“How to Succeed” Actors Draw on Business Experience

 "NO COFFEE!!!"
Jared Kovach (far left) and Katie Walker (fifth from right) are World Wide Wicket workers experiencing caffeine withdrawal

"There are no small parts, only small actors.”  So said renowned theater director Constantin Stanislavski of the Moscow Art Theatre, meaning that all roles are important and must be performed well.  Stanislavski’s system or method requires actors to utilize their emotional memory, based on a recollection of past experiences and emotions.  So when it comes to playing in the Farmington Players production of the classic corporate comedy How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, it certainly helps that Jared Kovach and Katie Walker are experienced business workers.

Jared plays several parts, including vice president of advertising Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington (“B.B.D.O.”), a security guard, and an office worker in “Coffee Break.”  B.B.D.O is Jared’s primary role:  his initials are an acronym for a prominent New York advertising agency.  Jared describes B.B.D.O. as “your typically Ivy Leaguer.  He’s a little full of himself and kind of pretentious, but can also be down to earth.  He’s the ‘new kid on the block’ so he’s got to be tough from the get-go.”  Jared relates How to Succeed to his own experience climbing the corporate ladder:  “I started out working in a fast food restaurant in high school and took a job waiting tables in college, and in less than two years I was traveling around the country opening new restaurants and training managers on the day-to-day operations.”  Today, Jared is a catering sales manager for a luxury hotel in Rochester. His personal experiences have helped him prepare for his businessman role: “Working in a professional role has taught me proper posture, clear speaking and a lot of hard work.  B.B.O.D doesn’t mess around, and he’s straight to the point. Success is really what you make of it; you really can’t measure it.  It’s a personal goal that you make for yourself.”   

Similarly, Katie Walker knows her way around the office environment.  As an ensemble member, Katie plays a secretary that she has named Gladys, as well as a cleaning lady and various other chorus parts. Katie explains her connection to Gladys:  “Not only do I play a secretary on stage, I play one in real life too!  I work in a small office, but I can understand the sense of urgency one may have working in the hustle and bustle of a large corporate company.”  In addition to sharing a “desperate need for caffeinated beverages,” Katie draws on her secretarial experience to shape Gladys’ character:  “My daily responsibilities include answering multi-line phones, which I imagine a large corporation like World Wide Wickets would have many phone lines... I work in a doctor’s office and the majority of my responsibilities are assisting patients. I imagine my character Gladys is a very social person and is always happy to help the company's customers, and is an irreplaceable asset to her department head.”  Like a good multitasking secretary, in addition to her day job, Katie also aspires to become a hula hoop instructor and is busy planning her own wedding. 

Jared is also a relative newcomer to the Farmington Players, but his experience echoes the sentiments of many longtime Barn members: “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know different people and have had a lot of fun in the process. It truly is like a family.  I always feel like I’ve learned something after a show closes, either personally or in my acting career that helps me the next time around, and I look forward to many shows at the Barn.”

The Farmington Players production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is proudly sponsored by TruVista Wealth Advisors.  The show includes 13 performances from April 24 – May 16 and tickets are available online at farmingtonplayers.org or by emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or calling the Barn box office at 248-553-2955.