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Making Theater with Peter Rothstein

"This will be our response to violence: To make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." -Leonard Bernstein

I have known Peter Rothstein for a number of years. When I told him about the first time I had met him, he gave me one his sweet smiles, cleverly veiling a "must've been out of the room" look. We were auditioning for Unicorn Theatre's 1993 production of the Richard Greenberg comedy Eastern Standard. He secured the lead role. He in fact knocked me out with his comedic performance; this coming from the disquieting position of having auditioned against him.

I've seen him not only grow as an actor: Buzz in Park Square Theatre's wildly successful Love! Valor! Compassion! (1997) to Eye of the Storm's marvelously droll burnt out elf in Santaland Diaries (1998) but continues to succeed triumphantly as a director. He co-founded Theater Latte Da in 1996 directing new and rarely produced musicals like The Rink (2001) and most recently New York Musical Shorts. Also that same year, he became an Artistic Associate at Illusion Theater where he shepherded the critically acclaimed original work Two Weeks With the Queen, a new musical about family, loss, and AIDS. We met in Loring Park on a gorgeously sunny afternoon for coffee to discuss four subjects we both are passionately versed in: Family, Theater, Gay Lifestyles and Recovering Catholicism.

Peter direct Jevetta Steele amongst others in The Human Comedy

The youngest of eleven children, Rothstein has five brothers and five sisters. Commenting on such a large brood he said succinctly "As my mother would say 'the Good Lord gives you only what you can handle, nothing more, nothing less.' " His parents Gene and Jean Rothstein, had children over a 17 year period until Peter arrived. His father ran a Savings & Loan company along with a real estate business while his mother nurtured the role of a happy homemaker-a full time job, no doubt. All his brothers excelled in sports while he sheepishly admitted "Oh I tried too, but was REALLY bad." One activity they still share is a deep love for music. The gifted family all play piano; two of his sisters still perform.

Growing up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Peter discovered drama his sophomore year in high school. Academically he wasn't a very good student until then, admitting "when I discovered there was something I was good at, or more importantly had a passion for, I began to take school more seriously." Theater opportunities and a much improved self-esteem were the results of conquering a milestone: being overweight. Heavy the first sixteen years of his life, this resourceful kid made a conscientious effort to lose weight by diligently counting calories and by good old jogging. It paid off and still stays off. Exercise by choice these days are rollerblading and spin classes.

While attending undergraduate studies at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, Rothstein was struck by the theater bug. He spent one semester abroad living in London and decided that theater would be his career choice. Attending over 60 productions while in the "rainy city," he summarized: "I discovered something extraordinary about British theater. It's a part of dominant culture. In the United States going to the theater is a special event or a unique experience. In London, going to the theater is a regular occurrence and the theater is a tool to talk about the human experience." Rothstein gained admission into the Master of Fine Arts directing program at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison having never directed a play. "I wanted to study as many aspects of the theater as possible: acting, history, theory, criticism, and design; their directing program was a way to do that. They gave me the chance."

Having attended both Catholic grade schools and St. John's University, Peter's first employment in the Twin Cities was singing as a cantor for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Plymouth. Singing at three services each Sunday became formulaic and hollow. "I left because it had become a job and I wanted church to become a spiritual experience." For Rothstein the answer lay at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. He joined our social justice based church in 1998. "I never had too much trouble with being a Gay Catholic. However, many of my Gay friends find it hard to believe I am still a practicing Catholic. My response is 'you haven't been to St. Joan of Arc.' What I love about this place is that it not only allows me, but demands that I bring all of myself to the table. I need that kind of integration and I found a church that does that."

Coincidentally Peter and I shared a similar situation about prolonging the discussion of our gay sexuality with our mothers. For me it happened at the age of 32 and for Peter, right at 30. For Catholic boys, this factor may be quite common-perhaps fear of alienation or rejection, maybe a protection factor. Though Peter's father is deceased, his mother is incredibly supportive, more than Peter ever imagined. Jean Rothstein took her son's announcement so well that she is even part of a "grass root gay support group" in Grand Rapids. While growing up, Peter recalled, "I had no [gay] role models until in high school coming to Minneapolis for a theater trip. My drama instructor and I stayed with a gay couple, David and Ken, who were the first Gay people I had ever met. Ken first brought me to St. Joan of Arc." In Peter’s hometown, "any reference to homosexuality was derogatory and hateful, at least while I was growing up. I think that's changing, thanks to people like my mother."

The Human Comedy features T. Mychael Rambo(right) and Jevetta Steele(second from right). The performance is part of Illusion Theater's Musical Chairs Series. There will be four performances only June 6-9(Thursday - Saturday 8 PM and a matinee Sunday 3 PM). Illusion Theater is located downtown at the Hennepin Center for the Arts 6th & Hennepin. To make reservations call Box Office (612) 339-4944 or visit www.illusiontheater.org. Tickets $15.00

ABC's Peter Jennings recently did an inside report on the Twin Cities' Theater and Arts scene finding that next to New York we came in second nationally in terms of the amount of productivity. Jennings remarked that a unique connection exists with the Metro area and the Arts. Rothstein can relate: "Here there's a sense of community. In Chicago, it's get the show to New York. In New York, it's make the profit. In small venues, people can really connect with the play. [And] at St. Joan’s, there is such a crossover of talent—music, theater, writers, and speakers.”

Responding to what St. Joan’s influence on Rothstein’s view of life is, Rothstein remarked, “What stories does the world need to hear. St. Joan’s helps me keep in touch with that mission.”

Peter Rothstein, this week's featured SJA homilist, will present selections from his upcoming Illusion Theater Musical Chairs Series, The Human Comedy at the 9AM & 11AM services. For a summary of Peter's homily, read our review.

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Michael Reinbold is a professional photographer and banquet caterer with an extensive theatre background in acting, writing, and directing. He loves all aspects of the arts, staying fit, and helping and inspiring people. A passionate believer in St. Joan of Arc's mission of social justice, Michael is a continuing AIDS Ride participant, Grace House volunteer cook, mass reader, and Joan of Arc choir member. He looks forward to web reporting and photographing for the website.