First Rehearsal

Each performer gets a copy of the script and score to write in (Although we order an original copy for each performer, I keep all the originals so they stay in one piece!). Stuffing these folders is quite a task- here's Elin surrounded by folders as the process begins!


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Behind the scenes

Seussical will have 4 drops that are used to delineate scenes- we start our technical design by choosing which lines the drops will hang on. The lines are marked by large pieces of paper that say which drops go where- here's a look!


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Talent

We had 118 people audition for Seussical- that is almost reaching the same number as we had for Beauty and the Beast, which was a record. To have the amount of talent available is such a privilege- and to winnow it down is a very tough job. I'll be spending today putting together the callback list and figuring out how to run the callback process with large amounts of people- its always a fun challenge.


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Seuss costume preview!

Waiting...

I'm waiting for the start of Meet Me In St Louis at Pacific High School so I thought I'd write about waiting! Last night I saw Phantom of the Opera at Nerix High School, Wednesday I saw Sound of Music at Webster Groves and Monday and Tuesday I saw Les Mis at WHS.Waiting has also been what I'm doing for Seussical- waiting to start! It seems like it takes forever to get started on a show- you plan and plan and plan and then everything starts and doesn't stop even when you want it to. I'm envious of these other directors who have gotten to work on their shows already- I've seen a bunch of theatre in the past weeks and it makes me long for the start of my own rehearsal process!


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This tiny camera...

Will play a crucial role in Seussical. A crucial SECRET role. We're calling it The Clover Cam.


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Seuss in 3-D

One of the things we'll be using in Seussical is a bubble machine (actually 3!). We'll be using them during a song that is set underwater to give the audience a more interactive experience. That's only one thing we have planned... This show will be like nothing else you've seen!


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Sharing the space...

Here at ECC we have a LOT of things going on in the theatre- band, choir, outside groups, dance recitals- our theatre is in almost constant use every day.
When there is something going on (in this case it's rehearsal for the choir concert tomorrow night)we often have to rehearse in spaces that are definetely not 'theatrical'. Today's All My Sons rehearsal is being held in the Band Hall. The things we go through to make our shows great!

All My Sons is coming up!

Our second show is rapidly approaching- All My Sons opens in two weeks!! Set at the close of WWII, this classic script is an examination of The American Dream gone wrong. Following the tragic demise of the Keller Family, All My Sons asks the question... what happens when our past sins catch up with us?

Tickets are on sale now at The ECC Theatre Box Office. Call 636 584 6693 or stop by to purchase. Performances are November 17-19 at 8pm and November 20 at 2pm.

Following All My Sons, ECC Theatre will be holding auditions for Seussical the Musical- see our webiste for more information and come join us!

Behind the Scenes

This weekend I took a few actors to St Louis to begin learning the dance combination that will be used at auditions for Seussical. We have been incredibly fortunate the past few years to have a professional dancer, Chris Page, create all our choreography and this year is no exception. Although I know not everyone looks forward to the pressure of a dance combination, it is really more about performance than skill- if you fall flat on your face.. Do it with style! The full combination can be seen on YouTube under ga40456- auditions are coming up so check out ecctheatre.com for more information!!


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Inspiration

Since we run a year round season, we are ALWAYS in preproduction on a show in addition to the one we are currently rehearsing. For me, That means I'm gathering ideas for Seussical even as rehearsals are in progress for All My Sons. One of the biggest components of Seussical is color- and that's why I started a color board for


all the characters. The color board lets the lighting and set designer chose their colors to compliment each costume. These will probably change- but it's a start!!


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Backstage

Here's a shot of the set for All My Sons under constructions- a little over a month till opening night!


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All My Sons rehearsal

My apologies for the lack of posts!! We had a fairly quiet


theatre for a while but that's all about to change... The first readthru for our next show, All My Sons, was held tonight and we're thrilled to start on our next adventure. I'll be posting more about set design, costume issues and more- keep looking!!


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A successful run

Today we closed Tower Stories- our opening show of the 2011/2012 season. We ended up with about 500 audience members for the run, which means we raised around $4000 for the two charity organizations we're supporting. The show was touching- and the actors reported seeing people crying in the audience both performances. I'm honored to have been part of this tribute- and I'm excited to see what the rest of our season brings. Here's a photo of our cast with the giant flag that was painted on the lawn at ECC.


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24 hours from now...

Our first performance of our first show of the season will be over.. and a large number of people will have made their ECC Theatre debuts!! I hope you'll join us for Tower Stories... And if you're interested in being onstage, check our website for audition information! www.ecctheatre.com


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Another radio interview

Carol Buescher and I went for another Tower Stories interview today- Carol read her monologue and I talked about the creation of the show.


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Tech week!

Painting the stage in preparation for Tower Stories!


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What happens in the shop

While the actors get all the applause, the unsung heros behind the scenes are the techies. These men and women build, paint, hammer, cut, sweep and do all manner of things to make our show look great. Here's a couple of behind the scenes photos of the crew building the set and writing the projection cues for Tower Stories- we're lucky to have such great people!

Radio interview for Tower Stories

We're heading into the radio station to be interviewed about Tower Stories. Elin Feldmann and Corbin Kottmann are both with me to read excerpts from monoluges- very excited to start our media blitz for this show!


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New year, new start!

We graduated a great group of students last year- students who have been in our theatre family a long time. While we'll miss them, we're welcoming a new crew to the theatre. I'm looking forward to seeing what new talent comes to join us (onstage and backstage) and to adding to the growing group of people who call ECC Theatre home. We have so many people come through these doors each year and each of them brings something unique to our stage. We're starting our season in about 3 weeks with Tower Stories- I hope to see all our friends, old and new, there!

Start of our season

The fabulously talented Tara Steffens put together the mockup poster for the beginning of our season- this show is going to be so moving and powerful. We'll be donating all of our proceeds to The Backstoppers and The Franklin County Gold Star Fund- please join us September 10th at 8pm and September 11th at 1pm for a tribute to the bravery, courage and heroism shown by the first responders and everyday New Yorkers.

MUNY tech rehearsal

Last night I attended midnight tech rehearsal for the MUNYs production of Bye Bye Birdie- it ran from 12:30 am-4am (I brought coffee!). I love watching other people work and as a director I rarely get to, so it was a really fun experience. It was a pretty general dress rehearsal- set pieces didn't get moved when they should have, costumes were not quite there, the run was stopped when things didn't work right... But it's all the magic of theatre. I was most interested in the fact that even though the MUNY is a huge theatre with a million dollar budget... Their tech/dress was run just like ours at ECC. We may be small... But we're good!


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Nerves

The first readthru for Tower Stories is Monday night, and I am both thrilled and nervous. I've never done this type of a reading before (hence the nerves) and we have a bunch of new actors (which is the thrilling part).
The readings make me feel lucky- hearing what people lived through is harrowing and heartbreaking. I can't wait to hear what each actor brings to their part.
Our season begins- and again- I have the best job in the world.


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Tower Stories- where were you?

This season, we're doing a different type of staged reading. While normally our readings are small cast plays, this year, in honor of 10 year anniversary of September 11, 2001 I decided to do a reading of a book I found called Tower Stories. The book is a series of interviews with paramedics, firefighters, police officers, volunteers, office workers and bystanders who all experienced September 11 and its aftermath up close.

When I first began to think of this project, I immediately knew I wanted to include people from the community who we might not necessarily see on our stage on a regular basis. As I asked more and more people to be a part of honoring this anniversary, I became more and more grateful for the enthusiasm I encountered. I am particularly grateful to Chief Hahn (WPD), who immediately agreed to find me a police officer to take part. I have also enlisted the services of Father Kevin (Borgia), Reverend Mike (Zion UCC), Mr. Carter (PHS Middle School), Greg Myer (Pacific), Dave Sutton, Cheryl Pecka, Tim Bucheit (Borgia), Tara Steffens and many others.

The show will be a multimedia performance- there will be video, audio and imagery from that terrible day that redefined our world. It is a hard show- but it is also a celebration of how far we've come.

I have never done a show like this before- I'm excited (and a bit scared) to do something so different. I'll keep you updated as we make choices about the reading.

Please join us for our tribute to September 11th...where were you?
Grace Austin
ECC Theatre

NEW SEASON!!

ECC Theatre is proud to announce its 42nd season- check it out!

Summer time!

Summer is a slightly quieter time around ECC Theatre- we have a musical that goes up in July, a few dance recitals...and a lot of cleaning and organizing to do! It's also a time to get quite a bit of tech stuff done- hence the picture.

Our season for next year is up at www.ecctheatre.com- we have a lot in store so we're taking this time to rest up and recharge.
As always, if you have questions or would like to be involved in the theatre- please email theatre@eastcentral.edu!

Backstage Voices- Episode 1

Cassie and Carter came to me after their first guest blog and asked if they could add a video component. After a few false starts (there will be a gag reel...) here is the first episode!

Show and Tell

One of the drawbacks of being in the shows is that you rarely get to actually see the work of your fellow performers- you're usually changing costumes, dashing around backstage to find props or set pieces, or making sure that everything is going smoothly backstage.
So one of the best things about a show like Broadway and Beyond is that since each performer is only in 3 or 4 of our 20 songs, they get to actually enjoy each other's performances. I set aside one day from the rehearsal period to do something called Show and Tell, where each song is performed for the cast.
Well, Show and Tell is coming up this Monday- we'll be seeing about 12 of our 20 songs (the rest need a bit more rehearsal before they're put up). I'm chosing the songs that are ready from rehearsal thsi week- so far, The Actuary Song (from I Love You Because...), Therapy (from Tick, Tick...Boom), You Should Be In That (from The Battery's Down) and I Know It's Today (from Shrek) have all made the list. I still have 3 more days of rehearsal thsi week to figure out what I want to put up- our lighting designer Natalie Smith will also be here to start viewing the songs so she can design the light plot.
Chosing what goes up for Show and Tell is always interestng- sometimes songs I thought were going to be completey ready are...not...and songs I thought would need a lot more time are polished and good to go. We'll see how the next 3 days goes...

Guest Bloggers Cassie and Ryan!

I'm trying something new this posting- guest bloggers! Cassie Burris and Ryan Carter have been w my program for 2 years and will both be leaving after this year- I asked them to write a joint blog giving some insight into what they've learned at ECCTheatre (in the picture you can faintly see the car that they talk about!):

ECC Theatre has not only been one of the best things we have ever done but has become our family over the past two years. We came from two different schools (Washington and Pacific) with two very different theatre programs .ECC theatre gave us the opportunity to not only become friends with each other but with people varying in age, major, school and profession. One of our favorite things about this program is that you don’t have to be a theatre major to enjoy or be a part of the family. Ryan is an education major wanting to move on and one day become a gym teacher. Cassie is a communications major wanting to direct or stage manage in a theatre. Even though we have different majors this theatre has brought us together. We have come to love our family members very much and will miss them when we move on to different schools next semester. Looking back at the shows we have done we laugh at some of the pranks we have pulled on our friends or the incredibly hard things Grace pushed us to do during a performance and compare injuries we have acquired during the shows here . One story that sticks out in our minds is the story of the car in Crazy for You. This car was huge and bulky; the backstage area is not very big and we had about 15 cast members on that side waiting to go on. To hide the car we had to manipulate three different flats and push it out at a specific moment only halfway and then push it all the way out for a song then loop it around split it in half and send both halves all the way out the doors to the hallway. All of this while people are running on and off stage and three flats are moving and an entire set change. It was a challenge to say the least, our crew for Crazy for You was very small and Cassie was the only techie on the side the car came on. Ryan and the other actors pitched in and we dominated. It was tough and we ran that change about fifteen times to perfect it but the audience only saw what we wanted them to which is the ultimate goal in theatre. This bridged the gap between the tech crew and the cast which is always a challenge in every show. We have learned that it takes everyone on the tech, directorial, and cast side to pull off a truly fantastic show. We have learned much more than that not only about theatre but about teamwork, cooperation, commitment and ownership. This program gave us a break from the hustle and bustle most college student endure and gave us time to step out of our lives and step into a wonderful family with amazing people who have passion for what they do inside and out of the theatre. *Jazz Hands*

Dirty Little Secret...

...so...I have a confession. When I'm directing a show, sometimes Youtube is my best friend. People post TONS of videos of shows/musical numbers, etc on there- it's AMAZING since videoing a show is illegal.

However...I am always interested in the choices people make in their directing/acting. I learn quite about about what does not work for numbers/scenes from watching people's videos. I am also willing to admit that I 'borrow' cool things that I see...steal from the best! A great example is our closing number for Broadway and Beyond 4- That Smile from a show called It's Only Life. I would never have even discovered this show if I hadn't seen clips online. The number is originally written for 5 people (and that's how the video is) but I loved it so much I took the number and made it our big group closer. After watching the video 10 times I just knew that I could take the original idea and retranslate it to work in a different way.

Youtube is a great resource for directors- we have our own Youtube Channel for ECCTheatre (look under ga40456) and I think it's an excellent way to share what we do. I also post rehearsal videos for actors to learn choreography and audition combinations as well as short promotional clips.

We had our first B4 rehearsal last night- I'll keep you updated on how it goes!!

Auditions

I just have to rave for a moment about all the great auditions we saw last night- we had 37 people and we still have a night to go! It's so interesting to me what people chose to audition with- some people sing Broadway, some country, some rock...although traditionally you would chose a Broadway song for a musical theatre audition, I don't require it- your song choice tells me a lot about you!
We had people sing in trios (with guitar!), duets and solo auditions. We also had a brand new auditionee who sang Bring Him Home fro Les Mis and brought the house down! I always say- just don't bore me! Tonight we have some 'epic' auditions that will be happening- some of my students have created full audition pieces with sound support, costumes, casts, etc. I love when people get creative with their auditions (although no, it won't help you get cast!). It shows me that you're willing to go out on a limb and take a chance- and that's an actor I want to work with!!

Broadway and Beyond choices

We'll be rounding out our season this year with our fourth version of Broadway and Beyond- the musical theatre cabaret show that I started my first year here. I'm very fortunate to be able to work with such awesome talent- and I think B&B gives me a chance to show off that talent a little more.
A lot of people ask me how I chose songs for Broadway and Beyond- and the answer is pretty simple- I chose what I like! I do try to balance older and newer songs, male and female, group and small...but sometimes I just chose what I think will be fun for the actors, audience- and what I want to work with! I listen to a lot of broadway shows and I always think 'wow, that would be a great B&B song' when I hear something that's awesome! There are some limitations- songs have to have a story and they have to be 'stand alone'- that is, you have to be able to understand them without knowing the story of the musical. That knocks out some really great songs- but there are always more!
Once auditions are done with (next Monday and Tuesday) I'll have a better idea of exactly what songs we will be doing- but I can say that songs from Aida, It's Only Life, Glory Days, Rent, Seussical, In The Heights and a lot of other shows are on the menu.
Seating is extremely limited for this show- the audience sits on stage for the show, so we can only seat 65 people per night. Tickets are on sale now and are already selling quickly- so call the Box Office and get your tickets now! 636 584 6693.
See you at the theatre!

One show ends...another begins!

Five extremely successful sold out shows- and Joseph is over! It was an amazing experience- 47 cast members, 10 crew members, an 8 piece orchestra, a 28 member children's choir...it really takes a village. Auditions for our next show, Broadway and Beyond 4, will be held on Monday and Tuesday so we're moving on- see you all there!

4 weeks and 4 days...

That's how long we've got until our first dress rehearsal- that's when we'll add the costumes, the lights, the special effects (my favorite part!), the orchestra, the crew...and numerous other things that all make a show work.

We've lost a lot of rehearsal time due to snow- more than any other show I've every directed (and that's 34 shows!). My choreographer and I were discussing this problem this past weekend- and he said, "Y'know, if there had to be one cast that you lost rehearsal time with- this is the perfect group because they're so focused. You know that they'll have it together no matter what happens that's outside of your control." He is so right- this group is AMAZING. In my 7 years at ECC, I think this may be my best cast ever.

Mrs. Simmons, our Children's Choir Director, is also so pleased with our CC- she constantly tells me how focused and driven they are (it's also slightly possible that they knew all the colors before my adult cast did!).

We're heading into a hard part of rehearsal- the part where we polish. Sometimes actors have a tough time with this because they want to run the numbers and perform- not have me pick them apart to be sure they're the best they can be! I totally understand that feeling- I cannot wait for opening night. We've still got a lot to so- about 4 numbers to stage, numbers to fix, problems to figure out...but we're ready.

Brace yourselves, folks- here we go!

The model is here!

First of all, apologies for the blurry Iphone photo!
The start of any musical is always exciting- but this week is proving to be a bit of a let down with all the snow. We had to cancel rehearsal for Monday and our schedule has been a bit thrown off with Campus Orientation on Thursday- so I thought I'd write about the biggest thing for this week...THE MODEL IS HERE!
Vince (our Technical Director) and I usually start talking about the set design for the show in the fall (in between my directing a staged reading and him directing a full length show!) and I'm usually able to give him a rough idea of what I'm thinking I'll need. We usually 'walk the stage', which means we stand on the stage floor and discuss how big the set will be, how tall, other technical issues, etc. After things are solid, Vince draws a scale groundplan and tapes it out on the floor for me. I'm a very visual director, meaning that I have a tough time visualizing how things will look unless I have an actual visual representation (like tape on the floor where walls and stairs will be!). Once that is done, he builds a scale model. Things usually change quite a bit in that process- what is taped on the floor initally ends up being different from what the model looks like, which necessitates some changes in blocking, etc. It keeps me on my toes, that's for sure.
The set for Joseph is partially moveable (the platforms move, as well as the top part of the set) and it has LOTS of levels, which is also a requirement for me as a director. Building the set falls to our Theatre Practicum class, a group of dedicated students who use power tools, paint, tape, nail and in every way make things happen.
I'll keep you updated on the building process- the stage is totally bare right now...you'll be amazed at how much goes on in three months!
Grace

Bootcamp for JOSEPH

Four years ago, I started working at the Center of Creative Arts in St Louis (COCA). I had been hired to stage manage their summer musical and I was asked to step in and direct when the director suddenly left the production. I met a lot of really great people at COCA, but little did I know how much influence those people would have on my students at ECC.

One of the most important people I met at COCA was Christopher Page, the choreographer of that first summer production (and of the three subsequent shows I've directed at COCA). Chris was a dance major at UMKC that first year and when I decided to direct One on this Island at ECC, I asked him to choreograph the show. He gladly came down and worked with my students and community members on the show which featured African dance, a brand new style for all of us. Chris made a huge impression on everyone and the cast had a great time working with him.

Chris graduated from UMKC and joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, based out of Denver. As a professional dancer, he has an incredibly busy schedule, but he still made time to join the creative team at ECC.

The next year, I asked Chris to choreograph Crazy for You, our 2010 musical. While he and I were working at COCA, he came to ECC and choreographed some numbers and also came over Christmas break to finish up.

This past summer, Chris and I worked on a production of Aida at COCA and I asked him to join my Joseph team for 2011. He agreed to join us for a week for what I started calling a 'Joseph Bootcamp'.

I knew that I was asking my cast for quite a bit- they would be working 14 hour days, dancing until their feet fell off! I was honestly a little unsure as to how they would react- I was asking for a lot! They stepped up and rocked it- we got over 1/2 the show choreographed and done and had a GREAT time doing it.

I think this is closest cast we've had in quite a while- everyone ate lunch and dinner together and bonded over the endless situps and pushups Chris had them do! They also shared a love of Motrin- dancing that much makes you hurt!

We still have 3 months until Joseph open- and I can safely say this is the best Joseph you'll ever see. This cast is amazing, the choreography is incredible and the energy is through the roof- and its all thanks to Chris!