Spotlight 814: SaNae Stephens: The Little Match Girl

This week on Spotlight 814: Erie’s Local Podcast: 

Ryan and Brenna are joined in studio by the star of PACA’s Striking 12, SaNae Stephens! 

We discuss Striking 12 and SaNae’s background in theatre. 

We talk a bit about Brenna’s favorite show on the planet, Waitress, which is being screened at Tinseltown until Monday. 

We take our Werner Books Coffee Break, obviously sponsored by our friends at Werner Books! 

If you, or someone you know, is a business owner, we are currently looking for more sponsorships to help keep us operating! Spread the word! 

We will also be rolling out our Patreon in the next few weeks, where we will be offering all kinds of great perks, including bonus content like mini episodes, behind the scenes content, and even pieces of art work by our very own Brenna Thummler! 

Our Facebook Live segment, What’s on 814, tells you what is playing in the area, and what is coming up! 

There is also still time to vote for us as Best Podcast in Erie Reader’s Best of Erie! Also vote for our sponsor, Werner Books, for SIX different categories, including Best Bookstore! Vote now at https://bestof.eriereader.com/ 

Transcript

Hey, everybody. What's going on? It's Ryan here from Spotlight 814 And Brenna is here, too. Oh, hey, Brianna. And we have a third person with us as well. Brant is fine. Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. Today we have a very special guest. She's been performing on stage in and around area since she was about ten, 11 years old. And she aspires to be a performer on a Broadway national tour someday. Yeah, I read your bio. She's currently starring as a little match girl in PACA's production of Striking 12. Give it up for SaNae Stephens. I beg you for joining us. Thank you for having me. I'm working on my interest. How is that? That was great, actually. It was way more enthusiastic. Yeah. Ever been production? I'm trying to be more positive since you guys were awesome last night. Thank you. We came out to see you guys last night. We really enjoyed it. Thank you. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. Yeah. So tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get started in theater? You know? Okay. So now I am 22 years old. I am originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, but I live in Akron, Ohio, right now. Honestly, how I got it started in theater. So I. Went to Fairview Middle School. I went all the way through high school. So elementary to high school. And my sister, actually, she started doing plays, I think, in, what was it, sixth grade. She did a lot. And I seen her in that. And I was like, mom, like, because I'm not really into sports or like that. I'm into sports but not like into sports. But I was like, Mom, I kind of want to like, you know, try out for something. So I did Fame Junior in fifth grade. And once I did that, I just. All the way through high school or senior year, I've just been doing theater. It started there. And then I went to I did Shrek two musical Footlights. Shrek. Yeah. Which is also coming this season. Yeah. The Warners came and after that I auditioned for a little princess at the Erie Playhouse. And ever since all of that, I just kept going. Kept going. I started in the background, but as I grown and stuff like I started getting roles. And I think my first big role was Rafiki in The Lion King. That's awesome. Yeah, that was honestly, I was I wasn't expecting to be Rafiki at all. I was expected to get a role at all, honestly. Great role. Oh, yeah. It was amazing. I loved the face paint, that process and everything else. Yeah, it was amazing. I could only ever play Tim on that show. It's the only role I could play. Oh yeah. So, all that I did try going to school for it, but, you know, I graduated in 2020, so we all know at that time, yeah, yeah, the world shut down. COVID was the thing. That's when it all started. So I didn't really get a, you know, a normal senior year and I didn't have a normal graduation in any of that. So it was kind of hard going into college and doing musical theater. we had to sit in boxes for our acting classes and our dance classes. We had to stand in a box and stuff and it just honestly just wasn't normal. Yeah. Like, so I think a lot of people that were, that, ah, were in the musical theater field in college can probably vouch for me and say that, you know, it wasn't. What it should have been. I don't think I got the I could have gotten the full experience that I wanted to. So but now I just I work for a before and after school program caught right at school. And then I teach theater to kids after school for a few hours or whatever. And, yeah, I'm doing all that. And that's a playhouse in Ohio, right? Yeah. Called Weathervane Weathervane Playhouse. It's literally right in my neighborhood. Okay, I can walk right to 2 minutes, so it's like right outside of Akron. Yeah. Okay. Mhm. So yeah, I do that and now this will be oh I don't know, third show number 36. I haven't done, I haven't done a show since 2019. Okay. I was in The Wiz, I was Dorothy. Nice. Yeah. That was before I went off to college and stuff for graduating and everything. So yeah, we have, we have very similar paths. Really. Yeah. Interests. It's pretty crazy. Like I started doing theater because my brother was doing theater. I was into sports like big time, but my brother was doing theater and he was like, Hey, there's girls. And I was like, Okay, I'm not sure if that's why me. It was, that's, that's I mean, that's not the same reason, you know, but like, you know, your sister was doing shows and then. I after like my whole. The start of my career, I moved over to Asia and I was, like, teaching drama. Oh, wow. Like in Hong Kong. So, like, we have the teaching income common. Yeah. You know, we came back and we're doing our first show. Yeah, it's like. It's very similar. Very similar paths. Like winning. Yeah, except I'm much older. You're my much younger twin. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. Who was born first? Quick Circle back as the little princess. Was that a musical or a play? Yes, it was a musical. Musical. I love that story. Really? Yes. That was my first time ever, like hearing about it and everything like that. And then I found out after I was on the show. Oh, it's a movie. Nice. So it's actually a book to you by Frances. What's her name? Is that an as? It was a really, really great book. But that's so cool. Yeah, that was what what year was that? I was 11 at the time. Okay. So I was really young. I was an African dancer. I loved it. That was probably one of my favorite roles I've ever seen because I loved dancing also. So I loved dancing choreographing. So that was one of my favorite ensemble roles as well. So yeah. Well, speaking of books that. Our musicals. We're going to talk about striking 12. Yes. And how. It's based on the little match girl, which, like we were not expecting. Yeah, I was saying, like, who? What person decides? You know what I know? Great musical, the little mascot. And so now you are playing the little match girl. Yes, I am. Yeah. So honestly, I want to be really honest with you. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't even know what the little the story of the little match girl was. I had to do my research, so I don't know. Do you guys know the true story? Oh, well, you seen it last night. Last night? Yeah. Yeah, I've read the. I read the book or the story. Yeah. so, yeah, it's basically about a little girl that she has to. She sells these matches, and if she doesn't sell the matches, her father beats her. And so she can't go home, which there is a song in the show called Can't Go Home and you sing beautifully. Thank you. Thank you. And yes. So, eventually she uses all of her matches. She uses it to warm herself up and. All the matches go out and she basically she freezes to death and she goes to heaven with her grandmother. Yeah. Yeah. Played by Danbury. Yeah. Yes. Beautiful. Grandma stole the show. Definitely stole the show. Oh. So how does that story tie in with the story of striking 12? Because it's like a story within a story. Yes. So the man. The man who had enough? Yeah. Any holidays. I get it. That's me. That's me. I can confirm. I actually I posted. Yeah, I'm going to be for the show. And then he said it in the show and I was like, Dude, same. You really don't like the holidays? I'm not a fan. Oh, wow. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. See, that's why we're doing this show, because there are people like that that don't really like the holidays. I've had some really bad, like, Christmas season. Okay, so it's just for me, it's like. But here's the thing, Ryan. Did you see how that show ended and how he was a changed man? I mean, that's the moral of the story. Story. You got to change. You got to change. We'll see. We'll see. Nobody liked him until he changed. Well, nobody likes me so. Well, that's not true. I don't know. Well, maybe I don't like other people. I mean, that's okay. That's. That's fair. Yes, very fair. So tell us a little bit more about, you know, he's he's the sad man. Yeah. He's the man that's had enough of New Year's Eve Christmas. He says in the show he's had enough by Thanksgiving, honestly But then there's this girl, this lady that shows up at his door and she's the sad lights seller of Kirby. Yes. Make Kirby Sad stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yeah, yes. Yes. And she is. She's selling these high spectrum, holiday lights. Yeah, but he doesn't want them. Even though he could use them, he doesn't want them. So he just, you know, slams the door in his interface and just gets her to the curb. So then he his resolution is just to, you know, stay at home and go to bed early. But he tries to do that and, you know, he tries to watch TV and all that. But there's nothing on the TV that really everything is just holiday stuff. The first time you see Mariah Carey, you want to gouge your eyes. Yeah. So it's like, I get it. I get it. Just I get it, man. So he's like, Yeah, I had enough. So then he's like, okay, maybe I should read a book. So he picks up all these different books and he picks up the little match girl, and he starts reading that book and. In the show. I basically I'm telling the story of the little match girl to you guys and of course, him because he's reading it, right? So he reads that book. By the end of the show, he sees the sad lights seller and he sees, you know, she's outside of his doorstep and she's still boiler alert. Sorry, guys, it's fine. She's still trying to sell these lights where he has a change of heart because he reads my book. Yeah. And by the end of the show, you know, he's a changed man. Yeah. Yeah, I. We really enjoyed it. Tell us about the cast. Like, you know, the cast, you know, there's just Cy Pretty. He is playing the man that's had enough Mave Kerby is playing the sad light sailor. And then there's me. I'm playing the little match girl. Then there's other different roles that tell the story. There's like a post nasal drip guy. Mhm. The Alex Bates. Alex Stanley, the space invading girl. Yeah. Marlee. Yeah. Dressler. Dressler. Dressler. Dressler. Trust tress. Right. And then Michelle, huh? She is. I don't want to mess up her last name. Is it me? McCauley. McCauley? And we'll go with that. MCCAULEY Yeah. Okay. It's on me. If we messed up because I mess up every she plays one of the narrators as well as Alex and Marley. They play the narrators. Yeah. And she plays a few people as well. Like Lydia. Mm hmm. Yeah. And then there's Curtis Jones, the third. Mm hmm. He's playing a third now. He's playing a different role, a different few roles. Craig Party host. The party host. I love his song. I know. Yeah, I wish. I honestly, you guys are getting down to I was watching the two of you. I can't help it. Like, especially with his. And I try so hard and say what? Because all I. All I want to do is groove. But I, I can't. So I'm just like, dang it, like. But I love his songs. Honestly, they're so good. They are so good. And those songs just fit him. Then he nails them absolutely perfect. Yes. I mean, the whole cast like. Yes, Mave is perfect for that role. Her song is so beautiful and like. I would picture Anna Kendrick playing that part and she looks like. And she does. I just. You saying that right? Right. You can't you can't not see it. No, you can't. No. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. You know what's interesting, though, is that it was written by the band Groove Lily. Mm hmm. This musical. And they were kind of groundbreaking because when they first performed this, they came out as musicians. Musicians, and the audience was shocked when they also started acting. And it was just the three of them. So, like, the three people played all these. All these roles. Yeah. Yeah. And also played all the instruments and their background. I have it written here. So one of them of the go to her background in classical music. Mm hmm. And then Brendan Milburn, he was more into, like, the eighties songs. And then the final one, Jean Lewin was like a jazz drummer. So you have these three very different styles coming together and totally shows in the show. Yeah, definitely with all the different types of songs. And I love that. Yes, that's honestly, I never heard of the show until now. And yeah, it's cool when I listen to all the music and the score, I was like, Wow, I really like this. It's very diverse. Yes. If you get like a I don't it's not like your typical musical. It's like not it's it's not like a cheesy, like, musical that you would see. Like, in my opinion, it's like more like a a concert kind of feel to the story. Yes, with the story. But it's got this like. Punk. Kind of like genre to it. Like there's like a little jazz. Jazz, I would say like a jazz pump kind of feel to it. Yeah, it really, really is very interesting. It is very self-aware, too. Like it's very kind of almost satirical and this makes fun of itself because it knows what it is. Yeah. Yeah. And oh, my gosh. Yeah, the writing is great. directed by Kate Newberg. Yes, directed by Kate Newberg. Like. Okay. Yeah. And she did a fantastic job with wonderful job. Courtney Wyatt with the scene. Mhm. And who else. Dave Schroeder with the sound. Yep. Yep. Let's talk about the band. Oh, my gosh. We loved the band. I love how they're integrated into the story. Yes. Yes. Even even though the the actors are no longer not all being given. Yeah, some. Some of them are. The band has lines I've never seen before. Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying. That's one of my favorite parts. You've never seen something like that before. And they love it too. They love being involved with it. Like I was talking to Liz, that plays the drums. She was like, I honestly, I because Kate was like, Well, do you want to say? She was like, Yes, because you never see anything like this. Like the band is never involved with this show. Like not like that. No, not at all. You know, in the show starts with Moe in and it's so beautiful. Beautiful. It is. I love is stunning. It's so nice how it celebrates the musicians more than any other show. Yes, absolutely. And you've got Dan back there on his cello and say, this is great. I love it. I also love his song, The Little Guys. Yeah, yeah. I love that song. Yeah. Let's see, Jim. Keep on bass down the corner on guitar. Mm. And Andrea treatment on this piano. Mm hmm. Like such a good band. Great band, great cast. Wonderful and great show. So go see it. Yeah, please. I do have some fun facts. I would love to share that Bruno's fun fact. So it was the book of this. Oh, this musical was written by Rachel Schenkkan, and she wrote the 25th Annual Spelling Bee. So if you liked that, you'll like this for sure. And that's a fantastic musical. I also wanted to talk about the origins of it. I mentioned that three people who worked on it from, you know, Groove Lily. But the reason why they did this is because they would go around with their music to all these record labels and nobody wanted them there. Like they said that it sounded too theatrical, they sounded like Broadway, and they're like, Let's just take that and run. Like, if we sound to Broadway for you, let's write a musical then. And that's how they decided to work on this. I don't know why they chose a little match, girl. I mean, that's a choice or choice, but it works. We all make choices, right? Yeah. So that's just how it started. Interesting. I didn't know that. That's crazy. Also, they'll have a good guy who is one of the band members of Group Louie. She was the first female to play the six string violin, the Viper violin of all time. It sounded like in. Yeah, because it was a fairly recent instrument, I guess. The Viper violin. She toured with Cyndi Lauper. She was a concertmaster for a Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Like, this woman's done a lot of things. Yeah, that's amazing. So. Wow. All right, well, I'm into it. Yeah, definitely. Go see the show. Yes. Sun is fantastic. Thank you. You tell the story beautifully. And you know, we love your little grandma. And what a great family. It's a beautiful family. So you can see this still running until December 17th. Yes, I packer. So go. Yeah. Now, before we take our Werner books, coffee break, we're going to talk a little bit about Brennan's favorite show of all time that we just saw at Tinsel Town on Thursday. You all know what it is by now. You know my obsession. Yeah. Yeah, we do. Waitress with the lovely Sarah Burrell's who is my idol. So it was all things wonderful. You kind of look like her. That's what I said. I hear that a lot. And it is the best response. No, seriously, you do. That makes me feel so heart warmed like I can. Maybe. Oh, gosh. But it just makes you feel like I have more of a chance of playing her. But you definitely actually being her. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Just being cerebral is. Yeah. I'm coming for you, Sarah. Okay, well, now this is turning into a stalker's little. Little bit if you're listening, Sarah But I didn't say that. Please keep your bodyguards close. So I had seen Waitress when I was in Erie a few years back and my friend Mickey was on that tour, which is awesome. I didn't get a chance to see her because I was overseas, but. But she just in the ensemble. I really think she was. Gathered the three leads. Dawn, Becky and Jenna. She was dawn. Okay. Oh, cool. Yeah, she was great. I mean, she's a great performer, so I'm assuming she was great in the show. Oh, I didn't see her, but. Great job, Maggie. Yeah. My gosh, it's incredible musical. It was cool to be able to see it similar to an actual film. You know, these young men is not just like a multi-camera multicam. It's very, very well produced. They all sound fantastic. The guy who played Parmenter was the original Broadway drunk. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And obviously, Sara Bruce and. Yeah, just phenomenal. It's still playing until Monday. So you still have a chance to go see it. And it'll be it'll probably be streaming soon. One can only hope. Can I go on Monday? I have one Monday. Yeah, you can come on down. I think they have shows at three and seven. Yeah. Every day. Until Monday. Yeah. Is it at any theater or is it just the one here? I think just tinsel town. Well, might be one in Akron. I go to the Bistro movie, so. Yeah, there might be. I think I might go. It's nationwide, for sure. But for example, it's not playing in Meadville. It's okay in certain theaters. Okay. I'm going to have to check and check up there. Yeah, I would recommend checking it. I didn't know anything about the musical itself. I had heard the music, but I was like, I don't know how this is going to be. And I really enjoyed it. I teared up a few times. Oh, yeah, I'm a sensitive guy. It's it's a beautiful show, and I recommend it. And now we're going to take a break. Talk to you later. Well, see you later. Okay. Hey, guys. It's time for What's On. One for featuring Sydney's demons of Packer's striking 12. Hi, Sydney. Hi. All right. I didn't know you were doing a lie. Oh, this is why we do this. This is our live segment every week. Yeah. Wait, a warner. Yeah. You get no warning. You got to come in prepared. Well, we just got back from our Warner Books coffee break, and I had my coffee. It's gone already. But Warner Books has very good coffee. They do. So, Brenna, what's on it? One for should. I'll first say Warner Books. Speaking of them, Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming. When are they coming? Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. To worry about 1101. So bring the kids, get your coffee, get your now. Now they have an oven. And Lorraine was baking up some cookies today. I saw the first batch of cookies being made. So that's. You did not see the cookies? I just saw Lorne staring at the cookies. I saw the cookies on their stories, and they look fabulous. So go get well. Lauren, staring at the cookies looked fabulous. Yeah. All right. All right. So what's on? What's on? Anyone for? Pretty much the same as last time. So the Academy Frozen Junior opened last night, so that's running through December 17th, and tickets are already pretty much sold out, like, oh, we couldn't even sit together. Yeah, tomorrow, really. I mean, we could have. We sat way, way up in balcony, way up, but we don't want to. I mean, there's 50 kids in that show. Yeah. Oh, so. And my mom was there ushering last night and she's like, so many little girls are there wearing their Elsa costumes, you know? So it's the entire. Q like every single little girl in Meadville is going to be going to see this Jesse outside on a AMC t A Doll's House. Auditions have happened that's running January 19 to the 28th, all in act. They're doing Agatha Christie's murder of Roger Ackroyd, February 2nd, the 25th drama Shackleton's brother. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's don't believe anything he says. Drama shop. Drama shop. We're still waiting on word we'll get back to you about that footlights. They're doing a variety show on December 14th 15th. You were literally disappointed again around the corner. There's no I can't see Packer obviously striking 12 is happening in December come see it. Yeah 17. The Playhouse. It's Wonderful Life is still on to the 17th. Literally, all these things are happening to the 17th. Right? By the way, it's a wonderful life. The the writer, the playwright, the playwright went to the show. He is not dead. He went to the show. He went to the show rehearsal. Right like Thursday I last week on the show said, I don't know, he's probably dead. Turns out he's not. He's not. He's in here. He is. And he was in Eerie. Yeah. Look at that reaction. That's crazy. I was like, Oh, yeah, he's probably dead. He's fine. He's not going to hear this. And if he shows up to Eerie to see a show. Yeah, I'm listening to the local theater jackass. Do you know? So I'm sorry, sir. Do you know his name? No. Oh, I probably haven't. Or no. Paper Here is Musical by Keith Ferguson and Bruce Grier. Which one was? I don't know. Oh, we should probably look that up right now. No. Okay. It's Saturday. That was Thursday. Just kidding. Kidding. I'm kidding. You need to calm down. All right. Station dinner theater. This is the long one. Christmas memories, the magical Holiday Family Musical. It's a long time musical. The series, the musical. That was my joke last week. So mean. That's also running through the December 17th again. Okay, Barrow, civic auditions are happening. What day? Today is the 99th. They're happening today and tomorrow. the play there goes wrong, so you can audition for that. And that's going to be showing February 23rd through March 3rd. And Gypsy, the last show today, the show's ninth. So you still have a maybe chance? I don't know. It might be sold out. Yeah, I'm true. You've been selling out every performance. Is that again? Yeah, that's again in. And then finally at our sponsor, Warner Books on February 8th through the 17th, they're doing a staged reading of erotic fiction. The the cast was just announced. Our friend Zach Hoffman is in it. And Pam Perrin and Howard Lang from Drama Shop there on it. That's run through Gannon Schuster Theatre But it's going to be performed at Warner Books. Yes. So books. It's stuff going on. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff. I have some more auditions as well. Auditions? So. So the Academy in Meadville, they're having auditions for Anastasia on December 11th and 12th. Okay, so you can go audition for that. Is having auditions for the Boxcar Children December 17 and 19, that it'll be performed at the railroad in Meadville, which is awesome. That's cool. That is cool. Paca They're having auditions for a weird romance. Plus Long Day's Journey Into Night, December 17th and 18th. And then, like I said, Deborah Civic is having to play the goes wrong auditions today and tomorrow. All right. So that's what's on it on for. We are also doing another giveaway things to Broadway in Erie. Stay tuned. Keep an eye on our Facebook page. We are going to have details on that on Monday morning. Yes, nice hairspray fans. Get ready. We're going to be starting our Patreon soon. We have a new logo. Yes. Thanks to the lovely Brennan Tumblr. I'm all about my fake crowd noise. I don't know what that's about. So lots of change is coming. Lots of cool things. Yes. So, yeah, that's that's it. That's what's on 814 and. I'm Ryan Dawley I am Brenna Thummler And who are you? I am SaNae Stephens. Stephenson? Where can everybody find you? You can. I mean, you can follow me on Instagram. My username is chérie 12. All right. And Facebook's Annie Stephens. I do have a tick tock. Tick tock. It's Shay B12 as well. I can look up Sydney Stephens and come up. I love it. Love it. And also go see her. Yes. Come see. Striking 12 tonight. Doors open at seven. The show starts at 730. And next week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The matinee, I'm pretty sure starts at 2:00, probably to 2:00. Yeah, but Thursday, Friday and Saturday show starts at 730. Doors open at seven. And we loved it. Yeah. Thank you, Kingsburg. I'm so glad you came and you enjoyed it. Well, I know everybody. I might go see it again, honestly. Please do. I got time. Nothing else going on. Bring her round to. Okay. Yeah, sure. I'll try. All right. So more friends? Yes. We'll bring some friends first because there are too many empty seats last night. Yeah, and we want to see people praying for a sold out next weekend. Yeah, we want to send seats, but support local theater. Yeah. Come on, come on. The audience is really energetic. Last night. Yes, it was great. Yes, absolutely. So contribute to that. Go be enthusiastic. See the show. Yes, yes. And show them some love. And we will see you guys next week. Bye bye. Bye.