Getting Into the ACT

One of northern New Jersey's newest amateur theater troupes, interACT Productions, is getting ready to stage its second production, the Maxwell Anderson play Bad Seed, at the Baird Center in South Orange. Opening night is Friday, December 10.

interACT Productions, launched in 2009, was formed by a group of theater buffs who were drawn together by a common desire for a "more inclusive" form of theater, according to company co-founder and South Orange resident Elena Svitavsky.

"Our mission is to bring communities and generations together through the arts," said Svitavsky. "Some of the existing theater troupes in the area can be kind of homogenous in terms of members' backgrounds and ages. interACT draws members from different towns, different backgrounds, and different ages by providing equal opportunities to experience the joy of the performing arts."

The original idea for interACT belonged to Bad Seed director Elizabeth Rogers, a former theater professional who worked on Off-Broadway, Broadway, and West End productions for 15 years (she now runs a technology training company as her "day job"). Rogers and Svitavsky first met several years ago, when both were taking voice classes. They both subsequently appeared in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at St. George's Church in Maplewood in early 2009.

"Elena and I talked a lot about how wonderful it was to be part of a multigenerational cast. It meant so much to the company to work with people of different ages and experiences, and it brought something to the piece that wouldn't have been there otherwise," said Rogers. "We were all learning from one another, not only about acting and music, but about life.

"So when I decided to start interACT, it was with the idea that we actively seek to involve people of all ages. We then took it one step further and became determined to involve people from different communities. We have people participating in Bad Seed from Union, West Orange, Cedar Grove, Manhattan, Queens, South Orange, Jersey City, and Maplewood—to name a few. And our youngest volunteer is 9, while our oldest—who happens to be my mother—is 80."

interACT's first production, Godspell, was mounted at St. George's Church in November 2009. Conforming to the company's multi-age philosophy, the show featured several family groups among the cast, including Svitavsky and her then-seven-year-old son Ben.

The new production, Bad Seed, is described by Svitavsky as a "psychological thriller" set in the 1950s; the central character is a little girl, Rhoda Penmark, who is not what she appears to be. The original 1954 play—one of the last by Anderson, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1933 for Both Your Houses—was based upon the William March novel of the same name. Its 1956 screen adaptation was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and earned four Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Actress for Nancy Kelly, who played Christine Penmark, Rhoda's mother.

In an interesting casting twist, the role of Rhoda will be shared by two young actresses: 13-year-old Brielle Raddi and 12-year-old Peyton Hassler. Accordingly, there are two versions of the Bad Seed poster, one featuring Raddi and one featuring Hassler.

"My original plan was to cast one girl in the role and have another girl understudy," said Rogers. "It's a really challenging role that requires a lot of work, and frankly we are producing it during flu season, so I had to cover my bases. After I saw Peyton and Brielle, I knew they could both play the role wonderfully, albeit quite differently. So, rather than casting a lead and an understudy, I split the role."

Raddi, a student at Memorial Middle School in Cedar Grove, is the veteran performer of the two Rhodas, having already appeared in numerous regional and Off-Broadway theater productions. She was nominated this year for a Perry Award from NJACT (the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters) for her role as the "Little Jesus Girl" in the Chatham Community Players' production of The Pillowman. She studies voice, theater, and dance at TADA! Youth Theater in New York City, where she is a principal ensemble member.

Hassler, who attends South Orange Middle School, participates in the musical theater classes and workshops run by Flying Ship Productions at the Baird Center. Her first role was in a school production of Annie; she also acted in elementary school variety shows. She describes herself as the "big character" of her family and says that when she was six years old she decided to be a comedian.

"Brielle has taught me a lot," said Hassler. "I take some of my cues from her. She's been a great help to me in learning this role." They run lines together during rehearsals at times when they're not needed by Rogers.

Svitavsky wants it to be known that although the central character of Bad Seed is a young girl, the production is not suitable for young children. "It's a dark story for mature audiences only," she says.

Bad Seed will run for eight performances at the Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater at the Baird Center. The premiere is on Friday, December 10 at 8 p.m. On Saturday, December 11, there will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and there will be one matinee performance on Sunday, December 12 at 2 p.m. This schedule will repeat for an additional four performances the following weekend, December 17-19.

For tickets and more information, visit www.interACTProductions.org.