Sunday, November 30. 2008
Wow, how has more than a month gone by since I last posted? One of the bad things about trying to keep up with this blog is, when I have time, it's because not much is happening, when I have been as busy as can be with all kinds of good things to share, I'm too busy or tired to write, so we have some catching up to do! But that's not going to happen tonight either, because I am very tired, but I did come home from tech Sunday and have posted some fuzzy but better than nothing shots from Sundays rehearsal, go to the galleries, click on the 2008-2009 file and from there you'll see the It's A Wonderful Life: a live radio play pics. Then make your reservations to see this unique and very well done show starting Friday the 5th. well sorry to make this so short, but it is late and believe it or not I do still have some work to do on the set and around the theatre before opening so , I will write more this week and get some more pics up too ...and now, On With the Show !
Wednesday, October 29. 2008
Ok Scott, here it is, sorry in my haste I forgot to post your pic in the first entry. It was a very good costume, so unlike your natural personality! ...and now, On With the Show !
Saturday, October 25. 2008
Almost Halloween!, we had our annual FCT party tonight, it was a lot of fun, most everybody came in costume, good food was everywhere, we laughed, told ghost stories in the dark, debated the existence of ghosts and the supernatural.. and hardly talked about anybody ... LOL!!! Our meeting brought a lively discussion on the current state of the economy and how it is effecting the audience at all local theatres. Many ideas were also tossed about as to our participation in the Nov. 29 Christmas parade. Here's a few pictures of the ghost theme costumes and party games! ...and now, On With the Show !
Monday, October 20. 2008
I'd like to say I have been taking a nice week off to rest and relax after the wonderful but very tiring run of SOMETHING'S AFOOT, but I have been sidetracked from the blog by the first set construction day for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, we got almost two thrids of it finished in one day, way to go Tim, Hank and PJ. Then, crazy bald guy that I am, also have started working on the OHHS Thespians production of BUT WHY BUMP OFF BARNABY? It opens in mid November, another big old house/lodge with a bunch of crazy characters disappearing during a series of thunder/lightning/blackouts.. gee where have I heard that before? So a few hectic weeks are ahead of me, but I will try to keep up on my blogging. Before I can get carried away with new projects I still have quite a few more people to publicly acknowledge for their great contributions to SOMETHING'S AFOOT... Laura P, although it seems very comfortable to surround myself with old friends doing a show, you were a fresh new face that brought a ton of energy and enthusiasm to the role of Lettie, and I sure was glad that you were just the right size to fit in the vase I already had, I hope to see you back at FCT again soon! Jeff B, what a crazy start we had to get off too huh? I am so glad you recovered fast enough to give Flint 100%, it was great welcoming you back to the FCT stage, you have been gone way too long and I hope you are featured again soon! Erin O, I know I took a chance casting you, in a role many years your senior, and it was one that I am sure raised a few eyebrows, but I like to go with my gut feelings in cases like this and I knew all along that you would make a wonderful Miss Tweed. You are such a joy to watch and listen to on stage, you brought a fresh new energetic twist to Tweed and sang every note in your beautiful style, each night as I lay dead on the steps and listened to sing over me and yes, even occasionally stepping on me, I held back a big smile. Thanks for letting me twist your arm to even audition, I sure hope you had a good time! Ryan B, it doesn't seem possible that we got through those first few frantic hours..or was it days of phone calls and texts trying to figure out who was who and what was what. Talk about needing a score card to tell the players, but finally it all worked out and your arm is still in the socket! I know I threw a lot of direction, dance steps and responsibility at you but you handled it all like a pro and I am very grateful. Thanks for that fabulous voice and the teen energy to survive "I Owe It All" and then steal the scene with you and that incredible portrait. Kayla H, from the minute you "popped" on stage the first time, you had the unique character of Hope down cold, such a great voice and stage presence it was a blessing that it took you so long to die! You always look beautiful and bring such a glowing light all around you every minute your on stage! That's it for my great cast, but I can't forget.... Joe K, although it wasn't in the plan for you to be music director, conductor and pianist , it all worked out fine and like so many others said, we don't think you've ever played better! Thanks for so many countless hours and the devotion to help out when I really needed it, I hope you know how much it meant to me, thanks a zillion! John C, from stage manager to AD in the blink of an eye, I hope I didn't drive you too crazy, you are amazing. Although I know sometimes I doubt you, watching you move from one death machine to the next, you never missed a beat.... well we do have those flash pots! It's always a challenge but a pleasure to have you working on any show I direct, and I do hope we will do more someday. Sue S, as I wrote to you before, "super swimming costumes" what a great job you did, seeing my visions, adding your touches and working on or should I say UNDER an amazing budget, then there are the nights in the pouffe, what a trooper. It's been a bumpy road here and there but I can't thank you enough for taking the journey with me. Jim G, you boy genius you, what a beautiful job as usual you did lighting Rancour's retreat, of course you know I would have loved for you to have even more time to help the cause but I understand, there is that thing some people have called a life outside of the theatre! Cheryl B and Cody, where we would have been without you 2 in that booth? In the very quiet darkness I think! Thanks To Cyrus, Delilah, Mary Jo, Donna, Hank, Judy and I'm sure there are others that I should point out as helping the cause, thanks so much, it's never a "one man show" and I of course just could not have done it without any of you!
Sunday, October 12. 2008
Well, it's a wrap as they say. SOMETHING'S AFOOT is over. Of course I have for the last few hours been having those ever so familiar feelings of "aaahh, what a relief, I can have some of my life back!" mixed with "awh, it's all over and we can't do it any more, how sad, I'll miss the friends, the fun and the fantasy!" It's always a mixed bag of emotions when a show ends, sure we are glad to move on to doing some things around the house that need to get done or just catching up on the new TV line-up, but yet we will miss the nightly routine of the show since it seems that just as it's getting to the point where it's fun and easy, it's all finished. This was a great cast and we had a great run, allow me a bit of a rant here, probably the speech I should have made personally to the cast and crew but I held back, being tired and very emotional, I know I would have not been able to keep it together and get all the out but what they all deserve to hear. Tonight half the cast or so, the rest tomorrow after my first full day of rest... My many most sincere and heartfelt thanks to: Bob A, I had to call Bob and recruit him for this show, being a non-singer and asking him to sing a solo line and do some group singing and choreographed movement , well it was a tough sell, he was very reluctant but as each rehearsal went by I saw Bob dancing around more and more backstage with the numbers happening onstage, I wondered if secretly he wished he had been in a bigger part and had gotten to do more. Today he told me repeatedly how much fun he had been having, how glad he was he had done the show and it overall had been a very good experience... that made me feel good! He did an excellent job, had a great death, very funny, was that nightly applause? he definitely made it his own, loved getting "gassed" more and more each night and taking a face full or mouth full of blue or green fairy dust powder! We won't mention the night he didn't hand me his Dr. bag or his plugging in the vacuum and discovering it was switched on. Thanks again to him for pitching in and helping out backstage so much wherever he was needed, that's the true spirit, right? Linda R, what a honor it actually was to have her reprising her role of 29 years ago, guess that's a testimonial to the family and community of people we have at FCT. Always funny, still in good voice and looking as good as ever from her first entrance, even in the Lucy wig I gave her to wear, she stole Act I with her vampy seductress song, how she can work a boa! And I don't know how to even mention her self-adjusting wardrobe maneuvers or how she can turn a sash into a marital aid! It is always fun to work with good old friends! John A, despite a tough rehearsal schedule, and the scary moments we had during and after the hospitalization, and the decisions that I HAD to make at that time, thanks for putting it together and sticking with it no matter how bad you felt. What a trooper, committed and dedicated, sure there were lines that were rewritten nightly, some blocking ..questionable and sometimes it was hard to keep up the energy and stay focused but regardless, you made it to that third step every night just in time to get bonked! You are a great black sheep! Tim B, wow, you do so much, so many times, whenever and whatever is asked of you, thank you, thank you, thank you! From nearly every set construction day, rehearsals and taking on special projects all over the theatre, your just a blessing to a guy like me that needs so much help. Your performance is always right on, giving 100% effort to make every moment your on stage the best it can be for every audience member, time after time, it is such a pleasure to watch you and know that the show is in good hands while your on stage. Your timely death is proof that your comedic timing is always guaranteed. Then I have to acknowledge your commitment to non theatre related issues like my leaking tires, I guess my priorities get easily screwed up when I'm trying to get a show ready, but how much easier my life will be now with my director's gift in trunk, thank you! So many things to say about the wonderful time we had during the show, I plan for it to maybe take me a few days, so check back, plus we have all the new news of IT"S A WONDERFUL LIFE to talk up between now and Dec., until then.. ...and now, On With the Show !
Friday, October 10. 2008
WHAT A GREAT NIGHT, GREAT SHOW! We reopened Friday night to a very nice crowd both in size and reactions, the crowd "got" every single bit and just as planned were very entertained. For the first time in the run, I believe every tech effect worked perfectly, while the most memorable moment had to be Erin's giggling, normally a quick giggle on stage is nothing to concern yourself about, but considering she did this AFTER she was dead.. well that's another whole story! A trip to the 818 after was very nice, I enjoyed a nice visit with FCT attorney Scott C and his girlfriend Amber, they made the trip from Toledo and really enjoyed the show and had many questions I found interesting coming from the perspective of a first time visitor to " Rancour's Retreat" Many things I wasn't able to see after knowing the show what I thought was so well for at least the last 19 years. Like most lawyers he had ideas mostly as the story unfolded as to what was going to happen to Lord Dudley's will and the money as more and more guests are killed off. LOL ! Tonight's pouffe mistress was Sue S, the "killer shrunken heads" got extremely good reactions from the crowd and Scott even asked if the appearance of them was a FCT tradition since he gauged the audiences reaction to them as almost familiar. Denny S also unleashed his new arsenal of sound effect toys from the pit, they were hysterical, thanks for the extra effort Denny! Although this pic doesn't begin to show the fun we have pre show in the almost new dressing room, I thought I'd post it anyway to show Laura helping Jeff with his eyes, Ryan relaxing, Erin is knitting, Chelsea is looking just plain bored and Tim is finishing up the Col. ...and now, On With the Show !
Wednesday, October 8. 2008
Yes I almost don't believe it myself but I have had a few rare days off from FCT, I relaxed some, worked out some, and got some film developed from the weekend, here is the official cast picture from "SOMETHING'S AFOOT", there is still time to make reservations for this weekend!
Monday, October 6. 2008
The second night of auditions for "It's A Wonderful Life" were Monday and from what I think I counted 15 or 16 people completed for the 6 or so major roles, it was a very tough choice PJ and Scott had to make but one I think will be excellent. A few familiar faces, Randy, Tim and Tracy, along with Brandon W, Brittany F and Hilary F will join new comers, Steve O and Leita and Taya R. With an art deco inspired set, 40's period costumes and Christmas all over the theatre, mark your calendars now to share this perennial holiday classic with your family and friends! ...and now, On With the Show !
Sunday, October 5. 2008
Our run is half way over, how can more than 2 months go by so fast? Sunday brought, as always with LIVE theatre, a first time experience... I have paced backstage in and the lobby many many times waiting for cast members to show up for the pre show call. Generally a few minutes late is no big deal, I worry, they show, all is good, today was a slightly different situation. Word came at about 1:00 that one cast member was sound and I mean sound asleep 20 minutes away, maybe a hundred or more phone calls would not stir him awake, nobody else was home, nobody else was close enough to run over and wake him, it just wasn't looking good! So eventually at nearly 1:20 before the 2 o'clock curtain my faithful and craziest AD John C headed out to race at what I'm sure were very illegal speeds to get the house and wake up the sleepy head and get him back to the theatre ASAP. It was just a few minutes till 2 when we got the cell call he was awake and in the car and headed back but no way would they make the curtain. We held the curtain and explained to the audience that some 'technical difficulties" would delay the opening of the show just slightly, by 2:10 they were in the building and we got underway. Whew, talk about one crazy bald guy pulling out the hair in his wig! Together we were working on plan B, C and so on, don't you just love theatre and the " anything that can go wrong will" rule. After the initial adrenaline rush , everybody put on a great show, so far the best I'd say. A nice house , laughed and laughed, and afterward I heard so many positive comments, on the set, the costumes and the crazy special effects... that's what it's all about, we made some people happy! With just one more weekend and 3 shows to go, all I can think would nice is for higher attendance numbers, after so much work by the cast and crew, it'd be shame to miss this funny and amazingly entertaining show! PJ and Scott had a small but talented turn out for It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (IAWLALRP) of course, men were in a shortage, one more night to get down to FCT and read for this great show! After the auditions, PJ and I talked some about the unique art deco set we are planning, it is going to be very cool, I am anxious to get started! As always we could use some help! It's been a long weekend.. Zzzzzz ...and now, On With the Show !
Sunday, October 5. 2008
Auditions are on Sunday and Monday nights at 7 for this great show. A cast of 5 work with a challenging sound effects crew to create a studio version of a 1940's live radio broadcast of the American classic movie "It's A Wonderfful Life". This show has many unique oppurtunities for bringing a very special Christmas present to the cast, crew and community. Check out the details on the Homepage and PJ, Scott and myself hope to see you at auditions.. tryout, join the crew, help in anyway you think you might be able to help out.
Sunday, October 5. 2008
The second night of our 6 night run for "Something's Afoot" is over now, and we had another good show, sure I won't lie, with a show this complicated, things are bound to go slightly off track, that is the beauty of LIVE theatre, right? But I have to hand it to my talented cast and crew to cover some of the minor variations in the plan with ease and professionalism. After all what would we have to talk about afterward if some of the props didn't fully cooperate?, every entrance was perfectly on time?, and in the case of "Something's Afoot" every death was exactly the same? If the cast might have had a tiny case of the second night let downs it wasn't obvious to a smaller but appreciative audience. What's up with the Saturday night attendance? They have been consistently lower than other nights for quite some time now, if anyone has any ideas about how to promote the "perfect night for an evening at the theatre" let me know. I don't think it's competition from sporting events, what's on TV that night or High school activities, the majority of our audience shouldn't be letting those things affect their Saturday night plans. It's a puzzlement! I have to take a minute to acknowledge the great musical talents of our Musical Director/conductor and pianist Joe K. Often overlooked as the cast on stage gets the applause but down there at the piano is the often forgotten but undeniable key to the success of any musical. Where would this show be without him? It's not hard to guess.. no where! He is shining as he tickles those ivories and there aren't enough kudos in the world to thank him for all he has devoted to this production, I know I am very grateful as is the cast that has mentioned to me repeatedly how great a job he is doing and how much they are so glad he is down in that pit for us, Thank you Joe! Well, I like to have a rule that at least 12 hours should pass between leaving the theatre and getting back there the next day, after just looking at the clock, I realize that isn't going to be possible to do for Sunday's matinee so I better get some rest, still trying to catch up on that. It will be my second morning in a row that I am not worried about an alarm clock going off reminding me I have to be anywhere too early! Feels gooood! ...and now, On With the Show !
Friday, October 3. 2008
After 6 months of planning, 2 months of rehearsal and countless hours of work, on stage and off, Something's Afoot opened tonight, and Wow, did it go great! The cast is working well together, finally comfortable with the lines and their characters as the crazy story comes alive while the zany characters die off. I'm still hesitant to get into to much of the story line, since it is a mystery and part of the fun of seeing the show is trying to figure out WHODIDIT? There are some hilarious scenes and songs. As I expected, Linda and Tim, Laura and Jeff and Kayla and Ryan shine as the romantic couples, singing and dancing and making me wish I could only do what they make look so effortless. I was very much filled with pride tonight as the cast, crew and musicians made dreams come true. I try to take great pride in my work and so do appreciate the comments of admiration, although I do get great personal satisfaction out of it all, the real reason is to share it with everyone else. if your reading this .. why not leave a comment here and share your thoughts with all of us too. In highlights... Donna had the lobby looking wonderful, thanks to Joe A also! Whenever I need them, Mary Jo , Judy, Ron and Sue are there to support me, thanks so much to them! Delilah does a great job with everybody's hair, Cyrus is making his contribution in a small (space that is) way, that is but quick but extremely important to the plot and silliness of the whole show! The dresser's, the floor sweepers, the prop painters, sound and lights technicians all sure do make me look good! Thanks soooo much! As I say in every curtain speech I make, YOU are our best advertising, if you saw the show, PLEASE tell a friend or 2.. or 100! if you haven't made your reservation yet, do so now! Only 5 shows left. Sure we partied a little bit tonight, we deserve it, it was good to see Katie J tonight, Jason K too! Can't believe I'm going to start thinking about this already since the paint is barely dry on this set, but auditions for It's a Wonderful Life: the live radio show are Sun. and Mon. at 7 check it out and hope to see you there, old faces and new alike. This could be a very good start for someone who is thinking about taking the big plunge into community theatre. Memorization is limited, the blocking should be easy, you just need to have an arsenal of voices stored up in your head that you can use to tell this piece of American classic theatre. ...and now, On With the Show !
Tuesday, September 30. 2008
OK, as I write this I am entering my 41st hour without sleep, why , oh why, have I done that? It's all been in the preparation for Press dress, it is behind us now and it went great! and trust me I am headed for a good nights sleep, and I can rest easy knowing that the cast, crew and pit have come together to mount a FANTASTIC show, sure we still have some bugs to work out, that what we will tackle on Thursday! We had a very responsive decent size crowd tonight, lots of family, friends and FCT members, they laughed clapped and really gave us the boost we needed to understand how much fun this show is to be in as much as we hope it is for others to watch! The set is 98% done, I just have a few more things that need to be done and then a few more special touches to really set it off as a different look from what we are used to seeing at FCT, hopefully the webmaster will get some of the over 400 pics he took tonight posted here soon. I am very happy with it, I guess I am NOT happy though that only a handful, a very small handful of people helped to make it all get done. WE NEED YOU!!! We need even just one to a few hours a week to get the list of things to do worked down to a more manageable size. Many people ask " how can I get involved?" I say it all the time, " just come on out!" no experience required , just the desire to help out, have fun, learn and make friends along the way! Sure walking through that door the first time can be scary, trust me, we've all been there! So instead of trying to find the courage to do it solo, how bout attending a show and then while your there, surrounded by the security of a couple hundred others, you can ask anyone of the ushers, officers or cast members, how to get started! It is just so easy , you'll be sorry you didn't do it a long time ago! What a great cast!...The teenage faction of the cast took the spotlight tonight as Erin, Kayla and Ryan definitely had a fan club there to watch, Tim and Linda have one of the funniest "love songs" to come along in a long time, Bob twitches his way through some comic moments while real life couple Jeff and Laura share some on stage couple time in funny, funny ways! A lot of shows are tough to pull off, for many reasons, let me tell you that SOMETHING'S AFOOT is no exception and may be the grand daddy of them all! so many things to go wrong.. and they did some tonight,I don't want to go into it too much since the surprise factor would be ruined when you come and see it! But those classic moments are what great theatre stories are made of! Well, as i said earlier I am VERY tired so I am going to get some sleep, I think it was at about hour 24 I thought I had done something pretty stupid and I was cursing to myself why? why? why? I guess i might still be asking that question, but then I remembered, because I really do love doing it, sure their are headaches and heartaches along the way but stepping back and soaking in that finished set or standing on stage and hearing the laughs and applause...guess that answers my question! Make your reservations now, these 6 performances will go by fast! ...and now, On With the Show !
Wednesday, September 24. 2008
Oh boy, wow what a few days this has been! We still have one cast member who is under the weather, get better linda and save that voice, then today I get the call that John is being admitted to the hospital.....he hasn't been feeling very good for days so I had not idea what was wrong with him, later on wed night i spoke to a very grogy and I assume heavily medicated John who was going to spend the night in the hospital and let me know more about how hes doing on thursday, we are thinking of you but oh , my nerves! but as I say every time I end these posts,.. on with the show! we rehearsed without a few bodies again on wed. here and there but the remaining cast members act and move around likeeveryone is there and tonight a few special moments were born I'm sure! as promised I took some pics but without the stage lights on my cheapo camera didnt do too well and most were darker than the ones im going to put in here, some more to come when we start running lights, sound, props, costumes and the whole 9 yards deal soon! lots and lots... and LOTS of tech to do this weekend, if you feel so inspired to help, come on out and i will put you to work!
Tuesday, September 23. 2008
With just one week until press dress and 10 days until opening night , you can imagine i'm getting kinda nerved up! The last few days the show has definitely turned the corner, the lines and choreography are coming easier and I have been adding more and more "bits" every night. Now if we can all stay healthy, that's been a big challenge, did i mention the colds, the cysts, the infections? yeah!! fun huh? we will have a great final week of rehearsals, a looong weekend of tech to be done yet, did i mention wallpaper? upholstery? props..Props..PROPS!!! but we , as always will be ready to open on the 3rd , no problem. Hopefully at wed nights rehearsal, i'll take a few pics to post for a little sneak peak at the antics we are calling SOMETHING'S AFOOT, but nothing like being there, be sure to plan to take in the opening show of the 53rd season! ...and now, On With the Show !
|
