Well, once again, I can't believe it's here, but it is! We've only one rehearsal (preview) left until we open to the public in 2 days. We have traveled "down life's highway" to get to this point and I think everything has turned out just right. This is soooo not just another production of Grease. This production is exciting, rowdy, in your face, and so full of energy. I can definitely say I am proud to be a part of this production and I am so excited to finally open the show for others to see! (And I do wear bling in the show, so you probably want to see it for that fact alone...)
I have not taken the time to share as much as I would have liked on the blog, but as long as Scott keeps them up I will try to post more as the show is in production...especially if there are some juicy stories to share!
Hope everyone gets a chance to see the show!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
And How
Well we are approaching the final stages of rehearsal now. The accompanist has come in so Scott has the opportunity now to watch the whole show and run around like the madman he is and give us direction to help really pull all of the shows element together and to polish, or tarnish in this case, different parts of the show.
I am continuing my journey to really solidify Eugene's character within the next week. It took me a while to completely grasp what's going on with him. With some family and friends help, Scott's help, and a viewing of Animal House, I think I am on my way.
This winter has been a crazy one. From family issues and court cases to my wonderful mouth and migraines. For some reason everything tends to come at once. Monday morning I enjoyed a root canal that I had already had done, but somehow was messed up and got reinfected. So that was joyous. I'm glad it's taken care of though.
Anyway, the theatre is starting to get a little more buzz in it during rehearsal as the magical phrase "We open in one week!" gets bandied about. We've got an exciting, refreshing show coming together, but we still have a few more kinks to work out. I am totally excited about opening next week, but we've got a loooong week ahead of us!
I am continuing my journey to really solidify Eugene's character within the next week. It took me a while to completely grasp what's going on with him. With some family and friends help, Scott's help, and a viewing of Animal House, I think I am on my way.
This winter has been a crazy one. From family issues and court cases to my wonderful mouth and migraines. For some reason everything tends to come at once. Monday morning I enjoyed a root canal that I had already had done, but somehow was messed up and got reinfected. So that was joyous. I'm glad it's taken care of though.
Anyway, the theatre is starting to get a little more buzz in it during rehearsal as the magical phrase "We open in one week!" gets bandied about. We've got an exciting, refreshing show coming together, but we still have a few more kinks to work out. I am totally excited about opening next week, but we've got a loooong week ahead of us!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Blogging
I am realizing I am not so hot at keeping up with this blog. My goal was to get a blog up each week, but it seems like each week flies by faster and faster. A gentle reminder from readers has helped me...thanks Scott, ha.
Ok, so first of all I want to say that I feel like a total bum for not being able to go out with the cast yet! Something goes wrong everytime I plan on going. I totally intended on going out last night after rehearsal for Joe's birthday, but as the rehearsal progress so did this massive migraine I was getting. I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. If you get migraines, you know what I mean...basically I feel them coming on and I'll start yawning a lot, and tears seem to form a lot more. Then it's focused on one spot in my head, I could pinpoint it. Eventually I can't even hold my head up straight anymore and the light really starts to bother me. Finally, I get nauseous and ultimately get up close and personal with the toilet. Only after this fateful meeting with the toilet do I begin to feel better. [I am told this is because regurgitation (sp?) releases saratonin in your body and makes you feel better than you are.] Anyway, it usually isn't too long after that I am back to normal again. If you get migraines you understand that you tend to seem unfriendly...as you are feeling terrible piercing pain in your head and you want to crawl into a dark orner and turn off your body so you don't have to feel that way anymore. I didn'twant to impose that on anybody.
Sorry, that was my little rant about migraines...they are my kryptonite I suppose.
Anyway, the cast is great and I seem to get along with everyone and I badly want to actually go out and get a chance to talk to some of them I don't know that well yet!
Moving on, we did run the entire show last night. Of course that wasn't without stopping to fix many issues that hive risen. I think Scott had pinpointed exactly what the major issues with the show are at this point. The transitions are sloppy, but that is totally expected at this point since one, we are still getting used to playing the space in the Art Loft, and two, it was the first time we have run the entire show. In addition, the cast is starting to use props and moving furniture on and off the stage, which is another element to get used to and to work into the timing. So these are all things that will easily be fixed as the show runs a few more times.
The other major issue is that while the cast is trying to be loud enough to fill up the theatre, high style and "cartoon" characters are starting to creep back in. We are shooting for authentic characters from this 1959 inner-city high school, so all previous notions of these characters from other "fluff" productions and the movie must be thrown out the window.
Like Scott mentioned, when these authentic, realistic teenage characters emerge the scenes become so much more intense, exciting, and even more funny actually than when productions play the whole show up as a cartoony, over-the-top tribute to the 50's... or 70's (hard to tell when they are using music from different decades.)
I know the cast understands this concept Scott has and I also understand that it is actually pretty difficult to shed this preconceived ideas of the characters everyone is playing. I am having the same issues as everyone else. However, I do see that the cast has really progressed out of these previous notions, and though they slip into them at times everyone is really starting to get it. It's just going to take more work to get the characters and the show to where they need to be for this concept to work.
Anyway, everybody totally rocks and it is exciting that these are the major issues at this point! So many other productions never even reach this stage that we're at right now!
Alright, until next time.
Chris
Ok, so first of all I want to say that I feel like a total bum for not being able to go out with the cast yet! Something goes wrong everytime I plan on going. I totally intended on going out last night after rehearsal for Joe's birthday, but as the rehearsal progress so did this massive migraine I was getting. I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. If you get migraines, you know what I mean...basically I feel them coming on and I'll start yawning a lot, and tears seem to form a lot more. Then it's focused on one spot in my head, I could pinpoint it. Eventually I can't even hold my head up straight anymore and the light really starts to bother me. Finally, I get nauseous and ultimately get up close and personal with the toilet. Only after this fateful meeting with the toilet do I begin to feel better. [I am told this is because regurgitation (sp?) releases saratonin in your body and makes you feel better than you are.] Anyway, it usually isn't too long after that I am back to normal again. If you get migraines you understand that you tend to seem unfriendly...as you are feeling terrible piercing pain in your head and you want to crawl into a dark orner and turn off your body so you don't have to feel that way anymore. I didn'twant to impose that on anybody.
Sorry, that was my little rant about migraines...they are my kryptonite I suppose.
Anyway, the cast is great and I seem to get along with everyone and I badly want to actually go out and get a chance to talk to some of them I don't know that well yet!
Moving on, we did run the entire show last night. Of course that wasn't without stopping to fix many issues that hive risen. I think Scott had pinpointed exactly what the major issues with the show are at this point. The transitions are sloppy, but that is totally expected at this point since one, we are still getting used to playing the space in the Art Loft, and two, it was the first time we have run the entire show. In addition, the cast is starting to use props and moving furniture on and off the stage, which is another element to get used to and to work into the timing. So these are all things that will easily be fixed as the show runs a few more times.
The other major issue is that while the cast is trying to be loud enough to fill up the theatre, high style and "cartoon" characters are starting to creep back in. We are shooting for authentic characters from this 1959 inner-city high school, so all previous notions of these characters from other "fluff" productions and the movie must be thrown out the window.
Like Scott mentioned, when these authentic, realistic teenage characters emerge the scenes become so much more intense, exciting, and even more funny actually than when productions play the whole show up as a cartoony, over-the-top tribute to the 50's... or 70's (hard to tell when they are using music from different decades.)
I know the cast understands this concept Scott has and I also understand that it is actually pretty difficult to shed this preconceived ideas of the characters everyone is playing. I am having the same issues as everyone else. However, I do see that the cast has really progressed out of these previous notions, and though they slip into them at times everyone is really starting to get it. It's just going to take more work to get the characters and the show to where they need to be for this concept to work.
Anyway, everybody totally rocks and it is exciting that these are the major issues at this point! So many other productions never even reach this stage that we're at right now!
Alright, until next time.
Chris
Monday, January 29, 2007
Strooooooollin'!
Ok, so we are now finished staging everything in the show with the exception of choreography for the drum break in Hand Jive and All Choked Up. I have to say I am pretty excited...but tired as it is. We had a choreography rehearsal on Sunday to learn both an array of 50's dance moves and the actual Hand Jive choreography.
We first learned swing dancing. (well the basics, anyway) This was important because it was the basis for a lot of the dancing the kids in the 50's did and that was simply because those were the dances their parents knew. (As our choreographer informed us.)
So the teens of the 50's took these dances and put their own twists into it. It would seem sex is the appropriate word for the new direction dance was going. The dances are a lot of fun, addicting, yet they take an incredible amount of energy, especially when set to the beat of rock.
One of the other cast members commented, "No wonder they were so skinny in the 50's", which is actually quite true. I responded by saying my granmother had told me that exact thing many times before.
I can understand, the dances are fun and you want to keep doing it, but after you're done...you know it was a work-out.
Anyway, then we also learned the stroll which is kind of like a line dance mixed with a dance off? No, that's not right, but it's where you and your partner had a chance to strut your stuff (or stroll) down the middle of the guys and girls in two lines doing a dance...if that makes sense?
Unfortunately I twisted my ankle near the beginning of the rehearsal...I made it through all the choreography, but man I felt it when I got home. I rested it pretty much all day and by rehearsal tonight, I was able to do the staging and choreography. It still hurts a little now afterward, but I'm sure it will be fine. It's been sooo long since I've had to do much dancing, I've spent the last couple years doing pretty much straight plays, directing, or entertainment management. It is very nice to be back in it though! Musical theatre still rules my world, haha, how cheesy huh?
The dance scene is so complicated too, and I was impressed that we actually got it as quickly as we did. Well, I am sure there is plenty of room for improvement, but the structure of the scene is actually pretty complex. Consider what is happening here: We have an average amount of playing space, basically the entire cast onstage, music playing in the background, dancing going on in the meantime, while there is also dialogue happening. Even though the Hand Jive is the official dance number for the scene, it is most certainly not the only thing choreographed. The scene depends on timing and placement on stage of actors to be effective. There were several times tonight when couples would collide as they tried to make it to where they were supposed to be. Timing is soo important here as there are also many points where the underscore coincides with certain dialogue.
Overall, I think the scene is going to look really cool in the end, when everything just kind of fits into place. It will look really interesting to the audience, and hopefully look pretty realistic as well!
Chris
We first learned swing dancing. (well the basics, anyway) This was important because it was the basis for a lot of the dancing the kids in the 50's did and that was simply because those were the dances their parents knew. (As our choreographer informed us.)
So the teens of the 50's took these dances and put their own twists into it. It would seem sex is the appropriate word for the new direction dance was going. The dances are a lot of fun, addicting, yet they take an incredible amount of energy, especially when set to the beat of rock.
One of the other cast members commented, "No wonder they were so skinny in the 50's", which is actually quite true. I responded by saying my granmother had told me that exact thing many times before.
I can understand, the dances are fun and you want to keep doing it, but after you're done...you know it was a work-out.
Anyway, then we also learned the stroll which is kind of like a line dance mixed with a dance off? No, that's not right, but it's where you and your partner had a chance to strut your stuff (or stroll) down the middle of the guys and girls in two lines doing a dance...if that makes sense?
Unfortunately I twisted my ankle near the beginning of the rehearsal...I made it through all the choreography, but man I felt it when I got home. I rested it pretty much all day and by rehearsal tonight, I was able to do the staging and choreography. It still hurts a little now afterward, but I'm sure it will be fine. It's been sooo long since I've had to do much dancing, I've spent the last couple years doing pretty much straight plays, directing, or entertainment management. It is very nice to be back in it though! Musical theatre still rules my world, haha, how cheesy huh?
The dance scene is so complicated too, and I was impressed that we actually got it as quickly as we did. Well, I am sure there is plenty of room for improvement, but the structure of the scene is actually pretty complex. Consider what is happening here: We have an average amount of playing space, basically the entire cast onstage, music playing in the background, dancing going on in the meantime, while there is also dialogue happening. Even though the Hand Jive is the official dance number for the scene, it is most certainly not the only thing choreographed. The scene depends on timing and placement on stage of actors to be effective. There were several times tonight when couples would collide as they tried to make it to where they were supposed to be. Timing is soo important here as there are also many points where the underscore coincides with certain dialogue.
Overall, I think the scene is going to look really cool in the end, when everything just kind of fits into place. It will look really interesting to the audience, and hopefully look pretty realistic as well!
Chris
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Page to Stage
So, we are now getting into the meat of the blocking, or staging, process of rehearsals. We finished staging the first act of the show on Thursday. It seems that everyone is getting the picture and is starting to get the flow of the staging Scott has set for us. The only issues I can think of that might arise are involved with the microphones.
The mics are wired and will be handheld. (For period reasons.) The idea is really neat and seems to work with the songs, but I just have noticed watching the choreography on a couple of songs that the microphone cord may present some issues. Scott had mentioned that this would take some getting used to, so I am positive things will work out in that end.
As Eugene I am not actually in a majority of the show or its staging, so I have kind of had the opportunity to sit back and watch a lot of the directing process and watch how all of the cast is really taking it in. I always find this process interesting. Outside of performing I am also a director and I never stop learning when it comes to working with cast members and developing staging for a show. Especially with New Line, Scott's well researched approach to directing a show and his need for a valid purpose of producing the show leads to one of the most interesting and effective methods of directing a show I have seen.
As it is, I am thoroughly enjoying working on my second show with New Line now as an actor, but I still have the opportunity of learning from Scott as a director...indirectly. (If that makes sense?)
Looking forward to next week when we run through the first act and start staging the second act!
The mics are wired and will be handheld. (For period reasons.) The idea is really neat and seems to work with the songs, but I just have noticed watching the choreography on a couple of songs that the microphone cord may present some issues. Scott had mentioned that this would take some getting used to, so I am positive things will work out in that end.
As Eugene I am not actually in a majority of the show or its staging, so I have kind of had the opportunity to sit back and watch a lot of the directing process and watch how all of the cast is really taking it in. I always find this process interesting. Outside of performing I am also a director and I never stop learning when it comes to working with cast members and developing staging for a show. Especially with New Line, Scott's well researched approach to directing a show and his need for a valid purpose of producing the show leads to one of the most interesting and effective methods of directing a show I have seen.
As it is, I am thoroughly enjoying working on my second show with New Line now as an actor, but I still have the opportunity of learning from Scott as a director...indirectly. (If that makes sense?)
Looking forward to next week when we run through the first act and start staging the second act!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Name Game
Today was the last day of learning all of the music from the show, but the most important thing I actually learned today were the name's of everyone in the cast. I find that a great achievement, I also actually got a chance to talk to several of the new, New Liners, for a bit. We seem to have a great cast, the people are very interesting and have very diverse backgrounds when it comes to theatre.
Monday we are going to actually read through and sing through the entire show for the first time, which is pretty exciting. I look forward to hearing everybody's interpretation so far of the script and their songs. Anyway, this post is pretty short but I just wanted to let everyone know that I am getting more excited about the show as the days go by and things are moving forward.
Chris
Monday we are going to actually read through and sing through the entire show for the first time, which is pretty exciting. I look forward to hearing everybody's interpretation so far of the script and their songs. Anyway, this post is pretty short but I just wanted to let everyone know that I am getting more excited about the show as the days go by and things are moving forward.
Chris
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Actor's Nightmare
Well, it's happened already...which is very odd. I suppose it is because I haven't actually performed in a show for almost a year now. I had my first Actor's Nightmare for Grease last night. Here's kind of how it went: We were probably in our 3rd rehearsal for the show and for some reason we were practicing at the Touhill Performing Arts Center...with a packed house. The show was starting and I was in the balcony of the theatre watching some scene that seemed new and I assumed Scott had added something to the show. It was really funny and I laughed and made a positive comment to Scott who was also in the balcony with me. The next thing I know, Miss Lynch walks on and introduces the show and I realize the character of Eugene comes on next with his speech...I am playing Eugene. I react with an appropriate "Oh, shit!" and Scott makes some type of sarcastic comment. I try to find my way down to the stage from this stairwell, but end up somewhere else in the building and ultimately some custodian with some secret elevator gets me there. I walk on to the stage right wing and pick up a script as this is the 3rd rehearsal and I have not bothered to memorize my (few) lines yet. I walk onstage with the script as Miss Lynch is trying to stall with some lines from Christopher Durang's The Actor's Nightmare(appropriate enough). "Extraordinary how potent cheap music is...isn't it?" I reply "Yes, quite extraordinary..." I respond as I flip through pages trying to find Eugene's speech at the class reunion. I can't find it anywhere. I continue to improvise to the audience's amusement at least but still not within the context of the show. I finally admit I cannot find my line to the audience and I say "Perhaps the stage manager can give me my cue". The stage manager walks out and informs me I have picked up the movie script and replaces it with the stage script. I find my place finally and annouce "I have found the line!" as Scott Miller comes walking down the aisle and says "And I am finished for today." That is where the rehearsal ended... within the first page of the script. Needless to say, I was disappointed along with the audience. I soon after woke up.
This dream, or nightmare rather, convinced me perhaps it would be interesting to share some of what my experiences are throughout this production. So, here I am.
In reality, I have been to one rehearsal so far. Learned some music for the show, there was no packed house, in fact we don't rehearse at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, but at a church in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. Things seem to be going as well as they can for only having 2 rehearsals and I have faith that I will learn my way to the stage before March rolls around.
Chris
This dream, or nightmare rather, convinced me perhaps it would be interesting to share some of what my experiences are throughout this production. So, here I am.
In reality, I have been to one rehearsal so far. Learned some music for the show, there was no packed house, in fact we don't rehearse at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, but at a church in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. Things seem to be going as well as they can for only having 2 rehearsals and I have faith that I will learn my way to the stage before March rolls around.
Chris
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