Salida Theater Project presents Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, 2007
An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough of it. And a dead man-with a lot of loose ends. So begins “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”.
According to playwright Sarah Ruhl, “This is a laugh-out-loud zany dark comedy that explores how we remember the dead – and how that memorialization changes us. It is a woman’s journey to confront her presumptions about morality, redemption, and isolation in a technologically-obsessed society.
Greta Hoosten, SHS alum directs “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” for Salida Theater Project. Courtesy photo
Salida Theater Project Director Hooston was a Salida High School Drama Team student who also performed in Salida Shakespeare in the Park, went on to study theater at CU Boulder, worked with Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and is now back in Salida directing. She is one of 15 students that have been a part of a Salida Theater Project show and one of two directing.
“I would love the community to understand their support of the Drama Team is having a huge effect as former students come back and give back”, said Devon Jencks, Co-founding Artistic Director of Salida Theater Project.
School and the real world
In school, Hooston had a wide exposure to acting, directing, performance, and production, resulting in a BFA degree. This play is her first chance to put the director’s hat on for real.
“It’s very creative, you get to make all the decisions. There’s a lot that goes into it that I never would have expected. In school you have all the support from professors, students and a curriculum that tells you what do to, when, and how to do it. In real life you do it all yourself,” she said.
The Director’s take on “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”
“The first going I noticed when I opened up the script is that it’s written as poetry; it’s not written in blocks of text,” observed Hooston. There’s line breaks in interesting places. It’s common everyday speech, but it’s poetry at the same time.”
“Every word, every detail is significant, and has layers of meaning. Not only do the individual words mean so much, the story that happens between the lines is so profound.”
Asked about the particulars of this play, Hooston noted: “It poses a deep challenge but also is so rewarding to see this story unfold on the stage. We can’t plan for it when we’re just reading the script, but the story comes to life once we have the physical movement, the set pieces, etc.”
“Yes, [playwright] Ruhl offers notes and suggests things to do but there’s a lot that’s not there; you make the that decision yourself. Not every single movement is laid out. It’s super-fun to make these choices.”
Hooston urged people to experience the production for themselves. “Theater is important to not only watch but to create and we can’t create theater without amazing audiences coming out and discovering things about themselves.
“It’s about looking inward at how live performance makes you feel.”
Dead Man’s Cell Phone plays at A Church in Saida, May 2-4, 2024
Performance information
A Church: 7:00 p.m., Thursday May 2, Friday May 3, and Saturday May 4
Pay What You Can Night: 7:00 p.m. (dress rehearsal) Wednesday May 1
$23 Tickets online and at the door.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show runs approximately 70 minutes and there will be an intermission. The venue, A Church, offers a cash donation bar with proceeds going to A Church.
Free parking is available on-street. Organizers advise it’s most appropriate for ages 15+. There are a few stairs and patrons might bring a layer as sometimes the space can run cool.
“We’ve got some real talent in this show. They have so much experience and insight and so much to give these characters,” said Hooston. The play stars Aggie Alvez, Salida Mayor Pro Tem (and Thespian) Justin Critelli, Devon Jencks, Joan Lobeck, Jan Justis, and Bill Rogers.
About Salida Theater Project
Salida Theater project is dedicated to the core values of community, relevance, accessibility, quality, sustainability, and inclusivity, expressed as:
“We will strive to collaborate with artists based locally and beyond to foster a safe artistic platform for growth, conversation, and innovation. Bringing quality, sustainable, and inspirational professional theatre to our community that celebrates the humanity in us all, through intentionally curated seasons, engaging educational programing, and hand-on community engagement.”
Featured image: Dead Man’s Cell Phone, first read-through with cast and Director Greta Hooston (at left, purple hoodie). Tina Gramman photo
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