criticalrant.com Alexandra Bonifield

There’s a dynamic, new stage director in town: Maigan J. McPherson! She would love to meet you at her Stagedoor Performing Arts’ inaugural, all woman-created production of George Brant’s award-winning Grounded, running this weekend, April 19-21, at the Margo Jones Theater Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park. https://stagedoor.booktix.com.

Robin Clayton as the Pilot

Starring sensational regional professional Robin Clayton, you’re in for a unique treat. Named a Top 10 London Play of 2013 by both the Guardian and the London Evening Standard, Grounded was first produced as a rolling world premiere from NNPN (SF Playhouse, Borderlands Theater, and Unicorn Theatre) and by London’s Gate Theatre. Translated into 12 languages for more than 140 productions in 19 countries, this intense solo drama follows the real and imagined experience of a female ace fighter pilot who finds herself “demoted” to drone operator chasing terrorists on a dull screen in a windowless trailer in Las Vegas’ desert after she gets pregnant. So much relevance for changing times, gender roles and odd associations….

So Who Is Maigan? Oklahoma born and raised by dedicated educator parents, she knew by the time she was in high school she wanted to pursue a professional career in the theatre as both a director and teacher. “There’s nothing I like better than starting young artists on their journey!” She has already amassed interesting shows on her directing resume, ranging from classical standards like The Sound of Music to Tennessee Williams’ unusual Gnadiges Fraulein and Peter Shaffer’s Black Comedy. She relishes guiding casts through the arcs and challenges of well-written shows. “My cast can give a memorable experience to an audience with a classic show or challenge them with something with real edge. There’s value in both.”

Maigan McPherson

Maigan’s Path: In 2013 she earned her MFA in Performance and Pedagogy at Texas Tech University under the guidance of Dr. Jonathan Marks, professor of dramaturgy and acting and a renowned specialist in French farce. In 2018 she moved to Dallas to marry her sweetheart Emily “Zoey”Zoglman and directed a local production of Diana Son’s Stop Kiss. After Grounded, she hopes to find a company that will co-produce Lindsey Ferrentino’s 2015 drama Ugly Lies the Bone with her as director. Maigan has the skills, initiative and creative energy to become a positive addition to the region’s roster of fine artists.

All female creative team for Grounded: Maigan sees performing as a collaborative creation, so she brought two fine artists on board to assist in developing her production. Tina Britt (MFA Louisiana Tech) brings her skills and experience as a lighting designer in Louisiana to the production.

Kristen Rogers

As dramaturge, Austin-based award-winning director and scholar Kristin Rogers brings a diverse wealth of knowledge and creative input to the production with an MFA in acting from NYC’s Actors Studio and many national credentials. She currently pursues a DFA at Texas Tech, focused on contemporary theatre history from a feminist perspective. She found assisting Maigan in creating the reality of the female pilot in Grounded a particularly intriguing and satisfying experience.

Come welcome Maigan to the arts community this weekend at the Margo Jones and enjoy another fine performance by Robin Clayton as the conflicted pilot in George Brant’s mesmerizing Grounded.

Stagedoor Performing Arts presents Grounded April 19-21, at the Margo Jones Theater Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park. https://stagedoor.booktix.com