ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Prior to his new play Union Station, playing at the Broadwater Main Stage Jan 23-26, Ron Harner wrote and directed three other plays: The Ones Who Leave (2019), Spitting Feathers (2022) and On The Rocks (2023). Union Station, featuring the songs of Joni Mitchell, is billed as “a celebration of music, self-discovery, and the timeless influence of Joni Mitchell.” And since I have always idolized her music, I decided to speak with Ron for Stage and Cinema about his inspiration, creative process, and themes in the play as well as the characters who populate it. Joining us is actor Mary Simmons, who is in the show and wrote an original song for it.
Shari Barrett: Thanks so much, Ron, for speaking with me. In doing research for this interview, I learned that prior to your work in the theater, you performed with The Second City comedy troupe and developed feature films and TV pilots in Los Angeles. Since you were born in Connecticut, what led you to pursue employment in the world of Los Angeles entertainment? And at what age did you move here?
Ron Harner: Thanks for having me, Shari. I was 27 when I landed in Los Angeles. Movies and comedy have dominated my life for as long as I can remember, but I always thought there was a small group of geniuses out West who created these pieces of magic I loved so much. I never considered I could be part of it. Then I had a chance meeting with a veteran TV writer who gave me some validation, and I decided to make the leap.
SB: Did you always want to be more involved behind the scenes as a writer rather than a performer? Why?
RH: I’ve done a little bit of acting and I loved performing with the gang from The Second City, but I was on stage with people who were a whole lot better at that than me. I’ve found that the thing I enjoy most is creating characters and a story, and an interesting world for them to live in – and then working with those talented people to create something special.
SB: Has music always been an important part of your life?
RH: Oh, yeah. A friend let me borrow a Beatles album when I was about ten years old, and it changed my life. I’m not overstating that. The minute I put the needle on the record and heard those voices, it set me down a path I’m still following.
SB: Same thing happened for me with the Beatles! Tell me about the story line in Union Station and your inspiration for creating it.
RH: Union Station is the story of a talented, young musician on a quest to find her own voice. Up until the point that we meet her, she could always lean on the lyrics of her hero, Joni Mitchell, to get her by. Now, faced with the biggest challenge of her life, she has to step up and learn to sing her own song.
My inspiration for the play goes back to how much I love music and how big a part it has played in my life. Sometimes you want to put the headphones on, close the door and keep these songs all to yourself. But, for me, anyway, the real gift is when you can share that magic with someone else. That discovery is something that is discussed in the play.
SB: Does all the action take place in the station, which is such a crossroads for people from all over the world? And if not, where?
RH: All the action takes place on a train. It seems to me that when you ride on a train you see things from a different perspective. That’s what the lead character is hoping for when she takes the ride. It’s also an escape.
SB: Tell me about the characters, actors, and how their interactions fuel the story.
In rehearsal: Chad Skiles, Thea Lux, Director Ron Harner (photo by Charlie Wood)
RH: At the heart of Union Station is C.J., played by Mary, a young musician at a crossroads in her life. Words have always eluded her in moments that matter most, but Joni Mitchell’s lyrics have long served as her emotional compass. When life becomes overwhelming, she decides to escape on a train to visit her favorite aunt. Along the way, a cast of unexpected characters offer insights and revelations that help her view her world with fresh eyes – and ultimately find her voice.
Michael (Chad Skiles) is a bit of an enigma. He is the train’s bartender, but he is much more. Michael has an almost otherworldly ability to know what every other character needs before they realize they need it.
Nora (Thea Lux) is C.J.’s aunt and her confidante. She is also a world-renowned artist with a lifetime of jaw-dropping experiences and stories. C.J. believes she is just like her aunt, but we will learn there is one major difference between the two of them.
Sam (Charlie Wood) is C.J.’s boyfriend. He is an unexpected passenger on this train but, possibly, the most important one. In a world loaded with busy, Type-A planners, Sam is a man who lives for today – and enjoys every minute of it.
SB: Have you worked with any of them before? And if not, how did you go about the casting process?
RH: I have worked with the great Chad Skiles from the very beginning. And this is my third play with Mary.
I was very fortunate to find Thea and Charlie through an extensive audition process. They are two terrific actors who bring a great energy to this show. I can’t wait for audiences to see this cast in action.
SB: Since Mary is a singer/songwriter and you have worked together before, was C.J. written with her in mind?
RH: Yes. And this is the only thing I have ever written with a single actor in mind. I love working with Mary. She’s an incredible dramatic actress with real comedy chops. You don’t stumble upon that every day. And then there’s her voice. She sang for just a moment during our first play together, and her voice knocked me out. So, when I had the seeds of an idea for this play, I asked her if she would consider doing it and, thank God, she committed right away. Once she did, I went away and wrote it.
Cast of Union Station:
Chad Skiles, Thea Lux, Charlie Wood and Mary Simmons (photo Ron Harner)
SB: How does the music of Joni Mitchell play an integral part in Union Station, as well as in your own life?
RH: The more I listen to Joni’s lyrics, the more in awe I am of them. Seriously, it’s crazy how wonderful they are. The key to this play is that Joni’s lyrics drive Mary’s character of C.J. As I dove deeper into those lyrics it was uncanny how in sync those words were to C.J.’s feelings and how they directed each step she was taking.
SB: Tell me more about your creative process in bringing Union Station from the page to the stage. Was it a long process?
RH: It didn’t take long to write it once I had the characters and the idea in my head. I should say, it took a whole lot of walks with my dog to find the heart of the story. But once I got it – and once I found the right actors to bring it to life – it all moved quickly.
SB: How or why do you think music has the power to lift us up and/or lead us on the path to find our own voice in life?
RH: It’s something of a mystery, isn’t it? As one of the characters in the play says, “Music is just a series of vibrations with words attached, but nothing else makes me feel that good.” I can’t explain it, but it’s true. And it’s gotten me through some of the roughest spots in my life.
SB: Have you always directed your own plays?
RH: I have. Maybe I’ll let someone else do it someday, but I have too much fun doing it to give that away right now.
SB: If you could only choose one, would you prefer to write or direct plays? Why?
RH: That’s a brutal question. Writing is something you do with the door closed. Directing you do with the door open. So… maybe it’s directing.
SB: Is there a message or lesson about life you hope audiences will walk away discussing after seeing Union Station?
RH: The things you love – the things you think are yours and yours alone – are even better when you share them. My aim is that people will see themselves in the characters. I certainly do. There’s something magical about music and lyrics – how they can lift us and carry us to where we need to go.
SB: And now a few questions for Mary Simmons who plays C.J. What attracted you to this project?
Mary Simmons: Having worked with Ron before, I knew the experience would be positive, collaborative, and creative. I was drawn to the humor and heart of the script, along with my character’s love of music and her desire to always do right by the people she loves.
SB: Are there any similarities between you and the character you play in Union Station? Or was it a challenge getting into the role?
MS: CJ and I both love making music, and we share some similar vulnerabilities. I felt very connected to her from the first read.
SB: What is your favorite thing about doing live theatre?
MS: I love the trust and collaboration of it all – it’s magic!
SB: Did you enjoy the process of writing original music for the play?
MS: I really did. I had written songs for other artists, but this is the first one I ever wrote for a character. I took some time to process the script, and then the song came to me as if it were my own. It was an amazing way to connect with CJ and experience her feelings in a way I’ve never done for a character before.
SB: Did you have an affinity to Joni Mitchell’s music before you began this project?
MS: Oh, yes! From her poetic lyrics to her genius and intricate melodies. Her music is a beautiful experience.
SB: Do you have a favorite Joni Mitchell song?
MS: River, but the whole Blue album has my heart.
SB: Thanks so much to both of you!
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Union Station
Broadwater Main Stage, 1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Thurs-Sat, Jan. 23-25, 2025, at 8; Sun Jan. 26, 2025, at 3
for tickets ($25), visit Event Brite
for more info, visit Ron Harner
