You have heard of the Oscars, Grammy's and Golden Globes. You may have heard of the Tony's, the award for Theatre on Broadway. In Calgary we have the Betty's. In Vancouver there is the Jessie's, the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. They have announced their nominations for this season. Beyond Eden has captured 8 nominations. I have been told that is a record.
Jessie Nominations:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Jackson
Outstanding Lighting Design
Alan Brodie & Kevin Lamotte
Outstanding Set Design
Bretta Gerecke
Outstanding Costume Design
Bretta Gerecke
Outstanding Sound Design
Chris Jacko & Michael Rinaldi
Outstanding Production
Beyond Eden
Significant Artistic Achievement:
Outstanding Visual Art Design
Gwaai Edenshaw
Outstanding Projection Design
Jamie Nesbitt
That is pretty exciting!
Showing posts with label Theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theatre. Show all posts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
Mostly the same
Last nigh we played Wii with the cast and crew again. This time only until 3am.
Always a good time.
On Sunday the garage building company called to say that they were ready to do cement prep on our yard, and that we should take down our fence. So we spent the day taking down the fence that we put up two years ago at this time.
This morning around 8am they pulled up with all of their loud trucks. They have cleared the area and we should see out cement pad poured tomorrow.
Very exciting.
Always a good time.
On Sunday the garage building company called to say that they were ready to do cement prep on our yard, and that we should take down our fence. So we spent the day taking down the fence that we put up two years ago at this time.
This morning around 8am they pulled up with all of their loud trucks. They have cleared the area and we should see out cement pad poured tomorrow.
Very exciting.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Opening Night Reception
It started as a joke. One of the crew guys was chatting with the Technical Director about purchasing a games table (air hockey, Foosball etc) to keep us entertained during this slow show. The Technical Director then said that he would pitch in half of what ever we raised. So the large crew (including myself) pitched some money. We started researching the tables and some how is morphed into a Wii.
So for Opening the boys went out and bought a Wii, 4 controllers, Band Hero, Mario Kart and a couple of other games.
During intermission we gathered all of the couches from the green room and the boys office and gathered them in the backstage area. Following the show we set up the office projector onto the large cyc at the back of the stage. For those of you that haven't been onstage before, a cyc is a large piece of white fabric that is usually used for lights. It is at the back of the stage in all dance shows and changes colours. More recently, with the increased use of projectors, show project onto them.
We had a very large screen, couches, booze and a large group of people.
I stuck around at the reception to talk to all the people that I only see at openings. When I went backstage there were over 20 people playing and singing and enjoying themselves. The group slowly thinned out.
There were five die-hards that stuck around until the very end. 4am.
Great fun!
So for Opening the boys went out and bought a Wii, 4 controllers, Band Hero, Mario Kart and a couple of other games.
During intermission we gathered all of the couches from the green room and the boys office and gathered them in the backstage area. Following the show we set up the office projector onto the large cyc at the back of the stage. For those of you that haven't been onstage before, a cyc is a large piece of white fabric that is usually used for lights. It is at the back of the stage in all dance shows and changes colours. More recently, with the increased use of projectors, show project onto them.
We had a very large screen, couches, booze and a large group of people.
I stuck around at the reception to talk to all the people that I only see at openings. When I went backstage there were over 20 people playing and singing and enjoying themselves. The group slowly thinned out.
There were five die-hards that stuck around until the very end. 4am.
Great fun!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Today is opening. Another opening. On days like today I wake up with a couple of songs in my head.
Think The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show. See Daffy and Bugs in tails doing a time step across the stage. They know the feeling.
This Is It
Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
Tonight what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
From "Annie Get Your Gun". A great little ditty.
There's No Business Like Show Business
The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when you heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won't come
There's no business like show business
Like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
No where could you have that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow
There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you opened and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star
Let's go on with the show
By Musical Theatre composer Cole Porter from "Kiss Me Kate"
This one might capture the feeling the best.
Another Opening
Another openin', another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another openin' of another show.
Another job that you hope will last
Will make your future forget your past
Another pain where the ulcers grow
Another openin' of another show
Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse
Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse
One week, will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat it's that big first night
The overture is about to start
You cross your fingers and hold your heart
It's curtain time and away we go-
Another openin'
Just another openin' of another show!
Think The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show. See Daffy and Bugs in tails doing a time step across the stage. They know the feeling.
This Is It
Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
Tonight what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it
From "Annie Get Your Gun". A great little ditty.
There's No Business Like Show Business
The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when you heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won't come
There's no business like show business
Like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
No where could you have that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow
There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you opened and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star
Let's go on with the show
By Musical Theatre composer Cole Porter from "Kiss Me Kate"
This one might capture the feeling the best.
Another Opening
Another openin', another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another openin' of another show.
Another job that you hope will last
Will make your future forget your past
Another pain where the ulcers grow
Another openin' of another show
Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse
Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse
One week, will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat it's that big first night
The overture is about to start
You cross your fingers and hold your heart
It's curtain time and away we go-
Another openin'
Just another openin' of another show!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Spelling Bee
I am a terrible speller. I have always known that. My mother has always told me that.
This recently has been spot lighted. The show I am working on right now is called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Every show we call up 4 audience volunteers to be apart of the spelling bee. In recent days we have volunteers from the office etc. But in the beginning he would just call some of us from the production table to hop up and spell. I am out every time! Every time!
To add to the spelling embarrassment the choreographer decided that it would be a good idea to have an actual spelling bee (not scripted). So yesterday afternoon we did. I was the first speller and I failed, again. Not that I was the only one. Of the 13 of us in the bee all but three got their first words wrong. But mine was pretty easy. I don't even want to admit what the word was. Oh well. If there is anything I have learned working in this business - I have no shame. Oh well. Got the word wrong. Moving on.
This show has been a delight. The rehearsal days is filled with laughter and very little stress. We are nearly finished week 3. We move onto the stage next week. I am sure the usual stresses will follow us there, but I am really not worried. I have been "Beyond Eden", everything seems like a picnic now.
This recently has been spot lighted. The show I am working on right now is called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Every show we call up 4 audience volunteers to be apart of the spelling bee. In recent days we have volunteers from the office etc. But in the beginning he would just call some of us from the production table to hop up and spell. I am out every time! Every time!
To add to the spelling embarrassment the choreographer decided that it would be a good idea to have an actual spelling bee (not scripted). So yesterday afternoon we did. I was the first speller and I failed, again. Not that I was the only one. Of the 13 of us in the bee all but three got their first words wrong. But mine was pretty easy. I don't even want to admit what the word was. Oh well. If there is anything I have learned working in this business - I have no shame. Oh well. Got the word wrong. Moving on.
This show has been a delight. The rehearsal days is filled with laughter and very little stress. We are nearly finished week 3. We move onto the stage next week. I am sure the usual stresses will follow us there, but I am really not worried. I have been "Beyond Eden", everything seems like a picnic now.
Monday, March 08, 2010
It's over
What a journey this show has been. The roller coaster of emotions on this one has been great. From the absurd and terrible lows to incredible highs. It has taken so much for all of us. And now it's done.
I have been doing this for a while now, but this one is unique. A group of people that would never get together outside of this experience spent three long months joined at the hip. We had our troubles, right up to the last minute. But when you go through hard times it makes the good times even better.
This show may be different for me because I usually distance myself from everything. Go to work and still have a home life. That is my usual complaint about what I do for a living, it doesn't allow me to have a life. But because this one took me out of town and had me in Calgary alone I let it become my life. These people became my family for over two months.
It is always weird when you make such hard and fast friends and then just walk away from it. But this one was especially emotional.
I feel like I say this all the time. Maybe I do. But yesterdays close was special.
At the top of yesterdays show we were standing by. Suddenly Dennis (Director of the show and Artistic Director of the theatre) walked to the stage from the audience. This surprised all of us and we didn't know what was about to happen. He spoke with a shake in his voice, first explaining that a bus full of wheelchairs just pulled up and we would wait for them to be seated, but he went on to talk about the show and just how emotional this specific show may end up being because it is closing. He was close to tears and we hadn't even begun. I was standing by with John Mann, who reached out for my hand. In those following moments I stook silently with John, hand in hand, as a number of others walked by us, silently giving a quick squeeze to our arms. Magic.
The show went on, like it does. As the curtain came down and the company proceeded to the stage for their curtain call the audience was very generous with their applause. But I don't think the cast cared. This last bow was for them and you could see it. They all came off stage with tears in their eyes. A very sad round of hugs ensued.
I felt a little weird becuase I wasn't crying perhaps because I wasn't finished working yet. John was especially struggling. He has spent 5 years on this show and sat with a towel over his head in his private moment of tears for nearly 20 minutes.
Many of the others that don't do this for a living couldn't quite get themselves together. Many were leaving right away. Another special moment came from Meegwun. He gathered everyone that was available in the door way of the green room. He was almost difficult to understand through his tears. But he said some great things and then pulled out his drum and offered us a song with a very complex and powerful translation. Then he drummed and gave a full on Native chant. It was very moving.
I have photos that I will put up soon, but for now I leave you with John Mann singing his hit for us in Chris' living room. The added bonus of many instruments filling out the sound.
I have been doing this for a while now, but this one is unique. A group of people that would never get together outside of this experience spent three long months joined at the hip. We had our troubles, right up to the last minute. But when you go through hard times it makes the good times even better.
This show may be different for me because I usually distance myself from everything. Go to work and still have a home life. That is my usual complaint about what I do for a living, it doesn't allow me to have a life. But because this one took me out of town and had me in Calgary alone I let it become my life. These people became my family for over two months.
It is always weird when you make such hard and fast friends and then just walk away from it. But this one was especially emotional.
I feel like I say this all the time. Maybe I do. But yesterdays close was special.
At the top of yesterdays show we were standing by. Suddenly Dennis (Director of the show and Artistic Director of the theatre) walked to the stage from the audience. This surprised all of us and we didn't know what was about to happen. He spoke with a shake in his voice, first explaining that a bus full of wheelchairs just pulled up and we would wait for them to be seated, but he went on to talk about the show and just how emotional this specific show may end up being because it is closing. He was close to tears and we hadn't even begun. I was standing by with John Mann, who reached out for my hand. In those following moments I stook silently with John, hand in hand, as a number of others walked by us, silently giving a quick squeeze to our arms. Magic.
The show went on, like it does. As the curtain came down and the company proceeded to the stage for their curtain call the audience was very generous with their applause. But I don't think the cast cared. This last bow was for them and you could see it. They all came off stage with tears in their eyes. A very sad round of hugs ensued.
I felt a little weird becuase I wasn't crying perhaps because I wasn't finished working yet. John was especially struggling. He has spent 5 years on this show and sat with a towel over his head in his private moment of tears for nearly 20 minutes.
Many of the others that don't do this for a living couldn't quite get themselves together. Many were leaving right away. Another special moment came from Meegwun. He gathered everyone that was available in the door way of the green room. He was almost difficult to understand through his tears. But he said some great things and then pulled out his drum and offered us a song with a very complex and powerful translation. Then he drummed and gave a full on Native chant. It was very moving.
I have photos that I will put up soon, but for now I leave you with John Mann singing his hit for us in Chris' living room. The added bonus of many instruments filling out the sound.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Eden
This show has certainly left a scar on me. Damage done that will be evident for years to come. Mostly I mean emotionally. Emotional scars. But I do have a scar that will be physically visible for a long time. If you take a look at this Interview you will see the Canoe Poles. I hate the Canoe Poles. On our third or fourth day in Vancouver while moving these stupid poles around a metal corner gouged my thumb. It was a very deep cut, but we were in the middle of a run so I swore and kept moving. A little later I felt the blood running down my arm. That was almost two months ago. Look at it. Still very visible.
Here are some pictures for you as well. It is the visual of the show that people are talking about the most. These don't really capture it, but I figured you might like to see.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
My Olympic Experience
It feels like a million years ago that we were in Vancouver.
To be in that city in the days leading up to the Olympics was pretty cool. Especially in the last two weeks. To watch the number of people on the streets increase exponentially every day.
The number of police walking the streets, all in different uniforms. The street closures and chaos of a changing downtown.
Those last few days I was living right in the thick of it. It was electric.
The room mate I was staying with was a volunteer performer in the Opening Ceremonies. He gave me two tickets to the dress rehearsal. We met at my hotel at about 4:30 and set out the two blocks to the gates of BC Place. The line was incredibly long to get to security. One block up Nelson St, around the corner and down the street, around the next corner and we joined the line in the middle of the next block. The line was a longer walk than from the hotel.
Going through security was crazy. It was a lot like being at the airport. Only worse.
All of us were funneled into a number of tents. All of your stuff was put into bins, as is at the airport. But there is no imaging machine, a person goes through your stuff. They pulled everything out of my purse. Then a walk through the metal detectors.
Finally inside we got to watch the Pre-show. Ben Mulroney teaching us how to use the props that we would not be given. But the $8 beer kept us entertained.
They explained to us that we were all in attendance because we know someone who has spent months working on this event. That these people have been sworn to secrecy about the show and they ask that we honour them and keep the secrets.
They also explained that they would be keeping some of their secrets.
It was pretty cool to see the event live. I tried not to watch the screens so that I could see all of the live stuff live.
They had stand ins for most people. They didn't announce the talent if they were stand ins. Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were stand ins, so were KD Lang and nearly all of the others. But Sarah Mclachlan, the French guy and O Canada were all as they were in the show.
The snow boarded made the jump, the pyro went and the polar bear roamed the stage.
It was all very cool. After watching it on TV though it is clear that it was designed for the billions of people watching on TV, not for the 60,000 watching it live. From where we were sitting the projections were not a clear as they were on TV. The projections on the floor were not connected to the action. For example at the very beginning when the people are walking on the ice and it all breaks up, you needed an over head view to understand it.
But I could watch all of the dancing. My favorite part was the "Sacred Grove" with the huge tree and all of the dancers. I wish that I could have seen KD Lang do her thing because it was certainly the best song of the night (when watching it on TV)
One of the secrets they kept was the torch stuff. Seeing as it went wrong on the actual night, perhaps they should have practiced it. Especially when it wasn't all that secret because they had the other one set up on the water already. Oh well. That is exactly why we have dress rehearsals, to make sure everything is going to work.
Those last days in Vancouver were wild. It felt really fun to be there. Glad that I wasn't going to have to be there when it was really crazy. But glad to have seen it, to have felt it.
When we returned to Calgary and the next day were watching the Opening Ceremonies at Dennis' house it was surreal to not be still in Vancouver. To be apart of the build up and then to be in someones living room like everyone else. It was weird.
This week while we have been back rehearsing and at the theatre for way to many hours on end. The TV has been tuned to the Olympics at all times. We are cheering as a team. And yesterday we held Act II by a couple of minutes to watch the short track speed skating metal final with the two Canadian brothers. Our watching didn't help but it was fun to take that extra minute to be Canadian before we went back to work. The audience will never know what we were waiting for.
To be in that city in the days leading up to the Olympics was pretty cool. Especially in the last two weeks. To watch the number of people on the streets increase exponentially every day.
The number of police walking the streets, all in different uniforms. The street closures and chaos of a changing downtown.
Those last few days I was living right in the thick of it. It was electric.
The room mate I was staying with was a volunteer performer in the Opening Ceremonies. He gave me two tickets to the dress rehearsal. We met at my hotel at about 4:30 and set out the two blocks to the gates of BC Place. The line was incredibly long to get to security. One block up Nelson St, around the corner and down the street, around the next corner and we joined the line in the middle of the next block. The line was a longer walk than from the hotel.
Going through security was crazy. It was a lot like being at the airport. Only worse.
All of us were funneled into a number of tents. All of your stuff was put into bins, as is at the airport. But there is no imaging machine, a person goes through your stuff. They pulled everything out of my purse. Then a walk through the metal detectors.
Finally inside we got to watch the Pre-show. Ben Mulroney teaching us how to use the props that we would not be given. But the $8 beer kept us entertained.
They explained to us that we were all in attendance because we know someone who has spent months working on this event. That these people have been sworn to secrecy about the show and they ask that we honour them and keep the secrets.
They also explained that they would be keeping some of their secrets.
It was pretty cool to see the event live. I tried not to watch the screens so that I could see all of the live stuff live.
They had stand ins for most people. They didn't announce the talent if they were stand ins. Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were stand ins, so were KD Lang and nearly all of the others. But Sarah Mclachlan, the French guy and O Canada were all as they were in the show.
The snow boarded made the jump, the pyro went and the polar bear roamed the stage.
It was all very cool. After watching it on TV though it is clear that it was designed for the billions of people watching on TV, not for the 60,000 watching it live. From where we were sitting the projections were not a clear as they were on TV. The projections on the floor were not connected to the action. For example at the very beginning when the people are walking on the ice and it all breaks up, you needed an over head view to understand it.
But I could watch all of the dancing. My favorite part was the "Sacred Grove" with the huge tree and all of the dancers. I wish that I could have seen KD Lang do her thing because it was certainly the best song of the night (when watching it on TV)
One of the secrets they kept was the torch stuff. Seeing as it went wrong on the actual night, perhaps they should have practiced it. Especially when it wasn't all that secret because they had the other one set up on the water already. Oh well. That is exactly why we have dress rehearsals, to make sure everything is going to work.
Those last days in Vancouver were wild. It felt really fun to be there. Glad that I wasn't going to have to be there when it was really crazy. But glad to have seen it, to have felt it.
When we returned to Calgary and the next day were watching the Opening Ceremonies at Dennis' house it was surreal to not be still in Vancouver. To be apart of the build up and then to be in someones living room like everyone else. It was weird.
This week while we have been back rehearsing and at the theatre for way to many hours on end. The TV has been tuned to the Olympics at all times. We are cheering as a team. And yesterday we held Act II by a couple of minutes to watch the short track speed skating metal final with the two Canadian brothers. Our watching didn't help but it was fun to take that extra minute to be Canadian before we went back to work. The audience will never know what we were waiting for.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Last day in Vancouver
On my last Day Off before we closed the show in Vancouver I went on a big walk. I walked down the Sea Wall to see the sights.
Here I am across the water from Granville Island.
Here I am across the water from Granville Island.
Further down the Sea Wall is English Bay.
I pulled up a seat one of these big logs and watched the water and the big container ships.
Further down the water is the Inukshuk at English Bay. The plague says that it was given to the City of Vancouver by the Government of the Northwest Territories for their pavilion at Expo '86.
It was a beautiful day for a walk.
The last night that I was in Vancouver I was able to hang out with Logan and Matt. Matt took us on our driving tour of the city, the North Shore.
The last night that I was in Vancouver I was able to hang out with Logan and Matt. Matt took us on our driving tour of the city, the North Shore.
First stop, back at English Bay for the Art Installation "Vectoral Elevation". 20 huge search lights that light the sky. There is a website where you can design your own light show.
Here Matt and Logan watching the lights.
Then we drove into Stanley Park to take a peak at some of the sights. Here are the totem poles of Stanley Park.
The Haida Pole.
Still in Stanley Park we pulled over to take a look at the Olympic Rings on the water.
The Rings with Five Sails in the background.
Lions Gate Bridge.
A shot of the three cruise ships lined up that are housing the 7000 law enforcement. Logan's is the ship with the red tail.
Lions Gate Bridge.
A shot of the three cruise ships lined up that are housing the 7000 law enforcement. Logan's is the ship with the red tail.
Our last stop was at Lonsdale Quay, looking back onto downtown.
Driving over the Lions Gate Bridge back into downtown.
In the end I had a good time in Vancouver. It may not seem like it. But now that the pain is behind us I can appreciate the show. Usually the subject matter of the show matters very little to me. But after my afternoon at the Museum of Anthropology I feel the strength of our show. And I have spent some time with the company and have really enjoyed hanging out with them. If I forget the first two weeks, it was great.
But I am very glad to be home.
An incredible night
I have pictures of my last days in Vancouver that I need to post.
I have updates now that I have been home for a week.
But I need to tell you about Monday night.
Tom Jackson invited us all to his house for a party.
We car pooled to his house outside of Calgary at 5. Nearly every person in the company came. We shared some appetizers and drinks.
For supper he served, with his wonderful wife, Montreal Smoked Meat Brisket. Delicious.
We had a wonderful meal.
Then the magic started. The instruments were pulled out and sound system hooked up. I knew that it was going to be a great "Jam Session" but I didn't really know what to expect. I thought a couple acoustic guitars and a piano. Wrong.
He had 3 microphones, a keyboard, electric guitar all ready to go. But it didn't end there. Many people brought out their own instruments. Chris, a great Calgary actor, brought a Mandolin, Cam, Frank Sinatra from previous shows, brought his banjo, and our band brought their instruments.
I can't even describe to you the feel of this room. Tom had a couple of friends over as well, three ladies that have a band and their piano player. They kicked the whole things off, and it rocked. But it got better. They start a song and the others sitting with their instruments just join in. Suddenly you have a full band supporting this song that came out of no where. And between every verse they would feature one player - "fiddle player take it". Adrian our band viola player would solo.
Curt and I (another Calgary actor I have worked with in Regina) just sat there with permanent grins on our faces. But we would really share a moment of disbelief when they would switch instruments. Cam sitting on Banjo stops playing when a new song starts and sees a Harmonica. So he picks it up and the song changes and grows. I think all of them switched instruments. And every time it would make me shake my head.
I was so lucky to have been there! There are moments that you know you will never forget. This was it.
John Mann sang three songs. A capella tune he wrote to a Robbie Burns poem. A cute song about how we were all safer when we could play with knives. And his last a funny "ballad" about his funeral.
Tom Jackson took the stage a couple times to sing and play the guitar. It was great. Especially when he pulls out that deep, deep voice he has. He would be singing away and then bust it out for a line and the whole room would go crazy.
Bill Henderson of Chillawack had out his electric guitar and rocked the room all night. He sang a few songs but mostly just went crazy on the guitar. It was incredible.
At any given moment there were not fewer than 8 musicians playing. One keyboard and 3 players, our rehearsal pianist, our show pianist and the pianist for the girls band. They would just tag the other out and take turns, sometimes each would play in the same song, or at the same time!
We heard many original songs people have written in their spare time (and again the others would pick it up and fill out the song). Many, many classic songs.
I didn't want the evening to end.
I have updates now that I have been home for a week.
But I need to tell you about Monday night.
Tom Jackson invited us all to his house for a party.
We car pooled to his house outside of Calgary at 5. Nearly every person in the company came. We shared some appetizers and drinks.
For supper he served, with his wonderful wife, Montreal Smoked Meat Brisket. Delicious.
We had a wonderful meal.
Then the magic started. The instruments were pulled out and sound system hooked up. I knew that it was going to be a great "Jam Session" but I didn't really know what to expect. I thought a couple acoustic guitars and a piano. Wrong.
He had 3 microphones, a keyboard, electric guitar all ready to go. But it didn't end there. Many people brought out their own instruments. Chris, a great Calgary actor, brought a Mandolin, Cam, Frank Sinatra from previous shows, brought his banjo, and our band brought their instruments.
I can't even describe to you the feel of this room. Tom had a couple of friends over as well, three ladies that have a band and their piano player. They kicked the whole things off, and it rocked. But it got better. They start a song and the others sitting with their instruments just join in. Suddenly you have a full band supporting this song that came out of no where. And between every verse they would feature one player - "fiddle player take it". Adrian our band viola player would solo.
Curt and I (another Calgary actor I have worked with in Regina) just sat there with permanent grins on our faces. But we would really share a moment of disbelief when they would switch instruments. Cam sitting on Banjo stops playing when a new song starts and sees a Harmonica. So he picks it up and the song changes and grows. I think all of them switched instruments. And every time it would make me shake my head.
I was so lucky to have been there! There are moments that you know you will never forget. This was it.
John Mann sang three songs. A capella tune he wrote to a Robbie Burns poem. A cute song about how we were all safer when we could play with knives. And his last a funny "ballad" about his funeral.
Tom Jackson took the stage a couple times to sing and play the guitar. It was great. Especially when he pulls out that deep, deep voice he has. He would be singing away and then bust it out for a line and the whole room would go crazy.
Bill Henderson of Chillawack had out his electric guitar and rocked the room all night. He sang a few songs but mostly just went crazy on the guitar. It was incredible.
At any given moment there were not fewer than 8 musicians playing. One keyboard and 3 players, our rehearsal pianist, our show pianist and the pianist for the girls band. They would just tag the other out and take turns, sometimes each would play in the same song, or at the same time!
We heard many original songs people have written in their spare time (and again the others would pick it up and fill out the song). Many, many classic songs.
I didn't want the evening to end.
Monday, February 01, 2010
New Location
I am in a new place today. A new place, emotionally, physically and literally.
-Most importantly, Logan arrived (on Saturday) and was able to stay with me from 6pm yesterday to moments ago.
-I am finally having fun on the show.
-And lastly, I moved. I am now in the Rosedale Suites & Hotel. It is great. (It is almost costing me as much per night as I was paying per week. Good thing I am only here for 10 days.)
Let's compare:
Nicole & Munish's Place to the Theatre
8 minute walk to the bus
up to 10 minute wait for the bus
15-20 minute bus ride
5 minute walk to the theatre
+ $10 cab ride home
View Larger Map
Rosedale Hotel to the Theatre
6 minute walk.
View Larger Map
Nicole & Munish's Apartment
(turn the dial in the top left corner so that N is at the very bottom & hit the blue X on the dialogue box)
View Larger Map
Rosedale Suite & Hotel
Living room
Bedroom
Kitchenette
View Directly out the window at the cute shops across the street
View down Hamilton St toward Robson St.
I think this last 10 days is going to be great. The show is going along tickity-boo. The entire company has become great friends. Logan is in town. We may not get to see each other a lot, but we will get to see each other. And I am in a place that is my own, clean and great.
-Most importantly, Logan arrived (on Saturday) and was able to stay with me from 6pm yesterday to moments ago.
-I am finally having fun on the show.
-And lastly, I moved. I am now in the Rosedale Suites & Hotel. It is great. (It is almost costing me as much per night as I was paying per week. Good thing I am only here for 10 days.)
Let's compare:
Nicole & Munish's Place to the Theatre
8 minute walk to the bus
up to 10 minute wait for the bus
15-20 minute bus ride
5 minute walk to the theatre
+ $10 cab ride home
View Larger Map
Rosedale Hotel to the Theatre
6 minute walk.
View Larger Map
Nicole & Munish's Apartment
(turn the dial in the top left corner so that N is at the very bottom & hit the blue X on the dialogue box)
View Larger Map
Rosedale Suite & Hotel
Living room
Bedroom
Kitchenette
View Directly out the window at the cute shops across the street
View down Hamilton St toward Robson St.
I think this last 10 days is going to be great. The show is going along tickity-boo. The entire company has become great friends. Logan is in town. We may not get to see each other a lot, but we will get to see each other. And I am in a place that is my own, clean and great.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday off
Yesterday we were given a bonus day off. The show had been held for a "bought house". No one bought it. No show.
I decided to go to the Museum of Anthropology. This museum was created to house the Totem Poles "rescued" from the beaches of Ninstints. The entire plot of our play.
Quick overview: The real life Anthropologist Wilson Duff (Lewis Wilson played by John Mann in our show) and his friend Bill Reid (Max Thomson played by Cam MacDuffee) go to Ninstints to remove select totem poles so that they can be preserved in a museum to be studied etc. The argument was and still is to this day, that they shouldn't have taken them. That the cycle is not supposed to be broken, a tree grows, it is chopped down, carved, it decays and nourishes new trees that will be chopped down and carved. The argument on the other side is that the families were killed by small pox and the village abandoned for 60 at the time of the expedition. The cycle was broken.
The experience was so much for these two guys - and all of the people on this expedition - that it affected them for the rest of their lives. The Anthropologist ended up committing suicide and Bill Reid found inspiration to learn to carve, to re-discover his own past. He is one of the most famous First Nations artists (turn over a $20 bill and you can see his work!)
In the "backyard" of the museum they recreated a piece of Ninstints - Bill Reid carving 2/3 scale replicas of the totems they rescued - and turning it into a long house and a small house as it was/might have been in the village.
It was beautiful. The real village was built with all buildings facing the ocean. So was this one. It was quite the sight.
Inside the museum you can see the poles that they chopped down. It was pretty powerful. To see the actual poles that I watch fall every night onstage. Usually I just do theatre, but to see that this is actually someones history, heritage, turmoil. It was pretty cool.
There is always a lot of research that goes into doing a play. Even if it is a work of fiction you still have to learn about the time and place that you are working in. This one was intense as Bruce Riddell, our playwright, has been working on this for 20 years. He worked with Duff, with Bill Reid and many other elders and chiefs in the creation of this story. The bits and pieces that we have learned about this expedition is incredible. We have even seen pieces of footage from the actual expedition. Of them chopping down the poles, cutting them into pieces, putting them in crates and floating them down the water in a train-all tied together behind a boat. To see those actual pieces...
Also in this picture: The painted board on the wall was the original entry way into the building that stored the poles when they first returned. The canoe was carved by Bill Reid in the traditional way - we talk about canoes a lot in the play. And the two boxes in front are bentwood boxes. They are a thin sheet of cedar that is steamed and then bent into a box. That is how our story starts - with a bentwood box and a mask.
The four pieces seen here are all one pole. The left is the base, the right is the top - the watchman, just like Tom Jackson is in our play.
There was tons of other things to see. Most of them I had no patients to take a long time to read about. There was so much other stuff to look at. Like other work by Bill Reid. He started out as a metal smith. He worked mostly in Gold and Silver. Here are some things I thought were cool.
The museum was originally a building to protect Vancouver during the war. One of the key architectural features is the gun turrets. They weren't sure what to do with it when they were
"remodeling". So they commissioned Bill Reid to create a piece out of a huge, solid piece of yellow cedar. He created a carving of the creation story. I think it is interesting that in the gun turret there is a carving of creation. (The Raven is a huge player in the story telling of the Haida. The Raven was walking along the beach after the great flood and he noticed something shiny. It was a clam shell. Within the clam shell there were little creatures, some curious, some unsure, some not interested in what was going on outside of the shell. The Raven convinced them to explore the new world. And thus the first people stepped onto the beach.)
I am glad I went. I enjoyed the sunset on the water before the houses of Ninstints before I left.
After my trip I met up with Matt for dinner. He took me out for sushi. He is so grown up and cultured.
I decided to go to the Museum of Anthropology. This museum was created to house the Totem Poles "rescued" from the beaches of Ninstints. The entire plot of our play.
Quick overview: The real life Anthropologist Wilson Duff (Lewis Wilson played by John Mann in our show) and his friend Bill Reid (Max Thomson played by Cam MacDuffee) go to Ninstints to remove select totem poles so that they can be preserved in a museum to be studied etc. The argument was and still is to this day, that they shouldn't have taken them. That the cycle is not supposed to be broken, a tree grows, it is chopped down, carved, it decays and nourishes new trees that will be chopped down and carved. The argument on the other side is that the families were killed by small pox and the village abandoned for 60 at the time of the expedition. The cycle was broken.The experience was so much for these two guys - and all of the people on this expedition - that it affected them for the rest of their lives. The Anthropologist ended up committing suicide and Bill Reid found inspiration to learn to carve, to re-discover his own past. He is one of the most famous First Nations artists (turn over a $20 bill and you can see his work!)
In the "backyard" of the museum they recreated a piece of Ninstints - Bill Reid carving 2/3 scale replicas of the totems they rescued - and turning it into a long house and a small house as it was/might have been in the village.
It was beautiful. The real village was built with all buildings facing the ocean. So was this one. It was quite the sight.Inside the museum you can see the poles that they chopped down. It was pretty powerful. To see the actual poles that I watch fall every night onstage. Usually I just do theatre, but to see that this is actually someones history, heritage, turmoil. It was pretty cool.There is always a lot of research that goes into doing a play. Even if it is a work of fiction you still have to learn about the time and place that you are working in. This one was intense as Bruce Riddell, our playwright, has been working on this for 20 years. He worked with Duff, with Bill Reid and many other elders and chiefs in the creation of this story. The bits and pieces that we have learned about this expedition is incredible. We have even seen pieces of footage from the actual expedition. Of them chopping down the poles, cutting them into pieces, putting them in crates and floating them down the water in a train-all tied together behind a boat. To see those actual pieces...
Also in this picture: The painted board on the wall was the original entry way into the building that stored the poles when they first returned. The canoe was carved by Bill Reid in the traditional way - we talk about canoes a lot in the play. And the two boxes in front are bentwood boxes. They are a thin sheet of cedar that is steamed and then bent into a box. That is how our story starts - with a bentwood box and a mask.The four pieces seen here are all one pole. The left is the base, the right is the top - the watchman, just like Tom Jackson is in our play.There was tons of other things to see. Most of them I had no patients to take a long time to read about. There was so much other stuff to look at. Like other work by Bill Reid. He started out as a metal smith. He worked mostly in Gold and Silver. Here are some things I thought were cool.
The museum was originally a building to protect Vancouver during the war. One of the key architectural features is the gun turrets. They weren't sure what to do with it when they were"remodeling". So they commissioned Bill Reid to create a piece out of a huge, solid piece of yellow cedar. He created a carving of the creation story. I think it is interesting that in the gun turret there is a carving of creation. (The Raven is a huge player in the story telling of the Haida. The Raven was walking along the beach after the great flood and he noticed something shiny. It was a clam shell. Within the clam shell there were little creatures, some curious, some unsure, some not interested in what was going on outside of the shell. The Raven convinced them to explore the new world. And thus the first people stepped onto the beach.)
I am glad I went. I enjoyed the sunset on the water before the houses of Ninstints before I left.After my trip I met up with Matt for dinner. He took me out for sushi. He is so grown up and cultured.After Sushi I got to see his apartment. He had part of my Christmas Present waiting there for me. It was the new Monopoly City game (that I was sad no one got me for Christmas). We opened up some beer and played for three and a half hours. It was great fun. Matt whooped my ass. Final net worth: Matt $75 Million, Stacey $35 Million.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I am a bit better
Thank you all for your concern. Some very nice comments, emails and text messages. I appreciate knowing that there are people that care.
Yesterday was a better day. We still had rehearsal in the afternoon, and it was just as bad as always. In the evening was Opening Night.
The show went well. The show was a bit "under pressure". But the audience LOVED it.
Auntie Linda and Uncle Bob came to the show. So did Matt and his date. We had a chance to chat a bit after the show. Being a week night they all left rather quickly.
I joined the rest of the company at the reception. I chatted with a number of people I haven't seen in years, and others that I have seen everyday but are leaving now that we are open.
I had a couple of beers and really started to enjoy myself. I was enjoying myself enough that I let the boys convince me to go to the after party with them.
We went to The Lamplighter. (The two girls in our show know the band that was playing.) As soon as I walked in there were shots lined up. Tequila. We had a couple. I had a great time. They all agreed that it was about time I let off a little steam. We danced, drank and apparently I had a smile on my face the entire time.
Yesterday was a better day. We still had rehearsal in the afternoon, and it was just as bad as always. In the evening was Opening Night.
The show went well. The show was a bit "under pressure". But the audience LOVED it.
Auntie Linda and Uncle Bob came to the show. So did Matt and his date. We had a chance to chat a bit after the show. Being a week night they all left rather quickly.
I joined the rest of the company at the reception. I chatted with a number of people I haven't seen in years, and others that I have seen everyday but are leaving now that we are open.
I had a couple of beers and really started to enjoy myself. I was enjoying myself enough that I let the boys convince me to go to the after party with them.
We went to The Lamplighter. (The two girls in our show know the band that was playing.) As soon as I walked in there were shots lined up. Tequila. We had a couple. I had a great time. They all agreed that it was about time I let off a little steam. We danced, drank and apparently I had a smile on my face the entire time.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Touch
When you are away from home for extended periods of time there are obvious things that you miss. When you are away and are with people you just met, the list of things is longer. One thing that I miss is touch.
I am a touchy-feely person. I love hugs. When you are with your friends there is a different level of intimacy which allows touch. It can be as simple as sitting beside them and your leg or arm touches; when you are laughing at their joke give them a little nudge or touch their arm; if they say something rude you can give them a little twap on the arm. All little things that you don't necessarily think about when you are with people you know and love.
On other out of town shows that I have done there has been the obligatory opening night hug, closing hug and that is it.
I am thinking about this right now because it is Opening Night tonight and I am thinking about hugging some people that I really don't want to. But this company has been touchy from the get go. When we broke for Christmas on Christmas Eve, just five days into rehearsal, everyone was hugging. Same thing on New Year's Eve and again on the last day of rehearsal in Calgary.
I am also very fortunate to have a handful of really good people on this show. Guys that I have worked with just once before, or one guy that is just a staple in the Calgary theatre community. We have all been having a rough time on this one, but certainly they see what I have been going through. They make a point of putting a hand on my shoulder as they pass me in the wing, or giving my arm a rub as we wait in standby, or a hand on my knee before they get up from a conversation. (Keep in mind they also approach conversations with their heads tilted and a soft tone in their voice.) But these three cast members are really making the difference for me. To know that they can see how hard this is on me, that it isn't just in my head or I'm a suck.
Touch can make all the difference when it is truly meant.
Then there is Tom Jackson. He is as nice as he appears on TV. He is sweet and kind in action and in word choice. At the top of every show he seeks out each person for a hug. (Most people just hug those around them, if at all, or hug specific people). The nice thing is that I am standing by for a cue at that time but he will seek me out "Where is my Stacey" to make sure I get one. Yesterday I sat beside him during one of my favorite songs in the show and he turned to me and said "I am glad to share this song with you."
All that being said it is still just as bad as it has been since we got here. Yesterday was better as we didn't have rehearsal, just two shows. But the crew is still a problem, I am working incredibly hard as a result. Considering that before I came I was told me problem would be that I am not allowed to touch anything, things are pretty upside down. I do the entire preset and intermission change myself. My props man vacuums and fills waters. I am glad that I get to do it, cause I can trust that it is done and done right. But then I would have insisted that my apprentice come with me so I don't have to do it alone.
Oh well. One more rehearsal in Vancouver this afternoon and then we Open. Should be an interesting day.
I am a touchy-feely person. I love hugs. When you are with your friends there is a different level of intimacy which allows touch. It can be as simple as sitting beside them and your leg or arm touches; when you are laughing at their joke give them a little nudge or touch their arm; if they say something rude you can give them a little twap on the arm. All little things that you don't necessarily think about when you are with people you know and love.
On other out of town shows that I have done there has been the obligatory opening night hug, closing hug and that is it.
I am thinking about this right now because it is Opening Night tonight and I am thinking about hugging some people that I really don't want to. But this company has been touchy from the get go. When we broke for Christmas on Christmas Eve, just five days into rehearsal, everyone was hugging. Same thing on New Year's Eve and again on the last day of rehearsal in Calgary.
I am also very fortunate to have a handful of really good people on this show. Guys that I have worked with just once before, or one guy that is just a staple in the Calgary theatre community. We have all been having a rough time on this one, but certainly they see what I have been going through. They make a point of putting a hand on my shoulder as they pass me in the wing, or giving my arm a rub as we wait in standby, or a hand on my knee before they get up from a conversation. (Keep in mind they also approach conversations with their heads tilted and a soft tone in their voice.) But these three cast members are really making the difference for me. To know that they can see how hard this is on me, that it isn't just in my head or I'm a suck.
Touch can make all the difference when it is truly meant.
Then there is Tom Jackson. He is as nice as he appears on TV. He is sweet and kind in action and in word choice. At the top of every show he seeks out each person for a hug. (Most people just hug those around them, if at all, or hug specific people). The nice thing is that I am standing by for a cue at that time but he will seek me out "Where is my Stacey" to make sure I get one. Yesterday I sat beside him during one of my favorite songs in the show and he turned to me and said "I am glad to share this song with you."
All that being said it is still just as bad as it has been since we got here. Yesterday was better as we didn't have rehearsal, just two shows. But the crew is still a problem, I am working incredibly hard as a result. Considering that before I came I was told me problem would be that I am not allowed to touch anything, things are pretty upside down. I do the entire preset and intermission change myself. My props man vacuums and fills waters. I am glad that I get to do it, cause I can trust that it is done and done right. But then I would have insisted that my apprentice come with me so I don't have to do it alone.
Oh well. One more rehearsal in Vancouver this afternoon and then we Open. Should be an interesting day.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I guess that means we keep going
I almost quit my job yesterday. Sometimes I mean that sarcastically, or I exaggerate. But this time, I almost quit my job.
The first week sucked. We knew it was going to suck. That doesn't make it an better, but it is what it is. The day off I decided to clean the bathroom at the apartment I am staying at. It was gross. It was so gross that I had used hand soap and kleenex to clean a spot for me to put my towels on the vanity top. But after a week of that not being remedied by my "room mate", I decided take things into my own hands. At the end of cleaning crud that had been around for months I thew out the once yellow sponge.
The dirty bathroom incidents was only one great aspect of the day off. I got some groceries and returned home to eat some dinner. After eating, the "room mate" returned with a friend. The friend went out for a bit and the two of us enjoyed a movie together. The guest then returned to "crash". I went to bed, the "roommate" lowered his volume, but the "guest" was not.
When I woke up in the morning the "guest" was on the futon that took up the entire living room.
Spending one weekend with a person crashing on the couch underlined how bad the last week here is going to be. The place is double booked for another theatre tech to stay here starting Feb 1. So I started yesterday upset by my living arrangements. I got to work and the five hour rehearsal was ridiculous. I don't even want to go into how stupid everything was. But suddenly all of the things that had upset me in the past were all piled up together, and each individual problem was amplified. I try not to cry at work. I can't say that I am very successful, but I usually only do it in front of one specific person. I was backstage on the verge of crying for at least an hour when that person walked up to me to ask an innocent question. He saw the look on my face and his face changed. I declared that he can't talk to me nicely or touch me cause I would cry. Only business. At the break I quickly escaped to my office and cried. The stage manager came in a caught me. He reacted just like a guy does "What's wrong? Who did this to you? Can I go punch them?"
I may not have mentioned that the stage manager that I am working with is a seasoned professional. He is one of the best and I am glad to be working with him. He is having just a difficult a go of this as I am. He said that he was going to serious consider putting in his notice. He was going to sleep on it, but wanted to let me know.
I had to sleep on it as well. I came into work having decided:
1) If Rick stays, I stay.
2) If Rick quits;
a) I would quit but would need to be done by the end of the week. If I give two weeks then I am going home just when Logan is coming here and we would have to be two months apart. Which I don't want to do.
b) I would stay on the show and convince Rick to stay until the end of the Vancouver leg of our show. Once we get back in Calgary things should improve - in my opinion.
He came in today and had decided that we can' t let them win. So I guess that means that we are going to muscle through. Complete what we have started. Grin and bear it. And all the rest......
The first week sucked. We knew it was going to suck. That doesn't make it an better, but it is what it is. The day off I decided to clean the bathroom at the apartment I am staying at. It was gross. It was so gross that I had used hand soap and kleenex to clean a spot for me to put my towels on the vanity top. But after a week of that not being remedied by my "room mate", I decided take things into my own hands. At the end of cleaning crud that had been around for months I thew out the once yellow sponge.
The dirty bathroom incidents was only one great aspect of the day off. I got some groceries and returned home to eat some dinner. After eating, the "room mate" returned with a friend. The friend went out for a bit and the two of us enjoyed a movie together. The guest then returned to "crash". I went to bed, the "roommate" lowered his volume, but the "guest" was not.
When I woke up in the morning the "guest" was on the futon that took up the entire living room.
Spending one weekend with a person crashing on the couch underlined how bad the last week here is going to be. The place is double booked for another theatre tech to stay here starting Feb 1. So I started yesterday upset by my living arrangements. I got to work and the five hour rehearsal was ridiculous. I don't even want to go into how stupid everything was. But suddenly all of the things that had upset me in the past were all piled up together, and each individual problem was amplified. I try not to cry at work. I can't say that I am very successful, but I usually only do it in front of one specific person. I was backstage on the verge of crying for at least an hour when that person walked up to me to ask an innocent question. He saw the look on my face and his face changed. I declared that he can't talk to me nicely or touch me cause I would cry. Only business. At the break I quickly escaped to my office and cried. The stage manager came in a caught me. He reacted just like a guy does "What's wrong? Who did this to you? Can I go punch them?"
I may not have mentioned that the stage manager that I am working with is a seasoned professional. He is one of the best and I am glad to be working with him. He is having just a difficult a go of this as I am. He said that he was going to serious consider putting in his notice. He was going to sleep on it, but wanted to let me know.
I had to sleep on it as well. I came into work having decided:
1) If Rick stays, I stay.
2) If Rick quits;
a) I would quit but would need to be done by the end of the week. If I give two weeks then I am going home just when Logan is coming here and we would have to be two months apart. Which I don't want to do.
b) I would stay on the show and convince Rick to stay until the end of the Vancouver leg of our show. Once we get back in Calgary things should improve - in my opinion.
He came in today and had decided that we can' t let them win. So I guess that means that we are going to muscle through. Complete what we have started. Grin and bear it. And all the rest......
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Vancouver : : Day 6
Almost a full week here. In this dreary, rainy and dark city. In the last six days I have spent (Mon=2 hours, Tues=13 hours, Wed=10 hours, Thurs=13, Fri=14, Sat=13) 65 hours at the theatre. I don't even know what to say about it.
Last Saturday in Calgary we were certain that we would never have a show on Saturday. That we would have to cancel our first preview.
The the theatre here is a city theatre run by a union crew with a capital U. That means that I am not supposed to touch anything. I am there as a personal assistant to the actors and to double check the work of the crew. That is my understanding of how it is supposed to work.
I arrived on Monday to meet the crew. I gave the running notes (list of what to do when) to the Head Stage Carpenter-the Foreman. He told me that he works for the city, and he usually doesn't like to take any cues so that he can be available to respond to alarm calls and deliveries. He took the running notes I gave him and put them on his desk and has yet to move them since.
He then wanted to give me a warning about the Props guy. He was injured awhile back, a broken neck that hasn't healed properly. He works through the pain and because of that can get a bit irritable. He has been known to snap and take a piece off of people and then not remember that he has done it. Also, he doesn't work from paperwork, but he has a pretty good memory.
I gave running notes to the prop guy as well as a preset list for the props, he has put that down on his work station and has not picked it up since.
The fly guy is great, but he is only there to do the flies.
Our first rehearsal - Tuesday, the Foreman and I had a bit of a disagreement and when I walked away I knew that we were not going to have a good time. In the last hour of that day I sat in the crew area and listen to those three old men (all confirmed over 65) tell me story. I gave them my full attention, laughed at all the right places, agreed with them and generally tried to mend the bridges. I think it worked. My prop guy works hard for me, I have to tell him what to do next but I think that will get better. And because the other guy told me he doesn't take cues - I have been doing all of the cues I had assigned to him. Which suits me just fine.
I have worked my ass off to make this show run. And it did. We shall see how this continues.
Last Saturday in Calgary we were certain that we would never have a show on Saturday. That we would have to cancel our first preview.
The the theatre here is a city theatre run by a union crew with a capital U. That means that I am not supposed to touch anything. I am there as a personal assistant to the actors and to double check the work of the crew. That is my understanding of how it is supposed to work.
I arrived on Monday to meet the crew. I gave the running notes (list of what to do when) to the Head Stage Carpenter-the Foreman. He told me that he works for the city, and he usually doesn't like to take any cues so that he can be available to respond to alarm calls and deliveries. He took the running notes I gave him and put them on his desk and has yet to move them since.
He then wanted to give me a warning about the Props guy. He was injured awhile back, a broken neck that hasn't healed properly. He works through the pain and because of that can get a bit irritable. He has been known to snap and take a piece off of people and then not remember that he has done it. Also, he doesn't work from paperwork, but he has a pretty good memory.
I gave running notes to the prop guy as well as a preset list for the props, he has put that down on his work station and has not picked it up since.
The fly guy is great, but he is only there to do the flies.
Our first rehearsal - Tuesday, the Foreman and I had a bit of a disagreement and when I walked away I knew that we were not going to have a good time. In the last hour of that day I sat in the crew area and listen to those three old men (all confirmed over 65) tell me story. I gave them my full attention, laughed at all the right places, agreed with them and generally tried to mend the bridges. I think it worked. My prop guy works hard for me, I have to tell him what to do next but I think that will get better. And because the other guy told me he doesn't take cues - I have been doing all of the cues I had assigned to him. Which suits me just fine.
I have worked my ass off to make this show run. And it did. We shall see how this continues.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
What a Day
In my business things are predictable in its unpredictability. The framework is always the same though. We have three weeks of rehearsal. First we block the show, then we go through the show a second time to work the scenes, then we clean the scenes. We move to the stage and space the scene on the stage. One by one we add all of the technical elements; lights, sound, special effects, and costumes. Then we try to do it all at the same time. We try it again. We have a dress rehearsal and invite the people to watch.
This time we had seven rehearsals, broke for Christmas, returned to discover that most things slip out of your brain over the holiday. Have a week of rehearsal and got a new script-starting all over again. The new script was Jan 2, day off, yesterday we tried to talk through all of the changes.......
Today, today we had a weird opportunity. A truck pulls out of Calgary tomorrow with our set, props and costumes to Vancouver. Before it leaves they set everything up on stage here. We had the opportunity to work on the set today. Well before we were prepared to do so. We got to walk through things that we have only looked at once or twice (and in some cases haven't even looked at yet).
It may have been a great opportunity for the show. But it was a really stressful day for me.
Well it started very stressful. It was until we worked the "Flotilla" scene. This is a scene were 10 of our company members wear sisal rugs as coats and carry a 8' pole. On the end of these poles there are 15 small canoes the size of an envelope on wires. They all have to work their way from backstage through 3 single doors in the house of the auditorium, through the audience, up onto the stage, and through the obstacles of wires and trees onstage. It was so impossible and a disaster that I couldn't help but laugh. So I laughed for the rest of the day.
Ah well, tomorrow is another day.
This time we had seven rehearsals, broke for Christmas, returned to discover that most things slip out of your brain over the holiday. Have a week of rehearsal and got a new script-starting all over again. The new script was Jan 2, day off, yesterday we tried to talk through all of the changes.......
Today, today we had a weird opportunity. A truck pulls out of Calgary tomorrow with our set, props and costumes to Vancouver. Before it leaves they set everything up on stage here. We had the opportunity to work on the set today. Well before we were prepared to do so. We got to walk through things that we have only looked at once or twice (and in some cases haven't even looked at yet).
It may have been a great opportunity for the show. But it was a really stressful day for me.
Well it started very stressful. It was until we worked the "Flotilla" scene. This is a scene were 10 of our company members wear sisal rugs as coats and carry a 8' pole. On the end of these poles there are 15 small canoes the size of an envelope on wires. They all have to work their way from backstage through 3 single doors in the house of the auditorium, through the audience, up onto the stage, and through the obstacles of wires and trees onstage. It was so impossible and a disaster that I couldn't help but laugh. So I laughed for the rest of the day.
Ah well, tomorrow is another day.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Beyond Eden
Beyond Eden is the crazy show I am working on right now.
I go to work in a room full of Canadian Celebrities.
Tom Jackson, the native Canadian actor you have seen in nearly every Canadian movie as well as North of 60 and Shining Time Station.
John Mann, the lead singer from Spirit of the West.
Bill Henderson, lead singer of Chilliwack and many other works as Musical Director.
Our lead actress is referred to as "Canada's own Jennifer Lines" by the other actors.
The choreographer has choreographed the opening ceremony of Commonwealth games etc and the 1988 Olympics and 2010 Olympics.
I am sure that pretty well all of the people in the room are the best at what they do.
Being my first post back I don't want to get into all the gorey the details. All I want to say right now is that they have put so much money into this thing that even if we were to open tomorrow the show will still be spectacular. Hopefully, with another week and a bit of rehearsals it will be even better.
Theatre Calgary has placed a link on their website to an MP3 of the title song "Beyond Eden". Imagine it with a six piece rock band, John Mann on a stage full of totem poles as the curtain goes up for Act II and a cast of 13 sing beautiful 8 part harmony of oohs and ahs in the background.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Broken Rules
In theatre we have a lovely little thing called 10 out of 12s. That means that you are in the theatre to tech 10 out of the 12 hours that you are called. At Theatre Calgary that usually means a noon start. So for stage management that means we come in at 11:00 to get set up. We start at 11 and go home around 12:30pm. So I am only supposed to work for 10 hours - but I work closer to 13. But that is okay, because I am allowed to work 13 hours without being compensated a span of day penalty.
Each show is allowed 4 of these "special" days. But I guess that means by the title 10 out of 12. On any given day that you have a performance before you official open you can have a rehearsal. That means that you have a Preview Performance in the evening (so a four hour show call) and a 5 hour rehearsal during the day. So including the hour prep before the rehearsal I am working 10 hours again. So why make the rule that you are only allowed 4 of these long days if that is not in fact the truth. On this show we only have 3 previews - which is not bad. Some shows preview for two weeks. That means we would have 16 days in a row (not counting our one day off on Monday) of 12 hour days.
On a higher note...we have opened. People seem to like it. This image is of the final scene, Jake with his Rain Making Machine. Doesn't it look heavy? I push it up hill 8 times a show.
Each show is allowed 4 of these "special" days. But I guess that means by the title 10 out of 12. On any given day that you have a performance before you official open you can have a rehearsal. That means that you have a Preview Performance in the evening (so a four hour show call) and a 5 hour rehearsal during the day. So including the hour prep before the rehearsal I am working 10 hours again. So why make the rule that you are only allowed 4 of these long days if that is not in fact the truth. On this show we only have 3 previews - which is not bad. Some shows preview for two weeks. That means we would have 16 days in a row (not counting our one day off on Monday) of 12 hour days.
On a higher note...we have opened. People seem to like it. This image is of the final scene, Jake with his Rain Making Machine. Doesn't it look heavy? I push it up hill 8 times a show.
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