Thank You, Charlene!
Our long-time Festival Producer, Charlene Donaghy has transitioned to a new role after a decade and a half of creative ideas and dedicated service. Festival Board President Patrick Falco and Curator David Kaplan agree: Charlene guided the festival from aspiration to accomplishment. Her passion and professionalism led her team by example. Remarked the duo, “We're happy for her that she's continues her passion to write plays. We're happy for the Festival she continues to offer us her guidance and advice.”
To relive some wonderful memories and to get a better understanding of just how much Charlene has meant to the Festival over the past fifteen or so years, we’re sharing this recent discussion with Charlene.
So, Charlene, how did you get involved with the Festival?
In 2007, I attended a playwrights’ workshop at Fine Arts Work Center…writing is my art…taught by Wendy Kesselman. And as fate would have it Wendy’s show, The Foggy Foggy Dew, was opening the Festival that year. When Wendy found out I was a production and stage manager, she asked if I would work on her show. I had a few options of shows to work on that summer, including a national tour, but the Festival sounded magical so I came to Provincetown. I expected it would be a one-time gig, but Jef Hall-Flavin called me a month or two later and asked if I would like to join the Festival as production manager. The chance to work adventurous theatre with other theatre nerds, to grow the Festival, and to be in Provincetown…it was a no-brainer. After that, my role expanded every year.
What do you remember most about that first year?
I distinctly remember Jef riding a bicycle down the Fisherman’s Wharf with lumber under his arm, throwing it down, and saying something like…can you make platforms? Our lighting design was literally a power strip for carpenter drop-lights we’d plug and unplug for the show! I started with production and over the years got involved working with just about every part of Festival, from ‘a’ to ‘v’ – artists to volunteers and everything in between. We all did a little of everything. I was so impressed by the teamwork and the “can-do” attitude of everyone. We became a family.
What was the most memorable production you were a part of?
Well, this may be a bit biased, but in 2012, we presented Gift of an Orange, which is one of the plays I wrote. It had premiered in Boston at New Urban Theater Laboratory and Jackie Davis, the artistic director, wrote a proposal to David Kaplan to bring it to the Festival. David called me up and said, “Why am I looking at a proposal for a play that you wrote and you didn’t bring it to me?” It is set in New Orleans, so we did it in a little secret garden, all outdoors, and then toured it to New Orleans with the original cast and team. It was so exciting to see it come to life at the Festival and many folks referred to it as the sleeper hit of the Festival!
And this past year, Demolition Downtown. After I saw it, I knew I wanted it to be the last show I saw as producing director because it took my breath away. It connected to both the past and the present and was produced with both beauty and surprise. I was so impacted by it; I thought every inch of it was brilliant.
Were there any other favorite moments?
How much time do you have? Seriously, there are so many with amazing people who made me a better artists and person. The best times were sharing stories and laughter. In 2008, the day Paul Newman died, we were having a reception for Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. I ended up alone in a back corner with Eli Wallach as he shared stories of his and Newman’s beginnings, together, in Hollywood. When Brian Dennehy was at the festival in 2016, we spent hours talking about Ireland and County Donegal where the Dennehys and Donaghys come from. Jef and I driving back from Boston at 2am singing John Denver the entire way. In the early years, walking to the backside of Fishermen’s Wharf at midnight to watch the ghost seagulls. Every year at Governor Karaoke our amazing staff singing Jolene, using Charlene, and all of us singing Africa. Hanging out on the festival central deck, eating, drinking, singing, and more. Sunsets at every bonfire and the one year we built at low tide…and then the tide came in, too funny! I could talk to you for a month and not get them all out, but they live with me and make me smile.
What was the biggest logistical challenge you faced as producing director?
I can think of two. The first was in 2013 when we did Kingdom of Earth which was the first year we brought the South African troupe, Abrahamse-Meyer, to Provincetown. Their visa processing got greatly delayed. We usually bring in groups from overseas the Sunday before Festival so they have time to get settled and adjust to the time differences, but in this case they didn’t arrive till Tuesday evening and their show opened on Thursday! We had to improvise with a lot of the logistics and set up, but with a lot of help from our dedicated staff we are able to get it completely on target and open on time with a great show.
The second was even earlier. In 2009 the Festival had 4 days of torrential rain. Our staff and volunteers looked like little drowned bunnies on their bicycles. At one point, one of our banners above Commercial Street came lose so Roger Lookingbill, who was a bear of a contractor, and I drove down Commercial Street to fix it. Roger parked his truck in the middle of Commercial, one of P’town’s finest held traffic, Roger put a ladder in his pick-up bed, climbed up to the banner while I held the ladder, and we fixed it. He jumped out of the truck and put his hands up to help me and I said, “No. I’m a big girl.” And without missing a beat Roger said, “Me too.” He was a gem and one of my first P’town friends of so many. Because of the weather, we had to figure out how to make shows happen, protect the equipment, calm producers and performers. And we had to figure out back-up plans and assure everyone that we actually had back-up plans…even as we were making the back-up plans! And we made it all happen!
The weather was a real challenge last year as well, wasn’t it?
It certainly was. We were prepared for rainfall, but I am not sure we were ready for how much water came up through the ground last year at some of our outdoor venues. It is a testament to the incredible work and the brilliant minds that are involved in the Festival. I remember sitting around with the production team at 1:00am brainstorming to figure out how to lessen the water issues. Those are the times I love, everyone sharing ideas and finishing each other’s sentences and solving problems. I know the rain was challenging but it gave me some of my best moments at the Festival.
How do you see your role in the Festival in the future?
The Festival is in an exciting time and good hands. There are smart, experienced people that will be handling the production end of things. Samantha Coolman and David Orlando are going to be managing the production and tech team. I have trusted them for years and I have a real calm about it. A lot of the non-production things I did will go to Adam Weinstock or Ken Abert. I am staying with Festival as producing consultant and I will be there to help, advise and bounce ideas off of. If anyone has a question, I am here to help all year, and I will attend Festival, see shows, catchup with friends and have a great time.
What else will Charlene will be up to in the coming months?
I am looking forward to spending more time with family, especially my dad who my sisters and I split time living with since my mom passed last year, and my husband Gary who has always been an integral part of me being with Festival. I’m spending a lot more time with my art. I’ve written a new play in the last three months. I’m working with a producer/director in Washington DC about her producing/directing several of my plays. I have a screenwriter interested in turning one of my stage plays into a screenplay. And I’m connecting with a composer on possibly putting together a full-length musical. And because the festival will always be a special place from my art, David Kaplan and I are talking about a possible project for 2023 or 2024.
I am also enjoying mentoring some incredible graduate students in writing for stage, screen, and fiction at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and the fun of guiding undergrad students in theatre appreciation, plus my work as a librarian.
So, family, creativity, and teaching are bringing a lot of joy and I will continue to be very busy!