Friday, June 30, 2006

Wonderful Opening Night

It was a beautiful Opening night - lots of energy, lots of support, and a great - reactive audience. Thank you to everyone who came to see us.

Following the Theme of the show - if you're looking for some laughs, check out You Grew Up In Iowa If . . . a funny post.

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Thursday, June 29, 2006

Another Op'nin Another Show!

Music Man opens tonight! I'm very excited about it, the set looks beautiful, the costumes divine, and the band sounds awesome. To my fellow cast members - Break a leg! To our crew and support team - you guys are the best!

In other news ... I have a big surprise project I've been working on since Tuesday for the blog ... I hope to get it finished tomorrow or at the latest Saturday. I haven't had much free time. It's something I'm very excited about, and hope you'll enjoy.
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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

On Stage in the Hudson Valley This Weekend

Onstage in the Hudson Valley this Weekend
June 29 - July 2, 2006

Happy Fourth of July Weekend! Three very fine selections from local community theaters for this holiday weekend. I'm sure you know where I'll be, but if I wasn't going to be on stage for Music Man, in Rhinebeck. I would be seeing both Proof (one of my favorite plays) and The Drawer Boy, which the young man who plays my son in The Music Man saw last weekend and said was very good. Come celebrate this weekend at the theater!

The Music Man
June 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 at 8:00 PM
July 2, 9, 16 at 3:00 PM

Rhinebeck Theatre Society
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

The Drawer Boy
June 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7, 8 at 8:00 PM
July 2, 9 at 2:00 PM

Shadowland Theatre
157 Canal Street
Ellenville
Call: (845) 647-5511

Proof
June 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7, 8 at 8:00 PM
July 2, 9 at 2:00 PM

New Paltz Summer Repertory Theatre
Parker Theater
SUNY New Paltz Campus
Call: (845) 257-3880
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Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Hudson Valley Theater Auditions

TriArts at Sharon Playhouse
Sharon, Conn.
Entries accepted until July 21 for Will Rogers essay writing contest. Open to students ages 8-16. Winners receive full scholarship to summer musical theatre workshop. For details call 1-800-364-SHOW (7469).

TrueNorth Theatre Project
Deadline: Oct. 15
One-act river-related play entries accepted for the first annual River Play festival with the TrueNorth Theatre Project and The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries.

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Sunday, June 25, 2006

Music Man Load In Tonight

So we loaded in the set tonight - It is gorgeous! I mean amazing, fabulous, wonderful! It's not totally done yet - needs finishing touches, paint and whatnot - but I am very impressed. One of the most impressive sets I've seen in community theater.

We didn't have rehearsal today, but I was up early and made six chair covers for the opening train scene. So it was awesome to see what the rest of the train is going to look like when they put it together tonight.

For Load in I mostly worked on costumes - It was a flurry of brims for the band hats, take this dress strap up, see if this fits ... But it was great to be working downstairs because that's where the band was rehearsing... and boy do they sounds good. It's a seven piece band, with lots of brass.

I love this part of the process, where we add the finishing touches. Theater Magic at it's best. We open this Thursday night!

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Saturday, June 24, 2006

Lord of the Rings (the musical) Moves to London

From Playbill.com: Lord of the Rings to Replace The Producers at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane!

"The J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired show received its premiere at Toronto’s 2,000-seat Princess of Wales Theatre on March 23. Matthew Warchus’ $27 million (Canadian), three-act production is the first stage adaptation of the literary epic and follows the hugely successful film trilogy."

Exciting move for LOTR, from Toronto to London. Maybe next to NYC? I'd love to see the show, although a 3 hour running time seems a little too much. Previously on LOTR (the musical): Lord of the Rings ... The Musical?, Lord of the Rings Musical Update and Lord of the Rings: Mixed Reviews.

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Corrie Comes to NYC

It's been a while since I've seen anything further on the My Name is Rachel Corrie controversy. In Short, NY Theater Workshop was planning on producing Corrie in early Spring of this year, and "postponed" the show in what appears to be an act of self censorship.

If you haven't been following the story here's a few links to get you up to speed:
4-1-06 Art, Theater and Censorship
4-6-06 London Run Extended
4-11-06 Update on My Name is Rachel Corrie
4-23-06 NYTW Panel Discussions

Well Corrie will make it to NYC after all! From Playbill.com:

"The acclaimed, and controversial, Royal Court Theatre production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie has finally found a New York home. It will begin performances at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre Oct. 15. The limited engagement will play 48 performances through Nov. 19.

The play, which is taken from the writings of the late American activist Rachel Corrie, will be directed by actor Alan Rickman, who, with journalist Katharine Viner, edited Corrie's writings."

I am firm in my belief that theater and the arts should make us think, feel and examine the world around us. Censorship in any form limits and holds back the development of the arts, and also the development of ourselves.

Update: Playgoer has some excellent posts on this recent development in the Corrie saga: Corrie Off-B'way! and more "Corrie"

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Thursday, June 22, 2006

Balancing Act: Theater, Work and Life!

What a Balancing Act it can be to keep your life in perspective. Theater, Work, and Social Life?It becomes difficult at times especially when we are this close to opening (We open June 29). We have rehearsals every day (except this Friday) until we open.

In between work and rehearsals, life goes on - grocery shopping still needs to be done, as well as shopping for some items I'll need for the show. Dinner still needs to be made and work certainly hasn't slowed down. I love being in this strange place: it's intense concentration, exhaustion, and euphoria. I'm lucky that I work from home, and my hubby is understanding of my theater obligations.

The last weeks before a show are particularly intense in this way. How do you handle this balancing act?

Other bloggers are pondering this same question: Here, and check out the comments!

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Backstage look at The Arabian Night

Washington DC - backstage look at the set for The Arabian Night. I love photos like these that give an insiders look into a bit of the creative process, in this case the set design.

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Be True to the Playwright

My head is stuffed! Filled with my lines, songs and choreography. Not to mention the order of the show. It's actually getting to the point where it's a semi automatic thing. I find the less I have to actively think onstage the more I am able to concentrate on the moment and what my character is feeling. I'm only in one play this actor is in two!

My lines are word perfect. The Director keeps reminding us how the playwright wanted it a certain way for a reason. So I kept reading and memorizing until it was right. Why does it matter? Well one reason is because that's what the director wants, the other reason is best explained by a current playwright. I like the post because it articulates and illustrates the "why" in a brutally honest way.

Previously on How DO actors remember their lines

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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

On Stage in the Mid Hudson Valley

This Weekend in the Hudson Valley Theaters
June 22 - June 24, 2006

A Little Night Music
June 23, 24 at 8:00 PM
June 25 at 3:00 PM

Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Moonlight and Magnolias
June 23, 24 at 8:00 PM

Unison Arts and Learning Center in New Paltz
Call: (845) 255-1559

The Drawer Boy
June 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7, 8 at 8:00 PM
June 25, July 2, 9 at 2:00 PM

Shadowland Theatre
157 Canal St.
Ellenville
Call: (845) 647-5511.

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Who wants to be King or Queen of Broadway?

I saw a contest for "King or Queen of Broadway" for anyone interested:

MusicalTheaterAudition.com is sponsoring this event. It sounds like fun, although I'm not sure what exactly the benefits will be, as the site does not yet have details on either the panelists of judges or on the fabulous prize.

From the site: "After years of providing up-and-coming performers with the tools and resources to help improve their auditions and performances, MTA has found a new way to propel would-be stars forward. With an all-star judging panel of professional performers and teachers, this contest will not only provide valuable exposure, but offer some valuable feedback and opportunity for growth as well."

Contest is online, and requires submitting mp3 files. I'll update as I find out more details.

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Jersey Boys Video on Broadway World

There is a really wonderful video on BroadwayWorld.com featuring John Lloyd Young of Jersey Boys getting ready for the Tony Awards - it's an inspiring story, goes to show how Broadway dreams really do come true.

"Last year John Lloyd Young stated that he watched the Tonys at home in his underwear not imagining in a million years that he would be nominated, let alone win in 2006 for his role as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. On Sunday, June 11th, his life changed forever. "

To top the cake, not only did he win, but also he and his fellow actors performed at the White House the next day. Talk about an excitement filled weekend!

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

More on Blurbs

I wasn't the only one that caught the piece on blurbs. Here's what some of my favorite theater bloggers are saying:

The Wicked Stage: Mildly Funny!
The Playgoer: Fun with Quotes and Endangered Film Critics

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New Mid Hudson Valley Theater Auditions

New Auditions for the Mid Hudson Valley.

The Reality Play
June 26-28

WOW Productions
Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall
Route 9
Poughkeepsie
To schedule an audition time, call (845) 471-2152 or e-mail clb501@aol.com

Production Dates: Aug. 11-13, at Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, Poughkeepsie.
Casting: Actors, singers and musicians, especially drummers. Several parts for children, teens and adults.

TrueNorth Theatre Project
Deadline: Oct. 15
One-act river- related play entries accepted for the first annual River Play festival with the True North Theatre Project and The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries.

Cunneen Hackett Arts Center
Poughkeepsie
Technical crew, musical director, lighting and sound technicians and set designer needed for August production. For details, call 845-471-2152.

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Sunday, June 18, 2006

Critics strike back over Blurbs

Unbelievable! Unstoppable!

You've read blurbs that shows use for advertising - most of us are pretty jaded as to their use. However, it looks like the marketing folks are getting pretty creative (desperate?) in their editing of reviews for blurbs. The fewer the words, the more I tend to doubt the sentiment of the blurb. NYTimes Article

Previously, I've written on the effects of critics on local community theater shows

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Saturday, June 17, 2006

The continuing saga of rehearsals

Today I spent most of my day at the theater in Rhinebeck for Music Man rehearsals. We ran the entire show, from start to finish for the first time. It went really well. It is starting to feel more ... real, more together. I'm pretty excited about how everything is going.

Alma (my character) is getting the feel for interacting with her "family" onstage (she just recently discovered who the real people are that make up her family). Alma has a son - Barney (sorry son!) and a husband Oliver. Barney has the habit of chuckling when his mama scolds him onstage, or when she is gushingly proud. Ah well, children!

I will be working on my "cheat sheet" for Music Man tonight. It's a single sheet of paper that shows the different scenes, songs and most importantly tells me where I need to be. When costume changes are finalized that will be added too. It's my security blanket, not something I usually need once we open, but is nice to have so I can refresh my memory.

While I was eating lunch today, I was watching the monitor downstairs - the monitor that shows what is going upstairs on stage. The cast from Chicago was rehearsing (they go up the weekend after Music Man closes) I only saw parts of All the Jazz, Cell Block Tango and All I Care About, and it is looking really good.

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Today June 17 in Broadway History

Some fun blurbs from years past on Playbill.com:

1860 Birthday of prolific producer Daniel Frohman (1860-1915) who, often in collaboration with his brothers Daniel and Gustave, will produce dozens of Broadway shows including Sherlock Holmes, The Girl from Maxim's, Barbara Frietchie, When Knighthood Was in Flower and Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines. In one busy stretch, September and October 1902, he will open 12 plays on Broadway.

1955 American producer and playwright John Golden dies at age 81. First an actor and then a writer, Golden eventually found success as the producer of such plays as The First Year and Seventh Heaven. A Broadway house bearing his name serves as a memorial.

1972 Tradition is broken as Fiddler on the Roof becomes the longest-running Broadway production, its 3,225 performances allowing it to surpass the previous record set by Life With Father. The Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick-Joseph Stein musical, based on Shalom Alechem stories of "Tevye and His Daughters," has reportedly been playing at a loss for over a year in an attempt to break the long-run record and will soon close up shop.

Today's Birthdays: Sammy Fain 1902. Ralph Bellamy 1904. Virginia Martin 1919. Mark Linn-Baker 1954.

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Friday, June 16, 2006

Musical Responsibilities

One of the hardest parts of being involved in community theatre productions is the sheer number of hours it takes to put together a show. Everyone in the cast needs to be completely on top of everything, or rehearsals can take forever. One of the most important elements is getting everyone together at the same time. Everyone has work, school, or both, not to mention normal life. Even running a few minutes late can cause major disruption to a rehearsal, so with the excitement of being in show comes the responsibility to everyone else involved.

Music Man is heading into 'crunch' zone. Opening Night is only 12 days away, so the pressure is on, and the demands on our time increasing. Rehearsals are almost every day of the week, and the stress level has increased. You may ask, What motivation is there to do community theatre if it's all work?

This part of the process is also the most magical. Magic in how everything that has been bits and pieces comes together. How these pages and pages of script and music become people that sing and dance and live. It balances out the work and stress with fun, and the joy of seeing the show come to life. I'm really excited about how the show is coming together - we still have work to do, but we have the time to do it.

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Thursday, June 15, 2006

Headed for Broadway - Young Frankenstein in 2008?

Mel Brooks (The Producers) & team are hard at work it seems on another show headed towards Broadway - Young Frankenstein. From the NYPost:

June 14, 2006 -- IN a roomy house in Water Mill, L.I., the Mel Brooks comic
factory has reopened for business. For the next month, Brooks and the two men
who helped him put together "The Producers" - co-writer Tom Meehan and musical
arranger Glen Kelly - will be hard at work on his next show: a stage adaptation
of his 1974 movie classic, "Young Frankenstein."

I love Mel Brooks, his zany humor, and the situational comedy. I'm so excited that he's doing something new. I saw The Producers on Broadway last year, and found it so much more developed then the movie.

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Local Auditions for Community Theater

Not much to report this week on Community Theater acting auditions: I do have a couple of things to pass on, other types of wonderful opportunities for playwrights, musicians, and other essential backstage crew. So if you are looking to get involved here's a chance!

TrueNorth Theatre Project
Deadline: Oct. 15
One-act river- related play entries accepted for the first annual River Play festival with the TrueNorth Theatre Project and The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries.

Cunneen Hackett Arts Center
Technical crew, musical director, lighting and sound technicians and set designer needed for August production. For details, call 845-471-21

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On Stage This weekend in The Mid Hudson Valley

Community Theater in the Mid Hudson Valley
June 15 - June 18, 2006

I can highly recommend A Little Night Music (Review), Although I am tempted by a few of the other shows.

Moonlight and Magnolias
June 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8:00 PM

Unison Arts and Learning Center in New Paltz
Call: (845) 255-1559

A Little Night Music
June 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8:00 PM
June 11, 18, 25 at 3:00 PM

Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Cautionary Tales: Faux Fables for Our Time
June 15, 16, 17 at 8:00 PM

Kleinert James Arts Center
34 Tinker St.
Woodstock
Call: (845) 657-6697.

Spain
June 15, 16, 17 at 8:00 PM
June 18 at 3:00 & 7:00 PM

Half Moon Theatre
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center
9 Vassar St.
Poughkeepsie
Call: (845) 235-9885

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Monday, June 12, 2006

Vegas Broadway Adaptations

Looks like Big Apple transplants are not doing well in Sin City. Recently announced is the closing of Hairspray - very short of it's intended run. Link These darlings of Broadway, why are they failing in Vegas? Could it be the shorter versions (most of the shows have been shortened down to 45 minutes) lose some of the punch of the original? I can't imagine not losing something by cutting the shows down.

The track record for transplants isn't good - Although Mama Mia! is going strong after three years. If you want to see a breakdown of the successes and failures here is a great post.

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Sunday, June 11, 2006

A Little Night Music: Mid Hudson Valley Theater Review

Gale and I ushered at the Rhinebeck Performing Art Center yesterday afternoon, the people we seated were charming for the most part.

The performance was a Gilbert & Sullivan Production of A Little Night Music. It was delightful, charming, and sarcastic. In other words a perfect Sondheim Musical! The songs were performed beautifully, the costumes divine. The lighting was a little dim at times, and some of the blocking made it hard to see what was going on (so if you go request seats as close to center as you can get - we were as far right as you can get, in the very last row) My only real major complaint is that some of the line were too low to hear at times. Other then the volume, the show was delightful - a interesting look at the human condition, emotions, and love. The show is geared more towards adults.

The Musical tells the story of a lawyer, Fredrik Egerman, who is married to a very young wife, Anne, who, despite the fact that they have been married 11 months, is still a virgin. He sees an old flame, Desiree Armfeldt, who is appearing in a popular play, and his romantic interest in her is rekindled. However, she is having an affair with a jealous, and married, military man, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm. Complicating matters is Egerman's son, Henrik, a divinity student who is in love with his stepmother. The play culminates in a weekend at the country estate of Desiree's mother, Madame Leonora Armfeldt, who is looking after Desiree's daughter, Fredrika, while Desiree is on tour. Read more here ... warning spoiler alert ...

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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Tomorrow is the BIG night

So the Tony's are tomorrow - and there's a lot of buzz (as always). Everything has been covered already (at least once sometimes more) so instead of rehashing it here - I'll just post the links. Previously from me: History of the Tony Awards, Tony Awards turn 60, How many presenters ...

Tony Awards will be on CBS at 8:00 PM ET/PT June 11, 2006

Official Website
NYTimes: Tony Awards Countdown Section
BroadwayWorld: Tony Coverage
Playbill.com: Tony News - detailing everything from presenter freebies to nominations.
Broadway.com: Tony Buzz

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New Tracy for Hairspray

Since I'm on the subject of inspiring stories - here's another one: from the nydailynews

Two years ago, Long Island teen Nikki Blonsky went to see the Broadway show Hairspray and thought to herself - "I could do that."

She was right.
Nikki Blonsky, a seventeen year old, will be starring in the new Hairspray movie. Co-stars include John Travolta and Queen Latifah.

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NYTimes: Q & A with Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. answered NYTimes reader's questions: Interview is here: It's a quick, fun read. He's been in the times a couple of times this week, earlier in the week when one of his fellow actors had an onstage accident he entertained the audience while the show was stopped.

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Inspiring Stories of Theater

I read a really sweet post (inspiring even) today from NewYorkActor.com:
The best part of the experience wasn't that I got to spend yesterday afternoon
rehearsing and acting with Cynthia Nixon and Frances McDormand. It wasn't that
later that night I actually got to act with them on stage at a reading series of
new plays in front of a sell-out audience. It wasn't the fact that I got to work
with established directors who actually knew how to talk to actors (something I
haven't seen in so long that it does seem shocking), who made the possibly
mundane reading process a visually appealing and exciting event for both the
audience and the actors involved. It wasn't even that I got back on stage for
the first time in months, just as that itch was becoming intolerable.

No, the best part of the evening ... Link

Goes to show how young people can be encouraged and inspired by the theater, no mater their age. It makes me smile because it shows how a small group of people can make a difference, maybe not a huge one, but hey - one of those kids could be the next Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams.

Sharing and working together is a big part of community theater. I've worked backstage for a few Kids on Stage productions - the excitement and energy of the actors is so electric. Then they go and deliver their performance like pros. It reminds you to look at your life in a different way, and bring the same energy and electricity to the stage when you perform.

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Thursday, June 08, 2006

Childrens Theater For July

A variety of great performances for Children. The perfect place to introduce children to the joys of live performance and theater.

Magic Soles
July 8 at 11:00 AM
An original play about shoes as a magical element in floklore; Cinderella, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Red Shoes, for example. A unique performance that includes dance, mime, acting, storytelling and a scroll story with 25 masks, puppets and costumes.

Mystic Paper Beasts
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
** Please Note - Theare is No advance sales for these shows; tickets are sold on the day of show starting at 10 am. General seating; most are approximately 50 minutes in length.

William K. Whiskers
July 15 at 11:00 AM
A wacky interactive puppet and comedy show with creative characters, including Whiskers himself. You'll be amazed by what he makes from an old bucket, oven mitt, egg beater and toilet plunger!

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
** Please Note - Theare is No advance sales for these shows; tickets are sold on the day of show starting at 10 am. General seating; most are approximately 50 minutes in length.

Dr Marmalde
July 22 at 11:00 AM
Dr. Marmalade travels the world helping puppet animals. She introduces the children to many puppet friends: a gorilla with a belly ache, a singing dinosaur, a snake who wants to be a kitty, a giraffe, a crow, a rabbit and many others. The children become her assistants giving hugs, encouragement and even translating for a lost puppy. Her traveling "Emerge-and-See" Wagon will surprise and delight!

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
** Please Note - Theare is No advance sales for these shows; tickets are sold on the day of show starting at 10 am. General seating; most are approximately 50 minutes in length.

The Little Mermaid
July 29 11:00 AM
July 29 1:00 PM
A musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, presented by Kids on Stage. Directed by Diana di Grandi, musical direction by Denise Jordan Finley

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
** Please Note - Theare is No advance sales for these shows; tickets are sold on the day of show starting at 10 am. General seating; most are approximately 50 minutes in length.

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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

On Stage in the Mid Hudson Valley's Theaters June 8 - 11

Onstage in the Hudson Valley this Weekend
June 8 - June 11, 2006

Community Theater in the Hudson Valley is presenting some real gems this weekend. I'll be attending the G&S production of A little night music at the Center on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to the show.

A Little Night Music
June 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8:00 PM
June 11, 18, 25 at 3:00 PM

Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Ancestral Voices
June 9, 10 at 8:00 PM
June 11 at 2:00 PM

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center
9 Vassar St.
Poughkeepsie
Call: (845) 235-9885

Cautionary Tales: Faux Fables for Our Time
June 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 8:00 PM

Kleinert James Arts Center
34 Tinker St., Woodstock
Call: (845) 657-6697.

Circumference of a Squirrel
June 8, 9, 10 at 8:00 PM
June 11 at 2:00 PM

Shadowland Theatre
157 Canal St.
Ellenville
Call (845) 647-5511

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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

How Many Presenters Does it Take ...

So how many presenters does it take to put on the Tony's? Well this year the list keeps growing, so far we're at 0 host(s) and 50+ presenters. From playbill.com:
New presenters include James Naughton, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Harvey Fierstein,
Tom Skerritt, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Bebe Neuwirth, Bill Irwin, Christine
Ebersole, David Hyde Pierce, Hal Holbrook, Harry Belafonte, Harry Connick, Jr.,
Harry Smith, James Earl Jones, Janis Paige, Jim Dale, Joanna Gleason, Joe Pesci,
John Tartaglia, Jonathan Pryce, Josh Lucas, Julianna Margulies, Julie Andrews,
Kristen Bell, Lauren Ambrose, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Louise Parker, Michael
McKean, Neil Patrick Harris, Norbert Leo Butz, Oliver Platt, Patricia Neal, Paul
Rudd, Paul Shaffer, Rosie Perez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sara Ramirez, Stanley
Tucci, T.R. Knight and Victoria Clark.

These artists join the previously
announced Alfre Woodard, Anna Paquin, Bernadette Peters, Cynthia Nixon, Glenn
Close, Hank Azaria, Julia Roberts, Kyra Sedgwick, Liev Schreiber, Oprah Winfrey,
Mark Ruffalo, Chita Rivera and Ralph Fiennes

All I can say is Wow! Apart from all the presenters the awards will be June 11th (this Sunday!) at Radio City Music Hall. Previously on the Tony Awards: Tony Host List History of the Tony Awards & Tony Awards Turn 60.

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Monday, June 05, 2006

Music Man rehearsal

Last night's rehearsal of Music Man went really well. Part of what I love about community theater is that no matter how many shows I've seen put together, the process never seems less magic.

As we rehearse together, we find relationships both on stage and off. It's like a parallel world. We make friends while waiting for our scenes and we work together onstage. I'm really enjoying the cast, very friendly and focused. I'm starting to get very excited about the show. We open three weeks from Thursday and things are really coming together. I have no delusions - we're going to be working hard for the next few weeks, but I think we'll have a fair amount of fun too.

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Sunday, June 04, 2006

Corteo Review - an Incredible Experience

"Corteo" is the Italian word for a funeral procession; it's the premise of the story that pulls all the numbers together in this latest addition to the Cirque du Soleil portfolio. The death of a clown prompts this procession, and the various tumblers, jugglers and acrobats are the memories and colleagues of the departed performer.

No it's not theater exactly, but it's not exactly a circus either. What is it? Enthralling, Fascinating, Entertaining. It has beautiful (and very functional) costumes. Technically complex, with many characters being floated across the stage. Highwire walkers, acrobats, and other athletes performing in a stream of amazing and complex acts.

Corteo is playing on Randel's Inland in NYC until July 2, 2006. Is it expensive? a little, yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Visit the Official Site

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Actor Versus Cell phone: The Battle Rages On!

In this corner, we have a sleek sexy fellow: handsome, slender, charming, and great at communicating - and it fits in a purse or pocket. Yes that elegant cell phone! In the other corner, a live theater performance. Live people who often are unpaid and have spent hundreds of hours in rehearsal working very hard to bring together the best show possible.

Why oh why does that elegant electric device win out? It doesn't matter if it is a professional performance or a community production, or even a school production of children. In can be a free production or one in which anywhere from 100 to 1,000 people have paid $$$ to see. There are always polite messages to turn off or make silent those devices.

As an onstage performer I find it disrespectful and disruptive, and as an audience member I find it unspeakably rude. I ask those cell phone owners - Why spend money for a ticket to a show, if clearly your "connectivity" is more important? By the way I do own a cell phone, and no - I've never forgotten to shut it off or make it silent.

Not that this is a new issue: One performers reaction is mentioned in the independent (thanks to playgoer) and previous posts are here: Theater Bits

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Props and Acting

Props, those items that actors carry around on stage. The items that actors sometimes forget where they put. The items that make the world on stage more real .... but do they make the character?

I have a favorite prop - it was a telegram. In I remember Mama every performance I would be given this telegram on stage and it would make me smile. Why did it make me smile? Well it was a recycled prop from the show I had done just a few months prior, Kiss Me Kate. I really had a good time on both shows, so the telegram was a reminder of that.

We're starting to get some props for Music Man - In one scene I'm carrying a net grocery bag. It made me think of other props in other shows. I am also faced with the question of how I will make this prop part of my life as Alma. I'm starting to discover who Alma is, but it will be interesting to see where she ends up by the time we open.

The NYTimes had this interesting article on actors and props.

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Friday, June 02, 2006

Auditions in the Mid Hudson Valley June 4-6

Auditions

Orphan Train
June 4th at 1:00 PM

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center
9 Vassar St
Poughkeepsie

Performances: August 4 & 5 at 7:30 PM, August 6 at 2:00 PM
Details: From about 1850 through the early twentieth century, thousands of children were transferred from the overcrowded orphanages and homes in the large cities in the northeastern United States, to live with families on farms throughout the middle West. They road on cross county railroad trains searching ever westward, for a family.
http://www.fromstagetoscreen.net/otrain.html

Stormy Weather Players
June 1 & 2 at 7:30 PM (Those interested in Directing)
June 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM (Acting Auditions)

Cornwall Ambulance Bay
1 Clinton St.
Cornwall

Seeking directors and actors for the sixth annual new plays festival scheduled for July 12-15 at the Storm King School, Cornwall-on-Hudson. For Info Visit www.stormyweatherplayers.org

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Community Theater Productions This Weekend in the Hudson Valley

This Weekend on Stage in the Mid Hudson Valley - June 1 through June 4

Performances

Improvisations of Audience Stories
June 2 at 8:00 PM

Community Playback Theatre
Boughton Place
150 Kisor Road
Highland
Call (845) 691-4118

Kinetic Chaos Dance Company
Modern dance, hip-hop and rhythm tap combined with rock & techno music and live musicians.
June 2 at 8:00 PM

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Nial O'Leary Irish Dance Troupe
June 3 at 8:00 PM

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Smokey Joe's Cafe
June 2, 3 at 7:30 PM

Out of the Nest Theatre Works
Woodstock Playhouse
Woodstock
Call: (845) 247- 4007

Fuddy Meers
June 2, 3 at 8:00 PM
June 4 at 7:00 PM

Performing Arts of Woodstock
Woodstock Town Hall
76 Tinker St.
Woodstock.
Call (845) 679-7900

Circumference of a Squirrel
June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 8:00 PM
June 4, 11 at 2:00 PM

Shadowland Theatre
157 Canal St.
Ellenville
Call (845) 647-5511

Play by Play
June 1 at 7:30 PM
June 2, 3 at 8:00 PM
June 4 at 2:00 PM

Stageworks Hudson
Max & Lillian Katzman Theater
41A Cross St.Hudson.
Call (518) 822-9667

Brighton Beach Memoirs
June 2, 3 at 7:00 PM
June 4 at 2:00 PM

Linden Avenue Middle School
Red Hook

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Mid Hudson Valley Theater Blog

Community Theater in the Mid Hudson Valley of New York. Information on shows, auditions, and our general adventures onstage, backstage and in the audience.