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Feathers continued

Dik Kizer says that even though Bisbee is a smaller town, it's got a lot of the elements he needed for the production of Feathers.

Renée Doehrel

"There's a lot of talent here," he says. "You've got [Bisbee Rep Director] Rod Hutchinson, and from Rod you go to a lot of people who have been in and out of plays for the last eight years."

Then there's Frank Kimen the set director, who is creating some very complicated effects.

"The sets are such a ... living part of the show," says Dik. "They're going to move. We have a wagon that actually breaks apart to make different scenes."

Dik says, "We have a world class costume designer, Ann Von Kanel. And our choreographer Sam has been miraculous. I've been teaching people the songs - that's my strength, the songs. And she's teaching people how to move."

Dik expects Maitland Ward, the guy who wrote the score and produced the sound track, to be in town soon to become music director.

"Maitland's a rock and roller," says Kizer. He's played with Ozzie Ozborne and Sheena Easton and some people Dik mentions that we haven't heard of but probably should have.

And the cast? This is early days still, says Kizer, but many people are already solid in their parts.

Renée Doehrel

"David Germain plays Tsunka Witko. His son is also in the show. Carlie Ballard plays Black Shawl, Tsunka Witko's wife. And Judy Jolley Waterman is the Grandmother.

But there's still room in the lineup.

"We want to let people know that auditioning is an ongoing process. It will probably continue right up to opening night."

Forty performances are scheduled, Kizer says, from Labor Day to the end of the year. That means you have to have depth in the cast. People leave, people get sick. But the show must ... you know.

And what about Dik himself? Taking a part?

"Right now I feel like I'm Bordeaux. And I may end up opening the show as Bordeaux, " he says. "But that's not set in concrete."

So, what's up after Bisbee?

He wouldn't mind taking the show on the road, Dik says with the trace of a wistful, maybe even Bordeaux-like smile on his face.

"But I don't know," says Dik. "I really didn't expect to be here, so I really don't know what happens next.

"This is the exact opposite of putting on a show that's been done and is ready to go. There's going to be lots of surprises along the way. They call the process 'shaking down' the show. Some things are going to work and some things aren't.

"It's all like the opening lines of the show. A grandmother is talking about this magic doll. 'It's made of the most common little pieces. Pieces left behind. Rags and strings and buttons and feathers. But when they're all sewn together their real power comes.'

"And that's how this show has been put together."

Ted Weller

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The world premier of Feathers is scheduled for Labor Day at the Bisbee Rep. The show will run through the end of the year — ed.