M*A*S*H actor has major role in school's drama
David Ogden Stiers hopes Arts and Communication Magnet Academy’s play connects with students
Actor David Ogden Stiers admits that his biggest challenge in directing young people is connecting on their level.
“Part of the difficulty is I’m not fluent in kid,” said Stiers, probably best known for his role as the pompous Major Charles Emerson Winchester III in the TV sitcom M*A*S*H. “I don’t speak kid.”
New to directing teens, Stiers called the challenge both a “delight and a frustration.”
That said, Stiers is the guest director for the Beaverton Arts and Communication Magnet Academy’s production of “The Day Billy Lived,” a production that delves into the sensitive topic of teen suicide.
Performances are set for tonight (Thursday), Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. along with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.
Getting someone of Stiers’ caliber to direct the play wasn’t a random occurrence.
“We’ve maintained a friendship since 1966,” said Joel Morello, Arts and Communication Magnet Academy theater director. “He directed the first show I was in.”
That play was “Tom Jones,” where Morello played the part of “The Highwayman.”
Fast forward to today.
Stiers ran “The Day Billy Lived” by Morello who gave the script to an ACMA counselor and administrators, “and they loved it.”
“I thought it was a great play,” said Morello who is in his first year heading up ACMA’s theater department.
Written by Canadian playwright Chris Craddock of Edmonton, Alberta, it is the first time “The Day Billy Lived” has been performed locally, said Morello.
“It addresses the issue of teen suicide in a way that’s non-confrontational but exceptionally meaningful,” said Morello, who previously spent six years at Beaverton High School. “It offsets the poignancy with humor.”
Stiers is the first to admit that Craddock – an award-winning playwright who has penned numerous other plays aimed at teens and social issues – doesn’t pull any punches with his subject matter.
“He does shock you,” said Stiers. “There are moments where people are going to clench.”
Stiers said he hopes that after audiences see the performance they start discussing the issue of teen suicide more openly.
If “The Day Billy Lived” proves a success, Stiers said he would like to take a stripped-down production of the 40-minute play, complete with as few as five actors, on the road, traveling to area high schools. After the play is over, Stiers would like to see students and counselors gather for a question and answer session about the production.
Staying busy
Although his stint on M*A*S*H might be his most visible role, Stiers has had a busy career since the comedy went off the air in September 1983.
He most recently finished a traveling theatrical production of “White Christmas” in St. Paul, Minn. He is the Rev. Gene Purdy in USA Network’s television series, “The Dead Zone” and played a country doctor in the Jim Carry drama “The Majestic.”
Among his younger fans, Stiers is best-known for his voices in Disney films including Cogsworth the clock in “Beauty and the Beast,” Dr. Jumba Jookiba in “Lilo & Stitch” and Sir John Ratcliffe in “Pocahontas.”
However, one of his great life-long loves has been music and in April he’ll be a guest conductor at the Newport Symphony.
Morello said Stiers possesses a tremendous “generous spirit” and students enjoy his directing as well.
“They’re very responsive to him,” he said.
Stiers said his one regret is that the play rehearsal period has been so short that, “I think I have been … rather more dictatorial than I like” with the students.
Still, Stiers has already talked about what he could do next with ACMA students “which for me speaks highly of these students,” said Morello.
For their part, the theater students say they’re glad to have someone like Stiers’ directing them
“He’s real open to suggestions and real supportive of us,” said Kaitie Poland, a junior who has two parts in the play.
She also thinks the play’s message dealing with teen suicide is an important one.
“It’s really nice to get it out in the open and discuss it so you can do something about it because it won’t go away,” said Poland.
Other students like Stiers’ directoral style as well.
“It’s a lot of fun to have him around because he’s got a lot of experience,” said Tariq Mitri, an ACMA eighth-grader.
Also, Stiers recently came to a weekend rehearsal armed with doughnuts and a couple of cakes, all to the delight of his young actors.