Rehearsal #3 - Sending a Message

Scotto Moore and Liam Cole are working together for the second time this weekend, bringing us the story of the inventor of the world's first time machine (Connor Toms), and his wife (Mik Kuhlman) on the eve before its inaugural run.

At this point in the day, they are polishing up the blocking and are simply running the piece repeatedly to get it into their systems.

Liam Cole, while debating a possible change in script/blocking, notes "you know I have to change it, otherwise I haven't done anything today."

Here's Connor Toms heroically looking for the future in the horizon.

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.

Rehearsal #6 - Beyond The Rain

Seems like the direct references to The Wizard of Oz in the evening has been kept to a minimum. La Chris Jordan's Beyond the Rain offers a very loose re-telling as a separate reality within the reality of the piece.

As I stepped in to observe rehearsals, the group was in the process of finalizing the blocking, discussing several options for a particular moment...In other words, establishing the basic rules of the world they're creating.

In that world, John Bartley shares some big news with Becky Poole, who reacts by escaping to her own little world, which is also inhabited by Michelle Chiachiere...Any further details would spoil the fun, so it would really behoove you to come see the show tonight.

As I leave, this group presses on.

Actor Update: Connor Toms

First of all, due to an error in the tracking sheets, the guy's name has been misspelled all weekend long. Next, veteran director "Liam" Cole comes into the lunchroom and announces "I think I figured out a way to have Connor get dry humped again."

Proving that once the 14/48 gods get a certain taste of you, they're going to demand it over and over again.

Rehearsal #7 12:20pm

Show #7

This is the show with David Hogan who is feeling under the weather.  Steering Committee member Deb Fialkow is understudying him.

She watches David like a hawk. 

A situation like this could be unnerving but the key factor of calm was that David
told folks the first thing as he waked in the door."I'm sick and if I can do it, I'll do it"

So far, so good.  he's looking like a champ.

this is also a show with 5 kids, actors' ages ranging from mid-20s to... women of a certain age.

The audience will go right to the reality of the play.

The actors are marking through a really cool technical reveal in the show.  It's just mimed, but it looks beautiful.

Nice job, J. D. Lloyd.

My money's on David Hogan pulling through.

11:50am Show #4 rehearsal

I don't want to give anything away, but I walked into the 7th floor lobby and director Darian Lindle says to Ray Tagavilla "and that pause can go on and on and get as awkward as possible."

There's gonna be some funny stuff in show four.

At this point in the rehearsal, the actors and director have read through the whole show, cast it and are working through the script on their feet.  Starting and stopping, trying new pictures and intentions.

Darian gives a direction to the cast and ends with "...uh, did that make sense?"  the cast says "Yes!" with the look to Darian of  "We're all tired and we're with you."

They're choreographing a touch of hands across a table.  And they're getting punchy with riffing.

Darian:  What if you reach leading with your finger?

Khanh: Like this?

Matthew: Oh, and then we can reach up and our palms can touch.

Ray: and then we dance.

Betsy: (demonstrating her proposed moves) On the table?

All:  Hah hahahahaha!  (Body language) Okay, okay...  let's try just reaching across the table and see where it logically goes from there.

(A number of tries)

Darian:  Oh, nice.  We're at the end of the play already?  Nice.  Let's run it again and I'll try not to stop you.  Let's rock.

Darian:  5 minutes, 29 seconds.  Yes!

All:  (high fives and general frivolity.)

Actor Update: David Hogan

Still pulling through, has not called it quits yet. Go, Hogan, Go! Why don't you try doing a hundred jumping jacks in the boiler room, Mr. Fitness?

Another 14/48 First: Breadsticks

The thing about artists at 14/48 is that we never stop innovating. Even in the kitchen, where any reasonably sane person would be content to slap down some cold cuts along side some cheese and bread-like thingies, Kitchen Lead Jim Jewell has been inspired to provide something new to this weekend's crew: Breadsticks.















We'll keep you up to date on the proceedings.

A Few Moments From Last Nights Show...

More of Auston James' spectacular photography from 1/15/10's performances. As always, click on the picture if you'd like to see the full image on its own.

14/48 Steering Committee member Andy Jensen working the crowd for theme suggestions for Saturday's show

Conner Toms gets his Victorian Gothic on

Because you can never look too good while compiling costumes

Conner Toms yadda yadda dry humping yadda yadda Khan Doan yadda yadda so photogenic

Betsy Schwartz, Becky Poole, Betty Campbell, Mik Kuhlman and Michelle Chiachiere

Kaleb Hagen-Kerr dives for the ticket heading into the fire, no thanks to Virge Matthew Middleton

Virge Sylvie Davidson's water breaks live on stage (worthy of the full view)

Virges David Hogan and Ashley Bagwell

"That ticket burned burned burned like a ring of fire" Kaleb Hagen-Kerr

John Bartley

Betsy Schwartz behaves lewdly in Becky Poole's general vicinity

Lyssa Brown runs Hana Lass through the routine one last time

Jen Moon and Alyson Scadron-Branner head off into the sunset in search of a happy ending

Michelle Chiachiere's fierceness shines through. Pity poor Frank.

Saturday Morning

As I suspected, the energy in Krelsheimer Place at the downtown location for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, is already proving to be a little more chaotic than on Friday.

As the actors, directors and playwrights, an actress could be heard cursing a playwright for turning in a 9-page script that features a nice juicy paragraph-long monologue on the first page.

Heh...it wouldn't be 14/48 without a modicum of panic.

Bring it!

How To Keep Going by Kate Parker

"I haven't had any coffee, but I did have a couple of lines of coke off the back of a toilet seat."

January 16, 2010: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Play #1: Pretty Little Bluebirds
Written by David Schmader
Directed by Julie Beckman

Chris Ensweiler
Alex Samuels
David Goldstein
Alyson Scadron-Branner
Hana Lass

Play #2: Birds Fly
Written by Marcy Rodenborn
Directed by Tina LaPlant

Lyssa Brown
Keira McDonald
Jennifer Moon

Play #3:  Sending a Message
Written by Scotto Moore
Directed by Liam Cole

Connor Toms
Mik Kuhlman

Play #4: The Prisoner of Id
Written by David Tucker II
Directed by Darian Lindle

Matthew Middleton
Ray Tagavilla
Betsy Schwartz
Khanh Doan

Play #5:  Conducting Business
Written by Nick Stokes
Directed by David Bennett

Kaleb Hagen-Kerr
Ashley Bagwell
Andrew MacMasters
Sylvie Davidson

Play #6:  Beyond the Rain
Written by La'Chris Jordan
Directed by Victor Janusz

John Bartley
Becky Poole
Michelle Lewis Chiachiere


Play #7:  Pretty Flowers
Written by Jonah von Spreecken
Directed by JD Lloyd

David Hogan (or Deb Fialkow if David is too sick)
Ben Burris
Betty Campbell
Clara Rodriguez

Keep in mind, the people below are working on ALL 7 plays throughout the day.  Don't be shy in your praise of them.

Design Team
Design Lead:  Michael Mowery (he's way too self-effacing, but he is the Lead Designer)
Costumes:  Hannah Schnabel & Julia Evanovich 
Props:  Katie Hansen
Set Design & Construction:  Gary Menendez
A Little Bit of Anything Else That Needs to be Done:  Maria Menendez


The 14/48 Band:
Eric Lane Barnes - Percussion & Keys (if he's not too sick.  Get better!)
Alan Echison - Drums
Alyssa Keene - Vocals & Guitar
Sky Lynn - Guitar & Vocals
Tim Moore - Vocals, Harmonica
Dave Pascal - Bass
Robertson Witmer - Accordion, Clarinet, Saxophone

Injury Report

Well, Friday night of 14/48 claimed a couple of victims and injured another. Here's the scoop:

- David Hogan, who had a stellar 14/48 de-flowering (see him in the red dress below?), feels like he may have eaten something off (serves his macro-diet ass right) during the course of the day, because he's looking and feeling a little peaked this morning. Whatever the cause, there's a slight possibility that he may not be able to perform tonight; in which case, Deb Fialkow has graciously and bravely agreed to sub in for him, regardless of how gender specific the role is.

- Eric Lane Barnes, piano/instrumentals, is not feeling well and is feeling tentative for this evening's performances. The cause of the illness is unknown, but alternates are being sought for.

- Ray Tagavilla, during rehearsals for Scotto Moore's Fire, Sleep With Me, was making an exit called for in the script, when he ran into a post, full speed, just above the knee. He's mobile, but bending has become a bit of a chore. Stretches, RayTag, stretches. And ice.

The Hush....then the Buzz...

After the play draw this always happens:

Newly matched directors and playwrights meet and say "Nice work last night." then they decide will they read the play together or separately.  then the room gets quiet.  Like Taking-the-SAT quiet.  That lasts about 3 minutes.  Then the questions start.

"So I'm thinking..."  or  "Should this be played straight or funny?"  or "are the characters in on the joke or do they really think this is happening?"

And the buzz starts.  The exchange of ideas.  People start talking with their hands and lean forward to each other.  Directors look for something to write on, some already have paper ready to go.  Sketching occurs.  People start to laugh and agree with each other.  Gasps of shared discovery.  And finally the first "OOOH, YEAH!  Yes, yes YES!  That'll be great!"

And they're off.

The actors come in bleary-eyed and then sense the buzz.  It's just for the Directors and Playwrights now, the chit chat between the actors and band about last night stays quiet out of respect for the Buzz. 

The Design team stays hunched over their scripts the entire time.

Now the room is full and Peter Dylan O'Connor whistles and the draw happens.

Play Draw!!! Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Save the ceremony and rituals for the olympics.  As soon 9am hit, bad ass Peter Dylan O'Connor stepped from behind the Admin Desk with blank manila folders and commanded: "DRAW DIRECTORS!"  Even though one director hadn't arrived yet.  No matter.  We're on a schedule people.

The un-named director was appropriately and genuinely apologetic when arriving at 9:02am.  Then got right to work.  Good job, Virgin!

Sent that puppy

3:50, sent that puppy. I think that's the first time I've spent so long staring down the barrel of "I have no ideas whatsoever, up to and including bad ones." But, a theme that initially made me feel trapped in a corner suddenly tricked me into inventing something I'm delighted with. THAT'S HOW THE MAGIC HAPPENS PEOPLE.

[Sorry, I'm a little crispy.]

2:22 in the AM

I've just wrapped up writing Play #7. It's called "Pretty Flowers" That's the title at 2:22 in the morning, so we'll see if it sticks after some shut eye. This is a 5 person play, which is a complete 180 from last night's assignment of 1 Man, 1 Woman.

With a theme like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, it took a little extra mulling tonight. There was a brief period where I was going to embark on a tale of 5 people in an elevator. Just to see if it could be done. (I've decided it can't...at least not this time) This is Play #7!!! Gotta close out the evening big. I was really hoping I could justify the band singing "Rock the Casbah" to close out the night, but alas, that's not where the script wound up.

Should be another fun day tomorrow regardless.

toodles, *g'night*

To Bed!

I finished my play and I am very happy with it.

It's about 6 and a half pages long. It's called "Birds Fly." I think it could use a little trimming in one spot, but I'd like to work with the actors and director on what could go and what should stay. It really depends on the rhythm of my actors. So excited for tomorrow morning!

I'm exhausted. Come see the show tomorrow!

xoxo
Marcy Rodenborn

David Tucker's final post of the night

Done (and I'm beginning to fade so its a good thing too). The play is called The Prisoner of Id and it is a romantic little thing with a touch of comedy that follows (redacted redacted redacted at playwright's request and gladly accomplished.  Just come see the show at 8 or 10:30pm).

Wish I could have seen the second performance of the Friday shows, I always end up missing them, but I don't feel comfortable until I know the play is in the bag. So now it's a wrap and I can drink with everyone else tomorrow night. Yaaa!

It's so crazy it just might work

I am finally starting an actual draft of something. Thank you, Sudden Inspiration, you're my hero!