Actor takes turn in director's chair for 'Bad Seed'

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November 6, 2009

By Cara Spilsbury

For Rob Fitzgerald of Haverhill, it doesn't matter what aspect of the art he's involved in, as long as he's somehow a part of a theatrical production.

In several of Acting Out! Theater's performances, Fitzgerald was a featured actor. But in "The Bad Seed," which runs from Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, in Lawrence, Fitzgerald is the head honcho. He was asked to guest-direct the production.

The play is based on the 1954 novel by William March and was adapted for the stage that same year by Maxwell Anderson and turned into an Academy Award-nominated movie in 1956. It centers around the character of Rhoda, who murders a boy in her school.

"The story was shocking ... it was the precursor to the 'psychopathic child' movies like 'Omen' or 'Orphan,' " Fitzgerald said. "She's just 8 years old, and for that kid to murder was shocking for audiences."

Fitzgerald is loving the opportunity given to him by Acting Out.

"I like both acting and directing, but I like directing bceause I don't feel bad interrupting somebody," he joked. "It's a collaborative process and we all work together, but I like leading the process."

The theater group has added to Fitzgerald's enjoyment.

"Directing with Acting Out is very easy," he said. "The group itself is very supportive. You just make it known that you need something and someone steps up and volunteers. Everyone's there for fun, so there's not a lot of ego or conceit. Everyone's just there to have a good time."

"The Bad Seed" isn't the first time Fitzgerald has directed. He has spent years in community theater, but took a hiatus when his children were young. Now his children, Brad, 13, and Emily, 11, love to come and work beside their dad in the theater.

Even though Fitzgerald is experienced on the stage and in the director's chair, the anxieties and excitement leading up to a show never go away.

"I'm hoping to get all my nerves out during tech week (a week of rehearsals), but my experience tells me that isn't going to happen and I'll probably be a wreck," he said.

The nerves, however, are part of the fun for Fitzgerald.

"For me, being involved in community theater is like breathing," he said. "If I don't have the opportunity to be involved, it restricts my life. I need it. It always ends up as a rewarding experience for everybody. I love to watch a group of strangers develop into a group of friends and in that final week, into a family. To me, that's what community theater is all about."

If you go

What: "The Bad Seed" by Acting Out! Theater

When: Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 7, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 8, 5 p.m.

Where: The Acting Out! Theater, 56 Island St., Lawrence.

How: All seats are $12. For information, visit www.actingout.biz; call 978-794-0001 or e-mail actingouttheater@comcast.net for tickets, noting preferred show date and time.