at once) on a half-dozen or more shows on our stage, leads our Board of Directors, works with a number of other theatre companies around WNC, and still manages to have a life and a family outside of the theatre! His dry wit and playful snark keep us on our toes, and his can-do attitude makes magic like Algorithm & Blues and HappyLand, well, happen! As for his character in Fish, Jason shares Charlie’s wry sense of humor, but not much else. But if there’s one thing we know about Jason, it’s that he’s up for a challenge— how else does one man do so much stuff?
How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
The Magnetic is a place where you can really sink your teeth into new work. It feels so collaborative no matter what role your role in a production is you have a voice.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
I’m super excited to be performing in The Splatter Play in here in October and I’m the head writer on New Queer’s Eve which will be Magnetic’s holiday show in December. Check them both out and say hi!
In case you didn’t realize it, there are just as many awesome artists behind the scenes of Fish as there are on stage. While they didn’t all get a chance to talk theatre with us, we’ve got a Q&A with two of the backstage magicians that just goes to show what a fabulous team makes up this show!
Skyler Goff
Skyler Goff was the evil genius behind (and in front of) last year’s holiday hit, Caroling by Gaslight, and now lends his talents as sound designer and props master to the world of Fish. Writer, director, actor, designer-of-many-talents, Skyler’s a mastermind who’s been making theatre all over Asheville for ages. While we’ve run in similar new, experimental, and fringey circles for many years, we are super lucky to have finally gotten him in our clutches!
How did you get into theatre?
Through High School. On my first day in Play Production I was swarmed by senior girls excited there was a boy in class. I've been a thespian ever since.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
I am directing Wendy and Peter at The Montford Park Players. [Word on the street says you can also catch Skyler’s work in The Splatter Play at TMT in October!]
Quinn Terry
And finally, from stage maestro to Stage Manager, Quinn Terry is the newest Magnetic community member to swim the ocean of Fish. After their brilliant debut as Rhonda in HappyLand, we were overjoyed that Quinn had so much fun they wanted to stick around! Their mad skills and great humor fit right in with this quirky cast and script, and we are so glad they found their way to our door.
How did you get into theatre?
My grandmother signed me up for a children's summer theatre camp when I was 8. I was absolutely terrified and almost ran away to avoid going. When the camp was over, I couldn't wait to go again! Almost 20 years later and I still am grateful that she signed me up.
How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
Most importantly to me are the SNACKS! Absolutely unreal.
The ability to join a production in any role and be able to learn all sorts of skills is not something I've experienced at other theatres either - I am so grateful to be learning about the production side again. The Magnetic just gives you opportunities at all levels of learning and in all facets of production or performance.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
I don't think I'm allowed to tell yet! [Editor’s note: while we’re not sure what other mysterious plans Quinn might have, we can definitively say that you haven’t seen the last of them at The Magnetic!]
We are honored to have so many amazing people working with us on Fish, and we think it’s extra exciting that they’re all so multi-talented! Not only do our actors play comedy and drama with equal deftness, they and our backstage crew also write, direct, choreograph, design, build, stage manage, and more! Triple threat? Pfft! These folks do it all!
So while we say goodbye to Fish this weekend, we have so much to look forward to as our season progresses, and so many other ways to appreciate the talents of our incredible Magnetic community.
So make your plans to see Fish while you still can, check out the rest of our Mainstage Season, and get out there to Support Local Theatre anytime you can!