You are just about to make your directorial debut with a prize-winning play and—a pandemic shuts you down. That’s what happened to Connor Klee when Players’ production of God of Carnage was cancelled just before it opened in March 2020. Despite that, Klee says that his first show at BCP was “a terrific experience despite needing to shut down and then revamp” for a limited run in September. He’s back to direct his second show, Noel Coward’s Present Laughter, for our Season 104 opener.
Auditions are August 2 and 3, 2021, from 6:30 PM-9:30 PM at Bay City Players. See the complete audition packet . Connor has one last piece of advice for those who’d like to audition or work on the show: “I am always looking for a strong sense of PLAY and DISCOVERY with the artist I collaborate with. I want to create with you, this is especially true in the rehearsal process and working with the design team. So, the best advice I think I can give you is to relax, have fun, and discover what could be.”
Present Laughter is one of Coward’s biggest comedy hits. Connor says, “The wit is what grabs me first. But what ignites me creatively is the opportunity this show gives to really explore neediness and ego and loneliness without leaving the theatre all weepy.” He hopes audiences will enjoy “The wit, the sparring, the melodrama, the romance, the deeply human need be understood. Present Laughter has it all. Also, I don’t want to say too much because I want to leave the audience with some surprises, but I can definitely say this production will be leaning into themes that perhaps earlier productions have not. I hope our energy and our take on this classic will bring people lots and lots of joy and laughter.”
“[O]ne of those kids that never stopped singing/performing songs or scenes from Disney movies,” Connor has a BFA in Theater Performance from the University of Michigan-Flint and an extensive resumé as an actor, director, and in technical roles.