We sat down with YAA’s Production Manger Jackie Muska to hear about all that goes into putting on a production as big as TITANIC! Get tickets for this November 14, 7pm performance at The Music Center for Strathmore now.
1.) Tell us a bit about what makes this production unique and how you're making the magic come alive?
This production of Titanic is unique because we've commissioned expanded orchestrations of the music to include more instrumentalists than ever before! We've also had access to some amazing dramaturgy resources to give the actors historical context around these real people they're portraying. The stage management team is working hard behind the scenes to organize all the props and costumes so that the performers can have a seamless tech process when we move to Strathmore.
2.) What can audiences look forward to with this production?
Audiences can look forward to an expanded use of stage space by the actors on this show! We're really leaning into the size and scale of the ship by using all the balconies and aisles of the Strathore Hall.
3.) You've been with YAA for almost 10 years. What have you noticed about YAA's growth over the last years?
The first show I stage managed with YAA was Circle of Life: the Music of Tim Rice in Concert back in 2017! I've been stage managing our summer shows ever since then, and I joined full time during the school year in 2023. In these past few years, I've been so humbled with gratitude by the amount of growth we've been able to achieve as a result of our community's support of our mission and programming. Folks showing up to work with us, connect us to resources or mentors, and invest in our students have made a huge impact. Our new permanent rehearsal space is going to be a GAME CHANGER!!
4.) This performance is celebrating 30 years since TITANIC first took the Broadway stage. Why do you think this story lives on for so many audiences over time?
I think the story of Titanic continues to capture audiences over 100 years later because we as humans are inherently curious and ambitious to create, invent, and discover. The events and details around Titanic were so well-documented and emotionally described that with our 20/20 hindsight vision we feel like we have clear answers to point to and help us navigate the pitfalls of hubris as we push forward into the unknown.
Jackie’s script at rehearsal