3pm Director's Meeting

We learned that stage manager Lou Butler has a Culinary Arts Degree form the University of Alaska.  Someone joked that her thesis was on venison. Lou replied "I know how to gut and skin a moose in 2 minutes.  A moose is bigger than you."

Anyway......

Only 2 directors were late (3:03pm ain't 3:00).  The following is paraphrased:

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Lou: You know there are no light changes when these scenes change, right?

Director: Derek said it could be done.

Lou:  If  Derek can do it in 20 minutes, it's yours.

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Director: 3 pages, 187 cues

(pause)

Lou: (a look that speaks "Is this really how you want to use your time?")

Director: Okay.  Lights up when he exits with the sandwich, lights out.

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 Director: The band has a number of golf ball cues.

Lou: I'm concerned about a golf ball going down the vom and being left there.

Director:  the actor can pick it up afterwards.

Lou: In the dark.

Director:  ....I'll make sure the actor picks it up.

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Director:  The band will play the last 4 bars, and vamp while the the actors crawl downstage, then the lights will do a slow fade but cross into blue before going all the way out.  Simple yet complex

Lou:  ... Next?

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Director:  they argue "did not did too did not did too" til page six

Lou:  Whoa.  til page six?

Director:  Oh sorry.  I jumped from page one.  There aren't any cues until page six.

Lou:  I knew that.

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Lou:  Good work everyone.  (Deb Fialkow whispers in Lou's ear)  I've just been informed that the light board has lost all its preset cues.  So tech will be a little delayed.  Please arrive to the theatre at your assigned time with the expectation that you will start at least 5 minutes late.

Directors:  Hm.

43 Tickets Left for the 8pm Show

All artist comps, All-Fest Pass, two-for-one tickets are allocated.

If the 8pm is the only one you can make, call ACT's Ticket Office at (206) 292-7676.

If you can make the 10:30pm and like to party, you still should get your tickets at the number above or click here.

See those two seats on the left?  Those are probably gone now. If $20 is a little steep for you to see 7 plays based on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" you can get $10 tickets for the 10:30pm show while supplies last at Goldstar.com.

And if you think "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a lame theme, then you hate this child.

He picked the theme at random after the 8pm show.

Rehearsal #1 12:45pm

I will not lie.

When the theme "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was drawn, I feared that a Virgin Writer was going to do some "Wizard of Oz" take and "oh wouldn't it be clever if Dorothy was really a hooker or a drag queen... ha ha ha."

Virgin Writer David Schmader wrote a script with "Wizard of Oz" the base of the story.

And I'm really enjoying watching the rehearsal.

And that's all I'll write.

The cast has the comedic genius actors Alyson Scadron Branner, Chris Ensweiler, David Goldstein, Hana Lass and Alexander Samuels.

The actors finished their run through and are congratulating each other and diretor Julie Beckman for not cracking up during the run.

And THAT'S all I'll write.

Here's a picture by me, not Auston.

And that's all I'll post.

Wannna see the funny?

Getcher tickets.

Rehearsal #7 12:20pm

Show #7

This is the show with David Hogan who is feeling under the weather.  Steering Committee member Deb Fialkow is understudying him.

She watches David like a hawk. 

A situation like this could be unnerving but the key factor of calm was that David
told folks the first thing as he waked in the door."I'm sick and if I can do it, I'll do it"

So far, so good.  he's looking like a champ.

this is also a show with 5 kids, actors' ages ranging from mid-20s to... women of a certain age.

The audience will go right to the reality of the play.

The actors are marking through a really cool technical reveal in the show.  It's just mimed, but it looks beautiful.

Nice job, J. D. Lloyd.

My money's on David Hogan pulling through.

January 16, 2010: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Play #1: Pretty Little Bluebirds
Written by David Schmader
Directed by Julie Beckman

Chris Ensweiler
Alex Samuels
David Goldstein
Alyson Scadron-Branner
Hana Lass

Play #2: Birds Fly
Written by Marcy Rodenborn
Directed by Tina LaPlant

Lyssa Brown
Keira McDonald
Jennifer Moon

Play #3:  Sending a Message
Written by Scotto Moore
Directed by Liam Cole

Connor Toms
Mik Kuhlman

Play #4: The Prisoner of Id
Written by David Tucker II
Directed by Darian Lindle

Matthew Middleton
Ray Tagavilla
Betsy Schwartz
Khanh Doan

Play #5:  Conducting Business
Written by Nick Stokes
Directed by David Bennett

Kaleb Hagen-Kerr
Ashley Bagwell
Andrew MacMasters
Sylvie Davidson

Play #6:  Beyond the Rain
Written by La'Chris Jordan
Directed by Victor Janusz

John Bartley
Becky Poole
Michelle Lewis Chiachiere


Play #7:  Pretty Flowers
Written by Jonah von Spreecken
Directed by JD Lloyd

David Hogan (or Deb Fialkow if David is too sick)
Ben Burris
Betty Campbell
Clara Rodriguez

Keep in mind, the people below are working on ALL 7 plays throughout the day.  Don't be shy in your praise of them.

Design Team
Design Lead:  Michael Mowery (he's way too self-effacing, but he is the Lead Designer)
Costumes:  Hannah Schnabel & Julia Evanovich 
Props:  Katie Hansen
Set Design & Construction:  Gary Menendez
A Little Bit of Anything Else That Needs to be Done:  Maria Menendez


The 14/48 Band:
Eric Lane Barnes - Percussion & Keys (if he's not too sick.  Get better!)
Alan Echison - Drums
Alyssa Keene - Vocals & Guitar
Sky Lynn - Guitar & Vocals
Tim Moore - Vocals, Harmonica
Dave Pascal - Bass
Robertson Witmer - Accordion, Clarinet, Saxophone

The Hush....then the Buzz...

After the play draw this always happens:

Newly matched directors and playwrights meet and say "Nice work last night." then they decide will they read the play together or separately.  then the room gets quiet.  Like Taking-the-SAT quiet.  That lasts about 3 minutes.  Then the questions start.

"So I'm thinking..."  or  "Should this be played straight or funny?"  or "are the characters in on the joke or do they really think this is happening?"

And the buzz starts.  The exchange of ideas.  People start talking with their hands and lean forward to each other.  Directors look for something to write on, some already have paper ready to go.  Sketching occurs.  People start to laugh and agree with each other.  Gasps of shared discovery.  And finally the first "OOOH, YEAH!  Yes, yes YES!  That'll be great!"

And they're off.

The actors come in bleary-eyed and then sense the buzz.  It's just for the Directors and Playwrights now, the chit chat between the actors and band about last night stays quiet out of respect for the Buzz. 

The Design team stays hunched over their scripts the entire time.

Now the room is full and Peter Dylan O'Connor whistles and the draw happens.

The Band!

In order of appearance: Rob Witmer: Clarinet, Accordion et al.;Dave Pascal: Keys and Bass Guitar; Alan Echison, Drums; Tim Moore, Bandleader, Vocals, Harmonica; Alyssa Keene, vocals; Eric Lane Barnes: Keys, percussion, et al (not pictured yet.)

Virgewatch: Third Runner Up

I enter the Bullit Cabaret, rehearsal space for veteran writer David Tucker's play "Third Runner Up", featuring an astonishing virge count; 4 out of 5! That's four virges ( one director and three actors) to one veteran.

Virge director Julie Beckman sits at a table with veteran bandleader Tim Moore talking about sound needs. The actors are busy. Alex Samuels, the only veteran, seems fairly calm. He walks around avoiding the camera. Virgin Clara Rodriguez oscillates between hydrating and pacing the south wall of the room running lines and occasionally thrusting an arm out, like someone cheering at a sports event might do. Virgins David Hogan, now 36 years old, and Ashley Bagwell, whose age I do not know but he's older than a kid, are embroiled in a creative discussion and seem not to notice me standing at three feet taking pictures. They do not seem afraid. Rather, they are exuding an aura of confident creativity. It is palpable. While I am in the room, the four actors converge suddenly to discuss a moment. Or something. I am clearly intruding, and opt to make a quiet exit. The virgins seem okay for now. Later, I will check their pants for the nervous shits.

As We Speak

Seven playwright elves are working on seven ten minute plays based on the theme: Into The Fire.

The bloggers await your predictions in the comments.

My prediction: One scantily clad fireman. Ladies, get your tickets at HERE at ACT Theatre's web site.  You can also call the ticket office at (206) 292-7676. 

And the winner is...

Mik Kuhlman. Actor and director accepting her award and sharing with the band.