Let me start off by telling you a little about myself....
My name is Marissa Kurtzhals. I am 22 years old. I live in one of the best cities in the state of Michigan and I put most of my energy into EMU Theatre. I have actively participated in the theatre program (acting, crews, classes, student organizations, etc.) since I was a freshman, but it wasn't until Fall 2011 that I joined the marketing team as the Social Media Specialist.
I am a fourth year Arts Management student with minors in Theatre Communications and Marketing. I began my studies as an Accounting major and a Theatre minor until my wise pal, Charles Jabour, suggested I take a gander at EMU's Arts Management program. I was sold pretty quickly. I swiftly changed my major. And it has (literally) been the best decision I have (ever) made. I could walk you through every single amazing experience my studies have granted me like...
Attending the National Arts Marketing Project Conference...
...meeting my professional soul-mate and kick-ass designer, Danelle Cheney...
...or interning at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (more fondly known as, MASS MoCA)...
....but let's just stick to one thing at a time (you can check out my resume on my LinkedIn Profile).
In my earlier days at EMU Theatre, Jabour directed a small production of The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl. I immediately fell in love with the juicy yet straightforward dialogue that Ruhl paints for actors, viewers, and readers. I was cast as Lane and was forever hooked as one of Ruhl's avid cult followers.
Shortly after, my strict yet dedicated high-school theatre director suggested I read Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone. He lent me his personal copy and I was immediately intrigued by simply reading the reviews listed in the index...
I also took note to the fact that Mary-Louise Parker starred in the New York Premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, directed by Anne Bogart (that is Thespian Gold, people).
Within 60 minutes I completed reading the script. Chills ran through my core and I started crying as I read the final stage direction. The tears were partly caused by the story itself and partly because I simply wanted more of the script. I had never encountered a work of art that encompassed so many of my interests: mortality, communication, contemporary art, theatre, romance, tragedy, comedy, irony, dark humor, action, symbolism, subtleties, and profound themes translatable to every human being.I wanted to work on this show, someday on some level.
I returned the book to my teacher. From time-to-time I'd drop the title, Dead Man's Cell Phone, in philosophical conversations about theatre or technological communication, but for the most part - I put the show in the back of my mind. One lonely day in Massachusetts, I called a friend from EMU Theatre. He then revealed that Pirooz Aghssa had announced he would be directing Dead Man's Cell Phone at EMU Theatre.
...SAY AGAIN???
That night I hopped on Amazon.com and bought a $7 used copy of the script and cracked open my collection of Sarah Ruhl scripts.
"I'm going to be a part of this show," I thought. "I don't know how, exactly, but I need to be a part of this."
Dead Man's Cell Phone no longer lived in the back of my mind. I analyzed every female character, mentally preparing myself for anything auditions would throw my way. Around the same time is when I was offered the marketing position at EMU Theatre. (Let's pause for a second and so I can tell you that I actually get some of my kicks from marketing...it gets me all giddy.)
The first semester working for EMU Theatre was smashing success. I was sent to the NAMP Conference, EMU Theatre's social media numbers were up unlike ever before, I have been blessed with life-changing mentors, and my co-worker, Emily Clarkson, and I basically get paid to have fun and tell people to come watch our friends perform. (Check out our Inside EMU Actor's Studio project!)
ANYHOW! November rolled around the corner, Dead Man's Cell Phone auditions were straight ahead, I picked out my audition monologue, entertained the idea of skipping auditions to spare myself the grief of not being cast, decided to do it anyway, auditioned, and was cast!
(only Parks & Rec fans will find this funny, and I'm okay with that)
So you know what THAT means? That means I am working on the show in every possible way I could have ever wanted. I'm writing press releases as I memorize lines. I'm hanging posters as I exercise my voice. I ask people with smart phones to Tweet photos of the fight scene (THAT I'M IN!).
On Monday (Jan. 23), we begin our last week of rehearsal before we move to tech-week. Promotional videos, blogs, and tweets are being produced and I'm currently pushing an effort to increase student attendance called "Student Night". The idea is to add an extra performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone that will take place at 10pm and student tickets are Two-For-$Ten. (I'll report the results if the idea goes through!)
Dead Man's Cell Phone is a dark romantic comedy about a woman named Jean who unknowingly answers the cell phone of a dead stranger. She continues to create elaborate "confabulations" to make up for her self-imposed insensitivity as she explores the molecular afterthoughts of a man's life and his secrets within his cell phone. It has been a joy to create this character and we can't wait to show everyone how much we love this show.
(Tweet Pic of rehearsals. #DeadMansCellPhone Act One, Scene One.)
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