Pandemonium Productions: A Conversation with Co-Founder and Executive Director Chris Leslie

On January 16, 2009, in a telephone interview with Chris Leslie, I had the opportunity to discuss his Santa Fe theater company—Pandemonium Productions (PP)—that is dedicated primarily to the arts education of the youth of the local community. In less than a decade, PP has become a significant force in the local theatrical scene as both a producing and educational company.

Co-founded with wife Nancy Smith Leslie in 2001as a for-profit company, PP earned non-profit status in 2004. From an initial investment of $500, today PP has an annual operating budget of approximately $160,000 with its tuition and ticket sales supplemented by grants and private and corporate donations. In recent seasons, PP has had audiences totaling 10,000 with 4,000 of those being local public and private school students.

Executive Director Chris Leslie graduated from the College of Santa Fe in 1990 and has worked in the City Different since that time. He has been involved in more than eighty local productions, including twenty-five with PP for which he has served as chief designer, builder, and director. PP presents only musicals, because they “tend to be more successful for students” who “especially enjoy their lively and engaging nature.” Musicals provide the students with opportunities to work with other professionals, such as musical directors and choreographers, and have a more well-rounded experience. The audition process only occurs within the company itself.

The company is open to all students “who demonstrate a need or a desire to perform.” The only requirement is to “show interest and dedication.” To insure “a vital representation of our community,” PP has a generous program of tuition scholarships and tuition assistance. Chris Leslie’s work as an educational outreach artist-in-residence for the Santa Fe Public schools—this year he has worked with Kearney, Chaparral, Cesar Chavez, Aqua Fria, and Tesuque elementary schools—allows him the opportunity to work with “Santa Fe’s diverse social, cultural, and economic” population and to prove to the youth of the community that anyone with the desire “can do theater.” PP attempts to cultivate the students’ passion and interest and “ignite the spark” that will result in a life-long love of the theater. The company has also been successful at creating a family-like environment that allows students to take ownership of their experience and feel as though they have a stake in the community.

Chris Leslie also stresses that his young company must maintain high standards and production values. While emphasizing that these goals are achieved by all “the kids and staff,” he takes pains to praise a few of PP’s adult members: Choreographer Mandie White, Musical Director Cora Harms, and, “among an incredible cast of volunteers,” Costumer Mary Becker: “The artistic vision and professionalism that they offer has brought the company to a higher level in terms of production values.” Also, to complete the family circle goal for PP, Chris has begun to hire former students as assistant directors for his productions.

PP’s main aesthetic and artistic goals all have a major educational focus. Chris Leslie wants to “create life-long learners by cultivating imagination and providing opportunities for the development of critical thinking skills.” Chris also devotes much time to “team building through mentor-student relationships” among the company members. As a result of these approaches, Chris wants his students to “know more and to learn new abilities and skills, and, ultimately, learn different strategies for success in our fast-paced world.”

Chris fosters these serious educational goals by trying to create “a little twist on things. Each show and each day bring something new. It is important to respond to the challenge of ‘How to do something’.” Unwilling to create “cookie cutter productions,” Chris engages the students by asking them “How can we make this show ours…to create a lasting impression on the audience and a shared experience for all involved.” In Willy Wonka, PP employed video projections to enhance the factory setting and for Peter Pan, the company figured out how to fly Peter. The company worked out the technical problem in Grease- the on-stage car—and manufactured a winter wonderland for Narnia, which was produced soon after the movie was released. It’s clear that Chris loves the challenges himself. He would often consult with his College of Santa Fe mentor and theater legend Clark Duncan to discuss technical problems. Clark would invariably call Chris a fool for taking on such challenges, then offer advice that guided the latter to meet the challenge.

PP manages their high quality theater productions without having their own physical space to call home. They rehearse at El Museo Cultural and perform three productions each year at the James A. Little Theatre. During the summers, they take over the theatre at Santa Fe High School for their annual Musical Theatre Camp. The summer program includes 100 hours of rehearsal—four hours a day on five days a week for five weeks. This year the company plans to expand the summer camp hours and hire special guest artists to work with students in the afternoon. On May 1, 2009, PP opens High School Musical 2 with a cast of fifty students at the James A. Little Theater. I’m certain the company is working out how to have a pool and golf carts on stage.

As for future plans for PP, Chris Leslie is content with things as they are: “With so many supportive people, PP is flourishing now…. I can’t see my life without the company right now. I’m paid a million bucks in smiles. The kids are so excited to come to rehearsals and perform in these shows.” Chris is especially moved by “pre-school age kids who find the theater a magical experience and enjoy coming up on the stage after seeing a performance. They don’t separate the fantasy from reality and so they think that the young actors are actually the characters they portrayed.” This is the essence of theater for Chris Leslie: “The experience is real and not real, alive and invigorating, and transformative and shared.”

Asked what the Santa Fe community needs to know about PP and local theater, Chris Leslie focused on the very high cost of theater: “Our future depends on the kindness and generosity of others.” He also wants people to know that PP is NOT “the company that only does Disney musicals. It is only coincidental that theatrical rights to new musicals have had Disney connections.”

Recently, some PP graduates have moved on to study theater at venues such as Occidental College, the Ward Acting School in New York City, and the American Musical Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. However, that is not the true mark of success for the company. An introduction to the magic of the theater and embracing the fundamental attributes of young people—curiosity, risk-taking and imagination--are the hallmarks of Chris Leslie’s vision and practice, and, finally, his major accomplishment.

To learn more about Pandemonium Productions and Chris Leslie, go to www.pandemoniumprod.org or phone (505) 920-0704.