By Hannah Citron
Campus News
The MainStage at the Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY, has seen a wonderful variety of touring shows this season, featuring SIX, Annie, and Beetlejuice throughout the first half of 2024. The national tour of Beetlejuice ran shows at Proctors Theater earlier this summer, and lived up to the rave reviews; Variety Magazine and public opinion both agree that Beetlejuice is “Screamingly good fun!”
This show is currently touring this Halloween season and into next year. Find it at a theater near you.
Though many professional actors perform shows in one, designated theater space (i.e. Richard Rogers Theater housing Hamilton), there is also high demand for touring companies. Especially since the build-up of ticket demand from the Covid lockdowns has crashed down on the entertainment market, tickets to any sort of event: sports, concerts, and theater productions, has led to massive inflation in ticket pricing, and more demand than can be met by stagnant venues. The on-the-go lifestyle of touring allows for a much larger audience to be able to experience the joy of live theater, at a lower cost and closer location, but also presents additional obstacles to the cast and crew.
Hillary Porter plays Miss Argentina in the National Tour of Beetlejuice, and has also performed in a Broadway production of A Bronx Tale, as well as two additional National Tours: Aladdin and Pretty Woman. She has experience in both a traditional and touring environment, and reflects on the pros and cons of varying theatrical lifestyles.
“Traveling takes an extra toll on the body, so we have to be really mindful in making sure that our bodies get the care they need in order to perform each night,” she said.
The strain of Beetlejuice’s large amount of high energy, and heavily choreographed dance numbers demand constant physical exertion. The constantly changing environment adds an additional mental strain. Porter says, “Each theater venue is different and the backstage areas are constantly changing, so it;s never a dull moment for the full company when figuring out the new layout of the theater each week!”
Though many performers on Broadway and starring in National Tour productions have their minds set on a theater career far before adolescence, Porter had a more non-traditional beginning. Throughout her adolescence, she maintained theater as a passionate hobby, before pursuing a degree in Communications at Clemson (then later, a minor in Theater). From there, she began to peruse her career options in the industry, starting with the role of Rumpleteazer in the National Tour of Cats. She adds that her non-traditional start has led to a mindset which allows her to balance the stresses of the theater environment. “…show business teaches you that you have to find moments … away from it, and to have hobbies and interests outside of your career. That way, instead of being a theater robot, you can be successful in being a complete and happy human, which, in turn, will make you a better artist.”
In a constantly evolving and demanding space, artistic careers demand personal devotion beyond that of many “traditional” careers. Porter’s philosophy allows her to separate herself from the demands of constant travel and training, in order to maintain the energy needed to perform at her best. The role of Miss Argentina is comically tragic, and appears for the first time in the Beetlejuice movie, directed by Tim Burton. Luckily for Porter, this role came with significant amounts of reference with which to characterize her Miss Argentina. “…I’ll familiarize myself with any source material, then try to watch or read the show and go from there. With Beetlejuice, I was already familiar with the movie… in her [Miss Argentina’s] song, she gives a lot of backstory for her character, so I have a lot to go off of when trying to understand who she is now and who she was before.”
Though the show has now ended its run at Proctors, the enthusiasm of the cast and audience alike lingers. Like many of the audience members and fans of Beetlejuice, Porter struggles to choose a favorite musical number. “There are seriously so many fun moments packed into one musical… my favorite number to perform (and watch!) is the number my character gets to sing during Act 2, “What I Know Now.” Though the song heavily features Miss Argentina, the ensemble is heavily involved in the upbeat production number. “It’s exciting as Miss Argentina to not only perform in the number, but to also interact with these characters and watch my fellow ensemble members have their moments as well.”
While the silly and satirical mood of the show is unforgettable, the story beneath is heartwarming and idealistic; a promise of multiple endings, multiple levels of life and death, and a warmth of respect for those who have passed on. “Beetlejuice is such an entertaining and hilarious musical… [and] there’s a touching story that develops between the laughter and the jokes. I hope the audience left with a smile on their face, and a newfound warmth in their hearts, unexpectedly brought to them by the story of a young girl and a demon.”
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