Photo Caption: Laura Moore as ‘Maria Callas’ (center) demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s entrance to Samantha Luck (‘Sharon Graham’), with Dale Scrivener (‘Manny Weinstock’) at the piano in Thingamajig Theatre’s current production, ‘Master Class. Photo by Justin Treptow, courtesy of Thingamajig Theatre Company.
By Tim Moore
Terrence McNally’s ‘Master Class’ is part lecture, part confessional, and part gladiatorial match.
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, Laura Moore embodies Maria Callas with wit, ferocity, and startling vulnerability. The result is a production that has captivated audiences and critics alike, earning praise as one of Thingamajig Theatre Company’s finest presentations.
The premise is deceptively straightforward: Callas, once the most celebrated soprano in the world, presides over a voice class with three ambitious young singers. Yet the lesson is never simply about singing. Callas’s fierce critiques and razor-edged humor slip effortlessly into recollections of triumphs, betrayals, and sacrifices that defined her career. In this space, the line between teacher and confessor blurs — and the audience becomes witness to the cost of greatness.
Moore’s performance is at once commanding and intimate, summoning the grandeur of Callas while revealing the raw humanity beneath the diva’s armor. She is matched by a strong ensemble: Ellie O’Hara, Trevor Brown, and Samantha Luck as the brave students who weather her storm, and Dale Scrivener at the piano, who provides both music and dry counterpoint to the tempest onstage. Together, they give the play both bite and balance. Scott Morehead rounds out the cast as the unimpressed Stagehand and plays an unintended and delightfully humorous foil to Callas.
Audiences have responded warmly, with many praising the production’s sharp humor and emotional depth. Critics have highlighted the clarity of the staging, humorous banter, and Moore’s commanding performance. Performances have already sold out, a clear sign of the play’s resonance and appeal.
For those who missed the September performances — or those who want to experience it again — Master Class returns this weekend at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, with performances on October 10 and 11 at 7pm. Tickets are extremely limited and moving quickly.
This is not just a play about music. It is about the price of ambition, the beauty of imperfection, and the way art leaves its mark long after the curtain falls. At PSCA, Callas’ lesson is clear: theatre at its best is as unforgiving — and as unforgettable — as life itself.
For tickets and more information, visit pagosacenter.org or call 970-731-SHOW (970-731-7469)