Hello!
"Good morning - I mean - good afternoon - I guess it's afternoon - I - "
"What?" asked the horribly bored girl behind the desk at the gym.
"I - uh - I just thought it was morning when it was afternoon - "
"Sign in there."
Right...so we slept in till about 11:22 this morning. And we got up and we did our own thing. In my case that would be the gym for forty minutes too long and, of course, the library. What would I do with a day off besides wallow in front of a computer and try to advertise us just a little bit more? ...Well, probably sit in the park with an iced coffee and do nothing... So I will sit here with an iced coffee and type till I have carpal tunnel and then I will go sit in the park with an iced coffee and do nothing. But I repeat myself...
So! Yesterday was a WONDERFUL rehearsal. I'm so pleased to report this. We all woke up feeling remarkably rested - having been in some strange sort of all-encompassing degree of fatigue the day before - and we went into rehearsal at 11am. We made remaining props and costumes. This included but was not limited to: Sewing Caliban fur onto Caliban headbands. Cutting points into a gold, sparkly casino-going old lady's visor to make Alonso's crown. Fringe checking the fabric that makes the Goddess's headdress. And sanding down the sheet metal that is our storm thunder. Have I given everything away? You wish.
We then proceeded to go around the circle of four cast members present and we let each cast member pick something they wanted to work on. For some that was to run through a scene and cement the lines. (We know the lines but are, at times, exchanging the word "Follow" for "Come on" and the word "Island" for "Isle..." So we needed to get that straight). Others chose to work through a scene and have remaining cast members watch it. Most helpful in having an outside eye let the actor know what was clear and what what evident.
We then called it a half day. Some went to the gym. Others stayed to cement movement that is transitioning through the play and where to enter and exit around the muslin fabric - have I mentioned how big that thing is? It's HUGE.
I, myself, stayed to choreograph movement through a very early piece of dialogue I have which takes a great amount of motion and breath and leaves me sweating profusely onto the first row of audience members (warning) - I'm just kidding...but, really. :P
So here we are with a day off. We all treated ourselves to sushi dinner last night. Today, well. Gym. Gym. Gym. Blogging. Singing. Eating. Going to park? Pool? Dinner. Who knows.
I hear rumor of going to "the larger mall in America" tomorrow. It will be nice to get off of campus.
Thanks for reading.
With love always,
Jana x
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
In Edinburgh in a week!
Hey all,
We're looking at Edinburgh in a week! We fly out next Thursday and will wake up in the city of Edinburgh next Friday! We realized this upon waking this morning and started shrieking and squealing as we lay on our air mattresses trying to stretch out our cramped bodies.
Yesterday we finished up the tightening of transitions. Then we did a speed through of the transitions - going from a cue line into a transition to the next cue line into a transition. Finally, we ran the show through for the second time. We shaved off five minutes. We need to shave off about fifteen minutes more.
One thing that we all took note of during the run was that we were watching it and trying to do it. We were working as actors with director's eyes. We realized that we've taken the time we need to direct. The stage pictures are set. The piece looks the way that it needs to. It's now time to play with each other. We know the text. It's time to play within it... that's probably the hardest part of the actor's work - a least for me. You do all the work and then you have to forget about it - let it be and just have a good time.
We're already discussing how we want to see Edinburgh castle and all the sights. Looking forward to it.
Today we're missing two members who went out of town for varying and necessary circumstances. We have a half day of rehearsal today to make remaining props and look at a couple of scenes before we take two much needed days off (Saturday and Sunday) and resume rehearsals on Monday. We have three more full rehearsals! How did this happen?
With lots of love,
Jana x
We're looking at Edinburgh in a week! We fly out next Thursday and will wake up in the city of Edinburgh next Friday! We realized this upon waking this morning and started shrieking and squealing as we lay on our air mattresses trying to stretch out our cramped bodies.
Yesterday we finished up the tightening of transitions. Then we did a speed through of the transitions - going from a cue line into a transition to the next cue line into a transition. Finally, we ran the show through for the second time. We shaved off five minutes. We need to shave off about fifteen minutes more.
One thing that we all took note of during the run was that we were watching it and trying to do it. We were working as actors with director's eyes. We realized that we've taken the time we need to direct. The stage pictures are set. The piece looks the way that it needs to. It's now time to play with each other. We know the text. It's time to play within it... that's probably the hardest part of the actor's work - a least for me. You do all the work and then you have to forget about it - let it be and just have a good time.
We're already discussing how we want to see Edinburgh castle and all the sights. Looking forward to it.
Today we're missing two members who went out of town for varying and necessary circumstances. We have a half day of rehearsal today to make remaining props and look at a couple of scenes before we take two much needed days off (Saturday and Sunday) and resume rehearsals on Monday. We have three more full rehearsals! How did this happen?
With lots of love,
Jana x
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Press Day
Hello! We're already to Thursday and leave for Edinburgh ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! What?! Sooo thrilling! :)
Yesterday we polished the storm. Polished it till there wasn't any polish left and we were essentially rubbing the piece raw. We had to leave it where it was. It's in good shape. We're just getting anxious and having trouble trusting ourselves with the time running out.
We proceeded to work through the rest of the show, speeding through wherever possible and hitting transitional points and musical complements. We found where music assists the piece - particularly underscoring and filling transitional gaps - and we found ways to transition as quickly as possible - we're hoping this will eat up some excess time that we still need to shave off the piece.
We made it through Act III.iii for transitions and music yesterday. We will pick up where we left off and finish up with Act IV and Act V before we do a speed through of transitions (working through what we just found all in a row without stopping so that there is a flow in our thinking and physicality). We will then do our second full run of the show.
We have people from "the hill," or from campus, coming down to interview us on our process and on our project this afternoon. So rehearsal once we're through our run, we will be looking at getting camera ready, answering questions, and posing for photo call. The best part is that we get to use any photos taken of us for promotional purposes and advertising. This will be especially useful when we start publicizing the New York show.
That's all I really have...Anyone have any great suggestions for what we should see/do in Edinburgh besides see incredible theater?
With Love,
Jana x
Yesterday we polished the storm. Polished it till there wasn't any polish left and we were essentially rubbing the piece raw. We had to leave it where it was. It's in good shape. We're just getting anxious and having trouble trusting ourselves with the time running out.
We proceeded to work through the rest of the show, speeding through wherever possible and hitting transitional points and musical complements. We found where music assists the piece - particularly underscoring and filling transitional gaps - and we found ways to transition as quickly as possible - we're hoping this will eat up some excess time that we still need to shave off the piece.
We made it through Act III.iii for transitions and music yesterday. We will pick up where we left off and finish up with Act IV and Act V before we do a speed through of transitions (working through what we just found all in a row without stopping so that there is a flow in our thinking and physicality). We will then do our second full run of the show.
We have people from "the hill," or from campus, coming down to interview us on our process and on our project this afternoon. So rehearsal once we're through our run, we will be looking at getting camera ready, answering questions, and posing for photo call. The best part is that we get to use any photos taken of us for promotional purposes and advertising. This will be especially useful when we start publicizing the New York show.
That's all I really have...Anyone have any great suggestions for what we should see/do in Edinburgh besides see incredible theater?
With Love,
Jana x
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Oogly Boogly
Dear Blog People,
Oogly Boogly Doogly Dah...I'm quite tired today...and quite hysterical...but that's to be expected this deep in the theatre process.
Yesterday, we spent the first half of our rehearsal making rain sticks. Yes. A very long and tedious, but necessary task. Why did we spend so much time making rain sticks out of chicken wire and rice? Well, we need them for the storm scene, of course, and we all know the storm scene needed work. So we made the music and sounds and proceeded to re-stage the storm after lunch. We kept our original opening image of a ship, made beautifully with our bodies. We then proceeded to experiment with how to make sound throughout the rest of the scene. Not an easy task as every actor is on stage during the storm and we, therefore, must carry our instruments with us throughout the scene. We came up with a rough outline which we will fill in today with fresh brains.
We also hope to work through the play - slowly, hitting each scene with the necessary transition and song work, so that when we're finished working through it we will have killed two birds with one stone. We will do this so that tomorrow (and, of course, this is subject to change) we can do another full run of the show before meeting with PR people for interviews/photos...wow, that sounds fancy...
That's about it, really. We're looking at tightening and polishing. We're looking at hydration and, hopefully, rest. We're looking at Edinburgh one week from tomorrow.
With love,
The Tempest Ladies
Oogly Boogly Doogly Dah...I'm quite tired today...and quite hysterical...but that's to be expected this deep in the theatre process.
Yesterday, we spent the first half of our rehearsal making rain sticks. Yes. A very long and tedious, but necessary task. Why did we spend so much time making rain sticks out of chicken wire and rice? Well, we need them for the storm scene, of course, and we all know the storm scene needed work. So we made the music and sounds and proceeded to re-stage the storm after lunch. We kept our original opening image of a ship, made beautifully with our bodies. We then proceeded to experiment with how to make sound throughout the rest of the scene. Not an easy task as every actor is on stage during the storm and we, therefore, must carry our instruments with us throughout the scene. We came up with a rough outline which we will fill in today with fresh brains.
We also hope to work through the play - slowly, hitting each scene with the necessary transition and song work, so that when we're finished working through it we will have killed two birds with one stone. We will do this so that tomorrow (and, of course, this is subject to change) we can do another full run of the show before meeting with PR people for interviews/photos...wow, that sounds fancy...
That's about it, really. We're looking at tightening and polishing. We're looking at hydration and, hopefully, rest. We're looking at Edinburgh one week from tomorrow.
With love,
The Tempest Ladies
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Warm o' My Troth!
Well, the sickness scare appears to be over. With A LOT of hydration, good nutrition that, admittedly, included an icecream run and some well-deserved and much-needed rest, we are feeling better.
We stumbled through the show yesterday - wow -so informative. It ran at about an hour and forty minutes. We have about fifteen more minutes left to shave, which we think will be doable with lines and transitions tightened. We clearly need a transition rehearsal. We need a lot more music. The gaps that are transitions need some sort of informative musical element to complement the last scene and lead the audience into the next scene.
I know that for me, personally, I had many an acting line for myself by the end of the run. But this is a good thing - it will give me something to focus on and aim for during the next run or work through of the scenes, which excites me and prods me to keep going.
We had Chelsea on book for the last time yesterday. We are now 'on our own' and will start to receive line notes (a piece of paper that tells us where we flubbed for lines, where we switched one word for another word in a line...etc). This is a very good and very necessary step...I'd even go so far as to say: It's about time.
Last night we brought dinner over to Olga's and had flowering tea (a tea that is a bulb that blossoms in hot water and tastes delicious while looking spectacular). She shared some stories about life in Russia. Told us how Felix was a legend there and we all agreed that if anyone was a legend, it would be Felix. She reminded us of the Stanislavsky quote: Love the art in yourself. Love yourself in the art. And she shared with us that she and Felix believe this new wave of art is that of "Stanislavsky Rock and Roll," in that it is free moving. We get together to do something and we just go - we do it. She said that's what we're doing - Rock and Roll. ...I think it's clear that we adore these two people and see them as both mentors and grandparents.
I'm also pleased to announced that: We have pants! Yes, it's been a long time coming. We're talking endless searches through NYC's Forever 21, Target's $10 bargains and finally - Old Navy! We walked in, saw the pants, tried them on, made sure they fit and bought them! Voila! Our costumes are now complete thanks to Sarah, who purchased our matching blue leotards in bulk before arriving in Syracuse.
Today, (dare I even guess what we're doing today?) well, actually today, I don't know what we're doing because we didn't decide. And it's just as well because if we decided one thing, you know we would probably do another.
And so I leave you with the mystery of what today brings. I hope it surprises you, too.
With Love, of course,
J x
We stumbled through the show yesterday - wow -so informative. It ran at about an hour and forty minutes. We have about fifteen more minutes left to shave, which we think will be doable with lines and transitions tightened. We clearly need a transition rehearsal. We need a lot more music. The gaps that are transitions need some sort of informative musical element to complement the last scene and lead the audience into the next scene.
I know that for me, personally, I had many an acting line for myself by the end of the run. But this is a good thing - it will give me something to focus on and aim for during the next run or work through of the scenes, which excites me and prods me to keep going.
We had Chelsea on book for the last time yesterday. We are now 'on our own' and will start to receive line notes (a piece of paper that tells us where we flubbed for lines, where we switched one word for another word in a line...etc). This is a very good and very necessary step...I'd even go so far as to say: It's about time.
Last night we brought dinner over to Olga's and had flowering tea (a tea that is a bulb that blossoms in hot water and tastes delicious while looking spectacular). She shared some stories about life in Russia. Told us how Felix was a legend there and we all agreed that if anyone was a legend, it would be Felix. She reminded us of the Stanislavsky quote: Love the art in yourself. Love yourself in the art. And she shared with us that she and Felix believe this new wave of art is that of "Stanislavsky Rock and Roll," in that it is free moving. We get together to do something and we just go - we do it. She said that's what we're doing - Rock and Roll. ...I think it's clear that we adore these two people and see them as both mentors and grandparents.
I'm also pleased to announced that: We have pants! Yes, it's been a long time coming. We're talking endless searches through NYC's Forever 21, Target's $10 bargains and finally - Old Navy! We walked in, saw the pants, tried them on, made sure they fit and bought them! Voila! Our costumes are now complete thanks to Sarah, who purchased our matching blue leotards in bulk before arriving in Syracuse.
Today, (dare I even guess what we're doing today?) well, actually today, I don't know what we're doing because we didn't decide. And it's just as well because if we decided one thing, you know we would probably do another.
And so I leave you with the mystery of what today brings. I hope it surprises you, too.
With Love, of course,
J x
Monday, July 26, 2010
Changes
Well, I feel like from now on I can't tell you what we're going to be doing with a day because it always changes. Yesterday we came in and poor Sarah was feeling sick with migraine symptoms. She felt quesy and was really sensitive to light. We took a quick inventory of what we still needed prop and costume-wise for the show and figured out where everything would have to be set at the top of the show and where it would move and where it would have to be for each scene...and then we called it a half day and sent everyone home. Sarah slept her sickness off for the most part and woke up feeling much better.
I must confess that I, now, am feeling quesy and as I sit here typing, I'm wondering how quickly I can wrap this up and go lie down so that I, too, can rest up and recuperate as we're supposed to do our stumble through of the show today before taking dinner of to our costumer, Olga, and going to Old Navy to by pants for our costumes. Any good vibes or prayers you have to offer for our health are much appreciated as we're really getting down to the wire and are suffering symptoms of 'overdoing it,' as my doctor dad put it. Haha...
So, there you go in a tight nutshell. Hope you're better than we are.
With Love,
The TLs.
I must confess that I, now, am feeling quesy and as I sit here typing, I'm wondering how quickly I can wrap this up and go lie down so that I, too, can rest up and recuperate as we're supposed to do our stumble through of the show today before taking dinner of to our costumer, Olga, and going to Old Navy to by pants for our costumes. Any good vibes or prayers you have to offer for our health are much appreciated as we're really getting down to the wire and are suffering symptoms of 'overdoing it,' as my doctor dad put it. Haha...
So, there you go in a tight nutshell. Hope you're better than we are.
With Love,
The TLs.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
So much Sunday
Hey All,
We're winding down with the last day of rehearsal in our week. Tomorrow we have a deserved day off before we head into the last week of polishing and head overseas!
Yesterday was a jumble. We finished up Act V and ran through it enough to put it into our bodies. We also recounted what we did with the storm in the original production, trying to put it back into our bodies. This proved to be harder than we thought it would. We were haven't trouble recalling the original physicality, having done it over a year ago... and it didn't help that we're now playing new characters through the scene...so to remember where we each were and then trying to figure out where we now should be was quite messy. We finally came up with a rough draft of what we had originally done - this was done by tracing out movement diagrams and flow charts on lined paper after reading the scene out loud over and over again and picking out key 'cue' words that dictated the movement. We now have an idea of where to move as our new characters. However, we know there is much left to explore. Ariel talks about fire in her Act I.ii speech as she recounts the storm - so we know we need some elemental devices within the storm that were neglected the first time we did the piece.
Felix came in briefly yesterday with instruments that we can use and take abroad with us. We didn't have the opportunity to work with him on actual musical phrases, but we trust that with the instruments he brought us, we'll be able to jam and find the music we need. He also took Sarah, Stella and Laura to his place after rehearsal so that they could look at fabrics with his wife and costume designer, Olga. Olga has graciously agreed to help us sew Prospero's robe together and to provide fabric for us to use in the various magical scenes/transitions. We are so grateful to them for passing on their passionate knowledge. I remember when we had tea with them last week Olga said something along the lines of, "We want to give what we know." And that's exactly what they're doing...
Today we're going to stumble through the ENTIRE bare bones of the show. We're ready. We're also exhausted. So once we take our time figuring out where everyone needs to be from one scene to another (we're talking transitions here - like where is someone when one scene ends and where do they need to be for the beginning of the next scene and how do they get there...) we'll know what's missing regarding props/costumes and we can make last minute store runs to purchase extra items and put everything into its final place. We're looking at the end. We'll be polishing and fine tuning very soon. It's all very thrilling. It's like watching a circus tent go up and realizing what's about to take place within it.
With Love,
J x
We're winding down with the last day of rehearsal in our week. Tomorrow we have a deserved day off before we head into the last week of polishing and head overseas!
Yesterday was a jumble. We finished up Act V and ran through it enough to put it into our bodies. We also recounted what we did with the storm in the original production, trying to put it back into our bodies. This proved to be harder than we thought it would. We were haven't trouble recalling the original physicality, having done it over a year ago... and it didn't help that we're now playing new characters through the scene...so to remember where we each were and then trying to figure out where we now should be was quite messy. We finally came up with a rough draft of what we had originally done - this was done by tracing out movement diagrams and flow charts on lined paper after reading the scene out loud over and over again and picking out key 'cue' words that dictated the movement. We now have an idea of where to move as our new characters. However, we know there is much left to explore. Ariel talks about fire in her Act I.ii speech as she recounts the storm - so we know we need some elemental devices within the storm that were neglected the first time we did the piece.
Felix came in briefly yesterday with instruments that we can use and take abroad with us. We didn't have the opportunity to work with him on actual musical phrases, but we trust that with the instruments he brought us, we'll be able to jam and find the music we need. He also took Sarah, Stella and Laura to his place after rehearsal so that they could look at fabrics with his wife and costume designer, Olga. Olga has graciously agreed to help us sew Prospero's robe together and to provide fabric for us to use in the various magical scenes/transitions. We are so grateful to them for passing on their passionate knowledge. I remember when we had tea with them last week Olga said something along the lines of, "We want to give what we know." And that's exactly what they're doing...
Today we're going to stumble through the ENTIRE bare bones of the show. We're ready. We're also exhausted. So once we take our time figuring out where everyone needs to be from one scene to another (we're talking transitions here - like where is someone when one scene ends and where do they need to be for the beginning of the next scene and how do they get there...) we'll know what's missing regarding props/costumes and we can make last minute store runs to purchase extra items and put everything into its final place. We're looking at the end. We'll be polishing and fine tuning very soon. It's all very thrilling. It's like watching a circus tent go up and realizing what's about to take place within it.
With Love,
J x
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