Mistakes Happen, Part 2

At lunch time, I found myself with the cast of the play that had the numbers mix-up this morning.  Were they nervous about the mistake?  Were they mad that they were in that situation?  Were there tears?

Nope.

They all agreed that they were a little wary about what the day would hold for them, but agreed that once they talked to the writer and director and read the script, they knew they would be fine and that they would make it happen.  In fact, they all seemed really excited about their show and they didn't need much prompting to talk all about it.  In fact, they stopped talking to me and started laughing and talking amongst themselves about stuff they discovered in the script and funny things that were happening and how much fun they were having.  Two of the women were even laughing because they both thought that the mistake meant there was an extra actor and they both offered to bow out.  Not because they didn't want to be in 14/48 today, but because that's just what you do.  

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Thanks to all of you for your continued support of 14/48. Now go enjoy the sun.

Get your tickets here!

Mistakes Happen

In any situation that is formed around this kind of organized chaos, there are bound to be mistakes, mess-ups, errors.  This morning was no exception.  During the actor draw, we discovered that when the writers were given their assignments, there was a mix-up and the wrong number of men and women were written.  The last play of the evening was written for (and supposed to have) 3 men and 2 women, but when that director went to draw... the numbers didn't match up.  The names left were 4 women and 1 man.  

So...  what do you do?  Well, first, you do what anyone would: laugh nervously.  Most of the people in the room did.  I did.  And then I waited for some serious freaking out to happen.  But no one freaked out.  Sure, there was some nervousness, but the director, writer, and producer got together, the rest of the casts were dismissed to start their days, and within five minutes, the situation was resolved.  

I tried to eavesdrop on the conversation between the artists and mostly heard things like, "We can figure it out"  "I'm not really concerned"  "I'm sure they can do it" "We'll make it work" and "You can do whatever you need."  I was shocked and impressed.  This is the kind of attitude that makes this festival work.  This is why these artists have been chosen to be here.  And this is why you should come see the shows tonight.  I guarantee that at 8pm this evening, you would never know.  Except that I just told you.

Rehearsal Pictures

Rehearsal for "We're From Ohio" by Chris Haddad
Rehearsal for "Mr. McGregor's Garden" by Rachel Atkins
Rehearsal for "Calling the Marker" by Jim Jewell
Rehearsal for "Great Expectations" by Darian Lindle

Rehearsal for "Mr. Jibbers" by Erin Stewart
Rehearsal for "Funerals" by Becky Bruhn
Rehearsal for "Inanimacy" by MJ Sieber

Pictures from Day 2

Actors read scripts in their own ways.

Directors choosing their actors at random.  She's happy about her choice, right?



Alex Samuels and his delicious potato pancakes.

Shout out and thanks

Thanks so much to John Bradshaw for delivering a ridiculous amount of homemade cookies!!!!!  

Also, a request for a shout-out: Hello to Elizabeth, wife of actor Sean Mitchell.  Thanks for reading.  

He's Out, I'm Here

I am sending a huge thank you to Alex Garnett for blogging all day yesterday and today!!  He will be back next weekend for more blog-tasticness.  

I will try my best to fill his shoes and keep you abreast for the rest of the day today.  I am not good at haikus, though.  So don't ask.

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?

And I am out for the day.

Thanks again everyone - Steering Committee, Directors, Actors, Playwrights, Volunteers, Band Members, Chefs, everyone, for the awesome first weekend, and especially for making me laugh so hard these past three hours -- Seriously, this night is going to be AMAZING -- but I gotsta head out for the day.

See you next Thursday!!

Break legs, have fun, and BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW HERE!!!

Beware the elevator.

Just FYI.

Lunch Time

It's lunch time now.  I know this because the Artistic Liaison (Peter Dylan O'Connor) just walked into the office and rubbed a piece of chicken on my arm.  It was juicy.  I didn't like it.  He did it again.  This time some chunks stuck to me.  Chicken chunks.  People are getting loopy.  

I think I am going to go in another room and see what the other people are doing.   

Giggles and Smirks

The shows tonight are going to be fantastic according to what I have seen walking through the rehearsal rooms. Lots of laughing from the actors and directors. Laughing at themselves. Laughing at each other. Laughing at themselves not being able to stop laughing at themselves and each other. Or maybe the shows all just have laughing written into them. Either way: joy is afoot.

Buy your tickets here for laughter tonight at 8:00 or 10:30pm.

First Impressions of Day two

In the form of a Haiku and a Hollywood pitch.

Play number 2: Funerals

The Ice Storm meets Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Mik Kuhlman divides

script to beats. "We'll beat it out."

... Um ... That's what he said.

Play number 6: Charles Dickens' Great Expectations by Darian Lindle

Glee on crack.

Downstairs, an Orgy

of jazz hands, Chuck Dickens sez:

WTF?

Play number 5: Calling in the Marker

The Godfather meets, um, lets say Erin Brockovich (grabbing at straws, I saw glasses of water and that for whatever reason was my first impression.)

At the Rep, MV

B does Brando, while Francis

can't remember names.

Play number 7: Mr. McGregor's Garden

Up meets Boondock Saints meets the Donner Party.

A brief synopsis:

fuck fuck motherfuck goddamn

(with Irish accent)

Play number 4: We're From Ohio

Let's saaay...Fargo meets Singles?

Fischnaller's doing

yoga...Troy, it's a theatre

fest'val, not a gym.

Play number 3: Mister Gibbers

Toy Story meets The Exorcist

Mister Gibbers is

never satisfied; Erin

Stewart is effed up.

Play number 1: Inanimacy

The Notebook meets Deliverance meets Pan's Labyrinth meets Mannequin 2: On the Move

"If you put it in

the hole, it comes to life." Man,

plays are weird today.

Get your tickets to 14/48 here.

Brilliance and Hard Work

Just walking from one part of this theatre to another (which takes maybe five minutes) I walked by two shows in full-blown rehearsals, the band practicing an original song they just wrote, designers talking about what they need for the seven shows and who is going to get it or make it, two people cutting vegetables (for lunch), and the stage manager, executive producer and lighting designer talking about projections.

This is just a small window into how many different elements of this festival are constantly in motion and how many different kinds of people are here in this building, all working together to make 14/48. Makes you want to be a part of it, right?

Well you can be be! Come and see the shows tonight at On the Boards at 8:00 p.m and 10:30 p.m. Get your tickets here.

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)

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.)  

The fastest Way to a Blogger's heart

Is an iced latte. So good.

As everyone knows, the Secret Admirer is one step away from the Stalker, and if this weekend nets me a stalker, I'll be able to cross off item number three from my Life Goals list.

14/48 Theme Song.

Is a thing of unending beauty.

What you will be seeing tonight.

14/48 Weekend One, Night Two

Theme: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

ACT ONE

Inanimacy by MJ Sieber, directed by M. Elizabeth Eller

Starring Kate Kraay, Chris Bell, Sam Hagen, and Charles Leggett

Funerals by Becky Bruhn, directed by Mik Kuhlman

Starring Lyam White, Shane Regan, and Annie Jantzer

Mister Gibbers by Erin Stewart, directed by Tyrone Brown

Starring Mark Fullerton and Sean Mitchell

We're From Ohio by Chris Haddad, directed by Aimee Bruneau

Starring Troy Fischnaller, Nik Perleros, Roy Stanton, and Shana Allman

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO

Calling in the Marker by Jim Jewell, directed by Scott Francis

Starring Shawnmarie Stanton, Bruce Hall, Eric Van Beauzekom, and Ben Burris

Great Expectations! by Darian Lindel, directed by Makela Pollock

Starring Jason Harber, Ryan Higgins, and Patti Miles Van Beauzekom

Mister McGregor's Garden by Rachel Atkins, directed by Katjana Vadeboncouer

Starring Ellie McKay, Cynthia Whalen, Carolyn Monroe, Jane May, and Trick Danneker

Get your tickets here!

It's two minutes before ten...

And Chris Bell is sans shirt. With his nametag attached to his hairy boob. The question of the day now is, who's the first one to try and rip it off?

FYI.