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kevin_standlee) wrote2023-08-20 09:58 pm
kevin_standlee) wrote2023-08-20 09:58 pm
Entry tags:
Thanks for Playing!
The reason I was down here in San Jose this weekend was to attend the final three performances of the 2023 production of Thanks for Playing the Game Show Show, the musical about the game show scandals of the 1950s and the rebirth of game shows in the 1960s. Long-time readers will remember me waxing lyrical (ahem) about the original production a decade ago at the RetroDome. Since then, the RetroDome moved to the 3Below Theatre in downtown San Jose and their theatrical productions are under the San Jose Playhouse name, but it's the same people. They reworked Game Show Show and remounted a production this summer. I was afraid I'd miss all of the shows because of the Winnipeg trip, but was able to come see their final three performances: two yesterday and one today. And today, the final performance, was going to be the day I was on stage.
While the way the show was advertised might have implied to some that if you were in the audience, you might be randomly picked as a contestant for one of the game shows happening on stage, that's not actually how it worked. You needed to volunteer to be a potential contestant, and you generally would know whether you would be a contestant when you took your seat in the audience. I'd volunteered and knew I was going to be in the final performance. I'd similarly been a contestant in one of the shows during the musical's first run, being a contestant on their Match Game-like show that happens in act 2.
By the way, this is one of the show's laminated posters. I was able to obtain one today because they aren't going to be needed anymore, today having been the final show.
I left early from the hotel for the light rail ride to downtown San Jose, not wanting a cancelled train to make me late. Nothing held me up, so I was there quite early. I checked in and learned when I would be called so I would be ready to be plucked from the audience. I then filled out my contestant name badge. (This photo is from later after I got back from the show and the tag is a bit worse for wear than it was when I was on stage.)
Scott Guggenheim originally conceived this production and is credited as the director. He, along with his wife Shannon (the female lead) and his brother Stephen (the male lead) are credited as co-producers. He spotted me hanging around in the lobby and we chatted for a while, it having been several years (pre-pandemic) since we last saw each other. I really like the Guggenheims; I also had a few brief words with Stephen after yesterday evening's show, but did not get to see Shannon because the casts of their productions do not come out and chat with people after shows because of COVID. I did ask Shannon's daughter Lily (a talented actress and singer in her own right, but working front-of-house for this show) to pass on my thanks to Shannon for bringing the show back. I obviously had to interact with Shannon and Stephen during the play, but that was in character and all business, and I was delighted to be part of it.
I took my seat in the audience, marked here in this photo by my tote bag. I did not realize this when I booked seat F11 (I thought the space in front of me was an aisle), but I swear that this must be the best seat in the whole darn theatre. At multiple times during the show, the characters come out on this T shaped ramp, and they're right in front of you (and above you). When I saw the show on Saturday afternoon, it was in D10 (where the woman in the white top is sitting in this photo), but last night and this afternoon's shows were here in F11. It couldn't possibly have been a better seat.
I did not take any pictures during the show (except a couple at the very end which I'll talk about in a minute), so I can't show you the set configuration during Act I when I was on stage.
Here's the set-up for my turn on stage: the sponsor of game show "The Secret Square" has ordered the producer/host of the show, Bill Todson (Stephen Guggenheim), to get rid of unattractive contestants and bring an attractive looking guy (that turns out to be me in this case) on the show and make sure he wins, in order to get better ratings and thus better sales for the sponsor's products. So at the right point in the action, associate producer Frankie Marks (Shannon Guggenheim), who has no idea of the nefarious goings on, comes out to where I was sitting and where I'd been spotlighted as the next new contestant. She asked quietly (they might have muted her mic; I don't know) if the step onto the runway was okay. It was. I'd already checked during the intermission of yesterday's show. So now I was on stage. The action proceeded with the leads turning me over to Jack Parker (Nicholas Tabora), the in-show director, who took me back stage to "prep" me.
Once back stage, he very briefly briefed me on what was to happen. I reassured him that I'd seen the production before so I had pretty good idea what was supposed to happen and how I was supposed to react. I also said, "I saw this show seven times during the first run," so he got the idea. He asked me, "Is back stage what you thought it would be like?" I told him that it was, and that I've been back stage at various theatrical-type productions before. (I was thinking of Worldcon major events.)
I wish there had been time to take a picture back stage, but there was only a couple of minutes while we waited for the intervening scene to play out, and then we re-entered for my "stage prep." They put me behind the contestant podium and Todson and Marks explained how we'd do some light banter during the actual show and suggested I say something. I'd already seen others semi-freeze up at this point, so I confidently looked toward the camera and said, "I'm Kevin Standlee, I'm 57 years old, and I live in Fernley, Nevada!" They praised me, and then a musical number ("I've Got a Secret") broke out around me.
As I'd been instructed and as I expected, I let them walk me through the number while they sang and I followed their lead. I also tried to give the right sort of reactions to they way they addressed me. The woman sitting next to me in the audience (who had seen many of the shows; her daughter was a member of the cast) told me that I did just fine.
The number ended, Frankie Marks exited, and Bill Todson moved in for the big moment.
He produced this envelope which I was to open.
This is what the audience was supposed to see as I slipped the papers out of the envelope.
This is what I saw on my side of the paper. The thing is, it's a good thing that I already knew what was coming, because there is no way that I could have read this, absorbed this, and done the right reactions while still listening to Todson. I simple reacted shocked to see "the answers," then smiled, nodded, shook hands on the deal with Todson, and he walked me back out the runway to my seat. At his query, I confirmed that the long step was okay, shook his hand again, and took my seat back in the audience.
By the way, rather than claim my "lovely parting gift," and with Scott Guggenheim's permission, I simply kept my "Confidential" folder. While they ordinarily might have wanted to re-use it for the next show, there was no point in this one, and I'd rather have the souvenir of my time as a would-be Charles Van Doren.
Because of how the show worked, I was never an actual contestant in that I never participated in either of the games that happened in the musical. The Big Scandal broke in the next scene, the original Secret Square went off the air as game shows perished in a cloud of scandal and the intermission happened. But that's okay. In fact it was more than okay.
While I didn't originally expect to be in the I've-Got-a-Secret position (I thought I was going to be in the Act II "New Secret Square" game, using Match Game mechanics, which I obviously know like the back of my hand), whoever decided to put me in this spot made the right decision. I knew what my role was and for having had no actual rehearsal other than thinking it through while sitting in the audience during Act I, I think I did pretty well. I just wish that I could see how I looked!
This being the final performance, the cast had an extended curtain call, where Shannon Guggenheim (at center, with hands outstretched) gave extra thanks to everyone involved in the production, including her husband Scott, who as I mentioned above originally conceived the production. Shannon said that Scott, "Knows more about game shows that anyone except maybe that guy!" as she pointed straight at me, which got another big laugh, including from me.
Click through for a few more photos, including one of the Act II set with nobody on it. This was the only time it was ever possible to get such a photo, as normally the curtains would have been closed.
Then it was time to go. After using the bathroom, though, my left leg (which continues to trouble me; I started chiropractic work on the pinched nerve last week and will resume treatment once I get home) cramped, and I had to hobble back into the lobby and sit for a few minutes to unkink it. I'm sure glad that did not happen while I was on stage! I waved goodbye for the final time and headed out.
I limped over to The City Fish a few blocks from 3Below and bought a lot bigger meal than I probably should have done, but I'd not eaten since breakfast and was very hungry. I was fortunate that an LRV was pulling up just as I got to the station, and about twenty minutes later, I was back at the Holiday Inn Express. I tore into my meal, then called Lisa to enthuse about the shows and to thank her for encouraging me to come and see them.
I had an absolutely wonderful time as I have always had at any of the 3Below/San Jose Playhouse/RetroDome productions. And I'm once again grateful to whoever decided to push me out of my comfort zone. I hope my contribution to the final performance looked as good to the audience as it felt for me. It was a blast!
While the way the show was advertised might have implied to some that if you were in the audience, you might be randomly picked as a contestant for one of the game shows happening on stage, that's not actually how it worked. You needed to volunteer to be a potential contestant, and you generally would know whether you would be a contestant when you took your seat in the audience. I'd volunteered and knew I was going to be in the final performance. I'd similarly been a contestant in one of the shows during the musical's first run, being a contestant on their Match Game-like show that happens in act 2.
By the way, this is one of the show's laminated posters. I was able to obtain one today because they aren't going to be needed anymore, today having been the final show.
I left early from the hotel for the light rail ride to downtown San Jose, not wanting a cancelled train to make me late. Nothing held me up, so I was there quite early. I checked in and learned when I would be called so I would be ready to be plucked from the audience. I then filled out my contestant name badge. (This photo is from later after I got back from the show and the tag is a bit worse for wear than it was when I was on stage.)
Scott Guggenheim originally conceived this production and is credited as the director. He, along with his wife Shannon (the female lead) and his brother Stephen (the male lead) are credited as co-producers. He spotted me hanging around in the lobby and we chatted for a while, it having been several years (pre-pandemic) since we last saw each other. I really like the Guggenheims; I also had a few brief words with Stephen after yesterday evening's show, but did not get to see Shannon because the casts of their productions do not come out and chat with people after shows because of COVID. I did ask Shannon's daughter Lily (a talented actress and singer in her own right, but working front-of-house for this show) to pass on my thanks to Shannon for bringing the show back. I obviously had to interact with Shannon and Stephen during the play, but that was in character and all business, and I was delighted to be part of it.
I took my seat in the audience, marked here in this photo by my tote bag. I did not realize this when I booked seat F11 (I thought the space in front of me was an aisle), but I swear that this must be the best seat in the whole darn theatre. At multiple times during the show, the characters come out on this T shaped ramp, and they're right in front of you (and above you). When I saw the show on Saturday afternoon, it was in D10 (where the woman in the white top is sitting in this photo), but last night and this afternoon's shows were here in F11. It couldn't possibly have been a better seat.
I did not take any pictures during the show (except a couple at the very end which I'll talk about in a minute), so I can't show you the set configuration during Act I when I was on stage.
Here's the set-up for my turn on stage: the sponsor of game show "The Secret Square" has ordered the producer/host of the show, Bill Todson (Stephen Guggenheim), to get rid of unattractive contestants and bring an attractive looking guy (that turns out to be me in this case) on the show and make sure he wins, in order to get better ratings and thus better sales for the sponsor's products. So at the right point in the action, associate producer Frankie Marks (Shannon Guggenheim), who has no idea of the nefarious goings on, comes out to where I was sitting and where I'd been spotlighted as the next new contestant. She asked quietly (they might have muted her mic; I don't know) if the step onto the runway was okay. It was. I'd already checked during the intermission of yesterday's show. So now I was on stage. The action proceeded with the leads turning me over to Jack Parker (Nicholas Tabora), the in-show director, who took me back stage to "prep" me.
Once back stage, he very briefly briefed me on what was to happen. I reassured him that I'd seen the production before so I had pretty good idea what was supposed to happen and how I was supposed to react. I also said, "I saw this show seven times during the first run," so he got the idea. He asked me, "Is back stage what you thought it would be like?" I told him that it was, and that I've been back stage at various theatrical-type productions before. (I was thinking of Worldcon major events.)
I wish there had been time to take a picture back stage, but there was only a couple of minutes while we waited for the intervening scene to play out, and then we re-entered for my "stage prep." They put me behind the contestant podium and Todson and Marks explained how we'd do some light banter during the actual show and suggested I say something. I'd already seen others semi-freeze up at this point, so I confidently looked toward the camera and said, "I'm Kevin Standlee, I'm 57 years old, and I live in Fernley, Nevada!" They praised me, and then a musical number ("I've Got a Secret") broke out around me.
As I'd been instructed and as I expected, I let them walk me through the number while they sang and I followed their lead. I also tried to give the right sort of reactions to they way they addressed me. The woman sitting next to me in the audience (who had seen many of the shows; her daughter was a member of the cast) told me that I did just fine.
The number ended, Frankie Marks exited, and Bill Todson moved in for the big moment.
He produced this envelope which I was to open.
This is what the audience was supposed to see as I slipped the papers out of the envelope.
This is what I saw on my side of the paper. The thing is, it's a good thing that I already knew what was coming, because there is no way that I could have read this, absorbed this, and done the right reactions while still listening to Todson. I simple reacted shocked to see "the answers," then smiled, nodded, shook hands on the deal with Todson, and he walked me back out the runway to my seat. At his query, I confirmed that the long step was okay, shook his hand again, and took my seat back in the audience.
By the way, rather than claim my "lovely parting gift," and with Scott Guggenheim's permission, I simply kept my "Confidential" folder. While they ordinarily might have wanted to re-use it for the next show, there was no point in this one, and I'd rather have the souvenir of my time as a would-be Charles Van Doren.
Because of how the show worked, I was never an actual contestant in that I never participated in either of the games that happened in the musical. The Big Scandal broke in the next scene, the original Secret Square went off the air as game shows perished in a cloud of scandal and the intermission happened. But that's okay. In fact it was more than okay.
While I didn't originally expect to be in the I've-Got-a-Secret position (I thought I was going to be in the Act II "New Secret Square" game, using Match Game mechanics, which I obviously know like the back of my hand), whoever decided to put me in this spot made the right decision. I knew what my role was and for having had no actual rehearsal other than thinking it through while sitting in the audience during Act I, I think I did pretty well. I just wish that I could see how I looked!
This being the final performance, the cast had an extended curtain call, where Shannon Guggenheim (at center, with hands outstretched) gave extra thanks to everyone involved in the production, including her husband Scott, who as I mentioned above originally conceived the production. Shannon said that Scott, "Knows more about game shows that anyone except maybe that guy!" as she pointed straight at me, which got another big laugh, including from me.
Click through for a few more photos, including one of the Act II set with nobody on it. This was the only time it was ever possible to get such a photo, as normally the curtains would have been closed.
Then it was time to go. After using the bathroom, though, my left leg (which continues to trouble me; I started chiropractic work on the pinched nerve last week and will resume treatment once I get home) cramped, and I had to hobble back into the lobby and sit for a few minutes to unkink it. I'm sure glad that did not happen while I was on stage! I waved goodbye for the final time and headed out.
I limped over to The City Fish a few blocks from 3Below and bought a lot bigger meal than I probably should have done, but I'd not eaten since breakfast and was very hungry. I was fortunate that an LRV was pulling up just as I got to the station, and about twenty minutes later, I was back at the Holiday Inn Express. I tore into my meal, then called Lisa to enthuse about the shows and to thank her for encouraging me to come and see them.
I had an absolutely wonderful time as I have always had at any of the 3Below/San Jose Playhouse/RetroDome productions. And I'm once again grateful to whoever decided to push me out of my comfort zone. I hope my contribution to the final performance looked as good to the audience as it felt for me. It was a blast!