Center Stage: From Jungle Queen Villain to Oz Stage Manager—Meet James Creighton
James Creighton fully embracing the hunched, villainous posture of Barnaby for Murder Aboard the SS Jungle Queen. Photo: Hans Creative Studios.
If you were in the audience for Broadway Maricopa’s production of Murder Aboard the SS Jungle Queen earlier this year, there is one character you absolutely remember: Barnaby.
He was the hunched, aloof, incredibly creepy figure who had a knack for appearing right behind people to deliver spine-tingling laughs. The man behind that fan-favorite villain was James Creighton. Now, just a few months later, James has traded his villainous posture for a headset and a clipboard, stepping into the massive, critical role of Stage Manager for our upcoming summer spectacular, The Wizard of Oz.
I recently sat down with James after a long rehearsal—while I was catching my breath from running around as an Ozian—to talk about his theatrical roots, the chaos of managing a massive summer musical, and what audiences can expect when the curtain rises next month.
Creating a Fan-Favorite Villain
For someone who played Barnaby so flawlessly, you would think James had a long history of playing the bad guy. Surprisingly, it was his first time stepping into a villainous role.
When Director Marcus called to offer him the part, James was initially hesitant, remembering the character from a high school production he’d seen years ago. But once he was given the creative freedom to build the character from the ground up, he found inspiration in a highly unexpected place.
"I directly stole the idea from an Instagram video of people playing Dungeons & Dragons," James laughed. "The Dungeon Master had this particular character—this creepy rat-butler with a really creepy voice. I just stole that idea, put it into the character, added the hunched movements, and Marcus loved it. He told me it needed to be the absolute creepiest, nastiest piece of work ever."
Always lurking—Barnaby perfectly times a comedic background appearance during a live performance of Jungle Queen. Photo: Hans Creative Studios.
The Chaos of the Stage Manager
So, what happens when the creepy villain character is suddenly put in charge of a 70-person cast?
For the average person who isn't entrenched in the theater lifestyle, the backstage environment is often a mystery. When asked to define what a Stage Manager actually does, James didn't miss a beat.
"The joking answer is: the Stage Manager does the things that the director doesn't want to do," he explained.
In reality, James is the operational heartbeat of the show. While he has previous experience stage managing and taking roll for high school productions, The Wizard of Oz is on an entirely different scale. "I'm the one keeping up with the schedule, taking the blocking notes for the director and actors, and once it gets to showtime, I'm the one calling the show—calling lights, sound, mics, all those things."
A Fresh Spin on The Emerald City
While we are keeping most of the Emerald City's secrets tightly under wraps, James, who gets to sit in the room and watch every single scene slowly piece together, hinted that audiences are in for a visual treat.
"I'm really excited to see how it comes together, especially the design aspect," James noted. "They want to make it an alternative version. I'm excited to see what that looks like from the setting to the costumes."
He also noted that the dynamic between the iconic trio—the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion—is going to bring the house down. "Their takes on the characters are a lot of fun. When they start bouncing off of each other, with Dorothy as the calm center for them... it's so much fun to see."
James Creighton poses in his Barnaby costume before taking on his new role as Stage Manager for The Wizard of Oz. Photo: Hans Creative Studios.
A Spark That Never Went Away
Perhaps the most inspiring part of James’s story is how he got back into theater in the first place. After doing a few productions in middle and high school, he took a 7 or 8-year hiatus. The desire to perform was always burning in the background, but like so many adults, he kept finding reasons not to audition.
"There is ALWAYS an excuse not to do it," James admitted. "Plenty of times I either talked myself out of it, thinking there were no roles for me, or that it was too big of a leap. You just need one good excuse to do it."
Finally, while alone house-sitting for a friend, he secretly decided to audition for a community theater production. "I didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family, I didn't tell friends... I just said to myself, 'If you don't do this now, when are you ever gonna do this?'"
He leaped in headfirst, put his best effort forward, and hasn't looked back since. His advice for anyone in Maricopa who might be scared to step out of their comfort zone?
"Treat it as exploring. You never know what you're gonna find. You don't have to go in with the concept of 'I need to be amazing.' Just put in your best effort and show you are willing to learn. Directors can see that, and that alone will get you further than most people. Conquer the scaredness."
Come Experience the Magic!
Don't miss James and the rest of our incredible 70-person cast and crew as they bring the Emerald City to life! The Wizard of Oz runs for 8 spectacular performances.
Opening Weekend:
Friday, July 31 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 PM (Matinee)
Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 PM
Second Week & Closing Weekend:
Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00 PM
Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM
Friday, August 7 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 8 at 2:00 PM (Matinee)
Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 PM
Location: Heritage Academy Auditorium, Maricopa, AZ
Want to join the Broadway Maricopa family? If James’s story inspired you, your chance to step into the spotlight is right around the corner! Auditions for our upcoming Fall Murder Mystery will take place in just one month (this July). Keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the official audition dates, character breakdowns, and signup packets!