PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Arena Stage With Metamorphoses' Geoff PackardTony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's acclaimed production of Metamorphoses plays DC's Arena Stage 10 years after its Broadway premiere. Cast member Geoff Packard (Candide) shares a recent two-show day with Playbill.com.
By
Matthew Blank
March 18, 2013
This is also the first time Zimmerman has staged the work in the round, and a custom set includes the largest pool of water ever created for the production.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Arena Stage With Metamorphoses' Geoff Packard
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Arena Stage With Metamorphoses' Geoff Packard
Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's acclaimed production of Metamorphoses plays DC's Arena Stage 10 years after its Broadway premiere. Cast member Geoff Packard (Candide, Phantom of the Opera) shares a recent two-show day with Playbill.com. Read the Playbill.com story.
45 PHOTOS
Fueled and caffeinated, I am ready for a two-show day.
Geoff Packard
The lengthy commute from the provided apartment to the theater is daunting (note that Arena Stage is across the street in the background of the photo).
Geoff Packard
The closeness of the apartment building is evident in the reflection outside the theater.
Geoff Packard
The stage door awaits!
Geoff Packard
Signing in 45 minutes before curtain and I am STILL not there before the earliest bird—Raymond Fox is already here.
Before fight call I like to test the water to make sure it is good and hot before…
Geoff Packard
…the dunking by Chris Kipiniak begins! Here he has me in a headlock…
Geoff Packard
…and some synchronized swimming for good measure (not part of the fight call, but hey, we are already wet!)
Geoff Packard
Our legs are always a nice shade of pink afterwards, because the temperature is 103 degrees in the pool!
Geoff Packard
After fight call, it’s time to take out the contact lenses. I learned the hard way that they don’t stay in my eyes with all the water.
Geoff Packard
Tempe Thomas (Aphrodite) with a little morning tea.
Geoff Packard
The lovely greenroom has a beautiful Apple computer, which I go on every day before half-hour call to find a new picture for the desktop screen saver. Today’s Google search victim…
Geoff Packard
Doug Hara (Phaeton)! Mission accomplished: embarrassing photo found and posted!
Geoff Packard
Louise Lamson (Alcyon) hears the half-hour call and springs into action.
Geoff Packard
She heads to our resident chiropractor, Chris Kipiniak (Erysichthon)…Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Geoff Packard
A pre-show hair braid for Lauren Orkus (Eurydice) by the talented Vincent Hill.
Geoff Packard
The stunning Lisa Tejero (Therapist) applies her waterproof makeup.
Geoff Packard
Wardrobe crew member Gerri Ford enjoys a quick bite to eat before the show.
Geoff Packard
What the…? I don’t think the men’s dressing room was ready for a photo. Derek “the strangler” Hasenstab (Hermes), Doug “the accomplice” Hara (Phaeton) and Raymond “the smiler” Fox (Midas).
Geoff Packard
Some pre-show NPR listening (either Lehrer or Lopate) for the dressing room of Packard and Kipiniak…
Geoff Packard
…and a little iBook.
Geoff Packard
After 14 years with the show, you would think he would know his lines, but alas, a last minute brush up.
Geoff Packard
A pre-pool shave.
Geoff Packard
Ashleigh Lathrop (Myrrha) is surprised to see us!
Geoff Packard
A quick game to get the cast focused before the show (a tradition from the original Lookingglass Theatre Company production).
Geoff Packard
The boys are ready for the show.
Geoff Packard
And so are the girls!
Geoff Packard
Go get em, Doug!
Geoff Packard
Another story told! The show is over and the robes are on.
Geoff Packard
Now it’s time for Kiehl’s…
Geoff Packard
…a necessary goop for a non-itchy Metamorphoses run.
Geoff Packard
Look at all those wet costumes! Wardrobe supervisor Alice Hawfield works to quickly dry them before the next show tonight.
Geoff Packard
Time for a quick dinner at the neighborhood cast hang-out, Station 4.
Geoff Packard
Evidently Chris can’t wait to eat.
Geoff Packard
A satisfied bunch ready for round two.
Geoff Packard
The beautiful Arena Stage.
Geoff Packard
Coffee is necessary for round two.
Geoff Packard
A program to sign.
Geoff Packard
A resting Doug Hara (Phaeton) on the couch.
Geoff Packard
Our beloved stage manager, Cyd Cahill…she is the best!
Geoff Packard
Chris Kipiniak warming up for the show in a way only he knows how.
Geoff Packard
And now the cast is ready for the last show of the week!
Geoff Packard
The show is over and the crew is tidying up (pictured: Leigh Robinette, our stage management fellow).
Geoff Packard
The pool is now clean! Thanks to Sean Malarkey, one of the show’s carpenters.
Zimmerman originally created Metamorphoses with students at Northwestern University under the name Six Myths. Its first professional production was at Lookingglass in 1998, and what was originally a five-week run extended to nearly eight months, receiving vast critical acclaim and earning Jeff Awards for New Adaptation and Lighting Design. The production then toured to several regional theater companies and landed at New York's Second Stage Theatre in 2001, where Time magazine named it "Best Play of the Year" and Zimmerman received the Obie Award for Direction.
Metamorphoses opened on Broadway in 2002 at Circle in the Square Theatre and ran for nearly a year, earning Zimmerman the Tony Award for Best Direction. While in New York, Metamorphoses also won Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Music in a Play, as well as the Drama League Award for Best Play and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.
The Arena Stage cast features several actors who have been with Metamorphoses since its earliest stages. Chris Kipiniack (Cinyras) and Louise Lamson (Alcyon) first worked with Zimmerman on Metamorphoses at Northwestern and continued with it through its Broadway production. Raymond Fox (Midas), Doug Hara (Phaeton) and Lisa Tejero (Therapist) also reprise their roles from Chicago and Broadway. Joining them are Ashleigh Lathrop (Myrrha), Lauren Orkus (Eurydice) and Tempe Thomas (Aphrodite) from the recent Chicago production. Joining the cast in D.C. are Geoff Packard (playing Ceyx) and Derek Hasenstab (Hermes), who has been part of several Metamorphoses productions across the country. Performances continue through March 17.
