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!