A new theater troupe on the Westside has been through their own horror stories, looking to turn their tribulation into theater magic one show at a time.
Season 10 Stage Productions, born from a crew of production assistants on the 10th season of American Horror Story, continues its stage ventures over the next two weekends in Venice, performing Hedwig & the Angry Inch at the Electric Lodge. The third show of its inaugural season, Season 10 has the look of a seasoned crew already due to their relentless passion.
"I’ve been wanting to work in the theater professionally ever since I was a kid, and to be doing it with so many wonderfully talented people has been the absolute joy [of] my life," Hedwig Director Jack Boyle said. "I think it all comes down [to] we’re all perfectionists and we all really want this to be the best thing it can be, but we also know that we have some important stories to tell that we want to share with the world."
The group’s storytelling bonds were built on Story, a television sensation that continued production on the 10th season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Boyle said that while they "were low on the totem pole" on the production staff, they "shared this complete love and bond of creating artwork" that kept them going.
Hedwig producer Athena Saxon called the experience a "collective trauma," but ultimately a key learning experience.
"We worked really hard, and it [came from] a place of just coming together and really making the best out of a terrible situation and learning a lot," Saxon said. "And for some of us, it was their first opportunity to ever be in the industry … it was part of transition for us."
Now transitioning into making their own productions, Season 10 began with a sold-out run of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, followed by a limited engagement of Neil Simon’s California Suite. Looking for inspiration for the third show, Boyle and friend Tyler Marshall saw the original Hedwig, John Cameron Mitchell, on tour and knew what they would do next.
Marshall, playing the lead role in the musical dramedy about the female recording artist, called the show a "drag stand up act" that has been a dream role since seeing Mitchell perform on Broadway.
"[Hedwig] is so universal, and I always felt like not one type of person always has to play the role, [it] can be people of different shapes, creed, sizes, and I think all of us can see a little bit of ourselves in Hedwig … I’m honored that I get to put my own stamp on it," Marshall said.
Working at the Electric Lodge in the leadup to the shows, the group was complementary about its Venice abode, thrilled to be able to bring "Hedwig" to the Westside.
"It’s such a wonderful community, [it] almost reminds me of my high school theater in that there’s such a community of people of all different ages and different people from different backgrounds," Boyle said.
Performances at the Electric Lodge will take place at 8pm on Friday and Saturday, with a 3pm matinee Sunday show, then following the same schedule next weekend. For tickets, visit Eventbrite or follow Season 10 on Instagram.
