When one has been within the theater sport so long as Judith Miller, there are a lot of touchstones that function a credit score to longevity. A kind of is going down at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley by means of the world premiere musical “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” directed by inventive director Giovanna Sardelli. Miller is making her TheatreWorks debut within the present, an adaptation of a play she’s finished twice earlier than, the primary time almost 40 years in the past.
The musical, tailored from Ed Graczyk’s 1976 play, follows the Disciples of James Dean, an all-female fan membership that meets at a neighborhood Texas drugstore to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Dean’s loss of life, the place they deeply study their very own lives.
Each of Miller’s earlier performances in Graczyk’s play had been with San Jose Stage Firm, first in 1986 when the corporate was in its infancy and housed in an previous auto physique store simply steps from its longtime current residence.
Thus far, her high-tech day job saved her from performing with TheatreWorks, the place daytime rehearsals are required. Her latest retirement freed her up throughout the day, and a longtime reference to TheatreWorks affiliate director of casting Jeffrey Lo finally led to a task within the musical adaptation, created by the trio of Ashley Robinson (e book), Dan Gillespie Sells (music) and Shakina (lyrics).
Miller, who performs Loretta, says the present resonates along with her extra now than she carried out within the unique model. She factors particularly to her being a breast most cancers survivor (within the play, the character Sissy survived the identical) and elevating a transgender baby.
“There’s a lot of depth to this play for me and the things these people are experiencing,” Miller says. “I grew up in Oklahoma, so I understand that sort of regional mentality. It’s not Texas, but it’s similar in terms of conservativeness, so there’s a lot more depth to my understanding, in addition to the fact that with age comes wisdom.”
That knowledge has been one thing Sardelli finds invaluable.
“Judith is one of those actors who always knows where to be onstage; her instincts are wonderful,” Sardelli says. “She knows the story she wants to tell, and knows how the character she is playing feels about every moment. There is a rich specificity and nuance to her work, and when you have someone onstage who is that present and grounded in their work, it helps everyone in the room.”
Lo reached an identical conclusion in his many collaborations with Miller.
“No matter the role, Judith brings a strength and gravitas to the stage, and you can’t help but lean in and watch her,” Lo stated. “In rehearsal, she is always a joy to have in the room. She leads by example with her hard work ethic and a warm smile.”
Miller is fast to make sure the reward of each Lo and Sardelli is warranted. It has been a few years since she’s labored at bigger theater firms. Now, Miller is taking full benefit of the chance.
“Many theaters I work in are minimally staffed, so it’s such a blessing for TheatreWorks to have this core of people there to support the production in every way possible,” she says.
Though that is her third go-around with the fabric, the fun of constructing a world premiere musical could be very a lot brand-new.
“It’s fascinating to be part of a new work like this, and even though I’ve done the play, it really is new material and a new character that I did not play, which is a different perspective of the story,” Miller stated. “I come into work every day feeling just so grateful to be here experiencing this kind of thing.”
“Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical” runs June 18-July 13 (opening night time June 21) on the Mountain View Heart for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Tickets are $34-$115 at theatreworks.org.
