“Another op’nin’, another show/In Philly, Boston or Baltimo’/A chance for stage folks to say hello/Another op’nin’ of another show” ~Cole Porter, “Kiss Me Kate”
Yes, it’s time for another show at one of my favorite theaters here in Philly. Quintessence Theatre is currently running the popular musical “Kiss Me Kate” now through Jan. 5. The company will be hosting a special Queer Affinity night on Jan. 2 with conversations and cocktails with members of the cast and crew after the show. The community guest for the evening will be The Attic Youth Center. I had a chance to speak with Quintessence Theatre co-founder Alex Burns, who directs this production, after a recent matinee. Some responses have been edited for length or clarity.
I understand that you grew up as a theater kid right in the shadow of the theater you now operate?
Yes, I was born in the Chestnut Hill Hospital and grew up on Devon Street, next to the Mt. Airy train station and about a half mile from the theater.
What was life like on Devon Street?
It kind of was the most perfect place to grow up. Living on Devon Street in the ’80s was great. Mt Airy has historically been celebrated for its diverse community. And diversity on many fronts, religion, race, class, etc. There was an idea that you could really have communities that embraced diversity in its most exciting sense.
So that was my childhood, and we were a very communal block. All the kids would stay out for as long as we possibly could together, playing in the street or making up fantasy games and things to do together. I would always drag all of my neighbors into doing plays with me on our front porch or in the basement of our house. It was magical, a really wonderful place to be a kid. I get kind of sad when I go around Mt. Airy today. You don’t see kids out in the street playing like we did. I think technology has changed that. But the spirit of that is present here!
What was the first show you remember wrangling your friends into doing?
I very famously would try to do Stephen Sondheim musicals with my friends. We did both “Into the Woods” and “Sweeney Todd” in full costume with a lot of ridiculous special effects created with household objects [laughing]. But we did everything and anything. Anytime we had a day off from school, like for Martin Luther King’s birthday, we’d do a play about the true meaning of the holiday! The fun of making theater with my fellow block mates was wonderful.
Uh, “Sweeney Todd” is a little dark. How old were you?
[Laughing] Well, yeah, I think I was 11 at the time. We would play the original cast recording on a little cassette tape in a boom box as we walked around awkwardly.
Who’s in the family and what do they do?
My mother was a director/costume designer in the theater when I was growing up so I actually grew up in a playpen at People’s Light & Theatre company in Malvern. Many of the actors that were part of that ensemble still claim that they changed my diapers and taught me how to talk. So I really was born into the world of the theater and never ever pictured a life outside of that.
My father worked in the world of stocks and commodities trading, which I think helped give me my business sense and got me excited about being an entrepreneur in the nonprofit cultural world. I have two sisters who live in the city of Philadelphia. One was a dancer most of her life, and now does life organization, helping organize people’s homes and the other sister does health, food and wellness — better eating, better life — kind of thing.
Was the Marie Kondo-type sister neat as a kid?
She was not! She was a very free-spirited artist but as her life transitioned, she became more interested in order.
And where were you in the order?
I was the oldest, so I was the caretaker. Both of my parents were very busy so when we were little, I was the one to take care of them. A lot of my childhood memories are of trying to help my mom, cooking food and keeping order. So I’ve always had a life of feeling responsible and running the show. I’ve always enjoyed that.
When I was in middle school, my father got a job in London so we lived there and that’s where my excitement for live theater became more of a discerned passion. I spent every free second I had there going to the theater and seeing some of the greatest British actors on stage. It was the heyday of British theater and I got to see people like Judi Dench and Derek Jacobi in Royal Shakespeare Company productions. My mother would make me write about each show — what worked, what didn’t. It was really impactful. I can’t quite imagine who I would be as a person or an artist if I hadn’t spent that time there.
Which show or performance really stood out?
Well, my mother let me see almost anything, but at that time, the European premiere of “Angels in America” was opening with the incredible Declan Donnellan directing so I told my mother I was going to see it and she was like, “Oh no you’re not. You’re 13, you’re not seeing that show.” [Laughing] So I lied and said I was going to see “Phantom of the Opera” and snuck down to the National Theatre and stood in line for day-of seat tickets. It was completely overwhelming at that point in my life, but I still remember so many moments from the show. It sent me on a journey of understanding the many ways you could tell a story on stage, and I got to direct the first part of the show in college.
Were you involved in other things outside of theater?
My father was a celebrated amateur athlete in high school and college and was a great basketball player. We were about the same size so there were a lot of expectations that I would be a similarly great athlete. I tried but it just was not for me. Photography was what I enjoyed most, I loved taking pictures of the world and printing them myself. I found a lot of solace in the darkroom after the chaos of being a teenager.
I had a darkroom in the basement too, so I understand. There’s something magical about seeing the photo slowly appearing on the blank paper. Which sister caused the most chaos?
My middle sister Kaki was always my best friend. We’ve traveled the world together and especially when we were younger, she had no fear. We’d walk into a situation and I’d be hanging back analyzing all the danger that might be lurking and she’d be the one to walk right in and meet whoever was there. I remember one time, there was this Olympic diving board and she just climbed all the way to the top and jumped off!
Yikes!
I know! I was horrified, but ultimately joined her and jumped off too. And that was our childhood together. She was always the one to crash through the wall, not always with good results, but it was amazing to be her partner in crime through all our adventures.
Fast forward, did you go to college?
I went to Northwestern, which at the time had the top non-conservatory theater program in the country and they also allowed undergrads to direct, which is something you usually only get to do in grad school. And a number of my directing idols had attended there, so I was hoping to find mentors there who would propel me into the world of professional/commercial theater. I was in Chicago for four years.
How did you handle the cold?
It was rough! Chicago is Miami Beach for about three weeks and the rest of the time, you’re wrapped up. But the city had a spectacular theater scene, maybe because of the cold, so it was a great place to learn and to see a lot of good theater.
Did you do much/any acting?
No, I got dragged into a few projects because I love to sing. I was in the premiere a cappella group, Melodious Thunk, so when people heard me sing, they’d try to rope me into musical theater projects.
What brought you back to the east coast?
In 2002, I was supposed to have been the assistant director of a new musical called, “The Visit” starring Chita Rivera. We were headed to Broadway when Sept. 11 happened. Broadway shut down. It was a non-traditional, edgy musical which wasn’t really wanted after 9/11. In 2003, I moved to New York and started freelancing, and the joke is that as soon as you get an apartment in New York, you start getting jobs everywhere but there. I started getting jobs doing predominantly Shakespeare in Dallas, Chicago, D.C. — you name it.
I led that nomadic life for about seven years when the idea for Quintessence Theatre came about. I was an artistic fellow at the Shakespeare Theatre in D.C. and we wanted to create a place that looked at classic theater from the perspective of my generation. I knew that the Sedgewick building was not being used, and I convinced the property owners that we could start a regional theater there. They said “go for it” and we’re currently celebrating our 15th year!
I love the building. It reminds me of that old grand dame who is not as spry as she once was. Her mascara is a little smudged, but she still has such dignity and character.
[Laughs] Yes, and the plays we do are such epic stories with often larger-than-life characters, so to bring people into what once was a movie palace already transports the audience. And then we get to take them further with the stories we tell.
And I’ll say your staff is wonderful, from the box office to the management to the concession stand and ushers. I’ve always found everyone so pleasant and effervescent. That usually comes from the top-down so kudos to you. And I love the fact that you can bring your food and drinks into the theater! You can kick back and have a good time — but quietly, folks…
Well, thank you.
“Kiss Me Kate” is getting great reviews. Tell me a little about the show.
The version that we’re doing is a revised version done most recently on Broadway. It’s a play within a play that really puts a focus on the joy and the zaniness and struggle of creating theater. It’s a celebration of the tenacity of the American spirit meeting classical actors trying to do Shakespeare and the absurdity of that idea. All of the characters are outsiders in a way and taking great risks to figure out who they are and how they fit in this world.
I was always curious about Cole Porter and his life, with what we now know about him; his journey as an artist and a queer person and how that affected the creation of these characters. To have so many free-spirited beings in a traditional musical is something avant garde, even today.
Jennie Eisenhower is one of the leads and she’s incredible. She was also a classmate of mine at Northwestern. She’s a seven-time Barrymore nominee, two-time winner and a true leading lady. It’s a gift to watch her take on the dual roles in this play. Her co-star is Renee McFillin and she’s also a total powerhouse.
What’s happening on Queer Affinity Night?
It’ll be a fun night. We usually concoct a cocktail that’s themed for the show we’re doing. There’ll be good music and some of the cast members and I will be there after the show. And possibly a sing-a-long to some of Cole Porter’s music. His songs are so queer and filled with double entendres. I love to sing them.
Speaking of queer, what was your biggest coming-out moment?
I was always very present in my sexuality, but probably when I read playwright Joe Orton’s diary entries, which were very graphic — well, pornographic — in front of the entire school at an assembly. I’d say that was the biggest declaration. I got in a lot of trouble for it! I also staged his play, “What the Butler Saw” as my senior project. But I had a girlfriend in high school and though I was intimate with some male friends, it wasn’t until college when I met my first real boyfriend that I was like, “Nope, I’m a gay man.”
An interesting thing: In college, I got hired to be an assistant director at Goodman Theatre in Chicago and I brought my then-boyfriend to an event there. The director and the artistic director pulled me aside and said, “Do you know how dangerous it is for your career if people perceive you as gay? You can NOT bring him to functions with you.” And they were both gay. They were trying to protect me but I brought him to the opening-night celebration anyway. And that was only about 20 years ago. Can you imagine?
It’s crazy how relatively rapidly things have changed. So what’s a favorite gift you’ve received?
For Christmas one year, my parents gave me a lighting panel, which allowed me to control all the lights for my plays that I would put on. I could dim the lights and change colors. It was cool.
If you could make a cameo appearance in a movie or play, which would you choose?
“All About Eve” with Bette Davis. It’s one of my absolute favorite films and I’d love to be in the room with any of the artists in that film.
I know that you’re newly married to actor, singer, dancer and previous Portrait profile Daniel Miller. What’s your favorite picture of the two of you?
The night he asked me to be his boyfriend, it was the night before Thanksgiving and we were in NYC. They have a tradition where all the balloons for the parade are being inflated and you can go see them up close, so I have an amazing picture that I love of us in front of Snoopy. And Pikachu, because that’s his favorite!
Have you ever asked anyone for an autograph?
I’ve asked a lot of people for their autographs. I have Patti LuPone’s autograph on my wall. These are the gayest answers ever!
Two favorite places to hang out in Philly?
Tavern on Camac for the show tunes, and I’ve always loved the Franklin Institute. I’ve gone there since I was a kid and I still think it’s one of the most magical places.
Something you say on repeat?
I don’t know where it comes from, but apparently I often respond to things with, “What a world…”
Quintessence Theatre Group presents “Kiss Me Kate” through Jan. 5 at The Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit quintessencetheatre.org/kissmekate.