Exclusive Interview: Marlaina Jurco Director of Avon Players’ ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’
Laughter is some of the best medicine in the world, especially during times when so many need a pick-me-up. Avon Players over in Rochester Hills, MI, is hoping to give audiences a hefty dose of hilarity with their most recent production, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor! This stage play is described as semi-autobiographical, as it explores a writer’s room on a variety show during the 1950s. Simon pulls from his own experiences as he tells the story of Max Prince and the writers who help shape his show into something extraordinary.
There are so many themes and aspects of the show that still appeal to both creatives and audiences, as Laughter on the 23rd Floor is as timeless as it is timely. Just before opening night last weekend, we spoke with Marlaina Jurco, the director of this Avon Players’ production! Below, discover what drew her to this project and how she brings her vision for this show to the stage, with the help of some great cast and fellow creatives.
[Note: The interview below may have been lightly edited for clarity. Warning for mild spoilers from Laughter on the 23rd Floor are below!]
Interview with Marlaina Jurco, director of Avon Players’ Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Brian Kitson: Thank you so much for joining me today, Marlaina. What drew you to Laughter on the 23rd Floor?
Marlaina Jurco: I’ve always been a fan of Neil Simon and how he puts a lot of himself in his shows because so many are semi-autobiographical stories from his own life. They portray a kind of slice of life that is so relatable to audiences, especially with his comedies. The things that were funny and topical then are topical and funny now. This show was written in the 90s and set in the 50s. However, some of the themes and the comedy, like the jokes, are funny regardless of the time period.
Brian Kitson: So, for those who maybe aren’t familiar with this, what is the synopsis of the show? So
Marlaina Jurco: So, basically, this show is based on the writer’s room of the fictional Max Prince show, which is a variety show that was based on the Sid Caesar show. Shows from the 1950s, when Neil Simon was a writer, had such great writers, like Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks. It came out of that as well. So this is inspired by his time on shows like that. So this is about the Max Prince show, and just the pressures of changing television and the landscape of television changing along with this variety show lead, Max Prince, who is just trying to keep his show together, and just kind of how the relationships between the writers.
There is a bit of spicy language, but it’s because they’re so comfortable with each other. You know, when you’re talking with your friends casually, sometimes your language may not always be as formal and proper. So that’s eloquent, right? So there is a little bit of that in there, but it’s done just so naturally, and it’s so funny. Still, it’s just the timeline of how you see the show progress and trying to hold on to something that is changing. That’s something we all kind of do, try to hold on to the pieces of our life, or, you know, this is an important part of their life. And that’s kind of the only, only constant is change. You know, whether it’s television, radio, you know, every medium kind of has its evolution for sure.
Brian Kitson: As a director, you have your script as your source material. How do you approach getting it on stage? Like do you have a specific way that you approach the material?
Marlaina Jurco: I mean, I read the script a lot. I also try to find reference material from outside, such as online research. But it changes because when I read the script, you get an image of what a character may be in your mind, but then it depends on who auditions. And I was so lucky that these people really made it obvious which role was perfect for them, you know, they are so much their characters, it seems natural. Still, sometimes, the characters themselves change slightly from what I originally envisioned. Also, being able to incorporate the actors’ perspectives, quirks, and personalities, as well as what they can bring to these characters, really helps grow the show from what I originally envisioned. I’m a very visual person, so just reading it, you get one idea in your mind, but then seeing it come to life with what these actors can do and just how they react to each other and interact with each other, you know, just really brings it to another level. So it’s like that collaborative approach of building; everybody’s building it together. I do have a pretty clear framework with what I like, but I want to give each actor and even my tech designers, kind of the freedom to work within this framework is like, this is what I see, you know, color within the lines or even a little bit out of the lines.
Brian Kitson: Sure, absolutely. So, what themes from the show do you feel resonate the most with you as the director?
Marlaina Jurco: Oh, that’s tough. I mean the lightheartedness, for sure. The interaction between the characters. You know, you can joke around, and they often reference themselves as family. And it is. It’s very much a love-hate relationship. You can see the characters that get along with each other, the ones that are like, Okay, I will work with you, but you stay over there, you know. And, I think that’s so relatable to everybody on some level. That’s an aspect I enjoy, and it’s just kind of the nature of being in a situation where you see things changing around you, and you can’t do anything about it. And there are so many little connective things that I enjoy and connect with.
Brian Kitson: I love what you said about the family, too, because that’s basically what acting and directing are. You all become a very big family as you’re bringing this story to life. So, like, that’s kind of a meta-ness to the story. What is something on this production that maybe has challenged you?
Marlaina Jurco: That’s a tough question because I’ve been so blessed and lucky for this production. I’ve been around this theater since 94, probably longer than you’ve been alive!
Brian Kitson: [Laughs] I was born in 92, but close!
Marlaina Jurco: [Laughs] But, like, I’ve been around here a lot. And you know, there have been some shows that, like, I don’t know how we’re going to get it done, but I have been so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing, talented people that I don’t really feel it’s been that stressful like I have enjoyed every moment. So far, it’s been fantastic. I’m also doing a lot of the technical aspects of the show. I’m doing lighting design. And doing the set, oh my gosh. And those are areas that I also love. I am a director, but I’m also primarily a backstage technical person, so I tend to focus more on the environment than the actors. But again, as I’ve said, I’ve been so lucky that these actors are so talented on their own from the very beginning. These are actors I can trust. I’ve worked with many of them before. Some of them are brand new, but it’s been a great experience overall.
BrianKitson: How do you juggle so many roles?
Marlaina Jurco: I’m here a lot. I compartmentalize what needs to be done every day. So the acting part is Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I do the lighting on the weekends. And I was very lucky that our last lighting designer did several of the shows. JD, he’s a phenomenal lighting designer. We’ve been able to utilize the current set for the last couple of shows, so it’s been the same basic footprint with just some modifications. The instrumentation was there, so I just had to do some tweaking and then figure out what goes on, when, and where. So lighting is something that I used to do, that I’ve gotten away from, that I wanted to get back to. I knew this wasn’t as complex of a show design as far as lighting, so that made it a little bit easier to try and juggle everything with it. And as far as the set, that’s been very much a collaborative thing. I’ve used a lot of local resources, a lot of our members here, you just trying to get that kind of quirky writers’ room. I knew I wanted fun, random, weird stuff on the walls. Like, sure, we have a gator head, you know, that kind of thing.
Brian Kitson: So your vision was eclectic.
Marlaina Jurco: Very much. So, very much.
Brian Kitson: Final question. What are you hoping audiences take away from this production?
Marlaina Jurco: Just, I hope they enjoy it. I hope they laugh. There are some very poignant moments, and it takes you on this roller coaster. You know, there are some hysterical physical comedy moments. There are some very cerebral humor moments, so I think everyone will get something out of this at some level.
Brian Kitson: That’s awesome. Thank you so much for your time.
Marlaina Jurco: My pleasure. Thank you so much for coming out!
Don’t Miss Avon Players Laughter on the 23rd Floor!
This current Avon Players production is running until March 29 in Rochester, MI, so get your tickets from their website or box office! Have you seen a production of Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor before? Let us know on social media @BoxSeatBabes!
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