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.

Tech - Show 5

Here it is... the show about Elvis and Jesus having sex.

Oh shit. Now they're giving lines to the band. Great - what next? Jesus enters from the aisle? Oh shit... what do you know. Here comes Jesus mother flerging Christ.

Jason and Dante are moving seemlessly through the show.

While I was sitting in the booth, Jason and I came up with a play for tonight called 'Miracle on Ice'. The play begins with the a crack addict in the alley who is recruited to play for the American hockey team in the Olympics at Lake Placid. Shazam... you have a play.

Tech - Show 4

In the booth with Jason and Dante. They are both hard at work making sure we get the technical needs taken care of for all of these fine shows... DAMN! I just heard another person scream! What's with all of the screaming!?!?

Show 4 is a musical and I notice Jose Amador is not on the stage during the songs. Uh oh, someone shot himself in the foot while "singing" Beatle tunes last night.

There's a mic in the booth and Dante is working it. Here are a few Dante mic moments...

"Named Bruce."

"Alright, we can jump to the bottom of the page."

"That's great."

"We're ready."

Oh, I was a little quick to comment... Jose is singing in this show. My apologies, Jose. However, something seems to be missing... the Ringo wig. Bring back the gob-stopping wig, darn it!

Design Visits

I spent some of my morning with Gary Menendez, a designer who has been volunteering for 14/48 for four years ("And I've only missed one weekend that whole time"). Gary is one example of why 14/48 works. And why it works so well.

Gary is a professional carpenter who volunteers for 14/48 "because I love it." He designs and creates and builds and pulls together set pieces, props, costume pieces, and whatever else directors, designers, and actors ask for with a team of about four other volunteer designers.

The designers read the plays and then meet with the directors on "design visits" to talk about what each show will need. I went with Gary on his design visits. Here are some quotes and snippets that I saw and overheard from actors, designers, and directors during our visits:

"I need a chair. Plaid if possible. Ugly if possible. More trailer-parky than anything else." (director Katjana Vadeboncoeur)

"This play is about show choir. Its perfect, I was IN show choir!" (actor Jason Harber)

"And then there is a line- something about baby coochies. And then a blackout. We'll figure it out in rehearsal." (director Elizabeth Eller)

"James, your my first call for a shotgun. I need a shotgun and I thought of you. So call me back." (Gary Menendez leaving a voicemail for James Frounfelter)

"We need a life-size PBR can. Oh yeah, and a Jesus beard."

"So there's a chipmunk and a beaver? Right, two beavers." "Ok, so we need two beavs?" (Conversation between Gary and Katjana)

"I got in Jim Jewell's play. Which is funny because he told me he thought of me when he wrote this character. And then I read it and she is written with a really shrill voice. So, I was like, oh, thanks Jim." (actor Shawnmarie Stanton)

"Well, we need more flashlights. We always need flashlights as props. And phones. Those are what we need every weekend. Flashlights and phones. And dildos and porn." (Gary Menendez)