14/48 - The Process Behind Social Networking a Festival, pt.1

Jodi-Paul said I should (or maybe he said couldn't... I can't remember) do a post for the blog from abroad so I decided to do investigative work on facebook using posts from those involved to give a report... here it is...

14/48 - The Process Behind Social Networking a Festival, pt.1

‎RYAN HIGGINS - "14/48 gods, give me something fun. Or something excruciatingly horrible. Either way it's tome to become an alchemist and turn anything handed to me into gold."
* The item of interest in this perplexing facebook update is Higgins' use of the word 'tome' - meaning 'a large book'. A large book used to study alchemy. In a weekend which throws the rehearsal process on its head, I find it challenging to think that Higgins is going to sacrifice such an immense, and ludicrous, amount of time to study alchemy. Keep an eye on Higgins' performance tonight... and be very critical.

BANTON FOSTER - "is gonna design your brains out, 14/48. Yeah, you like that."
* I think this post is obvious. Banton wants brains. Banton has become a zombie. Being he wants the 14/48's brains, I would keep an eye out for the steering committee... specifically Shawn Belyea.

LIBBY BARNARD - "Night world. 14/48 this weekend!!!!!"
* Too many exclamations marks equals lots of nervous energy... sweet, sweet virgin nervous energy.

MEGAN AHIERS - "14/48 tonight! Based on the theme "headin' down south"... I don't think you want to miss this one."
* Yes. True. Based on facebook posts I also don't think you want to miss this one.

Reporting from the performative world of the social network... I'm out.

Q & A - LOU BUTLER (STAGE MANAGER)

SLOOP: You were a virgin this past summer. How does it feel with this time around with the experience under your belt?

LOU: Less of the excited anticipation. A little more dread because I know what it entails. It's fun, but exhausting. I have second day melange.

SLOOP: If you could see anything tonight based on the them 'The Life You Knew"...

LOU: That was my theme!

SLOOP: Oh... you know you get free tickets for that.

LOU: I know that's how Sam (Hagen) is coming tonight.

SLOOP: Great... back to my question... what would you like to see tonight?

LOU: More comedy. Last night was really good, but no more crying. And I don't want Ryan Higgins to rub against me during the curtain call.

SLOOP: Thanks for your time, Lou! And thanks for putting up with the antics of Ryan Higgins.

TECH - The Female of the Species by Maggie Lee

Tech for show three has begun - 4:35. Megan Ahiers has just arrived and is sitting next to me. She must have not liked my patchouli scent because as soon as she arrived she left.

Oh my goodness... has Brandon Whitehead lost weight? He looks fabulous! I can't believe he doesn't have a boyfriend... (Brandon may or may not have told me to blog that)

Ahhh... Ryan Higgins almost slid off the stage! Erin Kraft reminds him to be safe. I would like to recommend that he gets those socks with the grippy things on the bottom.

The tech for this show is rolling right along... like a hippo on roller skates.

LOU HAS ARRIVED!

14/48 Stage Manager, Lou Butler, has arrived!

Quick Quotes and Tiddly Bits:

"Intense. The day has been on constant fast forward. Veterans have asked if I'm going to barf."

- Arreola - VIRGIN ACTOR (Hey, don't barf on me, buddy.)

"It has to come from the heart... I'm starting to find it."

- Ryan Higgins - ACTOR (asked how the 'girly wave' he was directed do was going for him)

Morgan Rowe is wearing a birthday hat... yup.

"God... we have a complicated piece and I'm glad to be a part of it. Trying to wrap my brain around it... a little overwhelmed at the moment."

- Lisa Viertel - ACTOR

"Ummm... they would be those butterflies that are beautifully colored but the bottom half of their wing is deformed to look like tear drops... and they would be wearing a jaunty beret."

- Erin Kraft - DIRECTOR (asked what Director Butterflies look like)

Personally - this day is like riding a moose through a marsh... yeah, you're going to get a little muddy, but think about the stories you'll have to tell.

Floor 7 Lounge

Just moved my home base from the basement to the 7th floor. Couldn't handle the barrage of insults from Alex Samuels... hopefully he won't find me here.

Erin Kraft and her crew of Ryan Higgins, Brandon Whitehead and Troy Lund are currently on break. What I witnessed during their previous run:

* hilarity

* a massive deer head looming over their process... a 'spirit guide' you might say... EK agrees

* EK watched her pet from the stairs

* there was a trumpet sound

* something about crawling into pods and having heads eaten

* Erin's direction for Ryan Higgins, "If you could do a girly little..." (then demonstrates a wave)... don't worry Erin, Higgins shouldn't have a problem with this

* includes a "scary cue"... I can only imagine a Ryan Higgins singing... that would be downright terrifying

Lessons Learned

Here are some things I have learned this weekend:

MJ Sieber (playwright) doesn't ever sleep.  

Stage Managers need pants with pockets.

Ryan Higgins (actor) is very flexible.

Beer is better cold.

Alyssa Keene (band) knows how to play a lot of different instruments.  

There are so many people willing to do thankless jobs just for the chance to be involved in this festival.

Salo (band) cuts his sandwiched into quarters and doesn't eat the crusts.

Even people in Texas read this blog.

Chuck Leggett (actor) is very convincing as a can of beer.

On the Boards is a great host for 14/48.

Tyrone Brown (director) ate a whole angel food cake on his bus ride home last night.

There is no reason to not love this festival.

All of these people have been chosen for a reason.