Jane Flieller
The first snowfall alerts us: Time to break out the hot chocolate and candy canes. It also coincides with the start of holiday shows around the city. Off the Cuff spoke with In Tandem Theatre’s managing director, Jane Flieller, and her husband, Chris, to warm up next to the fireplace and discuss this year’s main event.
How were you first introduced to the theater scene?
JF: One of my older brothers was involved with theater in high school. One Saturday, he was in charge of looking after me, but he had rehearsals, so he took me with him. There was such a community feel; people were so friendly and supportive and creative and exciting. All of the things that needed to happen to put a show together fascinated me from the get-go. Before I went to college, I decided that, “Yeah, sure I’ll take some acting classes, but I want to take directing classes and lighting course.” It kind of morphed into a stage management career, which I did for almost 10 years.
After those first 10 years in the industry, what was your next project?
JF: I took a short hiatus from theater for a couple years, while my husband Chris and I finished renovating our house. It actually made us realize that we work very well together, and so our next step was starting our own business. 21 years ago, we took a long walk through the park and put together a business plan, and In Tandem Theatre was born.
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CF: We both grew up in the theater community, I more so on the acting side, but even though we weren’t as familiar with all the aspects of running a business, we knew our own theater made the most sense.
So, who are the Screaming Penguins?
CF: While I was working as an electrician for Skylight Music Theatre, and Jane was doing various administrative jobs around town, we and our friends formed this loose-knit theater group called the Screaming Penguins. We did all kinds of things, but we became known for alternative holiday stuff. So, when everybody else was doing A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker, we were with our buddies at the Broadway Theatre Center doing adult-oriented Christmas material.
And that’s how Merry Chris-Mess came to be?
JF: The Penguins kind of fell apart over the years. But, when we formed In Tandem, we still wanted to do shows like before. We had asked the Penguins for their blessing to continue these traditions, and they all gave us their support to go for it. Merry Chris-Mess is a collection of our favorite sketches and parodies we performed 15-25 years ago, while we were Penguins and in the beginnings of In Tandem. It reminds me of those 1970s TV variety shows that were goofy and corny and silly. We do that, and just twist it a little more to make it for the grown-ups.
The set itself is going to be a big cutout of an old-fashioned television screen, and the actors come out from there to do these sketch comedy pieces. It’s a little retro, but it kind of has that Monty Python edge to it. We asked our marketing director who we should bill it towards because we don’t have kids, so we don’t know who it’s appropriate for! We want to create an experience for people to let it all go. We deck out the entire space with holiday goodies, we have a full bar where you can take drinks into the theater, and we aren’t going to pound you over the head with some message of the holidays. Come in and relax, spend some time, and don’t take anything too seriously.
As a woman in a predominantly male-led role, what advice do you have for others who have to push their way up the ranks?
JF: From my past experience, first and foremost, women need to work harder to be heard, figuratively and literally. I’ve found myself in meetings being cut off and excised from the conversation. I have to politely assert myself in those situations and try not to go ‘I told you so’ when you’ve gone and done something that I had tried to fix early on. But, women also need to maintain a respect for what men bring to the table. I think we need to be careful to not try and take over the world, because that’s not good, either. Imbalance just doesn’t work. Regardless of what career path you follow, do what makes you happy, even if you need to fail countless times to get there. It’s usually in those moments that you learn the most about yourself.
Merry Chris-Mess runs Nov. 30 through Jan. 6 at Tenth Street Theatre, 628 N. 10th St. For tickets and more information, visit intandemtheatre.org.
