Play Marks Director's 100th Show

The saying goes that everything comes full circle, and Director Rex McGraw is proving that to be true.

The director of the upcoming production Light Up the Sky – which will play at the Marion Art Center this weekend and next – is celebrating a special milestone: his one hundredth production. And even more amazing is that his directorial debut in 1961 at Indiana University was none other than Light Up the Sky.

“I’m dedicating this to my best friend in life, Bill Harbin,” he said of a gentleman who was in his production 50 years ago. “He passed away two years ago.”

Mr. McGraw recalled his experience as a student directing the three-act play, which chronicles the back stage drama of New York theatre folk during the opening of their new play in Boston.

“The [Indiana University] faculty liked it so much they opened the season with it,” he remembered. Since then, he has led a successful career directing and performing in plays in a dozen states, and ended up retiring in Mattapoisett in 2002.

Decades later, Mr. McGraw said Light Up the Sky still brims with great humor and characters that stand the test of time. The play was written by Moss Hart, best known for his hit musical My Fair Lady, but also acclaimed for his comedies You Can’t Take It With You and The Man Who Came to Dinner.

“It’s not a farce, but a comedy. There is a lot of talk, but intelligent humorous talk and the characters are just terrific. It sort of makes fun of theater people but in a nice way,” Mr. McGraw said. In total, the cast includes 10 actors and actresses that often appear on stage at the same time.

“It’s a difficult play because all the scenes have six to eight people in them. It is very hard to learn that because it is not like two people having a conversation… And there are lengthy speeches,” he said. To nail down their parts, the cast has been hard at work rehearsing since September.

“They are working very hard. It’s a good group. They are congenial and work well together,” Mr. McGraw said.

“We appreciate the fact he is sharing his experience,” said David Horne, who plays an older playwright in the show, of Mr. McGraw. Mr. Horne agreed that the play is unique because there are many main characters, not just one or two people who take up the spotlight. “It is very much an ensemble show.”

Actor Jay Gould, who plays the Director in the play, said the cast is making strides, especially in developing their characters. “It’s fun, we all think it’s coming together,” he said.