Marcee Doherty-Elst, currently playing Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clackett in NOISES OFF our current Furlan Auditiorium production running through March 15, 2020, now in the Sunset Spotlight.
- When did you first become involved at Sunset Playhouse and what areas have you been involved in here at the Playhouse?
I think my first show at Sunset was ANNIE in 2011 directed by Ray Jivoff! I played Grace Farrell and my husband, Christopher Elst, was Daddy Warbucks. Since that time, I have also been in other musicals and play (A CHRISTMAS STORY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), performed at Season Announcement and Volunteer Appreciation events, and sang as part of a New Year’s Eve cabaret. Beyond that, the theater company my husband and I co-founded (Theater RED) has rented the Studio Theater for two of our own productions (the world premiere of A THOUSAND TIMES GOODNIGHT and the Footlights Award-winning NINE the musical).
- If you are working on a Sunset show right now, what is your role?
I am in NOISES OFF, running through March 15th – come see it! I play Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clackett (famously portrayed by Carol Burnett in the movie). I am also the Fight Captain for the show and help maintain the Fight Choreographer’s work (Christopher Elst) throughout the run. The show is very physical – I won’t give anything away, so come see for yourself! Each night before the house opens, the cast runs through their sequences to ensure safety and great story telling!
- If an actor, what has been your favorite to date and what is your dream role? If a Production Team member, which show have you most enjoyed working on? What show would you like to do in the future?
Oh gosh, I have so many favorites but I especially loved playing Miss Andrew in MARY POPPINS at the Racine Theater Guild (I did it 2 years in a row I loved it so much), Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID at Greendale Community Theater, and Sue Mengers in I’LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS with Theater RED. I also have many dream roles, but off the top of my head, two of them are Roz in 9 to 5 and Lady Macbeth in MACBETH.
- What do you enjoy most about Sunset?
I have always been impressed by the sheer number of volunteers that give of their time and talents, onstage and off, at Sunset and the sense of community that creates. I also really like the work they do in the community for children with their Bug in a Rug programming (led by the inimitable Erika Navin) and the new Sunset After Dark series that takes on edgier work in the Studio Theater!
- When not at Sunset, how do you spend your time?
During the day, I work in Data Analytics in the healthcare space and when not performing or rehearsing in the evenings at Sunset, you can find me performing and rehearsing at many other theaters around town. Otherwise, I am probably at home with my husband Christopher and our two Dalmatians (Ginger and Lucy) playing a board game or cooking/baking – I really like being in the kitchen! I am also the muse and model for K’eric’ters and get the unique opportunity to get transformed through Eric Welch’s hair/wig and make up magic into a variety of villainous characters – check out his work, photographed by the talented folks at Traveling Lemur Productions on the K’eric’ters Facebook or Instagram pages!
- What is your favorite color/food/movie/TV show/book/musical or play?
My favorite colors are orange and green, but mostly I wear black! I love Mexican food and most 80s comedies. I also really love documentaries and reading biographies of interesting people. Dolly Parton is one of my favorite people and I read as much as I can about her! I think one of my favorite musicals is EVITA because I am fascinated by Eva Peron and her mark on Argentine history.
- What is your favorite quote?
This is tough because I love quotes, too! Since I mentioned already how much I adore Dolly Parton, I have to include one of hers: “the way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.” As a Shakespeare aficionado, one of my favorites right now is from MEASURE FOR MEASURE: “Happy thou are not, for what thou hast not, still, thou striv’st to get, and what thou hast, forgets.”
- Any other comments?
We all know by now that “Entertainment begins at Sunset” but recently I was part of a new slogan: “Engagements begin at Sunset”! My lifelong friend Jason proposed to his girlfriend Kelsey on Opening Night of NOISES OFF! Jason brought Kelsey to see me (and my husband Christopher) in A CHRISTMAS STORY on their first date so he thought it was only fitting to propose to her at Sunset when seeing me onstage for another show! That will forever be a special memory for me here at the Playhouse.
Head Shot thanks to Wimmer Photography