Updates from Floors 1 through 3

Let's start in the Lalie and head up from there.

Ben, Sarah, Megan and Mark
Photo: Agastya Kohli

Manny's crew (Mark Boeker, Justin Huertas, Ben McFadden, Megan Ahiers and Sarah Winsor) are running through lines and finding the funny in Eric Lane Barnes' script titled Slice of Life. The cast is enjoying the script - trying to go off book - like a fledgling chic. Manny is sitting back and enjoying the show.

Up in the Allen Theatre, Peggy Gannon is driving her foursome of Alex Samuels, Lantz Wagner, Rachel Ross and Rebecca Shepherd through some detailed table work.

Rebecca Shepherd, Alex Samuels, Rachel Ross and Lantz Wagner
Photo: Agastya Kohli

As the cast looks away from the scripts, Alex asks Peggy, and I quote, "Did any set discussions get had?" Peggy looks straight at him and says, "please explain the intent of your question". Then she turns to me and asks, "can I get some new actors?"

I tell her I'll look into it and walk towards the Allen Theatre green room, where Paul Budraitis is directing Matt Smith's play 21 Run, starring David Brown King, Jason Harber (Mazen!) and Chris Ensweiler.

Jason is sitting in front of 21 little paper cups, pouring pretend booze into all of them. Then he starts drinking the 21 shots and as he hiccups his way through the 21 shots, he starts arranging the cups in the shape of a pyramid, pausing once or twice to check his phone for incoming text messages.

He pours.
Photo: Agastya Kohli

He drinks.
Photo: Agastya Kohli

He burps.
Photo: Agastya Kohli

I predict this sequence will result in rolling laughter like the bouncing babies did last night. Thank you Mr. Brendan Healy for the babies and Mr. Matt Smith for the shots.

Rehearsals Underway

The playwrights got here first and turned in their plays. Then came the directors and designers, and started reading them. Finally, the actors were picked, scripts handed out, rehearsal spaces assigned, and Bullitt cabaret cleared out.

Peggy Gannon talks to Alex Samuels,
Charles Smith and Andrew Murry.

They're scattered all over ACT theatre - in Busters, in Lower Falls Lobby, in the Allen, in the Allen green room, on the 8th floor, in the Lalei and in the Bullitt dressing room #4!

If you linger in any of the rehearsal spaces, you might overhear some serious theatre making, like Peggy Gannon telling her cast "As long as we're not all coming from a place of anger, I think we'll be fine."

In a different space, Ben McFadden suggests, "let's go Monty Python with this... we can always pull it back if we need to".

"Or take it further", director Paul Budraitis responds.

Over in Allen Green Room, director Suzanne Cohen tells the cast to take it from the top. As the actors get in place, Sara Coates yells out "let's turn this bitch into a musical!" Virgin actor Justin Huertas chuckles, "done and done!"

Back in the Bullitt, the designers are discussing props and costumes. "We need three babies and dog that fall from the sky. The second baby needs to bleed when it hits the ground", explains K.D. Schill.

Justin Huertas, Adria LaMorticella and Sara Coates
rehearse Obstakles For To Make Honeymoon.

"Does it actually need to bleed, or are they wrapped in such a way that you can't really tell?" Gary Menendez seeks clarification.

"Well, he'd like a splatter effect", responds K.D. Schill, referring to director Manuel Cawaling.

"That's fine. We have plenty of babies. We can get a blood pack, and weight it so it hits blood pack first." Gary Menendez has solved another problem.

14/48 caravan rolls along.

A moment with Alex Samuels

SLOOP - Hey, Alex! How did lunch go?

ALEX - Seemed to go fine. Jim Jewell's running the kitchen this week. No fires to put out... yet. John Bradshaw made us some awesome cookies like he always does.

SLOOP - What the hell is this about fires? This worries me... how would you handle a fire in this building?

ALEX - I'd probably go to the AL and tell them. Then I'd run like hell. Maybe warn some actors... grab the cookies.

SLOOP - This is the second time you've mentioned Mr. Bradshaw's cookies. Are they "special" cookies. Like "magically special".

ALEX - They are special cookies that make the day at 14/48 even more special... I refuse to go into any more detail. I have too much respect for John Bradshaw.

SLOOP - Thanks, Alex.

ALEX - Actually, if there was a fire it would all work out. This is 14/48 and all works out in the end.

SLOOP - OK... thanks, Alex.

ALEX - Basically my jobs for the day have been keeping people away from the food and going to pick up the pizza at 5pm. And smoking lots of cigarettes... I'm good at that job.

SLOOP - I said, 'Thanks.'

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.

Three MC's and One DJ

Veteran Alex Samuels shown here, at the left, flanked by virgins Ashley Bagwell, David Hogan, and Clara Rodriguez, working on David Tucker's piece Third Runner Up, which is in the #4 slot to close Act I. The piece is directed by Julie Beckman, virge.

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.

34 Minutes...

Company meeting is quickly approaching at 7pm... opening show will be straddling that at 8pm.

And a message from young Harvey:

qffc gvg gtgggggggggggfffffxxxx

Well said Harvey... although I'm not sure Alex Samuels would appreciate you saying that about him, but it's still funny. See you tonight folks!`

TECH - Expecting Bobby (or Nicole) by Joy McCullough Carranza

Gary Menendez did it... he made Tyrone's wall. Will probably take a forklift to bring it on and off stage, but Tyrone got his wall.

Alex Samuels has rang the dinner bell and the artists are beginning to gather in the staff room.

5:20... I told Brandon Whitehead that I was hitting a wall. He laughed and replied, "You? No one has sympathy for you."

Apparently I'm turning into Charlie Brown. Good grief.

A moment with Erin Kraft...

SLOOP: Erin, how would you sum up your play?

ERIN KRAFT: A touching exploration of human relationships. The uncertainties of ourselves and the uncertainties of other people. (all spoken in a breathy voice)

SLOOP: How about your cast?

ERIN KRAFT: I have a BAD ASS CAST!

As happens in the staff room, this set off a spiral of absurd responses...

TIM HYLAND: You have BAD ASS GAS?

ERIN KRAFT: Yes, my cast has to moon people and I may need some STUNT ASSES.

ALEX SAMUELS: I'll be a STUNT ASS.

TIM HYLAND: Alex Samuels has offered to be a STUNT ASS tonight.

What the hell just happened...

Loud noises...

PLAY 2

"Dude looks like a lady... you'll know what I mean later."

- Lisa Viertel (ACTOR)

PLAY 3

"Pull the audience into this world by finding the stillness... finding the danger of this world and how we can live in it."

- Carol Roscoe (DIRECTOR)

PLAY 5

"Word to your mother."

- Troy Fischnaller (ACTOR)

PLAY 6

"I think we should do an improv game."

- John Farrage (DIRECTOR)

FROM THE STAFF ROOM

"Good thing I'm not tired because then I don't say stupid things."

- Tim Hyland (after saying he spent some time with the pork roll)

"Do these people really need breakfast?"

- Alex Samuels

"That's some good pig right there."

- Shawn Belyea (upon eating some of the pork roll)

Good Morning Seattle

Your friendly neighborhood blogger, Jordan Rosin reporting for duty. As I sit in the meeting space, digesting my delicious french toast breakfast (thank you Alex Samuels), I thought I'd share with you a few things I've heard, and a few of the things I've learned thus far at 14/48.

Overheard at Breakfast

1. "Thank goodness for whoever brought the Emergen-C." Tammi Doyle

Learned

1. "No internal cues at all" are a 14/48 stage manager's favorite words to hear. (Tyrone Brown obviously knows how to garner favor of the 14/48 Stage Management gods.)
2. Invariably, the actors will always add words. As Opal Peachey says, "If you're gonna add "totally"s at least say it like a fifteen year old" (which means do it in character.)
3. Sleep is a good thing, but hard to come by.
4. The couches in the ACT lobbies make a great place for a mid-day nap.

That's all I can think of right now. Stay tuned for more insights and observations throughout the day. I can't believe we're doing it all over again!

Jordan

Runny

Alex Samuels was busy making french toast on the griddle when I asked him for two eggs, a little on the runny side. Alex responded, "Oh, I've got something runny for you."

I was slightly confused by the inflection to his answer, but I said, "Let me grab my plate."

Still waiting to get my plate back.

Also:

* Mark Boeker was the first actor to arrive this morning - followed by a gaggle of delicate acting types.

* Brandon Whitehead, when asked how he felt this morning, responded, "Uhhh... I'm not sure yet..."

SHAWN LAW HAS ARRIVED!

Shawn Law, one of the finest running crew members 14/48 has to offer, has just entered the building. "Ummm..."

- Shawn Law's response to having his arrival announced on the blog... Alex Samuels chimed in with the joke, "How many Chris Bells does it take..." Why do I stay in this room...

Half Way

At lunch, all the artists mingle together in an orgy of food and beverage. Alex Samuels and his dedicated kitchen helpers have created a feast: watermelon soup, make-your-own-sandwich bar, fried chicken, chips and salsa, fresh salad, fruit: you name, he has it. Well, you name one of the things on the list I just wrote, and he has it.

No one is simply eating, though. They are memorizing lines, talking about props, discussing music for the show, working on dialects, practicing their blocking, and talking about last nights shows.

One group discusses how last nights shows seemed to have a chicken and star trek theme. (If you didn't see it, there were two shows that had chicken-humans and more than one show that had star trek references.)

Alex Samuels just walked around with otter pops for everyone. He is a God. Now, satisfied that everyone has had their fill, he goes out for a much deserved smoke.

There is much discussion happening right now about trying to locate a coffin. Really. A show needs a coffin and no one seems to be able to have one. Do you have one?

Morning Glimpses

I am here for my official first blog of the day, full of news.  I would have posted earlier, but I found myself suddenly without adequate computer access and couldn't figure out how to send my posts via 14/48 messenger pigeons.  

So, here are a few snippets of things that happened in the first few hours of the second day of the first weekend of the festival that is 14/48:

Shawn Belyea was woken up this morning by Peter Dylan O'Connor pounding on his front door because he needed a computer password and Shawn's phone was off.  

Lou Butler (stage manager extraordinaire) showed up with her glasses taped together with electrical tape and a bruise on the side of her face.  Apparently she walked into a wall last night during the first show.

Alex Samuels (food czar) made fresh potato pancakes for everyone (delicious).  

Chris Bell (actor) could not find his shirt (I am guessing) but did find his name tag- so he pinned it to his chest hair.  

Darian Lindle (playwright) brought videos of her highschool show choir to show Makaela Pollock (director).  (I saw some of it.  Its singing and dancing and sequins.  Oh, and jazz hands.)