Main Stage Thespians: Suite Surrender

From show-stopping musicals to fast-paced comedies, the International Thespian Festival (ITF) Main Stage is home to all kinds of storytelling — and this year, Thespian Troupe 6460 from McKinney North High School is bringing the laughs with their production of Suite Surrender.

Set in a glamorous 1940s hotel, the play follows a pair of feuding movie stars, plenty of mistaken identities, and one very pampered dog in a whirlwind of classic farce. Behind all the slapstick and sparkle is a cast of students who’ve worked hard to bring the chaos to life. Ahead of their trip to ITF, Dramatics chatted with cast members Sophie Cook and Jacob Insalaco to learn more about their show and experiences as they gear up for the big stage.

Compared to performing at your school, what’s different about preparing for one of the largest stages in school theatre? How has your mindset shifted to help handle the added energy and scale?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: A major difference is the level of creativity you need to find ways to get ready. When preparing for our show, we had no dressing rooms, changing areas, vanities, and no real lighting. A large job for the technicians of this show, specifically the hair, makeup, and costume crew, was to makeshift an area for the actors to get ready. They had to set up craft tables with random prop mirrors, multiple lamps, and portable vanity mirrors to make this work, and they used about five different extension cords to hook everything up. We used UIL unit set trifolds to create changing areas for actors. Overall, this was a fun challenge, and I’ll always remember getting ready together listening to fun music fondly.

The large stage and even larger audience certainly added a lot of energy. Being a performer, I still get nervous when taking the stage, and this was no different, but as soon as I took my first step on the set and said my first line, I instantly felt the rush. It’s a beautiful feeling to be able to create art that makes people feel good, and this show gave us that.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: My mindset hasn’t changed. I’m doing a job I’ve perfected over the course of a year. When we performed at our school, we were ready for a Thespian audience. Some jokes and subtleties just hit better with Thespians in attendance.

What aspect of your show are you most proud of, and why?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: Everyone’s commitment to the characterization and the final outcome of the show. So many people put their heart and soul into these performances, and you can truly feel that. This aspect made this farce come to life and created a show that was a joy to perform.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: The physical comedy. This show is such a beautiful farce. From Dunlap running around the suite to Otis being thrown against the wall, this show is funny on every level.

Any memorable rehearsal moments or backstage traditions that stood out to you during the process of mounting the show?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: One memorable moment was a day our directors allowed us to run our rehearsal. We decided to do an “Italian speedrun” where our task was to go as fast as we could and as big and overdramatic as we could. We put on 1940s music in the background to set the mood and implemented our own laugh tracks to practice pausing for. Overall, this was such a fun and creative rehearsal where we were able to let loose. When you rehearse and perform a show so much, you run the risk of becoming over practiced or stale, but this allowed us to try new, wacky things, some of which we even added to the final product.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: Probably my favorite moment backstage was right before we went on at Grapevine. We went around in a circle and said our favorite line or moment from the show. To me, it’s just a way for the cast to bond over the moments we’ve created on stage. One time between shows at our school, Will (Mr. Pippet) put ‘Kung Fury’ on the projector screen in the auditorium. It was such a fun time, since a few cast and crew members joined in on the little watch party. (Good movie too, fun David Hasselhoff music video.)

Preparing a show is always a learning process. What’s been your biggest lesson throughout the process of prepping your show, applying for adjudication, and now being told you’re heading to ITF?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: Simply to have fun! Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from creating an amazing experience for yourself.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: A lesson I can carry over to most shows is that whatever your character is doing, it’s a tragedy. To the audience, when Dunlap’s running around the suite grabbing roses and photos, it’s funny. To Dunlap, this is the worst day of his life. Remaining serious in comedic moments can help the joke land better, since you and the audience may find it funny, but your character doesn’t.

What is your favorite moment in the show?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: The big fight scene at the end. The way all the actors had built suspense and tension really paid off, and when it finally got there, it was truly a spectacle for the audience. I also enjoyed being on stage together. All of the characters we’d created were so kooky that the interactions between them were so fun and silly.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: Probably when after Mr. Pippet screams and falls off the couch onto the ground. Will goes for it and you hear a loud thud as he hits the ground. My other favorite moment is around the end, when Otis shows back up with luggage cart since his actor, Seth, goes all the way with it and gets weak in the knees and knocks the cart over. That almost completely broke me on the Grapevine stage.

As a Thespian, what about this production makes you proud to share it with the ITF community? What do you hope the national audience remembers after the curtain falls in June?

Sophie Cook, Dora Del Rio: This show is all about the silliest aspects of life, and I want that to be a takeaway. Find the good parts in everything because, ultimately, that’s what you’ll want to remember.

Jacob Insalaco, Mr. Dunlap: I’m proud of the cast and the crew. From the moment we did a table read early in the year, I knew this show was special. I want people at ITF to remember the comedy, the characters, and of course, Drax (Mr. Boodles), the true star of the show. This is my favorite production I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m glad to share it with fellow Thespians.