Amberly Mae-Cooper, Contributor
For Co-Artistic Directors, Robert R. Doyle and Marcus Truschinski celebrating the re-commissioning of the Two Crows Theatre Company’s into the community also marks a decade of friendship.
The vitality and passion of Doyle and Truschinski has set the stage for the resurrection of the Two Crows Theatre Company in Spring Green — after it was forced to close in the unexpected wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
For Doyle, the words —Two Crows — reflect powerfully in his well of treasured memories.
“Growing up as the youngest of three boys with an incredibly hard-working single mom (who I still consider my best friend, at 35 years old), I was often helping my grandma, who looked after me a lot of the time, run errands in her 1990 Chrysler sedan. While driving around, if we saw crows on the side of the road, she’d count them. I got to know this old nursery rhyme,” recollects Doyle:
“One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a baby
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for Heaven
Nine for Hell
And ten for the Devil himself.”
“When I initially started the company; I went through pages and pages of potential names that just wouldn’t work with the brand of storytelling we were looking to do. And because, to this day, if I see a crow on the side of the road, I have to look back for the second for ‘joy’ (Thanks Nana), it hit me. I was driving to work and I saw two crows and said out loud ‘one for sorrow, two for joy,’” said Doyle.
The storytelling which Doyle is referring to works to mimic both classic comedy and tragedy masks.
“Our company logo has one crow with its head bowed in dismay and another crow squawking as if in excitement. Two Crows… for joy,” said Doyle.
Ten years ago, Doyle, a Long Island, New York native, moved here for a “six-month contract” with the American Players Theatre and never left. Fellow American Players Theatre actor Marcus Truschinski was the first person that Doyle met in the area.
Truschinski and Doyle began the foundational friendship that now solidly helms the Two Crows Theatre Company. Both men have continued to act and have devoted themselves to other creative endeavors in the Spring Green community and beyond.
Two Crows Theatre Company seeks to use their collaborative efforts to cultivate theater with an era of intimate performances.
“Marcus has always been an incredible friend and he has always been an incredibly hard worker,” said Doyle. “He keeps me honest and keeps me on my toes.”
The passionate artistic directing partnership of Doyle and Trushchinski is apparent in their mutual respect for one another and shared dedication to the creative ventures before them.
“I think Rob and I work well together. Working together has strengthened our friendship,” said Trushchinski. “Rob is a very good listener and a very hard worker. We both believe in this project.”
For a long time both Truschinski and Doyle had concerns about the future of their theater company and, like many others, had many questions of what was to come during the pandemic. They had no choice but to close the doors of the Two Crows Theatre Company.
“People kept asking and approaching us about Two Crows coming back. We felt like it was almost our duty to bring it back,” said Truschinski.
The pair was approached not only by theater patrons, but also artists, actors and directors asking for the company’s return to the stage — the duo felt it was an important asset to the community and chose to strike the match again.
“We are ready to continue to deliver intimate stories in a deliberately intimate setting. We’re doing it for the community. The intimate theater experience allows people to feel whatever they need to feel… while they are watching a really relevant story,” said Doyle. “We really want to tell really moving stories.”
With a seating capacity of 201 people, the Touchstone Theatre on APT’s grounds will be the intimate setting for the Two Crows Theatre Company’s performances. The previous productions were all held within the Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret in downtown Spring Green.
The initial plan to return and perform there changed largely due to a busy music and performance schedule at the Slowpoke Lounge. The Touchstone Theatre will enable greater ability to implement different technical aspects.
Doyle and Truschinski have hopes to not only keep theater and community alive in the coldest months of Wisconsin’s long winters but they also aspire to provide a place for emerging playwrights through Two Crows Theatre and they have announced, The New Play Workshop.
The New Play Workshop will provide an opportunity for playwrights to develop their works and then read and perform them publicly for critique and review. Andy Trushchinski will lead the New Play Workshop as manager of the project. The company hopes to debut this project in the upcoming spring.
Marcus Truschinski has made Spring Green his home since the beginning of his career at APT; with his wife, fellow APT actor and artistic collaborator, Tracy Arnold along with their son Gus. Doyle has warmly embraced Spring Green since the beginning of his career at APT, happily residing in the artistic community since; the beloved community that both Truschinski and Doyle hope to make lasting and memorable marks within.
“Spring Green means home to me,” said Truschinski. “In all senses of the word; my artistic home, my literal home, and the place where I feel most at home. The community has taken me in as one of their own. Spring Green being home is the reason Two Crows is coming back.”
The fundraiser
Two Crows is also hosting a fundraising launch party Jan. 28 at The Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret in Spring Green. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and entertainment begins at 7 p.m.
The event will be full of live music and play readings. Tickets for the event will be available in advance for $15 or available at the door if the event is not sold out. Donations will be accepted throughout the event.
Music will be provided by Ben Feiner from the band the Violet Palms.
Doyle will perform a song from his new musical Dear Writer/Dear Actress. Truschinski will lead the program. Excerpts from the play will be read. It will be an evening to remember.
The play
The company’s 2024 season kicks off Feb. 29 with the showing of “The Thin Place” by Lucas Hnath, directed by Jake Penner. The play is about life, death and the afterlife; with the title of the play making reference to the delicate separation between life, death, and what is beyond.
“Some have called this play a thriller, or even a ghost story. It’s built to be unsubstantial but intensely impactful,” says the theatre company in the play’s description.
The cast will include Samantha Newcomb as Hilda, Mhari Sandoval as Linda, Elizabeth Reese as Sylvia and Doyle as Jerry.
The show will run Feb. 29 to March 10 at the Touchstone Theatre.
For more information and tickets, visit www.twocrowstheatrecompany.org.