PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Threepenny Opera With Mackie's Gang Members "Matt of the Mint, "Chainsaw Bob" and "Weepy Wally"Mitchell Jarvis and Natascia Diaz star in the Signature Theatre production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, which began performances April 22 in Arlington, VA. Members of Mack the Knife's gang take Playbill.com on this backstage tour.
By
Matthew Blank
May 14, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Threepenny Opera With Mackie's Gang Members "Matt of the Mint, "Chainsaw Bob" and "Weepy Wally"
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Threepenny Opera With Mackie's Gang Members "Matt of the Mint, "Chainsaw Bob" and "Weepy Wally"
Mitchell Jarvis and Natascia Diaz star in the Signature Theatre production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, which began performances April 22 in Arlington, VA. Members of Mack the Knife's gang take Playbill.com on this backstage tour.
21 PHOTOS
Wadup Playbill?! Matt of the Mint (Paul Scanlan) here! Dis a picture of me and me bruvs, Chainsaw Bob (Ryan Sellers) and Weeping-Willow Walter (Aaron Bliden)! We’ll be your backstage guides for dis here Photo X-clusive. Let’s bounce!
Paul Scanlan
Dis a poster of Mack the Knife (Mitchell Jarvis) hanging outside of Signature Theatre. It’s menacing, innit? Scares away all the kiddies.
Paul Scanlan
I love a good pre-show snack. Gotta get your beta-carotene bruv!
Paul Scanlan
Check out the swag we got in our gift shop. Pick up one for Mother’s Day bruv! Your mum will luv it!
Paul Scanlan
Polly (Erin Driscoll), Mrs. Peachum (Donna Migliaccio) and Mr. Peachum (Bobby Smith) gettin' in tight for a lil tech selfie.
Take a gander at Mr. Peachum’s desk. It’s in shambles! Clean it up bruv!
Paul Scanlan
Here’s two of me main Chavettes, Betty (Jaime Eacker) and Nelly (Jessica Thorne).
Paul Scanlan
What set design is complete wit out a little condom dispenser and a daily reminder not to be a greedy wanker?
Paul Scanlan
Chainsaw Bob (Ryan Sellers) taking over here! I’m a man of many costumes. By day I’m protecting the people of Great Britain in my “bobby on the beat” outfit, but by night I’m tagging walls and wreaking havoc on the streets of London.
Paul Scanlan
Dis is one of my most creative photos to date. It’s a pic I took of me taking a pic of Matt taking a pic of me while Walt takes a pic of Matt. It’s mind blowing, innit?
Paul Scanlan
Lucy Brown (Rick Hammerly) is a class act Chavette.
Paul Scanlan
Dis is a pic I took of two back stage props. I call it “A Bear Skin Rug and a Candelabra.”
Paul Scanlan
“But you won’t see Mackie’s flick-knife / ‘Cause he slashed you and you’re dead!” Macheath (Mitchell Jarvis) is a little dodgy, but he’s also classy toff!
Paul Scanlan
I’m a highly fashionable bloke. Look at all my wigs. I got my bear skin wig and my just rolled out of bed Justin Beiber wig.
Paul Scanlan
I’m Weeping-Willow Walter (Aaron Bliden), but all my friends call me Weepy Wally cause I get overly emotional. Dis a pic of me writing a song for me mum.
Paul Scanlan
At Mack the Knife’s we only drink the finest in imported beers.
Paul Scanlan
Polly Peachum (Erin Driscoll) and Mrs. Peachum (Donna Migliaccio) showing off that bling!
Paul Scanlan
Crook-Finger Jake (Sean Fri) takes a break on his mobile.
Paul Scanlan
All the bruvs have tats.
Paul Scanlan
God Save the Queen!
Paul Scanlan
Thanks for joining us on this little backstage tour. Follow us on Twitter at @sigtheatre, @Bob_the_Saw and @MattofMint for more behind the scenes antics! #Sig3Penny
Matthew Gardiner helms the adaptation by Robert David MacDonald (book) and Jeremy Sams (lyrics), which premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in 1994. Performances will continue through June 1.
Mitchell Jarvis (Rock of Ages) stars as Macheath, with Diaz (Man of La Mancha, Kiss of the Spider Woman) as Jenny, Erin Driscoll (Miss Saigon) as Polly Peachum, Rick Hammerly (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) as Lucy Brown, Donna Migliaccio (Ragtime, Beaches) as Mrs. Peachum, Bobby Smith (Crazy for You) as Mr. Peachum and John Leslie Wolfe (Parade, Passion) as Tiger Brown. The cast is completed by Aaron Bliden, Jamie Eacker, Paul Scanlan, Ryan Sellers, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Jessica Thorne and Katherine Renee Turner.
According to the Signature, "The MAX Theatre transforms into London’s gritty underworld in this reimagined futuristic dystopia for The Threepenny Opera, an adaptation of John Gay’s 1728 ballad-opera The Beggar's Opera, a satirical commentary on politics, poverty, injustice and corruption at all levels of society. The haves clash with the have-nots while Macheath, the ultimate sneering anti-hero, perches in the middle of the storm."
It features such songs as "The Ballad of Mack the Knife," "Life's A Bitch (and Then You Die)" and "Pirate Jenny."
The Threepenny creative team includes musical director Gabriel Mangiante, scenic designer Misha Kachman, costume designer Frank Labovitz, lighting designer Colin K. Bills, sound designer Lane Elms, video designer Rocco DiSanti, dialect director Lynn Watson and wig designer Anne Nesmith.
