ROCKET MAN
by STEVEN DIETZ
directed by JACQUIE DUCKWORTH
March 25 – April 23, 2022
| Rocket Man is a serious comedy about the road not taken. Donny Rowan has placed everything he owns on his front lawn, along with a sign that reads: “Here’s my life. Make an offer.” He has cut a skylight into his attic and placed his E-Z Boy recliner underneath—where he can sit, staring at the stars. Somewhere in the universe, Donny believes, is a place where all the roads we never chose converge. Rocket Man explores one man’s obsessive desire to find this “parallel world” —and the profound effect of his decision on his family and friends. “We all have choices to make. What to abandon and what to save.” – Stephen Dietz |
Rocket Man Promo Video
A Message from Director Jacquie Duckworth
What is important in life? How do we find meaning? Is it through our work or a hobby that we are passionate about? Is it through our relationships and connections with people we love? Maybe it is in the search for a higher power. Or perhaps it is in living authentically and being fully present.
Each of the characters in Rocket Man is finding their own way to answer those questions, but Donny is stuck. He’s failed at his marriage, his relationship with his daughter is in shambles, and he never pursued his “great work” to become a celebrated landscape architect. Donny wants a “do-over”; a chance to put his regrets in the rear view mirror and live his life over. He is cleaning out his attic and putting everything he owns on the front lawn with a sign that says “Here’s my life. Make an offer.” He has a plan. Rocket Man poses this central question – Are we “who we are” or would different choices lead us to different results?
I don’t know about you, but life has changed so drastically that sometimes I can’t help but feel I’m in a parallel universe. In a way, aren’t we all getting a bit of a do-over ourselves?
Record numbers of people are making the decision to quit unfulfilling jobs. The isolation and separation forced upon us by Covid has necessitated that we take stock of the people most important to us and find ways to stay connected. Many of us no longer having a commute, are finding that we have more time to examine who we are and to ask ourselves what is most essential to living a life with purpose.
Rocket Man allows us to see our own struggles played out on stage with humor and poignancy and perhaps helps us begin to ponder the question of what to abandon and what to save.
Meet the Cast & Creatives
Vanessa or 'Veve' (she/her) is a Bay Area native who fell in love with acting while performing as "James" in James and the Giant Peach in grade school. From then, she has done stunt fighting work in short films and indie features, music videos like Lil Skies Name in the Sand and Flight of Ulysses Black Out, and local Bay Area theater for the Oakland National Queer Arts Festival playing the roles of Cici & Illiana in Sprint by Nana Dufor and now as Louise in Rocket Man by Steven Dietz at the Masquers Playhouse in Richmond. Outside of acting, she likes to dance, especially hip hop and tap as well as sing and snowboard.
Shay Oglesby-Smith (she/her) is so excited to be back home! The Masquers has been her "home" theater since 1995. This is her 15th production with Masquers. Some of her favorite roles here include Rosalind in Photograph 51, Vienna in Johnny Guitar, The Musical, Judy/Ginger in Ruthless, The Musical, and Sally in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. You may have seen her in productions at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Altarena Playhouse, Actor's Ensemble, Pinole Community Players, New Conservatory Theatre Center, and Bay Area Musicals. In her "real' life, she is married to her best friend, and has raised three spectacular humans. A homebody by nature, you're likely to find her there (on an off theater night) snuggled up with the dogs and cat, watching TV. Thank you for supporting live theater.
Emily Steelhammer (they/them) is thrilled to make their Masquers debut and thanks everyone for welcoming them into this amazing community. During shelter-in-place, they kept the creative juices flowing with voiceover classes and Zoom scene study in the Barrow Group approach. It’s a joy to be acting live and in-person once again. Off-stage, Emily enjoys hiking in the Oakland hills, spending time with their niblings, and baking elaborate theme cakes. Big, big thanks to their mom, their dad, and their teacher, Alyson Schacherer for all the love and support.
Bruce (he/him) is excited to be back again at Masquers, where he recently appeared as Jaques in As You Like It. Other favorite roles include the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Malvolio in a musical Twelfth Night, Grandpa in You Can’t Take It With You, and Johnnypateen in The Cripple of Inishmann (at Masquers). He made his directorial debut in 2021 with Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot. Thanks for supporting community theater!
Jacquie (she/her) is grateful to be part of this special season for Masquers Playhouse. She is a director, acting coach, mom, and traveler. Despite majoring in Political Science at UCLA and a career in the
hotel industry, she was drawn back into the theater. Now she loves helping young actors build self confidence and grow as humans as a teaching artist/director at Cal Shakes and The Performing Academy.
Jacquie thanks her supportive spouse Tom Duckworth who hasn’t had a decent dinner throughout the entire rehearsal process.
Seafus (he/him/they) is a recipient of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle “Excellence in Theatre” award for 2019 scenic design of Admissions for Los Altos Stage Company. Some other works include Las Positas College’s 2006 production of Macbeth (Sound designer), Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s 2017 production of James and the Giant Peach JR (Music Director), Dragon Theatre's 2018 production of Equivocation (Scenic Designer), Lohman Theatre's 2018 prodution of She Kills Monsters (Scenic Designer). When not behind the scenes, Seafus makes music.
Christopher (he/him) has been in and around the theater since 2nd grade in musicals and plays, and ultimately TV commercials, and as an extra for TV and film. He studied Marketing, Film, and Science in college, and has worked as an advertising art director, producer, director, and illustrator. He feels most at home with creative people, deep thinkers, thespians, weirdos, intellectuals, and patrons of the arts like you.
Kathryn (she/her) has worked as a costumer with Contra Costa Civic Theater and Moreau Catholic High School. She is passionate about creating fantastical, sculptural costumes, puppets, and textile works as a part of her art practice. She is thrilled to work on her first show with Masquers!
Carl (he/him) recently transitioned from serving as the managing director to production supervisor here at Masquers Playhouse. An elementary school administrator by day, theater is his primary creative outlet. Frequently seen onstage, Carl also enjoys directing and producing, and he will be directing Sordid Lives this summer at Masquers. Thank you for supporting the return of live local theater!