Working Charles Bronson Into the Weekend

Ben McFadden takes a moment out of his schedule (on his way to get a granola bar) to chat with this blogger.

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.

Pictures Round 2

Here are some more wonderful shots from Joe Iano of ianophotography.com

Tim Hyland directs Zoey Belyea, Heather Persinger, Ashley Flannagan, Amanda Lee Williams and Sarah Winsor

The 14/48 band!

David Brown King, Ben McFadden, Carolyn Marie Monroe and Lantz Wagner with director Paul Budraitis 

Artist liaisons

Dudes and babes

Sara Coates finds a moment of solitude

Rehearsal space on 8th Floor

Smiley Happy People in the House

Here are three pics taken by my 14/48 photographer boyfriend, Joe Iano.  www.ianophotography.com

Shawn Belyea, Peggy Gannon, Jodi-Paul Brown-Wooster

 Shawn Belyea, Jose Amador, Jodi-Paul Brown-Wooster

Lantz Wagner, Carolyn Marie Monroe, Unknown (I'm working on it), Ben McFadden

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.