This Hanford homecoming includes a playwright named Cricket, Jennifer Lopez, the Temple Theatre and fond memories of cruising
By Donald Munro
Hanford and Jennifer Lopez aren’t usually found in the same sentence. But thanks to playwright Cricket Daniel, you can make that connection starting this weekend. Daniel’s play “I Shot Jennifer Lopez” makes its California premiere at Hanford’s Temple Theatre.
(And, no, it’s not that meaning of the word shot. Think photography.)
Pictured above: Alex Behunin as Norah, right, and Quinn Stiglianese, as Ally, left, in a scene from “I Shot Jennifer Lopez.” Photo: Temple Theatre
The Kings Players Community Theater production is an important moment for Daniel, says Hugh Munro Neely, who is directing the show, which plays through June 7.
“Her plays have been produced in Los Angeles, Colorado, Florida as well as her current home town of Bend, Oregon, but she’s never had a play produced in her old stomping ground, the tri-county area of the San Joaquin Valley, until now,” he says. Daniel will be in town for the first weekend and will sit for a Q&A with cast and audience after each of the first three performances (May 22-24).
I caught up with Daniel — who’s also a comedian — for a an amusing interview.
Q: Set the scene for us. You’re a teenage girl in Hanford on a weekend night. What did you do for fun? What did you think of Hanford back then?
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A: Oh my gosh…us Hanford Teens knew how to have fun! A typical weekend night was putting on too much makeup and skin tight jeans (picture me, lying flat on my waterbed, using a wire hanger to zip them up) and CRUISING! My daughter is 22 and I find it sad that she never had the experience of cruising downtown looking for cute boys and parties. Cruising is a lost art. I wonder what Hanford teens do on their weekends these days. Oh, and standing outside of Zip N Go asking adults if they would by us beer. Good times!
Q: Favorite Hanford memory?
A: Riding my bike to the mall and buying Thrifty ice cream. Playing Bobby Sox Softball. Summer movies at The Fox Theater. Roller skating at the Fairgrounds. So many memories…growing up in Hanford was special. It was small and all of us Hanford kids were close.
Q: Were you involved with theater at Hanford High School? How about the Temple Theatre?
A: I wasn’t involved in theater at Hanford High. I was never a theater kid. I had no desire to perform on stage…I just loved all things Hollywood and wanted to be famous. Of course, I had no plan, no connections and no talent. I was a dreamer. My bedroom wall was covered in posters of young cute Hollywood actors. I didn’t even know that the Temple Theatre existed until my parents took me on Halloween night to see “Dracula” when I was about 15. That was the first stage play I had ever seen. Maybe the seed was planted then!
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Q: Tell us about your performing arts career after Hanford.
A: I left Hanford in 1986 and went to college in Santa Barbara. It was in Santa Barbara where I started performing. I did stand-up comedy in SB and performed at The Improv and The Ice House. Then I discovered Comedy Sportz-Santa Barbara. It is a national improv group. I took their class and eventually I made it onto the team. I met and married my husband in 1994 and we moved to Bend, Or. 1995. It was then that I started to perform in local community theater productions. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, performing on stage wasn’t possible. Most people don’t realize the time commitment of being an actor in a local production. But one night, I attended a play and the playwright was in there. I literally watched him the whole night and it hit…”I wanna be that guy”. I started my writing my first play, Couple Dating, the next day. And I’ve been writing ever since. I no longer act…again, I really didn’t have much talent! I much prefer watching actors on stage bringing my characters to life. Now that’s a high!!
Q: “I Shot Jennifer Lopez” is an attention-grabbing title. Did you have any qualms/worries about the title? Has it been an advantage or disadvantage in getting it produced?
A: I didn’t think much about it to tell you truth. But I noticed that the word “shot” was taken literally. So I would have to explain, I am not killing Jennifer Lopez!! And I secretly hoped that it would catch JLO’s attention and she would either offer to perform as herself or sue me. Either way…great problem to have!
Q: Tell us about the storyline.
A: I wrote “I Shot Jennifer Lopez” about ten years ago. I don’t quite recall what prompted me to write it, except it was probably me channeling that young Hanford girl with Big Dreams! Its about best friends Norah and Ally living in NYC pursuing their dreams. Norah is a photographer and Ally is an inspiring singer. Norah unknowingly snaps photos of Jennifer Lopez in a compromising position in Central Park. Ally convinces her that the pictures will make them rich and launch her photography career. A bidding war ensures between The National Enquirer and TMZ. As Norah’s moral compass starts to spin, she questions how far she is willing to go to advance her own career. I Shot Jennifer Lopez invites the question – what would you do?
Q: What do you hope audiences take away from the show?
A: “I Shot Jennifer Lopez” is one of my lesser known plays. I hope audiences come out for a new contemporary comedy and enjoy it. And then ask themselves …how far are you willing to go for a quick cash windfall? Where does the dial on their moral compass land? And I hope they laugh and love Norah and Ally, two besties just trying to make it. And get a kick out of all the pop culture references I have in this play. And trust me, there are a ton of them!
Q: Finish this sentence: Tabloid magazines are _____________________
A guilty pleasure, about 60% true, and right up my alley!
Q: Finally: Let’s say you’re in Hanford for the premiere and you see Drake (the singer, not the explorer) doing something naughty in China Alley. Do you A) take a photo and sell it to the California Post; B) write a play about the moment; C) post a photo on Instagram; or D) let it slide?
A: Oh…I would definitely sell it!!! The dial on my moral compass is extremely low! Hee Hee.
George Stalmah
Well written!
I’m playing Woody in Half of the performances.
Lots of fun.
Thank you Cricket.