Stage Whisper
Whisper in the Wings Episode 571
(upbeat music) - Welcome back in everyone to a fabulous new Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper. We've got a fantastic show on deck for you today. And joining us to talk about this piece, we have the Playwright, Loubemir Shabeta. They're here to talk about their show, Coney Island Nursery Rime, which is playing July 12th through the 20th at the New Box Theater. And you can get your tickets and more information by visiting eventbright.com. As the press release and the website, everything says this is a really new play and we cannot wait to share it with you. So with that, let's go ahead and welcome on our guests, Loubemir, welcome into Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper. - Yeah, thanks so much for having me. It's such a pleasure to be here. - I'm so excited that you're here. I'm excited about this piece. I always love a good story involving Coney Island in any way. There's such a great rich history out there. So why don't we start though by first having you tell us a little bit about what Coney Island Nursery Rime is about? - Absolutely, yeah. So the show is a historical fiction and it takes place at like the turn of the century in the 1900s and it follows a gentleman by the name of Martin A. Cooney, who during that time had a sideshow at Coney Island where like Dreamland was before it burned down and she would put premature babies on display in glass incubators and people could go see them, guests who were visiting the island could go see the premature babies. They'd pay like a couple of times or whatever it was at the time and basically using those funds Martin Cooney was able to create an unofficial hospital at Coney Island. So during that period, you know, the eugenics movement was pretty prominent and the premature babies were not regarded as people basically. And so he almost single-handedly brought incubator technology into the United States. It's pretty, it's quite a fascinating story. So the play itself is sort of a fictionalized account of this, it follows a woman by the name of Beatrice Winthrop who's this sort of Connecticut aristocrat who has to take her prematurely born child to Cooney and it sort of kind of throws us into the situation itself in a way and what it would have been like to be in that time and having to deal with this sort of a situation and what it would have been like to have to go to Coney Island to save your child. Holy cow, holy cow, that was a twist I was not ready for. I was like, I didn't get some horrors out there, especially with sideshows and stuff. But the fact that you take something that's horrifying in that sense now, but then how it actually turned out to be a decent thing, I mean, that is incredible. - He saved like thousands of lives. It was unbelievable. I think the total number of people was like nearing 8,000 for truly people that would have died without his intervention. And they have this, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. There's this really, really adorable account of a lot of these people who had been premature babies at Cooney Island who were saved by Cooney. They kind of called themselves Cooney Babies and a year after year after they sort of grew up they would do these reunions, a sort of like, you know, college reunions or whatever class of this and that and all these people that Cooney saved would kind of reunite for a little while. I think some of them might actually still be out there funny enough. - What, that's amazing, wow. - Right? - What inspired you to pen this piece? - Yeah, so I've always been kind of interested in, you know, I think for a lot of us who are involved in the theater and in creative stuff. I've been interested in the history of shows and entertainment and all of that. And naturally, if you kind of follow that line, you'll eventually end up at Cooney Island. It's just a matter of time, you know, and sort of the American side show, which is just a fascinating, fascinating topic, at least to me, it's pretty wild. But during, you know, it was like during the course of the pandemic where I was sort of, for whatever reason, you know, we all had time on our hands and this was something I was reading about and I stumbled on this book by an absolutely fantastic author named Don Raffle and she wrote this book, it's called The Strange Case of Dr. Cooney. And it's really the only thing that has been written of substance about Martin Cooney and about this whole situation. And I remember reading that and I was floored. I was, the history of it is spectacular. I had time during the pandemic and it was just, that story sort of sat with me and during that time of, you know, with the vaccine being rolled out and the suspicions people, you know, had of it, it just seemed such, like such an analog to the story of Martin with such a suspicion of these incubators and all that. And I don't know, I just, I thought it would make a really wonderful play. So I started, you know, putting something together and a couple of years later, here we are with the finished piece. That is incredible. My goodness, I love, I love how you stumbled on this. So is this the world premiere of the piece coming up? - It is the world premiere of the piece. Yeah, I'm really grateful to be doing it here at the new box. It's crazy to have gone from, you know, I was living in New Hampshire for a time before moving to Brooklyn. And it's crazy having gone from the little seacoast of New Hampshire theaters that we kind of, we're doing readings at to suddenly we're here, you know, off, off Broadway. I don't know how many offs you want to add, but we're close enough for it to feel pretty incredible. So I'm just so grateful to be able to showcase it, the show in this way. And it's an amazing space. I'm lucky enough to be working with some really amazing actors and folks. I'm excited about it. It really feels like a huge thing. - No, that's so awesome. So building on that, you know, what has it been like developing this current iteration of your show? - Yeah, you know, that's a great question. It's been, you know, this is the first time I've done readings of this piece and we've sort of done like staged readings, you know, where we've done stuff at theaters and what have you. But this is the first time, you know, it's lights and costumes. And it's the full, you know, a fully produced thing. It's been, it's been a crazy experience experience. I think it's probably been the busiest I've ever been in my life. I feel with the amount of stuff that there is to think about as far as, you know, crafting the piece for the stage, making sure we have sort of the pictures of the scenes put together, making sure the staging is really strong and making sure we're kind of conveying what we want to convey. And again, I'm really lucky. I have a great team who's helping me out with this. And I really couldn't do it without them. So my, my eternal gratitude to the folks I've sort of met here in New York. But it's been, it's been, it's been quite the experience. It's been a learning experience and it's been an intense one. But I'm, I'm happy to be having it. - That is so wonderful to hear. So it was such a powerful historical figure, but such a, I think an unknown story as well. Is there a message or a thought you're hoping audiences take away from this piece? - Yeah, you know, I love a, I love a complicated story. I'm really interested in the way especially theater can pose a play one way with one production and kind of flip the script or offer a different perspective with another production. This play tackles a lot of different subjects. And I think with the way our actors are performing it with the sorts of things we've chosen to explore in this iteration, it might not be what is explored if this thing has a life beyond this. It's a play both about art time but about history. You know, I absolutely want more people to know about this story. I think that's really, it's really just a vital piece of American history and human history that's important to tell. It explores a lot of themes, eugenics, the sort of class divides of the time and the way we see class divides today. But also I think fundamentally the play is about doing the right thing and what different people think doing the right thing is because of their social status, because of their time. And I hope that if people get anything out of this, it's that doing the right thing does not always come without consequence. And that what it means to be morally correct is not consistent, it's not set in stone. That is just as capable of shifting and being malleable as anything else. - I love that idea, that's a brilliant idea. And it leads to my final question for this first part, which is who are you hoping to have access to Coney Island Nursery One? - Oh yeah, no, I'm, no is it the kind of questions that may not be the best person to ask? I hope, I mean everybody really, I hope that everybody, I think everybody can get something out of it and enjoy it in some capacity. You know, I'd like to make something that will, or at least I'm hoping to have made something that will provoke some thought and who knows? I don't know, I haven't thought enough about that question, I think. (gentle music) - Well, I'm the second part of our interview 'cause we love giving our listeners the chance to get to know our guests a little bit better. Pick your brains, if you will. And I would love to know what or who inspires you? What playwrights, composers or shows have inspired you in the past or are just some of your favorites? - Yeah, I mean, I mean so much. I think I've been inspired by, you know, there's just such a, such a wealth of, you know, you go through this too. It's one of those things where you go through your life and you're reading and listening to so much stuff it all kind of starts to sink in and become, you know, a part of you in sort of an indescribable way sometimes. I think really, more than anything else, I really have been inspired by my friends, musicians and actors and I don't, I mean that really, really sincerely. I think the people around me have done stuff that has impressed me and just blown my mind in ways that even some really professional Broadway productions or all that, just, just, it hasn't quite scratched that itch. You know, and again, I'm so, I'm just, it's unbelievable sometimes for me to think that I've met the people in my life that I have. You know, that said, I know that's not the most interesting answer. So I'll throw some other stuff there too, but I've always been a, as far as theater goes, I've always been a really big Ibsen fan. I like kind of, I love modern stuff, but I love the classics too. I think one of the first Broadway shows that I saw that really, really left an impression on me was Miss Saigon, but I remember seeing that and it is one of the most tragic immense stories I've ever seen. I mean, it was, that, that show, I think I saw that like 2017 or 2018, I remember coming to New York and seeing Miss Saigon when it was running it. I don't think anything is quite left to the impression on me that that left, but for those of you who haven't seen it, I really cannot say enough about that show. - I love it, that's a great list of inspirations and it's absolutely fantastic. - Well, building kind of on that, have you seen any great theater lately? You might be able to recommend to our listeners? - Yeah, you know, actually, I haven't seen as much theater in New York as I'd like to, I was really, really hoping to see enemy of the people and just wasn't able to make it in time before they closed. I think the last thing I saw was someone like it hot with a huge fan. I went into it, no, I've never seen the original movie and I didn't know the story very well, which is just the best, nothing better than going to a great probably show and not really knowing what you're getting yourself into. I think it's just, that really, that's where the magic happens, I think. For me, at least, I don't know. Some people like to know in advance, but I really, you know, the more mystery, the better for me. So I loved it, it's just so funny, it's so colorful. The songs are fantastic, I was really, I love that show. - Some wonderful suggestions there, those are fabulous. I wanna ask you now, what is your favorite part about working in the theater? - What is my favorite part about working in the theater? I mean, I love just bringing something to life. I love seeing every little element that leads up to that final product, you know, from that very first table read to that final stating. I mean, it is just the journey of it and the, you know, we're opening this Friday and the sort of excited nervousness, you know, that comes with that is just so much fun. It's, you know, and it's getting to work with wonderful actors. I mean, I'm just gonna ramble because there's too much I like, but the other thing, you know, watching actors go from the first audition that you do with them to then just losing themselves in these roles is just so amazing to see all that and watching the lights come together, doing all the, you know, even doing some of the legwork of, you know, building the websites or getting tickets into people's hands. You know, there's a fun to that as well, I think, at least for me, you know, it's just the experience is an exciting one. It's the rollercoaster and I'm a fan of the ride. - I love that answer. I see what you did there, rollercoaster, Connie Allen. I see the connection. I see how you do. - Right, right, right. That's the only thing on my mind right now. - Well, we've now routed my favorite question to ask guests and then of course is, what is your favorite theater memory? - You know, I think, I think probably one of my favorite theater venues. I mean, this is gonna be very soon. I think my favorite theater memory after I have a couple of years to think about it. But I remember really fondly, I was a, I don't act very much these days, but I did a little bit of it in high school. And I remember doing my first show when I was a freshman and it was, it was legally blonde. And I had been, I had a really, really teeny role. I was the bailiff in the court scene. So nothing at all that I had to do. Or at least that's what I thought. I thought I was just kind of standing there for that court scene. And I had a bunch of rehearsals that were going on over the couple of weeks into that day, but at the same time, our show was opening during the time of like this huge history test that I had. And I was so stressed out about it. It was like the hardest class I was taking, I just couldn't memorize the stuff I had to memorize. So a lot of those rehearsals, I would spent backstage with this history book, just reading stuff. And I never really walked onto stage. And eventually, but I just touched on me up and I kept going for my part. And then years later, I found a Facebook message from the director that I just, I didn't never use my Facebook, I didn't see it. I got this message and I read this message and it said, "Lubamere, I'm so sorry to say this, "but you have not been in any of the rehearsals. "I'm gonna have to have you leave the show. "Like we just can't go on with you "not coming to be the rehearsals." But I had never got that message. So I ended up being in the show because I was supposed to be in dances that I just didn't realize I was supposed to be in. And it was the first time I had ever done a play. I just didn't know what to expect. So I missed everything, but he never said anything to me in person. And I think what had happened is he sent this Facebook message and then assumed I got it and that I just kept showing up. And so I ended up being in the production of Legally Blonde. I did my work as the bailiff and I never, and then years later, I found out I had been kicked out. So I think that's definitely a great memory. And I'm really thankful to him for never saying anything in person. I think my life trajectory would've put a little bit different had he done that. But I didn't see the message. So here we are today. Holy Carol, what a great memory. Wow, wow. That gives a whole definition of persistence. I just, I can only imagine what he's thinking. Where he's like, why is he still here? Why is he? He is determined to be in this show. And I just didn't know. Gotta pass, gotta pass, gotta pass. Yeah. Well, that is a fabulous memory though. Thank you so much for sharing that. Of course. As we wrap things up, I would love to know, do you have any other projects or productions coming on the pipeline? We might be able to plug for you. You know, we're doing Coney Island nursery rhyme over these next two weeks. There's talk of actually doing another show at the theater at Coney Island, where the freak bar is. I don't know if you're familiar with that area, but they have like, that's like where the old Coney Island Museum is. So we might do like a day or two in the spring where we'll do a little revival of the show again. Beyond that, there's some stuff I'm kind of working on a little bit, but nothing with any dates set. But I think in the next, you know, over the next, after this show's all wrapped up, I think there will be some more stuff coming. So I have a little website. You can go with my name, boobermerejapka.com as difficult as that is to spell. If you can find your way there, you can keep up to date with anything and everything that I'll be working on. That is awesome. So we've got some things that need to keep tabs on coming down the pipeline. And that is a good read-in to my final question, which you've gotten a head start on. And that is if our listeners would like more information, about Coney Island nursery rhyme, or about you, maybe they'd like to reach out to you, how can they do that? - Absolutely, yeah. So you can reach me on that website is really, it's got everything. So it's just my first name, last name. I'll even spell it out because it's so difficult to get. But it's L-U-B-O-M-I-R-R-Z-E-P-K-A.com. You can find everything there. My first name and last name, you can find me on Instagram too, and all the channels that you might need to find me at. And so that's the best place. And tickets to the show are available there too, as well as if you've Google it on Eventbrite or whatnot. - Wonderful. Well, L-U-B-O-M-I-R, it has been an absolute delight speaking with you. And thank you so much for sharing this wonderful show. I cannot wait to see it. This is my kind of show. I'm so excited about it. So thank you so much for your time today. - Oh Andrew, thank you so much for having me. I'm really delighted to be here. That was an absolute blast. Can't wait to see you at the show as well. So it's going to be fun. - Yes, absolutely. - Looking forward to meeting you in person. That'll be a lot of fun. - My guest today has been the amazing playwright, Luma Mayor Jepka, whose new work, Coney Island Nursery Rime, is playing July 12th through the 20th at the New Box Theater. You can get your tickets and more information by visiting eventbrite.com. We also have some contact information for our guests, which will be posted on our episode description, as well as on our social media posts. But right now, let it over to eventbrite.com. Get your tickets for this fascinating story and wonderful play Coney Island Nursery Rime, playing July 12th through the 20th. So until next time, I'm Andrew Cortez, reminding you to turn off your cell phones, unwrapped your candies, and keep talking about the theater. In a stage whisper. - Thank you. (upbeat music) - If you like what you hear, please leave a five-star review, like and subscribe. - You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram at stagewhisperpod. - And feel free to reach out to us with your comments and personal stories at stagewhisperpod@gmail.com. - And be sure to check out our website for all things stage whisper and theater. You'll be able to find merchandise, tours, tickets, and more. Simply visit stagewhisperpod.com. Our theme song is Maniac by Jazzar. Other music on this episode provided by Jazzar and Billy Murray. You can also become a patron of our show by logging on to patreon.com/stagewhisperpod. There you will find all the information about our backstage pass, as well as our tip jar. Thank you so much for your generosity. We could not do this show without you. ♪ On way from there I'll swear ♪ ♪ I don't care anywhere near your town ♪ ♪ Makes me there ♪ [BLANK_AUDIO]