Magnetic Personalities: What's Next?

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, only through March 4th!

As we sadly prepare to part ways with the delightful cast and crew of HappyLand for now, we wanted to know what they’re up to after this! Today we asked: Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?

Quinn Terry, Actor

I am a bit of a renaissance man and am working on a Master's when I'm not editing novels, farming, or rehearsing for HappyLand. If anyone is interested in gravestone and burial ground analysis, then check out my upcoming thesis from VCU! I hope to have more shows in the near future as well :)

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

I'll be stage managing at Parkway a bit this summer. Their season will be super fun!

Jamie Knox, Choreographer

Check me out as CeeCee in The Red Velvet Cake Wars at Parkway Playhouse in June!

Paula O’Brien, Actor

I’m looking to bring my one woman show, Who Does She Think She Is? to Asheville. Stay tuned!

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

Come hear Supatight, Friday April 28th at Mills River Brewing or June 17 at the Boonerang Festival in Boone, NC!

Will Miller, Musician

Supatight and Smooth Goose albums dropping on Spotify and gigging locally!

Bill Chameides, Actor

Next up: Let Me Down Easy with Ovation Theatre Collective, running in May at the Black Mountain Arts Center.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

I will be directing The Tempest with Montford Park Players this summer and I'm also directing New Queer’s Eve for Magnetic at the end of the season.

Elise Harvey, Actor

It’s more of a music project than theatre but I have an EP of original music (out on Apple Music/Spotify/other streaming services etc.) called Candy. I have been recording again recently and will be putting out some more of my own music soon! My “stage name” is Elise Eden, and that’s the name my music is under!

Jason Phillips, Director

I am co-writing the Magnetic’s 2023 holiday show New Queer’s Eve with a small team of fabulous writers. It will be a holiday show like no other.

Morgan Miller, Actor

Not yet!

Well, Morgan, with the way you’ve rocked our stage so far, we’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing you again before too long…

Dear Readers, If you’ve enjoyed meeting these folks and seeing the passion and talent they bring to every performance, be sure to catch their upcoming projects, and get out there and support live theatre and music as much as you can!

Check out our list of local theatre companies out there making the magic, and keep an eye on our blog, website, Facebook, and Instagram pages to keep up with all of our News and Notes (which, coincidentally, is the name of our email newsletter—- you can sign up to receive that here!)

We’ll see you at the theatre!

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLand on TMT

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, now extended through March 4th!

Today we asked: How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?

Dwight Chiles, Actor

I love working with Magnetic. Creating a brand new show is so exciting, especially when it's a rock opera! Getting to work with the band to make sure the music fits our voices the best way it can. This show is making everyone use their brains differently and that is so exciting.

Jason Phillips, Director

There is a real sense of community and collaboration at Magnetic. No matter what part of the theatrical process you are part of, you have the opportunity to voice your ideas and be heard.

Quinn Terry, Actor

This is the smallest space I've performed in, which has made me a bit nervous. It's so different having such an intimate space to perform, and I look forward to the challenge of working the audience. Most importantly, this cast the most welcoming and supportive cast I've ever been a part of. I am grateful to have met new people and gotten to work with folks I've known for a while. It's been an absolute dream to be a part of this production and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

Magnetic is consistently professional and communicative. Profit-sharing is an awesome model to value everyone's work. It's great!

Will Miller, Musician, Smooth Goose

No sheet music!

Tiffanie Boone, Actor

The audition/callback process was the most fun I have ever had at an audition, seriously. We sang, we danced, we laughed and just had a blast letting loose.

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

They are interested in producing my work!

Oh, Zach, you guys have made such a fun show and such fantastic tunes, we’d be fools not to want to produce HappyLand!

And from our perspective, what makes The Magnetic Theatre different from other theatres is the utterly delightful folks who come to play here. It’s the HappyLanders rocking the stage right now. It’s the brave playwrights and actors waiting in the wings to tell important stories, to entertain, to engage, and to enlighten. It’s the enthusiastic audiences who take a chance on every single premiere that graces our stage. It’s an amazing group of artists, patrons, friends, and family who share time and resources, open minds, and open hearts, all in the interest of bringing art to life. How cool is that?

Magnetic Personalities: Happy-Lines

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, now extended through March 4th!

Today we asked the ensemble: What's your favorite line in the show? Why?

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

At this moment I have to go with the Protagonist's line: "I'm gonna save you, Rhonda!"

Within the context of that song, it's just awesome to see their unwavering and singular motivation to keep pushing.

Morgan Miller, Actor

“Rhonda, get up in my Honda, Girl”

I mean, come on!

Tiffanie Boone, Actor

“Worm!”

You’ll have to see the show to find out.

Bill Chameides, Actor

"Your little mind is about to be blown."

Dwight Chiles, Actor

It's kinda long...

“I hope all my friends remember me
In the way that we used to be
We were careless and running free
But those were simpler times.”

This line just hits different. There is so much space in the lyrics during this song so when the lyrics are sung you have the time to think about those "simpler times".

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

“The engines sound like lightning”

Paula O’Brien, Actor

“For those of y’all sitting with your phone in your hand put that shit away, pull it out later, and post hashtag Happyland!”

I mean come on, it’s perfect!

Will Miller, Musician

"Where did these humans get a spaceship?"

Sharvis Smith, Actor

“Rhonda get up in my Honda!!”

Quinn Terry, Actor

Knife Guy's entire bit is absolutely phenomenal, so I have to include that! However, my favorite line is just: "fighting in a wormhole," because it's truly the most fun I've ever had performing a song.

Jamie Knox, Choreographer

“Why are you still holding that knife?”

Jason Phillips, Director

“I hope all my friends remember me
In the way that we used to be
We were careless and running free
But those were simpler times”

Romance! Heroism! Space battles! Knife guys! Fourth wall breaks!
Sounds like quite an adventure!

Get your tickets and “come to HappyLand—- Where everything’s oh, so nice!”

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLand talks Musical Masterpieces

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, just extended through March 4th!

This time, we asked: What's your favorite stage (or film) musical, or rock opera, or concept album?

Gina McDaniel, Actor

I love the band Lord Huron because each of their albums tell a story, but in a way that leaves more room for interpretation than a traditional concept album does. My favorite of their albums is Strange Trails.

Morgan Miller, Actor

Waitress The Musical.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor

Rocky Horror Picture Show. Let your freak flag fly, friends!

Elise Harvey, Actor

Chicago! All the way! The cell block tango is my jam.

Will Miller, Musician, Smooth Goose

Book of Mormon.

Jason Phillips, Director

That is a tough one, but I’ll go with Sweeney Todd. It is dark and horrific, but has fun doing it. Plus I love Sondheim’s wordplay.

Quinn Terry, Actor

This changes pretty much every week. Right now, I'm really enjoying the concept album for the Troy Saga of Epic: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. It's a project to turn the Odyssey into a musical and his songs are so compelling. I can't wait for the whole project to be complete.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

I mean. It’s gotta be RENT right? That was the ONE! I was OBSESSED!!!

Paula O’Brien, Actor

Jesus Christ Superstar.

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Sneaky Goose

The Point by Harry Nilsson.

What a great variety of styles and themes in these selections! One thing’s for sure, these folks know good music.

Come check ‘em out on stage in HappyLand and see what they each bring, with their unique passions and interests!

Magnetic Personalities: A Character Query

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, February 10th - 25th!

Today we’re wondering: Do you relate to your character or to any character in the show? How similar or different are you?

Elise Harvey, Actor

There are definitely days when I feel like I am the only person who seems distraught by and discontent with the world. I think I must be crazy since ‘everyone else’ seems to normalize and accept these explicit and implicit rules, norms, and expectations. However, my character is quite different as she is the one who feels like the only happy person amongst unhappy folks! Oh, Rhonda, you are an enigma to me…

Bill Chameides, Actor

Protagonist: lost, isolated, alienated but ready, at least in their dreams, to jump into the breach to save the world... and always dozing off at the wrong time. Yea, that's me.

Tippin, Set Designer

I relate most to one of Bill’s most spectacular characters. But in the interest of No Spoilers, ain’t gonna tell ya who or why.

Come see the show! ;P

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

Knifeguy is a complex individual. He just wants to help, but doesn't realize how close danger is at his very fingertips. A younger version of me relates to the reckless nature of Knifeguy's particular altruism.

Also the inner cynic in me feels in line with Sadland Tollbooth operator’s frank nature as well.

Jason Phillips, Director

Oddly I think I may be a little like Knifeguy. I try to be helpful and kind but my sarcastic tendencies and dry sense of humor often make people wonder if I’m sincere in my offers to help/befriend folks.

Quinn Terry, Actor

Knife Guy. I will not explain.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

I very much relate to my character. Sometimes I relate too much. It's easy to relate to the person who doesn’t feel like they "fit in" or doesn’t belong. Even the most confident people, I believe, can relate to that idea.

Will Miller, Musician, Smooth Goose

The protagonist, toxic positivity ain't my jam.

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

I’m a lot like the hipsters because everyone thinks they’re better than me.

Should we be worried that so many people relate to Knifeguy? Who IS this Knifeguy, and how on earth did he get the name?

You’ll just have to come see the show to find out. As Evan said, he’s a complex individual.

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLand Back Stories

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, February 10th - 25th!

Today we kept it simple: How did you get into theatre?

Bill Chameides, Actor

Growing up in NYC, my Dad ran a small theater group. My first theater experience: watching my father as Keller in All My Sons. I cried and theater has been in my blood ever since.

Morgan Miller, Actor

I went to a Magnet High School, where I “majored” in Theatre and was introduced to it as a career for the first time in my life, although I had always loved to sing.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor

3rd grade "All-Star Revue" in town I got cast as Peter Pan in "I Won't Grow Up" and I denied the role out of shyness. Been clamoring back into the spotlight since.

Jamie Knox, Choreographer

A traveling children's theatre held auditions in my home town and I got in.

Tiffanie Boone, Actor

I Watched a lot of musicals as a kid and in elementary school I saw my sister in South Pacific and thought “i wanna do that.”

Jason Phillips, Director

I loved the idea of being other people as a kid and whenever I had the chance to shed my shy side I would take a class or sign up for a talent show in school. I never really stopped.

Quinn Terry, Actor

My late grandmother signed me up for a summer theatre camp in Barnwell, South Carolina, near where I grew up. I was in third grade and absolutely terrified. I cried for weeks in terror as the camp approached. I had a small part, but something switched in me during that week. I was so excited to be able to be someone different on stage, and to work to improve for each show. I've been doing theatre ever since!

Dwight Chiles, Actor

My Dad introduced me to Musical Theatre via a DVD of Little Shop of Horrors and West Side Story and from then on...I was hooked.

Paula O’Brien, Actor

The nuns couldn’t put up with my brattiness any longer so they shoved me onto the school stage.

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Sneaky Goose

The back door.

Oh, sheesh. Someone left the back door propped again. Do you want sneaky geese? Because that’s how you get sneaky geese.

Excuse us while we shoo this thing back out— but stay tuned for more quirky Q&A with these HappyLand hooligans!

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLand on Love at First Sight

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, February 10th - 25th!

Today we thought we’d get in the holiday AND HappyLand spirit, so we asked: Have you ever experienced love at first sight?

Sharvis Smith, Actor

Yes....pineapple...best fruit ever!!

Will Miller, Musician, Smooth Goose

All the time in middle and high school, also when my wife walked up to me at a gig I was playing at the Biltmore Estate.

Gina McDaniel, Actor

Not exactly, but I have experienced a similar feeling. Four times upon meeting a person for the first time, I got the feeling that they would become a very important person in my life, and so far it's been right for every one of them. I ended up in love with three of them, and the fourth became one of my best friends.

Jason Phillips, Director

Love? Not so much. Unreasonable insane immediate attraction? You bet.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

I saw my fiancee walk into a restaurant and smile. I asked my friends to give me 5 minutes. 6+ years later...

Elise Harvey, Actor

I am pretty sure I experience love at first sight every time I see a baby cow. It’s just a thing. They are unbearably adorable to me.

Bill Chameides, Actor

Yes. It was a disaster and ended with a very broken heart.

Quinn Terry, Actor

Yes, but not in a romantic sense! I met one of my oldest friends, Haley, in eighth grade on the stairs during recess and knew we'd be absolute menaces for years to come. Thirteen years later and we're still those weird goth kids when we get together.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

Love at first sight! I don’t know... Maybe? If I have, one side of the party didn’t know about it so nothing ever came from it.

Jamie Knox, Choreographer

I definitely knew I wanted to keep looking at Zach Knox at first sight

Zach Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

The first time I saw the woman who I’m now married to I knew she would be a major part of my life. She was smirking at me from a corner of the theatre with her leg jauntily propped against the wall. I thought she’d either be my nemesis or lover for life. And I was right.

Ah, love! And/or attraction! And/or infatuation! And/or imminent doom!

Whatever the outcome, there’s no doubt some people, places, and things have a strong, inexplicable sway over our hearts… and other things… like our stomachs!

And speaking of food love, don’t forget to visit our delicious friends at Hole Doughnuts this weekend to share some love with a fresh-fried fundraiser! Hole is sharing 10% of all sales February 17th through 19th with The Magnetic Theatre! Grab a donut and donate!

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLanders talk SPACE TRAVEL

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.

See what these colorful creatives have to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, February 10th - 25th!

Today we asked: If you could have your very own spacecraft, what would it be like? The Enterprise? The TARDIS? The Death Star? The Millennium Falcon? Where would you visit first?

Paula O’Brien, Actor

The Tardis! Love all that extra room indoors. I’d be happy to just get from one side of the earth to the other in a flash and not have to go through immigration control or baggage claim.

Jason Phillips, Director

I think I’d want something spacious like the Enterprise. I think being out in the cosmos would make one feel small and alone so having a spacecraft that emulated home would be comforting. Where would I go? Hmmm…beyond this galaxy in search of other life.

Gina McDaniel, Actor

My spaceship would definitely be a TARDIS, I would love the ability to time travel and not having to worry about storage space! The first place I would visit is Neptune, it's always been my favorite planet in the solar system.

Zack Knox, Playwright, Musician, Smooth Goose

It would just be a convertible with a bubble on top like in Calvin and Hobbes. I would sell it to Elon Musk for 44 billion dollars and just stay here on earth because space is big and cold and all my stuff is here.

Quinn Terry, Actor

This is going to be so boring...but I am terrified of space and the idea of space travel. I'm a simple soul. I like Earth. I have literally evolved to live here. There's a reason we can't breathe under water or out in space! Stay outta the ocean, and stay away from the cosmos. It's ok to appreciate things from the safety of land.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

Totally piloting the Tardis...and because of the timey wimey space travel...gonna go see all the Opening Night Performances of my favorite shows.

Sharvis Smith, Actor

The Fermata...would go to see music things around the world for however long we wanted.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

Think much more capri sun commercial from the 90's meets classic Silver Surfer comics. Very mercurial goopy suit that allows me to slip thru the void like a cosmic whip crack. I'd head to the direct center of our sun. POOF!

Morgan Miller, Actor

My space ship would look like the Millennium Falcon but with puppies all over it and inside there is a special room full of puppies (well taken care of) that you can play with at anytime. I have no clue where I’d want to go, I struggle to pick a restaurant to eat at, much less a planet to visit- so maybe some light joy gliding?

Tiffanie Boone, Actor

My spacecraft would be giant versions of all my dogs strapped together but with compartments like a kangaroo, you know, for dog treats, and whatever else I need to stash on our space adventures.

We’re not sure about space ships made of dogs (or whether our dog-loving actors would team up for a celestial canine caravan), but we sure had fun imagining all the adventures we’d go on with this cast and crew. Everybody wave at Quinn and Zach when we blast off! And stay tuned for more fun Q&A with HappyLand!

Magnetic Personalities: HappyLand cast + crew talk work weirdness

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.

Today we asked: What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you while at work?

See what they had to say, then grab your tickets and come see them in HappyLand, February 10th - 25th!

Jason Phillips, Director

When I was just out of college I worked at a deli and did on foot deliveries in downtown Austin. One day I was trapped on an elevator for almost two hours with 3 office workers. By the end of the first hour they had started a bidding war for my lunch. This was also pre prevalent cell phone usage so my boss thought I’d just walked off the job.

Gina McDaniel, Actor

I used to work hotel front desk at a conference center, and there was a room behind the desk with a small hallway that guests couldn't see. I arrived for the evening shift one day and there were giant flowers made out of tubing and cardboard standing in the middle of the room, and the morning shift person said they were there when they arrived that morning. We never found out where the flowers came from, and they disappeared by my next shift.

Tippin, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

About a decade ago I was managing the picture framing department in a big box craft store, and I somehow got routed a phone call from a customer asking if we sold wooden paddles. They wanted a LOT of information about our wooden paddles. I’m pretty sure I heard heavy breathing. I still don’t know who it was or why one of my coworkers sent that call to me, but I’d like to thank them ‘cause it cracks me up to this day.

Elyse Harvey, Actor

I work as a part-time nanny for a couple different families which means weird/hilarious things happen constantly! The list is endless but as a most recent example, the other day, the toddler twins I watch suddenly felt a strong need to show tenderness to the stroller while on a walk. They showered it with several hugs, kisses, and gentle pats, and then continued on their walk. It was very sweet of course but also… weirdos. I love them.

Dwight Chiles, Actor

Weirdest thing at work... hmm... served brunch to a table full of NFL players. They each tipped 100 bucks to all of the servers in the restaraunt but I had no idea who it was. Lol. Still couldn't tell you who it was...

Sharvis Smith, Actor

Being asked if I was old enough to have a job.

Evan Eckstrom, Actor, Set Designer/Builder/Painter

A couple came to my coffee shop late 2019 for their anniversary lunch/dinner. They spent $75 on various lox bagels, muffins, and cookies. About 2 hours later, after having a truly joyous time at the front window, they tipped my coworker and I with a quarter ounce of pot and went on their way. I want to write their story sometime.

Paula O’Brien, Actor

A Tardis landed outside my window…

Curious what’s got Paula reminiscing about the Tardis? Wondering how all these folks (and the rest of the cast & crew) wound up working in theatre? Interested to find out what these triple threats rock out to when they’re not singin’ and dancin’ through HappyLand? Keep an eye out for more Q&A with these Magnetic Personalities, coming soon!