Acts and Answered; Carla Kaiser Kotrc

July 21, 10:13 AMDenver Theater ExaminerDeb Flomberg

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Theater Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Presenting: Carla Kaiser Kotrc

Acts and Answered: Carla Kaiser Kotrc

This week for Acts and Answered I spoke to Carla Kaiser Kotrc, a well known and well loved force in the Denver Theatre Community. Ask any actor, director, or stage manager in town if they know her, and they will tell you that they not only know her, but they love her. She has been in many of the wonderful shows by Performance Now, performed with other theatre companies all over town, and is even on the board of a new company "Evolution Theatre Company" - A new company that you are sure to hear more about. Carla also had some very interesting thoughts to share for this weeks Acts and Answered.  

Backstage with Carla and Bernie Cardell 

Q. What is your favorite theatre to visit as a patron and why? 
A. The Lakewood Cultural Center for it's sheer comfort.   Every seat is GREAT and the staff are sooo fantastic.  Curious Theatre for my mind ... I know that whatever I'll be experiencing there will make me think and reach into myself.  I love the work they do and admire them greatly. 

Q. What type of shows do you enjoy watching? 
A. I really love just about everything.  I ADORE the energy of musicals, and plays are always so peaceful to watch, almost no matter their content.  I think my favorite kind of theatre is classical ... mostly Shakespeare.  Perhaps that is because as an actor I have such passion for it.   Oooo one more passion ... improvisational theatre.  I was in an improv group in college named "Slow Children at Play" and it was DAMN hard.  I marvel at how quick their wits are ... just AMAZING.

Q. What makes a “good” show? 
A. Passionate artists.  From the talent on stage, to the technicians and designers backstage.  Everyone being prepared ... over prepared in fact.  Nothing is worse than going to a show with high expectations and finding they should have waited another couple of weeks to open. 

Q.What makes a “bad” show? 
A. A show that needs another couple of weeks of rehearsal and those people involved who are not emotionally invested in the project.
 

Carla wins the Oscar, ok - not yet - but soon!

Q. How can we get more people excited about live, local theatre?  
A. This community has so much amazing talent, and the level of professional productions is inspiring and awing.  One can attend an enriching, witty, powerful show almost any night of the week.  So that being said, I am not certain the answer to this question.  I am on the Board of Directors of a new theatre company, Evolution Theatre Company, and I feel certain we'd love to know the answer to this question as we begin our journey.  I know for so many people right now, ticket price is an issue.  With the economy the way it is right now, people can't afford to go.  AND advertising.  Companies have to advertise.  They can't relay only on the possible reviews they get in the papers and other publications.  BUT they can't afford to do so.  Unless they raise ticket prices ... OOH a vicious circle. 

Q. What is your favorite play or musical?  
A. That is so very difficult to choose, I simply don't think I can.   Can you? 

Q. What does the average theatre patron not know about live theatre? 
A.  Perhaps, the cost of putting together a show and the months of preparation a production team puts into a show before they even have auditions.  It's mind-blowing.  OR the hours of research and work an actor has to do to prepare for a role, other than at rehearsal of course.   Finally, I don't think the audience is aware how much their active listening, laughter, etc. is essential to the overall performance of an actor.  We have to bring energy with us to the role no matter how large or responsive an audience.  However, if only the audience knew that their active participation, allows everyone to enjoy it so much more.  We really feed of their energy.

Q. What have been your favorite roles?
A. Holy cow ... well ... Titania & Snug the Joiner in A Midsummer Night's Dream, (I've done that show four times and so I get to play more than one role.  Ummmm, Witch in Macbeth, Soothsayer in Julius Caesar, Emilia in Othello, Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Abigail Adams in 1776, Blitzen in Eight Reindeer Monologues, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Bea Woodnick in Food Chain, Queen Aggravain in Once Upon A Mattress, Vicki in The Last Session ... oh my goodness, ask an actress a simple question and you'll be there all day!  I have so many I adore, and in fact each role I've had the honor to play has brought so much to who I am today.  I know that sounds so corney and fake ... but it is so true for me.

Q. Where can we see you next? 
A. I have the extreme honor of portraying Ida Straus in Titanic the Musical in August at the Lakewood Cultural Center.  She and her husband Isidor were the most amazing couple.  So in love after 40 years of marriage and so dedicated to each others happiness.  I am indeed fortunate to be a part of this amazing cast under the direction of Bryan Bell for Augustana Arts. 

Q. What’s one movie can you recite line for line? 
A. My husband and I are film fanatics so there are MANY that I know line for line ... but one of our favorites in Waiting for Guffman.  LOVE THAT MOVIE!  And pretty much an period romance ... Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma ... Ohhhh the list again ... I'll stop now and put you out of your misery!   Ooh speaking of Misery, I know all the lines to that one also!  hahahahahaaa