Douglaston Resident Makes Directorial Debut

When Teresa Zugger bought the play Independence, written by Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee Lee Blessing, nearly 7 years ago she instantly knew the play was something special.

Zugger, a board member of Douglaston Community Theatre as well as an actress and opera singer, found herself re-reading the play over and over again, slowly falling in love with the characters and their fractured relationships.

“This play is so beautifully written and the characters are all very believable and fully flushed out,” Zugger said.

Independence is a gripping family drama set in Independence Iowa about a mentally unstable mother and her three daughters who are desperately trying to escape.

After moving to Douglaston six years ago, Zugger joined the theater group and has acted in seven different productions. In December 2010, she decided to pursue her dream of directing and presented the play to board members as part of its winter production.

“I’ve always wanted to direct,” she said. “It finally dawned on me that I can wait forever for someone to direct this play and then I can audition for a role, or I can do it and direct it myself.”

With the approval of her fellow board members, Zugger and her crew of six actors, including four actresses from Queens, and a lighting technician began a vigorous eight weeks of rehearsals for the play.

Choosing Independence for directorial debut was prompted by both its realistic and humanistic qualities. It is a one-set play, which made things simpler for the small theater group as its members worked on a budget for the production.

Zugger said she believed one-set plays tend to have better roles for men than women. But Independence, which tells the conflicting tale of a mother and her three daughters, provided a great opportunity for local actresses to showcase their talent.

 “What attracted me to this play is that is it about relationships and the process of mending them in real life," she said. "I enjoy meaty plays about real life family relationships. I especially like when there is hope and you see positive relationships start to form. It is a slice of life."

The group puts on three shows every year, including a fall, spring and winter production. While the fall and spring productions tend to be moneymakers, the winter show is the experimental and edgy show, Zugger said.

“We allow ourselves to do things that are not exactly popular but [allow] good acting roles," she said. "The winter shows tends to push the envelope a little. It’s good for the community and group to do different things."

The Douglaston Community Theatre was founded in 1950, making it the oldest group of its kind in Queens. But the troupe is a small one, so everyone has to play dual roles in the group's productions. Zugger said this has made directing a little more of a challenged than she had expected.  

The actresses are not only responsible for memorizing all of their lines and delivering an outstanding performance, but they also play the role of prop choreographer, bringing their props on and off stage when necessary.

“I am so proud of them,” Zugger said. “I am so thrilled to be working with these women. They have really come through. Not only are they talented, but they are hard working, dedicated and they want to do a good job.”

Zugger admits that she is less nervous as a director than when she performs as an actress. “For the first time in my life I am not in it,” Zugger said.  “It’s fantastic to watch this creative thing develop as opposed to growing it internally and being in it, I love it and can’t wait to do it again.”

She said she believes local theater serves two purposes for the community: it gives residents a chance to audition and participate in plays and allows them to see live theater.

“They don’t have to take the train into Manhattan and pay $60 for a ticket,” Zugger said.

Tonight is opening night at 8 p.m. at Zion Episcopal Church's parish hall, which is located at 243-01 Northern Blvd. in Douglaston.

The cast will perform evening shows on Feb. 26, March 4 and March 5 at 8 p.m. as well as matinees on Feb. 27 and March 5 at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. 

Please call Douglaston Community Theater at 718-482-3332 to reserve your seats.