Theater Spotlight of the Week: Jessica McCartney

by Shawn Parikh

This week, Enter Stage Left, a new theater company is debuting in our already saturated DFW theatre community. But last year, Upstart Productions showed how there is a place for new, inventive young companies to make a stellar impression on critics and audiences. This week, Enter Stage Left is marking its territory with a bold piece of theater, Closer, and who better to talk to than the Executive Director, Jessica McCartney. (Oh ya, this week the spotlight has been written out.)

How did you end up in the Dallas theater scene and what attracted you to start a new theater company?

I’ve worked in and around the Dallas theater scene for several years; I have been on the board of another non-profit theater company for nine years and after graduating from TWU decided to pursue producing work that aligns more with my artistic sensibilities. I have several great friends with whom I’ve been producing since 2005 and we decided that having our own company would be the best way to create the type of art we enjoy as well as being the best way to share that art with the community.

What place does Enter Stage Left fill in the DFW theatre community?

I think there’s room in the DFW theatre community for young companies producing shows that target the college- 30something generation. As a patron, I want to see shows that I relate to; there seems to be a misconception among young people that theater is something stuffy- I want to change that.

Why was Closer chosen as the first piece?

The reason we wanted to do a show like Closer is because of the way the subject matter resonates with the younger generation. It’s a show that’s highly marketable having been an Oscar-nominated film in 2004, and highly entertaining.

Closer is written in a style that uses honest, brutal language to express the characters emotions- they talk the way real people do about the subjects that real people talk about, sex, love, jealousy. This isn’t a warm & fuzzy show about the redeeming power of love; rather it’s an honest look at both the beautiful and cruel sides of relationships. One of our actors said that when the film came out on DVD he gave it to an ex-girlfriend and said, “This is our relationship.” That relatability is what makes this such a great show.

What do you want the audience to walk away with after seeing the show?

I want audience members, first and foremost, to be entertained; that is the goal of theater, we exist to entertain. Also, one of the great things about this show is the dialogue that it inspires- “Does he really love her? How can someone hurt someone else that way? Is honesty the most important thing?” These are all things we’ve discussed in rehearsal and I think this show can instigate the same type of discussion between audience members.

What is the future of the theater company and what can the audience expect to see?

My hope for Enter Stage Left, and for the emerging arts groups in DFW in general, is to cultivate a love for the arts in “Generation Y.” There are dozens of young playwrights creating plays that deal with the same issues that affect young people today, and I’d also like to produce classic works in a style that relates to modern. My goal is to make art that moves me and, in turn, art that moves my peers.