Well it's getting close now. One more week of rehearsals, adding a gunshot or two, some props, then this weekend - lights and the band. Then what's affectionately called "Hell Week" which always holds the potential for all hell to break loose. I love it. For me it's layering on all the final touches, and with this show we're in great shape. This time is to tighten things up, make scene changes more smooth, nail our parts in songs, and to be comfortably off-book. I'm looking forward to it. I just ran my lines, sang with the cast album on parts that were causing me problems and I feel good. As with this blog and the previous entries I'm not sure where this is going...
But maybe that the point. Or maybe not. It just may be the voices in my head. Saw the publicity shots for the show, and I invite all three of my blog readers to check them out at:
http://www.mdaft.smugmug.com/gallery/4180208_gMbiG#256951468
Hell Week reports to come...
Come see this show.
JWB
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The eternal question - why?
So Monday was the second rehearsal night I got home and wondered... Why the hell did I drive in this crazy weather for this show??
Both times it made me think of a story I love to tell. About midway through my first summer as a performer at Six Flags Great America (the one in Gurnee, IL) I remember doing six 35-minute high energy dance shows and a parade then getting home plopping in front of the TV, putting a big bag of ice on each knee, and staring out the window thinking "there's gotta be something I'd rather be doing with my life..." But I'd always arrive at the same conclusion. There isn't. I HAVE to do this.
Well I outgrew Six Flags after three more summers, but vividly remember knee braces, hamstring wraps, sprained ankles, shin splints and various other injuries throughout my four years. Wouldn't trade it for the world. I learned a great deal and have an die hard work ethic from it.
So back to Monday. Twice now - a snow storm and a snow/ice storm has hit on rehearsal night and nearly every one of us has braved the elements. There are those of us that simply couldn't make it - this is not any kind of comment on them. If they could they would have been there. The more important questions it Why? Isn't there something we'd rather be doing with our lives? Nope. We HAVE to do this. WHY? Cause we're paid, right? Without making a wise comment, I'll say we get paid, but we don't make money. We do this because we HAVE to in our souls and we believe in what we're presenting. This show has a lot to say, will give you a lot to think about. And when people think they talk. When people talk, other people hear. And on and on. We do this for so much more than applause... and not just this show, and not just this theatre company. What we do it for is well after the applause - when you go out after and talk or go home and think. You might care more about something you hadn't before. You might see the world more clearly - or be inspired to see the world more clearly.
Because applause dies out, shows close. But I've been made into who I am by what I've done, and the most by what I've done in the theatre, what I've seen in the theatre. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Come see this show. See other shows as well. Think about it, then do it - then think about it.
Everybody's got the right to be happy...
JWB
Both times it made me think of a story I love to tell. About midway through my first summer as a performer at Six Flags Great America (the one in Gurnee, IL) I remember doing six 35-minute high energy dance shows and a parade then getting home plopping in front of the TV, putting a big bag of ice on each knee, and staring out the window thinking "there's gotta be something I'd rather be doing with my life..." But I'd always arrive at the same conclusion. There isn't. I HAVE to do this.
Well I outgrew Six Flags after three more summers, but vividly remember knee braces, hamstring wraps, sprained ankles, shin splints and various other injuries throughout my four years. Wouldn't trade it for the world. I learned a great deal and have an die hard work ethic from it.
So back to Monday. Twice now - a snow storm and a snow/ice storm has hit on rehearsal night and nearly every one of us has braved the elements. There are those of us that simply couldn't make it - this is not any kind of comment on them. If they could they would have been there. The more important questions it Why? Isn't there something we'd rather be doing with our lives? Nope. We HAVE to do this. WHY? Cause we're paid, right? Without making a wise comment, I'll say we get paid, but we don't make money. We do this because we HAVE to in our souls and we believe in what we're presenting. This show has a lot to say, will give you a lot to think about. And when people think they talk. When people talk, other people hear. And on and on. We do this for so much more than applause... and not just this show, and not just this theatre company. What we do it for is well after the applause - when you go out after and talk or go home and think. You might care more about something you hadn't before. You might see the world more clearly - or be inspired to see the world more clearly.
Because applause dies out, shows close. But I've been made into who I am by what I've done, and the most by what I've done in the theatre, what I've seen in the theatre. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Come see this show. See other shows as well. Think about it, then do it - then think about it.
Everybody's got the right to be happy...
JWB
Sunday, February 10, 2008
You want what everyone wants...
Random thoughts...
So we did the book depository scene on Thursday. While we had some fun before really getting into the blocking and had our giggles over the name of a particular rifle - once we got into it it went very well. Disturbingly so...
The best part of this show is that it actually looks into these assassins, their condition, their reasons - instead of simply writing them off as random crazies who did something dumb. But why is Booth the one in the book depository scene with Oswald? Because he's the pioneer, it makes dramatic sense. That's one argument. But beyond that, there's nothing specifically "Booth" about the dialogue other than the end to prove that when you do something like this you're remembered. Booth's there because he's really the only one who is to that point in time... only to be joined by Oswald. Ask most on the street and they won't know who you're talking about if you mention the names Zangara, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Fromme, Moore, Byck. Most might not even know Hinckley. But Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth? They know them. Why? All the people I've mentioned are in the same "fraternity" - they all attempted to assassinate U.S. Presidents and Booth and Oswald weren't the only two who succeeded. SO why are they the remembered ones? Discuss amongst yourselves...
So back to our duo in the Texas Schoolbook Depository... and to why people do these things. The structure of the scene, the dialogue is very psychological. Strip the person of any self-value then make him do whatever you want with the promise of becoming more than he ever dreamed he could be. It's twisted - yet it makes sense. It's believable. Yet most may walk away from this show not making this connection. I hope not. I hope we can learn.
In the last week there have been another series of shootings. Why? Discuss amongst yourselves... please. Don't just write them off as crazies who did something dumb...
The country is not what it was...
JWB
So we did the book depository scene on Thursday. While we had some fun before really getting into the blocking and had our giggles over the name of a particular rifle - once we got into it it went very well. Disturbingly so...
The best part of this show is that it actually looks into these assassins, their condition, their reasons - instead of simply writing them off as random crazies who did something dumb. But why is Booth the one in the book depository scene with Oswald? Because he's the pioneer, it makes dramatic sense. That's one argument. But beyond that, there's nothing specifically "Booth" about the dialogue other than the end to prove that when you do something like this you're remembered. Booth's there because he's really the only one who is to that point in time... only to be joined by Oswald. Ask most on the street and they won't know who you're talking about if you mention the names Zangara, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Fromme, Moore, Byck. Most might not even know Hinckley. But Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth? They know them. Why? All the people I've mentioned are in the same "fraternity" - they all attempted to assassinate U.S. Presidents and Booth and Oswald weren't the only two who succeeded. SO why are they the remembered ones? Discuss amongst yourselves...
So back to our duo in the Texas Schoolbook Depository... and to why people do these things. The structure of the scene, the dialogue is very psychological. Strip the person of any self-value then make him do whatever you want with the promise of becoming more than he ever dreamed he could be. It's twisted - yet it makes sense. It's believable. Yet most may walk away from this show not making this connection. I hope not. I hope we can learn.
In the last week there have been another series of shootings. Why? Discuss amongst yourselves... please. Don't just write them off as crazies who did something dumb...
The country is not what it was...
JWB
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Entry 1
"Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment." - John Wilkes Booth, April 1865
Well I figure you could have guessed that was who said that. Seems like the words of a drunken failure of an actor at the end of his rope trying to justify grasping at a last attempt to salvage his 15 minutes of fame by shooting the president.
Thing is though, like most of the assumptions we make about those assassins and attempted assassins in our nations history, it's almost completely wrong. John Wilkes Booth was not a failure. He was in fact the biggest star of his time, AT the time he assassinated Lincoln. His act was not a grasp at a last spotlight, he truly thought he was bring down a tyrant - one who had torn the country apart and destroyed his beloved South. Here's another interesting quote...
"That affair in its philosophy, corresponds with the many attempts, related in history, at the assassinations of kings and emperors. An enthusiast broods over the oppression of a people till he fancies himself commissioned by heaven to liberate them. He ventures the attempt, which ends in little else than his own execution."
If you guessed Abraham Lincoln, you're right! Kinda dramatic, huh? Interesting to look back at things, isn't it? Get to know some of the real facts and maybe learn something. Something like that these people in this show aren't simply insane. Can't be summed up in a sentence, should be looked at as more than a footnote. Because if we do then we will fall victim to the old cliche...
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
On another note - We're two weeks of rehearsal down, I've got my plunked out digitally recorded and transferred to CD parts ready to go. My lines noted in my book and I'm ready for blocking. For those who have never done a Sondheim show, this stuff is tough! But it's coming along. More on that in the coming blogs... sorry it took so long for me to get this entry in - for the six people who read this, I promise more soon.
MK
Well I figure you could have guessed that was who said that. Seems like the words of a drunken failure of an actor at the end of his rope trying to justify grasping at a last attempt to salvage his 15 minutes of fame by shooting the president.
Thing is though, like most of the assumptions we make about those assassins and attempted assassins in our nations history, it's almost completely wrong. John Wilkes Booth was not a failure. He was in fact the biggest star of his time, AT the time he assassinated Lincoln. His act was not a grasp at a last spotlight, he truly thought he was bring down a tyrant - one who had torn the country apart and destroyed his beloved South. Here's another interesting quote...
"That affair in its philosophy, corresponds with the many attempts, related in history, at the assassinations of kings and emperors. An enthusiast broods over the oppression of a people till he fancies himself commissioned by heaven to liberate them. He ventures the attempt, which ends in little else than his own execution."
If you guessed Abraham Lincoln, you're right! Kinda dramatic, huh? Interesting to look back at things, isn't it? Get to know some of the real facts and maybe learn something. Something like that these people in this show aren't simply insane. Can't be summed up in a sentence, should be looked at as more than a footnote. Because if we do then we will fall victim to the old cliche...
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
On another note - We're two weeks of rehearsal down, I've got my plunked out digitally recorded and transferred to CD parts ready to go. My lines noted in my book and I'm ready for blocking. For those who have never done a Sondheim show, this stuff is tough! But it's coming along. More on that in the coming blogs... sorry it took so long for me to get this entry in - for the six people who read this, I promise more soon.
MK
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