The unicorn peed

That is all I have to say. More photos coming, but thats all I have for 14/48 outdoors, folks. Fantastic work everyone!

See you in January!

10:30

Intermission of the 10:30 and the audience is going wild for this one. The actors are getting a little antsy, and there are definitely some additions since the 8pm.

Photos photos photos

There will be more coming, I promise! From photographer extraordinaire Ian Johnston:

 They're rehearsing, I promise.

Show stealer!

Rockin' out to the Spice Girls

'nuff said.

The unicorn pees on Ashley.

The dance moves they taught everyone for curtain call.

Act Two

<p>The band's brilliant original song "Self Help" with Chuck Leggett solo kicks us off.</p>
<p>Show #5 - Blank Because Blank by Jim Lapan directed by Shawn Law:

One of my favorites of the night. Two older sisters are fighting while their baby sister (a show-stealing Marianna de Fazio) plays in the pool. The fight eventually turns into bonding over difficulties in their young lives. Touching, funny, and rockin' dance moves. Way to go, band. The crowd enjoyed this one a lot.

Show #6 - Yoga, a Man's Relaxation Technique by Scott Herman directed by Rachel Delmar:

Destined to go down in 14/48 history, this.might be the first ever one-hander. Technically a two-hander, but Virgin actor Matt Gilbert has all the lines. And he's in a dance belt and leotard. Keith and Matt are rocking this one, and the audience is enjoying it. Photos of this show will be used as blackmail.

Show #7 - Time Sweepers by Matt Smith directed by Darian Kindle:

Henrietta the Homemaker is trying to win Miss Homemaker: Universe Edition. Then her future self arrives to warn her against winning. Then her even more future self arrives. And then her childhood imaginary friend unicorn. In the end, it all comes down to the unicorn trying to pee all over the stage. Yup. A fabulous end to the evening.

And that's all she wrote for 8pm. Well done all around, it is a very strong slate of shows. Let's do it again in less than an hour!

Act One

The band opens with "I get by with a little help from myself"... Well done, 14/48 band. Jodi-Paul gives a warm welcome, and it starts raining! For the first time in almost two months. The whole crew of staff and volunteers springs into action to move tents and make this happen. Self Help!

Show #1 - Face Program by K. Brian Neel directed by Jake Groshong:

The eyes, ears, lips, and nose of a fourteen year old boy are ready for a date, but skin hasn't shown up. They have to jump in and cover for him, and comedy chaos ensues. Jake and his boys take a hard show and (with a little improv) knock it out of the park. The crowd loves it. The rain is gone. There are techies running, not sure what that is about. All seems ok. Looks like they are putting weights on the projection screen.

Show #2 - Skin in the Game by Brendan Healy directed by Andy Jensen:

Heather Gautschi and Nick Edward want a life coah, they've got one in Michael Patten but he acts more like a sports coach. The couple starts working through their issues until Heather's character's dramatic revelation brings things to an end. Good comedy with a bittersweet ending. The audience is into it.

Show #3 - The Future King Bluckmore by Kelleen Conway-Blanchard directed by David Gassner:

This show makes so much more sense now that I've seen it in full. A deadpan comedy about a seriously dysfunctional medieval royal family. It's hard to describe much more than that. Some outrageous one-liners, such as "Impregnate me, you mutton chop." This cast is pretty much perfect for these roles. The crowd is eating it up. Nice sword fight!

Show #4 - For the Girls by Joy McCullough-Carranza directed by Rob Raas-Berquist:

Timely social commentary about double standards for women, especially by other women. Teenagers hating on the actress that cheated on their favorite actor, Hollywood agents talking about dropping that same actress, because girls now hate her, and elevating the director she cheated with. Not a total downer, it has humor all the way through, and the audience is getting it.

Intermission! Great show so far.

Almost ready!

The actors are nervous, the crowd is large, the band is ready to rock. It's almost time for the first show of the second night of the first ever 14/48 outdoors!

7 o'clock company meeting

A lot of energy in the room. Actors are running lines, directors are giving last minute notes, and everyone is giving Gilbert a hug.

Stage Manager Dani reminds everyone to be careful with the mics. And check your props!

Project! But save your voice.

Strike details have been set. Curtain call choreography, courtesy of Tim Hyland, is being taught.

PDOC and Shawn say some moving words about dreams coming true, there may be tears in the room, and then EBF reminds everyone that we have to clean up, and fairly quickly, tonight.

First show is opening night energy! Second show is closing night energy!

Let's do this!

Overheard at 14/48

"Can you get the rest of his mohawk? He lost it."

"So pretty much wait 'til she stops peeing?"

"I don't have your diaper yet."

"The only thing we can't set is the human baby."

Tech Run #7 - Time Sweepers

Our final show of the evening comes from Matt Smith, directed by Darian Lindle. We're watching the Miss Homemaker: Universe Edition pageant, when things start to go awry - time travel and unicorns are involved. They start with a cue-to-cue. They run out of time for a full run.

Some really brilliant costumes and props from the design team. Keira McDonald's unicorn suit is a triumph - but will it pee?

With that, the band rocks out into curtain call music, and we're done with tech. Everyone is off to grab some dinner before the company meeting at 7.

Tech Run #6 - Yoga, the Manly Art of Relaxation

This is today's most infamous play - Scott Herman's two-hander where Virgin actor Matt Gilbert is the only one with lines. He plays a yoga instructor leading Keith Dahlgren's character through a very macho-man-inspired yoga routine. Virgin director Rachel Delmar has tried to keep it simple to help Matt focus on lines, but there are a couple of nice sound effects from the band. Because we're pressed for time, they don't get a full run. If Matt and Keith can nail it tonight, it's going to be a funny one. The tech crew starts working the transition into Show #7.

Tech Run #5 - Blank Because Blank

The band runs through their kick-ass original song "Self Help," and we're ready to go with the top of act two. Jim Lapan's piece features Marianna de Fazio as a one-year old baby, and Allison Standley and Amy Hill as her two older sisters. Sweet and moving, with some fun music and choreography. They basically move right into a full run. Shawn Law has done a good job directing this one. Everything goes off more or less without a hitch, and after some fantastic Spice Girls from the all-man-band, we're off to show #6!

(Side note: 10 points to Jim Lapan for the Chuck Leggett reference, and 10 points to Amy Hill for getting the Chuck Leggett reference line both days)

More photos by Ian Johnston

 Teen heartthrob Daniel Whitfield.

Tech Run #4 - For The Girls

The intro music to For The Girls is Justin Bieber's Baby, complete with some dance moves from Chuck Leggett and Tim Moore. Not to be missed, I promise you.

A poster of Nick Edwards as teen heartthrob Daniel Whitfield features prominently on the set of Joy McCullough-Carranza's piece which will round out act one. I haven't seen much of this piece yet today despite my best efforts, so I can't tell you much about it until they run. They're working through a couple of sound cues.

They start a full run, and we're watching a slumber party/meeting of the Daniel Whitfield Fan Club side-by-side with a meeting between a couple of Hollywood agents. This show is social commentary based on the recent Kristen Stewart "scandal." They wrap up, and we're teching intermission.

Tech Run #3 - The Future King Bluckmore

We've reached our first wacky piece of the night. Kelleen Conway-Blanchard has written a deadpan period piece about a royal family. Some of the best one-liners of the night are to be found in this one. David Gassner looks like he's been having fun with it all day.

The design team pulled off some nice set pieces for this one. Well done, rock stars. There are several internal music cues (and some nice period music from the band), and after working through those, David forgoes his last 5 minutes which puts us just about back on schedule.

Tech Run #2 - Skin in the Game

We're running a couple minutes behind, but the transition into show #2 goes pretty smoothly.

Brendan Healy's contribution for today is about a couple trying to work out some issues with their life coach, who in turn is coaching them like athletes. A comic piece with some depth, guided soundly by Andy Jensen.

A couple cues with the band, and they start a full run. Michael Patten breaks a clipboard. A couple tweaks here and there, and we're good. 

(Your blogger might be a little distracted for the next 3 hours as the Husky game has started... I'll do my best.)

Tech Run #1 - Face Program

The band has disappeared, so tech is a bit delayed in getting started. They return from who knows where, and we're ready for show #1! 

In this piece by K. Brian Neel (Mazen winner!), our four intrepid actors make up the face of a 14-year old boy going on his first date. The perfect group of guys got this piece, and they are nailing it from what I've seen so far. Jake Groshong has done a great job staging this one.

After perfecting a radio montage and a couple of sound cues with the band, they run from the top. A little rough, but they're ready for tonight.

We're off and running, transitioning directly into show #2.

Director's meeting

It sounds like there are no major issues. We're moving along very quickly. The band is rocking out a very eclectic set of songs. I've heard Gotye, the Spice Girls, a madrigal, and more. They also appear to be learning some dances. There are actors monkeying around all over the set. Tech is imminent.

Virgin director Rachel Delmar is taking a nap.

Shawn Law is blowing up a kiddy pool.

Amy Hill and Allison Standley are choreographing a dance to the Spice Girls.

Stacey Bush is playing with swords.

Almost time for the directors meeting...

Random observations

Unicorns. Kazoos. Time travel. All at 14/48? Try all in a single show.

The band is dancing to Justin Bieber.

Another pass by Face Program, now on its feet, and I've got a slightly better idea of what's happening. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Scott Herman's two man yoga play might not be totally family friendly. But definitely funny. Welcome to 14/48 outdoors.

Designers are scattering. Folks are starting to take breaks, run lines, and mentally prepare for the afternoon. Alex Samuels is almost ready to serve a delicious lunch.