Published on the B-Street Theatre Blog | May 11, 2018
The Cast of “Airness” at the 2017 Humana Festival of New American Plays| Photo by Bill Brymer
Chelsea Marcantel is the award winning playwright of Airness. She is not an air guitarist. Nor does she come from an air guitar shredding family. However, through her own experiences, she found the world of air guitar and wrote a fantastic play about it. Chelsea sat down with Artistic Associate Sean Nill to answer some questions for our audiences.
How did you discover air guitar?
Years ago, when I lived in Chicago, I dated someone who got really into Air Guitar. At the time, I thought it was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard of and the relationship didn’t last very long after that. Years later, that world popped up again in my mind and I thought “wouldn’t that be a fun space in which to set a play?” The more research I did about air guitar, the more I realized that the guy in question—when he found air guitar—must’ve felt the way I did when I found theatre kids in junior high school. It’s less about activity and more about the tribe. I totally get the appeal now and I gotta say I’m an unapologetic super fan.
Have you ever competed in an air guitar show?
I’ve never performed myself, but I was honored to be asked to judge the Dark Horse competition at the 2017 Nationals in Washington D.C.
When did you decide to write a play about air guitar?
I started working on the play in the Spring of 2015 when I was in my first year at Julliard.
How did Airness end up in the 2017 Humana Festival at the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville?
My agent submitted the play to ATL and I was sort of shocked when it was accepted into the Humana Festival. It hadn’t had a workshop or even a single reading. That ended up being a blessing though because we had to build it from the ground up with the amazing team of actors and designers that ATL assembled.
I understand that the reigning international air guitar champion, Aristotle, was in the original production. How did he assist? Did his expertise add to the play?
Matt Burns (nom d’air: Aristotle) played the role of the Announcer in the original production. In addition to his face-melting curtain call performance night, Matt was an amazing collaborator to have in the room. His generosity of spirit and his wealth of knowledge combined to make us all better, more better, and more joyful. He would show up to rehearsals he wasn’t even called for just in case he could help. I love that dude. I want to write a part for him in every show I write for the rest of my life.
Two-Time International Air Guitar Champion Matt “Airistotle” Burns
What type of stories do you enjoy writing? How does Airness fit among those stories?
I enjoy writing stories about humans as small group primates. Our given tribes, our chosen tribes, the value systems we create and inherit and seek out—these are the stories I find fascinating. I’m drawn to small groups of people living in non-traditional ways and what happens when someone in or out of one of these groups. Airness is exactly this type of tribal story. It just has a lot more choreography than my other plays.
Members of the Sacramento Air Guitar community | photo credit: Kyle “Sweetness” Payton
B Street Theatre is hosting Sac Air Guitar’s National Qualifier on June 9. Why should people participate?
As we say in the play, Air guitar captures the raw joy of being a kid and jumping around in your bedroom, but instead of being alone, you’re in front of screaming fans. It’s rock star LARPing and the vibe is exciting and welcoming. The air guitar community is one of the most fun you’ll find anywhere and the experience of a live show is not to be forgotten. It’s a competition technically, but it is way more about fun, camaraderie, and absolute exuberance.
Why is this a good story to tell in present day America?
The message that we are all stronger together and that the point of society is to build people up, not tear them down—these messages shouldn’t be political. But in the increasing bifurcated America we live in, I think we desperately need stories about solidarity and teamwork. And plays about joy can be completely refreshing in a world where many of us feel worn-down and frustrated.
If you had a air guitar persona, what would she be like?
At Nationals last year, someone dubbed me “The Air-vangelist.” That’s my persona. I’m here to spread the gospel of raw f*#king joy!
Tonight is the night! Airness is officially opening today, May 11 at 8:00 PM, and runs until June 10. Get your tickets now, and come rock out with us at the B Street Theatre.
