Gillas, John 2011-06-27
John Gillas discusses five of the earliest productions he directed at Texas Tech University from 1971-1973
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: John Gillas
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 27, 2011
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Amy Mire
Length: 01:05:48
Abstract
The Play of Daniel (Nov. 1971), Background on how the play came about, Students in performance, G. W. Bailey, narrator, Ross Allen, No performing venue so used First Christian Church, Paul Cutter, Music Dept., Worked with Theatre Dept. – Troy West did costumes, Music arrangement, Cast, Bonnie Victor, Edward Quillin, 1st studio superstar for Gillas, awards he won and placement, now minister in Plainview, Tim King, Ben King, Reflections on the music, G. W. Bailey’s voice, Sold out performance, Worry by some church members about the use of the church altar, Soldiers’ rushing down aisles startling audience, Rehearsals, Cast again, Mary Pendleton, Richard Privitt, Location of productions over time, Teaching spaces at Texas Tech, Quonset huts, ROTC building, Choir room as main rehearsal space, X-92 housed costumes and served as rehearsal space, Campbell Johnson, Director of Music, La Traviata (1972), Background on how the play came about, Cast, Bonnie Victor, Edward Quillin, Set by Joseph Skorepa in Architecture, Used a dream setting in order to incorporate a large chorus, Costume and make up, Campbell Johnson, Paul Ellsworth, Cast again, Bonnie Victor, Lisa Cunningham, Tim King, Ed Quillin, (Clara) Sue Arnold, David Arnold, Anecdote about Gillas’s son singing music from La Traviata as a toddler, Sean’s career as in lighting, Carousel (1972), Background on how the play came about, Campbell Johnson found old traveling circus carousel, Used Municipal Coliseum – location issues, Cast, Mentions being a founding member of the Army Chorus, Peggy Dossett, student of old friend Dawin, Joe and Carol Faucett, Ed Quillin, Sherry White, Worked with Dance Department, Reg Grant from Theatre, Jana Bullard & Tim King married afterwards, Don Giovanni (1973), Background on how the play came about, Trap door challenge, Deciding which production to perform, Mentions loss of funding on La Perichole due to obscurity of play, Selection of who performed, Jeff Berta & Heidi Berta, Ed Quillin married Mary Dirks; later taught their daughter, Candy, Successful production, Role of a stage director and the personality required to do the job, Every show a gathering of people resources, The Most Happy Fella (1973), Background on how the play came about, Talked Campbell Johnson into doing it as both liked this play, Cast, Mimi Bruner, Paula Haines – referred to from old Army Chorus friend, Mary Dirks and Ed Quillin, Gillas children performing and their use of the “Gillas” name, 3 Italian cooks were scene stealers, David George Zepeda’s career, Importance of opera and the arts in Germany, Nationality and racial makeup of German opera companies
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