The History Of The Actors’ Group (TAG)
1997-1998
Compiling the history of any organization can be a great challenge, particularly when the core group is small and rather than chronicle events, had spent their energy towards merely keeping alive. So is the case with TAG. As it evolved from a creative curmudgeon to become one of Hawaii's finest community theaters, all TAG could do was focus on its next production, for it had little time for anything else. Hence, this history has been cobbled together utilizing the recollection of participants at the time, dog-eared old files containing memorabilia and other forms of information, photos, newspaper articles, and recovered video footage that is often way past its prime if not damaged. Nonetheless, these have been the sources to create the history of TAG - The Actors' Group, told in a series of posts chronicling time periods unique to its development. |
On The Verge – The End Of An Era
After the close of “Trapped,” the group did not produce another show for over a year. This is because Dave Winston Barge had two forces tugging at him. One, he was likely burnt out from creating, producing, and directing the four shows prior, and two, he was longing to see the world, something he had thought about and longed to embark on for quite some time. While Dave was taking a bit of a hiatus, the group returned to hosting acting sessions. Eventually, however, Winston Barge returned for one final play, again carved from improvisational exercises, called “On The Verge,” which brought to the ensemble Mike Mazzola, a frequent scene study participant, who would become another major player in the development of TAG going forward into the future. Other actors cast in the production are Andrew Trask, Sam Polson, Leigh Ann Kinghorn, Dorothy Stamp, Lena Kaneshiro, and Eric Nemoto.
The Playbill For “On The Verge”
“On The Verge” played for a total of 10 performances, playing on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8:00 pm, on February 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, March 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th. It also became the first play reviewed by Advertiser theatre critic Joe Rozmiarek, who gave a very positive review. He coined the phrase that TAG was like “penicillin mold,” in that it is a theater group that seems to appear out of nowhere.
TAG’s First Play Review – Joe Rozmiarek’s Article Introduces TAG To Hawaii Newspaper Readers
Old Reclaimed Footage Of “On The Verge”
After “On The Verge,” Dave Winston Barge would eventually make good on his desire to travel the world. He left the group and Hawaii, and with his departure other active members – Leigh Ann Kinghorn, Lena Kaneshiro, and Dorothy Mane – elected to pursue other creative interests as well. This left TAG founder Eric Nemoto literally as the only member of TAG remaining. On that fateful night when he sat alone in the Yellow Brick Studio risers, he contemplated that maybe the short but exciting journey of TAG was already coming to an unfortunate end.
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