Life is a Meme?
In early 2020, before the pandemic, it seemed that memes began really flying across the socials. Everyone had something to say in the form of a picture with a few words thrown across it. Suddenly, inspiration for a show emerged in which we explored those memes. What resulted was a really fun couple of evenings sharing stories, songs, and yes, memes!
A curious byproduct of sharing these on the socials was the number of people who reached out to ask if everything was okay. We all have a lot on our minds most of the time, but the idea was that there were people who might benefit from some of the things being shared. Regardless though, we all have a need for human connection, and we all have different ways of looking at the world and how we live in it.
The Show
Robert Harrelson, the director at Onstage Productions, suggested that the format for the show consist of two acts. The first would be Clayton's story, and the second would be perspectives from friends who also sing. This lead to Lanny Spires, Ella Rescignio, and Vicky Saye (Henderson) Van Hornne all joining in the fun.
The Performers (from the playbill)
Vicky Saye Henderson (Vocalist) is an actor, teaching artist and vocalist based in the Carolinas. A company member emeritus at Trustus Theatre, some of her credits there include Next to Normal, The Restoration's Constance, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Cabaret, Spring Awakening, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical series. Earlier this year she performed at the historic Newberry Opera House where she sang in The Music of Peter Paul and Mary/Simon and Garfunkel tribute show. Vicky was the 2013 Jasper Magazine Artist of the Year in Theatre, and received the 2015 SC Arts Commission's Fellowship for Individual Artists in Acting. As a yoga professional, she is the Yoga Programs Coordinator at The Big Red Barn Retreat (Blythewood), a venue that offers a place of peace and healing for the men and women of our nation's military.
Lanny Spires (Vocalist) has been on Midlands stages since he was five. Having toured with the Broadway production of Cats, Man of LaMancha and Annie Get Your Gun, Lanny is a song and dance man who is happy to be back and call the South home. Since his return to South Carolina, Lanny has played a variety of roles including Romeo (Newsies, Town Theatre), Horton (Seussical, Broadway Bound), Rum Tum Tugger (Cats, Broadway Bound), and Kodaly (She Loves Me!, Workshop Theatre). Most recently, Lanny was seen in the role of Larry in Boys in the Band at Workshop Theatre.
Ella Rescigno (Vocalist) is a junior at Spring Valley High School and has been performing locally since the age of five. You may have seen her as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, or young Cosette in Les Miserables. While Ella enjoys musical theatre, her true passions are classical music and science. She sings in French, German, Italian and Spanish and hopes to pursue a dual degree in Vocal Performance and Biochemistry. Her most memorable performance was with the New York Lyric Opera in the Magic Flute. Ella is honored to be a part of Clayton’s concert “Life is a Meme!”
CLAYTON KING (Vocalist) is a Texas transplant who has been actively involved in community theatre in Columbia for the last several years. Some past Midlands stage credits at Town Theatre, Chapin Community Theatre, Workshop Theatre, Trustus and Village Square include: She Loves Me! (Mr. Maraczek), Shrek (Shrek), Mamma Mia! (Harry Bright), Arsenic and Old Lace (Teddy), You Can’t Take It With You (Kohlenkov), The Addams Family (Gomez), Catch Me If You Can (Frank Abignale, Sr.), The Game’s Afoot (Felix), A Christmas Miracle at the Richland Fashion Mall (Mandy), Guys & Dolls (Nathan Detroit), and Into the Woods (Baker). Clayton has sung both in solo and with singing partner, Vicky Saye Henderson, (King|Henderson Duo) in various local venues. He has also performed his concert, Journey Through the Past, here in South Carolina and in his home town of Galveston, TX. Some favorite roles from years gone by include Damn Yankees (Mr. Applegate), The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston, Wind in the Willows (Mole), Theatre Under the Stars, Houston) and The Shadow Box (Mark), Strand Street Theatre, Galveston). He has also appeared in Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, and The Merry Widow, as well as The Lone Star and Annie Get Your Gun at Galveston’s Mary Moody Northen Amphitheatre. A long while back Clayton sang cabaret at Baha Sam’s and the Million Dollar Dump in Houston, Texas.
JOSHUA GREER (Musical Director) graduated with his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Furman University in 2012. He expressed an interest in music from a very early age and started taking piano lessons when he was 10 years old. Since taking up the piano, he has participated in many state and national competitions. While at Furman, Joshua accompanied vocalists and instrumentalists in other festivals, recitals and degree juries. Additionally, he co-accompanied the Furman Singers choral group for rehearsals, concerts, and their annual spring tour during his senior year at Furman. Joshua traveled to Galveston, TX, with Clayton to perform Journey through the Past, for which he was the musical director. Beyond performing and accompanying, Joshua has spent the last several years teaching piano - something about which he is passionate. In his free time, Joshua enjoys collaborating with other musicians on chamber music. Joshua is currently the Director of Music at Reformation Lutheran Church and recently finished his Master of Library and Information Science at USC.
