come let it enter you

I just found out that tonight's band is called "The Broad Strokers"

Play #7 is just as, um, shocking as I was told.

Sun-drenched raspberries fresh from David Mills garden and melt-in-your-mouth cookies  from John Bradshaw are being savored on the tongues of a hungry, lusty crew.

Kegs are being brought in for the afterparty.

A wave of eros and chaos has entered the theater like a sirocco.

This is happening:

I think it's safe to say we're not in Sheboygan, Wisconsin anymore.

You really should be here tonight at 8:00 or 10:30 and let the energy fill you up with a great a WHOOSH !(how's that for a little onomatopoeia?)

 

and there's a troll

Virgin Designer Katie Driscoll gave me some challenging words to use in my blog posts this weekend.  I've already managed to use rhododendron (our state flower), shower curtain and now I can use poop (sort of). 

I am not going to tell you which play this is from.  You'll have to come out tonight to find out for yourself but this is a line from one of the plays tonight. 

"I have to shit too."

Meanwhile, Erin Pike is looking hot as hell in tech and there's a troll.

torsion and wet panties

Dear Diary,

We have reached that place of torsion that happens in the theatre.  Everything is coming together but only through an immense amount of hard work, cooperation and details, details, details.


I feel a little diffuse while everyone else is extremely focused.  I see women on stage with dresses as red as a rhododendron on Mother's Day.  There are a lot of women in this show, eighteen of them, in fact.  There is a play about Goddesses called "The Ceremony" by Kate Jaeger and one called "The Importance of Beauty" by John Farrage.  There's a woman in the sound booth, two women bloggers, three female playwrights...women everywhere.  While it might seem tangential, I find it heartening.  These are strong women.  Passionate women.  Talented women.  Extraordinary women.  (The men are extraordinary as well, I assure you.)

Speaking of extraordinary men, ever-so-talented Virgin actor Mark Waldstein stopped by to chat while I was typing this to tell me that he's feeling pretty tired and beat up.  He's in play #7 Kids. Today. by Nik Perleros, which is already been touted as the Play That Will Shock You.  He said it will likely do more than make my blush.  Color me intrigued!


I decided to paste some random quotes, pictures I took and a little haiku with some snippets of today into my diary so I won't forget this experience.)

"My cat's a big hit on glee."

"Out on "fucking playwright""

"I spent time in an insane asylum."

"A chain of buttholes."

Director Agastya Kohli directs his actors for Brandon Jepson's play Hot Tub

  "Jane Lynch gets my panties wet."

"She's what's noble about women."

Justin Alley directs Daniel Wood in John Farrage's play The Importance of Beauty

i believe in love
devil is in the details
just delectable!

Swooning,

Kymberlee

PS, Stage Manager Danielle French just asked me how blogging is going.  It felt nice to be asked and all I could say is "It's just so much fun." It most truly is.

a cold beer on a hot day

I talked earlier about the things that fuel 14/48 but forgot to mention the beer because I don't drink it.  It must be mentioned.  The tapping of the keg is an important part of the tradition.  I asked steering committee member Peter Dylan O'Connor to explain it much better than I could.

because, beer

getting off high atop a ladder (and a couch)

Dear Diary,

I just finished lunch and I'm back here in the coolness of the theater.  With the taste of vegan salad with peanut sauce still in my mouth, I sit here marveling at the sensual experience of this theatre experience.  I can hear the box office crew chatting and busily preparing for the show that is going to be starting in less than four hours.  The band is sounding so phenomenal, they are distracting me.  So much talent!

The sounds of hammers pounding, drills drilling and saws buzzing are adding their own texture to the music.   Maggie Lee, one of our sound directors...

(More distraction:  Get Off by Prince is up in the house as I type this..."23 positions in a one night stand..."  squirrel!)

...where was I?  Oh yes.  Maggie asks me to stand in a particular spot on the stage so she could adjust the lights.  While I was standing there, I asked the guy drilling what he was doing.

"Making a couch," he replied nonchalantly.  

"Like you do," I said, remembering the portal of shower-curtain like glittery awesomeness that I mentioned earlier.  Turns out his name is Banton and he's no virgin.  He's been banging away on the design team for quite some time.

While I was chatting with him, Maggie was atop a high ladder, helping me find my light.  I think that's what everyone at 14/48 does best:  Help each other find their light.  It's fucking beautiful.

From the land of 1000 crushes and deflowering,

Kymber

PS, If you're stalking me and peeping into my diary, you should totally come to the shows tonight at 8:00 or 10:30.  You will be altered in the most wonderful way.

have you seen this cat?

Urgent:  Lost Cat (for real)

Paul Shipp, one of our intrepid chefs this weekend, awakened today to discover that the cat he was caring for had slipped of the window last night.  He soldiered on and came to make us food so we're doing what we can to try to help find the cat using the power of social media.

No picture, unfortunately, but if you live in Seattle's North Seattle Bitterlake neighborhood, you may have seen him.  He is a s 12 year-old black and white cat named Tux. He was last seen at 137th and Linden.  His owner's name is Mary and you can reach her at 206-861-6328 if you see Tux.

14/48 is all about community and looking out for one another.  Thanks for being part of ours. *meow*

devil. details. underwear.

Talking with Virgin Design Team member Doug Willott about costumes, details, and underwear.

from the danger zone

A little behind the scenes in the danger zone of the shop.  People are always trying to keep me away from power tools (for good reason).  Fortunately, there are people who know how to use them because they make cool things like TELEPHONE BOOTHS IN ONE DAY and magical balloon-laden glitter portals like this one featured in John Farrage's play Kings last night:

Photo by Joe Iano Photography

I am DYING to see what they come up with tonight!  Come out to the show at 8:00 or 10:30, get your Pride on and see what these fabulous artists have been creating for you in a handful of hours on a hot, sticky Saturday in Seattle.

A side note:  While I'm typing this in the dark, cool theater, the band is sounding amazing singing something that sounds like Latin.  I think I might have heard the word "gonorrhea". 

at the intersection of altruism and misanthropy

These are the guys that are feeding us.  Just before dinner last night, they were utterly exhausted and still rallying to bring food.  This crew is hungry and more food was needed so plans were made to rush out and get more.  They made sure there were plenty of vegetables, tofu for the vegans and a bit of comfort food for everyone.  It was hot and the ice kept miraculously appearing in the bowl and the coolers.

They were back at it this morning in full force with a huge spread of breakfast goodness.

There is a deep level of generosity of spirit here with a  wee sprinkling of misanthropic neurosis.  It's pure perfection and the outcome takes the awesomeness factor up to 11.

(Also, there's Mackelmore and the Black Keys to keep them company while they toil on our behalf)

What I'm noticing here at 14/48 is that the entire experience is fueled with altruism.  Well, that and Ezelle's fried chicken.

a little sticky the morning after

Dear Diary,

I woke up disheveled and a little sore and sticky this morning.  I feel more vulnerable and somehow more grown up all at the same time.

I'm not a virgin anymore.  None of us are.  We're all a little disheveled and wearing little, secrets smiles. 

It's Pride weekend and the vibe of many of the plays last night had that resonance.  There was a feeling of not holding back and of letting things out of the closet.  I will write a bit more about that later but for now,  I will just say that today started with Joe Zavadil offering me Monkey Bread. 

When he asked me what I thought about it this wonder of sticky sweetness, I could only blush a little and mumble, "It's like an orgasm in my mouth."

And so begins day two.  The Devil is in the details.

With a sigh of delight and anticipation,

Kymber

wrong in the most delicious way

Dear Diary,

I have so much to tell you.  I saw so many things tonight.  So many wrong things (but wrong in the most delicious way) and so many wonders!   My crush from earlier has been replaced by the newly crowned Drag Queen from Play #7.

I'm a little wiped out but I decided I have to stay for the next show which starts in 20 minutes.  I had a nice chat with Jodi-Paul a few minutes and go tell him how fabulous this experience has been.  I told him it's a beautiful thing and it is. 

I'll write more when I get home and I'm all snuggled in bed with my teddy bear.  For now, I'll say that there is lobby full of people who are waiting for the seven plays that will not disappoint. 

The writers are on their way home ready to write 7 more plays for tomorrow.

(Yawn)

xoxo,

me

cherry poppin' haiku

the excitement mounts
like a bride on his husband
soon, virgins no more

it's a little like sex

Dear Diary,

It's only three hours to show time.  Tech is still happening.  Kitchen crew is exhausted after serving us all day.  Costumes are on.  Lights are coming up and going down.  The band, formed just last night, is making music and adding all kinds of chromatic splendor to the pieces.

I was talking to Stan Lippman, a crew member who recently moved up to Seattle from Tuscon.  He said he's enjoying all watching how it all comes together and I concur.  He was asking how I know what to say on the blog and when to stop.  I told him I have been trying to tell people what happens and what they might not otherwise know.  As for when to stop, it's a little like sex, I guess.  I stop when I feel finished then I rest a bit and come back for more (I didn't say that Stan.  I hope he isn't reading my diary.)

I asked some of the design team about their experiences.  The virgins like Roy Stanton mentioned being very grateful for the experts like Michael Mowery.  There is a stunning amount of work in this process.  Things are being built in these handful of hours, costumes are pulled together and props gathered.  I have been keeping myself from peeking in on the shop because I want to be surprised tonight.

I want you people reading my diary to be surprised a bit too but before I skedaddle off to dinner, I'll tell you that I am currently watching a fish and a bear onstage.  I also noticed that one of the actors shaved his beard for his play.

Sometimes it's more fun when it's shaved.

TTFN,

Kymber

this is how this is done

Okay, the Director's meeting was just too overwhelming for me and my fellow Blogess, Rebecca Goldberg, has that covered so I left.  I was given a bunch of fabulous pictures from yesterday by our spectacular photographer Joe Iano so I thought I was take a few minutes to celebrate what happens behind the scenes.

It takes a lot of people to make this happen.  In fact, last night, this is how many people were here as artists and volunteers.  Yeah, that's right, we nearly fill up the theater.

The many faces of 14/48.

View from the sound booth.

Badges for the Virgin weekend participants.  SO many people to make this happen!

Producers Shawn Belyea and Jodi-Paul Wooster-Brown

As I wander around the Erickson, trying to decide what to tell you about, I think about how Shawn Belyea and Megan Ahiers seem to be everywhere, answering questions, making things happen, and always smiling and offering encouragement.  You hear, "Good job," and "thank you," a lot around here.  I haven't seen anyone who acts important.  Decisive, yes.  Important, no.  It's a necessity in the theatre world to be a little bossy sometimes.  Feelings can't be managed but there is a pervasive feeling of goodwill and respect here.  There isn't time to take things personally, everyone is very present, very focused and very collaborative from the front office to the band to the kitchen. 

We now have 4.5 hours until show time and tech is happening.  The band sounds cohesive. There's a guy on stage in a flirty skirt with some really great socks (that Brandon Ryan helped me noticed when he stopped by) and the energy is high.

Last night at the meeting, Shawn told us to "Take care of ourselves and each other."  That is happening.  People are asking for what they need and giving what they can.  This is what equality feels like.

This seems like a good model for living right here:  Risk-taking, respect, care and collaboration. 

This is how this is done.

i'm willing to shave it if you want

Dear Diary,

I'm back.  I took a break to eat some lunch.  There was a brief moment of calm and an odd sort of quiet as we stuffed our faces.  Soon, the Green Room was full and we were all on top of each other eating, laughing and sharing stories. 

There was a lot of talk about how things were coming along and things that needed to be tweaked.  With only seven hours until showtime, everyone is showing some noticeable signs of stress.  Manageable stress but stress just the same.  I feel for the design team as they try to find costumes for roles that were just assigned a couple of  hours before.  Katie Driscoll, who is used to being on the stage, said she is finding the job really hard but fun.

I heard one of the actors say, "I'm willing to shave it if you want.  I mean, I like my beard but if it needs to go, it's cool."

Dedication like that is everywhere.  We're steeped in it here.  It's inspiring.  Not a shiftless soul in the house.

I got to help Rebecca M. Davis run lines after lunch.  I was the fish.  

New Haiku for you (using some words I was given for fun):

no pastille needed
running on adrenaline
so perspicacious!

Now only FIVE hours until showtime.

exes and ohs,

KdL

PS, I'm a little heartbroken to know that my crush is married!  Just my luck!

fish beer and other Sweentastic things I've overheard

"You're going to be straddling her, because that makes the most sense."

"Some occasions call for the big guns."

"I stopped being mad at you at least four beers ago."

"Pardon me.  I tend to speak in metaphors."

"You graduated from frou frou drinks to fish beer. I call it that because it always has a fish on it." 

"The third from the bottom "Fuck you" on page two."


"Just be here in this moment."

"The gay bars will be filled with things like that tonight."

Some of these are Sweentastic comments are lines from the plays and some are just random comments.  You'll have to come out to the show tonight at 8:00 or 10:30 to find out which is which.   :-)

This is where you will be tonight.  Come fill up these seats with your sexy seats.  :-)

A Love Story?

Earlier this morning, I told Play #2 Director Agastya Kohli that I can't hear the title of this play without thinking of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He agreed that it's got that vibe. He told me that Brandon Jepson's play would also touch on the DOMA issue that's been in the news this week. Um, ok?

As he and his cast are putting the play through a quick analysis right now, he's talking about childhood and holding onto the past while society moves forward and now I'm getting the connection. The cast asks intelligent actor-y questions. "We'll let you build that backstory for yourself in the next 20 minutes...GO!"

As their read-through begins, I'm getting a lot of quick shifting of scenes, with each of the actors playing multiple characters. It's kind of silly and kind of dark and I don't know what is going on, but I'm charmed. Can not wait to see this one tonight.

lurking in play # 4

Dear Diary,

I was given permission to lurk.  I didn't want to creep out my new crush too much so I wandered away from the band and over to the rehearsal room for play #4, written by Jennifer Jasper and featuring Rob MacGregor, David Nail, Caitlin Francis and Hannah Schnabel and directed by Julia Griffin.

I hear something about "breastfeeding on the left tittie".   (The blocking is hilarious on this!)

I also just heard the director say, "You know, she could probably eat your soul in a minute."


I don't know where this is going but it's kind of awesome.  (The audience might need a squeegee to wipe off the "ewww" after this but come on, that's why we like it, isn't it?)

Hearts and Flowers,

Kymberlee

PS, Somehow the bassoon is factoring into this play.  What?

dear diary, i have a crush on this guy...

the band revs up

Dear Diary,

I have a huge crush on this guy named Tim Moore and will do anything he tells me, including making my blog posts like diary entries.  ;-)

Tim is here helping out the band as they warm up and get going.  I'm seeing singers doing vocal warm ups and hearing tuning going on.  I hear C, D, G, E, C, D, G, E...while the strings play along.

The sheer variety of music they are preparing for us is just fantastic.  If you want to know WHAT they're playing, you'll have to come to the show tonight.  What?  I'm already letting you read my diary.  A girl needs to have a few secrets!

I will tell you this:  I overheard Erin Bryn Fetridge saying, "There will be a lot of strutting and hot, sexy numbers."

That's all for now.

(insert swirly autograph with a little heart at the end.)

twisted things

 The pulchritudinous Jim Jewell, shown here making French toast for the crew, had this to say about 14/48:

"We do more twisted things before 10:00 am than most people do in a lifetime."

As I type this, I am watching Julia Griffin, a Virgin director this weekend, pulling her cast out of the infamous Tom Selleck and Farah Fawcett cans.  I overheard her in the Green Room saying, "This script is so fucked up!  I love it."

Drinking in twisted, fucked up things done by immensely talented people is precisely why I'm here this weekend.

Join me tonight at 8:00 or 10:30.  You can get your tickets here:  give me twisted things!.

(You can also just show up and hope for the best.)